By Carol Duvall
Today's Shoebox contained perhaps the most unusual, interesting and remarkable collection that I've ever received. It consisted of one letter and 26 handmade polymer clay items, each one accompanied by a note and having been inspired by one of the polymer clay segments that had been featured on the show. The woman who started it all is Dierdre Woodward, who is part of a large group of women that all have one thing in common . . . a love of working with polymer clay. Dierdre had suggested a "Carol Duvall Swap" and wrote that the rules were simple: "Create six items based on an idea of any kind featured on The Carol Duvall Show. Five of the items we will swap among ourselves." The sixth item they would send to me. The 26 ladies who joined in on the swap are from the United States and are obviously viewers of my show, however the entire group actually consists of women spread all over the world who found each other through the Internet. When I spoke with one of the women, Jeannine Chariton, on the phone, she said she had received packages from England, France, Germany and Australia! It was obvious from the items I received that some are just beginners at the craft. Others are professionals who sell their work, and many others are just enthusiastic crafters who have been learning and creating. All apparently enjoy what they are doing. Each one attached a note telling which guest artist on what show had inspired the piece she sent, although it was amazing how many I could guess before I ever looked at the cards. Though I do not know where many of the women are from because they did not include their addresses, I would at least like to list their names along with my huge-sized THANK YOU. Dierdre Woodward
Pauline Better
Marsha Melone
Dawn Martin Moody
Terri Cortelyou
Nuchi Draiman
Judith Echeagaray
Maria Rox
Patricia Echeagarat
Bette Abdu
Daria Sargeant
Marilyn Aguirre
Katy Daum
Sue Dial
Jan Ruhnow
Jeannine Chariton
Maria Frankenberg
Dawn Schiller
Jeanette Kandray
Karen Ven Bebber
Andrea Lum And if you didn't count 26 names on the list . . . I THINK it's because there were a few who sent in more than one item. I hope I'm right on that one. I would hate to have left anyone out because I thought it was such a generous gesture. I hope that all of our viewers thought the segment not only interesting, but perhaps inspiring as well.
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