Intermediate: Precious Metal Clay (PMC3 Silver) Class





What a fantastic way to colour coordinate your wardrobe!



Date: Saturday December 3rd, 2011 - 10:30am to 4:30pm

Location: Elizabeth Bay Studio Apartment, Sydney

Prerequisite: Must have already taken an Introduction to PMC Class.

You will learn how to construct a PMC pendant with a Polymer Clay inclusion without the use of glue. It’s a simple mechanical “Lock” for the polymer clay component. This technique is also known as the Reverse Bevel Bezel which was perfected by Linda Bernstein who is a USA Senior PMC Instructor.

Designing Jewellery with Polymer and Metal Clay is a fabulous way to balance your design with colours, texture and patterns.

The pendant design will include a tube bail for *hanging on cording, wire or anything that your heart desires.

You may even texture the back of your pendant so that it can be worn on either side; a reversible pendant.

Materials student should bring: Pen/Pencil & Notebook (if you would like to take notes) and an Apron. Magnification: I have a couple OptiVISORs to loan out.

Included in the fee are the following: 16 grams PMC3 Lump clay, tuition, notes, use of various tools and supplies in class. A selection of polymer clay slices will be available to complete your project. You will also be taught how to give your piece a polished mirror finish. *Hanging material not included.

Cost: $165.00 with 50% non-refundable deposit required upon registration.

Please note: *Deposits are non-refundable for cancellation within 14 days of the class commencement. Full payment is required 30 days prior to class beginning.

Availability: Yes.

Registration: Click here to book your seat now!

There is currently no wheelchair accessibility and students with disabilities should enquire about the suitability of the courses prior to attending.

The Bizarre Little Bracelet

 Well here it is.  The Bizarre little bracelet  that I just made as a sample for a class that I am teaching at a local high school on a polymer clay techniques.

This is why I needed that Black Premo Clay.  I am so glad that the clay came good in the end as I was down to my last block of black clay. The stone skull focal bead is sure to be a treat for the boys in the class.

I've also planned on an alternate bracelet for anyone that prefers more of a traditional design.

Just to the left is an image of all the polymer clay bead parts that the secondary school students will be making on the day.

Plus the spooky little skull bead; just in case someone wants that affect.

They'll also be making a pair of polymer clay earrings for themselves, their mums, girlfriend, nanna, a teacher.  Who knows.  Who ever gets them will surely love 'em.

"Nirvana" the Second in a Series of Six

Here She Is

 Yep, she's a big one alright!  Definately a showpiece.  This is an Advanced Level Technique in PMC that I will be teaching in my Sydney Studio Apartment further down the track.



Sacred Heart "Nirvana"
Fine Silver with 4mm Cubic Zirconia
Measures: 2.3cmW x 1.8cmD x 4.2cmH
Weight: 19gms

 The second heart in the Series of Six.

 This one contains a crown of thorns over the body symbolising bondage and suffering which is evident on the surface of its breast; in the vein of a parched and encrusted wilderness.

This heart does not contain a flame, meaning that the suffering has terminated. She holds a three petal flower head on the crest signifying healing and within it is a jewel representing the presence of a precious existence.

Cave Art Drawings

I thought I would take a little time out and work on a new idea for jewellery that I will teach at the High School next year.  Something that is easy to construct yet interesting and having an indigenous look and feel.

Polymer Clay focal in earthy colours. Carved shapes impressed with aluminum ribbon in various designs.  White acrylic paint applied with a match stick for that dot painting affect.  Gold rub and buff paint for highlights and shine.  Braided waxed linen cord.  Base metal beads and findings.



Frances: "Ladybugs, Katherine. Lots and lots of ladybugs."

This is a memorable quote from one of my favourite movies "Under the Tuscan Sun".  I love this romantic comedy.  It's one of my all time favourites.  I can watch it a million times and never get tired of it.

At the moment I'm working on some jewellery for the "Old Butter Factory Cafe" in Bellingen where I'll be showcasing my Sculptural Art & Jewellery from Sunday the 19th of December.

So if you haven't finished your Christmas Shopping yet, please go have a stickie beak (check it out).

Some of the items will have these pretty little red lady bugs... "Lots and lots of ladybugs".

I will be posting pics of this "Ladybug Jewellery" over the weekend.

Gifted and Talented Year 9 Students

A few pics from the two-day class that I taught at a local high school to Gifted and Talented Year 9 students as part of a Literacy and Numeracy Project at the Trade School.





Year 9 Students creating art





Polymer Clay beads created on Day 2





Proudly showing off their creative talent







Pendants the Year 9 students created on Day 1 and some of their Polymer Clay Art on Canvas







Stevo putting some details into his Polyclay Story




Adrian proudly showing his necklace and bush tucker bracelet. Click on image to see  his amazing colour combinations and details.



Caged Buddha

Whilst visiting a friend yesterday, he gave me this little Buddha tile and shell because he knows that I make mixed metals and found objects jewellery.  Here's what I created with those bits plus a chunk of sea glass that I found on the beach a while back.

Measures 7cm long x 3.5 cm wide x 2.5 cm deep

Book Review: The Art of Jewelry - Plastic & Resin: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration

Book Reviewer: Roz Eberhard Swan

The Eclectic Studio
http://www.eclecticstudio.com.au/

Click here for Product Details

Authur: Debra Adelson
Edition: Hardcover


Fantasmagorical!

I am literally jumping for joy over finally having a reference book that really shows what can be done with the marvellous media of Plastic/Acrylics and Resin.

Commencing with a solid Introduction to plastics and safety, you then progress to Techniques and Tools that are used in both media, incorporating plastics with other materials, such as Metals, there is even a brief section on techniques for metalworking. Certainly enough for someone unfamiliar with this, although to be honest, to get the best out of this, you need to work on your metalsmithing skills - and that does not mean soldering as the vast majority of projects use cold connections, sawing and piercing as the main elements.

Then we get to the awesome projects. Rings, necklaces, brooches, pins, bangles and bracelets. 22 projects that will be hard to choose which one to start with.

These are contemporary designs, no cutesy, no bling bling. Just clean lines and designers pushing your thought process of materials to use. Using broken headlight glass to create stunning sawn shapes for a necklace, using a billard ball to make a ring, dipping felted balls in resin and so on.

Sure there are more of the stock standard creations of making a simple bangle from a mould but there are some wonderful twists to the norm, for instance using paper to create a laminated ring.

If you have to have intricate step by step photos to work from, you will be challenged. This is very much a book that relies on written descriptions of the steps with a few photos. I found no problem with this at all and I am actually a visual learner. But, I do work with these materials already.

My only criticism is the area of finishing. This could have been explored a little further other than sandpapers, files and polishing machines, the later not being something everyone has. Products such as Micro-Surface polishing pads and Micro Glos polishing compounds have produced wonderful results in high gloss finishes without machinery were not mentioned and I am sure there are other products that do similar.

I also loved that every few pages you are presented with a gallery of work. The artists represented here have produced exceptional, varied, luscious pieces, each and every one. I have been drooling ever since I got this book!! There is a nice short bio at the back about the designers and in some cases their websites (thank you) and even a page of templates to use.

This is the first book produced on Resin and Plastic Jewellery that looks at both media in a modern, contemporary manner, that takes you to a higher level of craftmanship, while still managing not to be over daunting. I know my mixed media students will be buying this book in droves. I hope that Lark now goes one step further and produces a book for students on mould making, so they can make even more wonderful pieces in resin.

About the Reviewer: Roz has worked as a multi media artist for over 16 years. Disciplines used in her unique wearable art and jewellery pieces include Off Loom Beadweaving, Textiles, Felting, Polymer Clay and Resin. The past few years have been spent working with Precious Metal Clay (PMC). As a certified Teacher with PMC she incorporates its limitless possibilities in her jewellery and objet d’art designs. Roz is the inaugural President of the PMC GUILD of Australia/NZ and works with community colleges in Sydney and private workshops around the country.