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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.

2012 Contemporary Clay Jewellery Course Outline

My Little PMC Bird House

There are a couple of Welcome Sparrows that live in my shed.  They come back every year.  It worries me that they keep building their mud nest in there 'cause when we go away... we have no choice but to lock it up.  But they come back again and again.  It doesn't seem to worry them.

Sometimes they even speak to us in their birdie way, whilst we're having breakfast on the back veranda... they come and swoop in to get our attention.

I know what they want and immediately go over and open the shed door for them and they shoot straight through.

Today, as I prepared to leave the farm for a luncheon-date with friends in town another friend came for a visit.

This time is was a two-metre long python snake that used to live in the old chook house that I demolished long ago.  I didn't like to demolish it but it had to go because it was falling down.

The carpet snake (python) used to live in that old chook house.  It was easy picking for it... when there were chooks and eggs.   I never did get to raise my chickens.  It turned out to be something on my wish list after moving out here.

However, I did get my rose garden.  That was short lived because the wallabies (mini kangaroos) loved them more than me.  It was impossible to keep the beautiful flowers on them because as soon as they came out... they were gone.  Who knew that wallabies loved roses so much.

So anyway, back to the python.  It crawled up under the pickup truck.  So driving that ute to town was not to be today.  I was more worried about it getting chopped up by the fan motor, than getting strangled, so I left it.

I hope that it's made it's way out.  And what about the welcome sparrow's nest?  I wonder if the babies will be safe from that snake.  Somehow,  I think they will be fine because it's a long way up there and I haven't seen a snake up on the rafters before; not in my shed anyway.

So what does this story have to do with these images?

Only that I was in the mood to build a bird house with PMC today.  Just got a little side tracked with the snake.

Anyhow, I think that I prefer the patina with the golds, blues, greens and purples that came out  in this piece.

Contemporary Viking Knit Jewellery

It's only about 2-1/2 weeks until the Canberra Contemporary Craft Retreat where I'll be teaching Viking Knitting.

It's going to be a full on weekend with 20 different classes on offer.

If you missed the enrolment deadline... not to worry as it will be back next year.

The image at the left is an example of what the class will be making on the day but with Antique Bronze Wire.  I love the richness of the darker wire as you will see in the last three Viking Knitted bracelets below.

The hand-crafted lampwork bead is called "Waterfall" and made in Australia by Karen Hall.  You can see more of her fabulous lampwork on her etsy site Aussie Fire Beads.  If you could see this bead in person... you'll agree with me that it's like Blue Fire, that bead. Her beads are hand made in her Adelaide South Australia studio using Lauscha and Moretti Glass. Totally Fabulous!

In preparation for the Contemporary Craft Retreat, I have been spending the last couple of day making these Viking Knitted Bracelets to go on my trade table.  It's been great fun.

Just now stopped to take some pics because I've run out of the toggle and clasps so waiting for them to arrive in the post, so that I can get straight back into it. As you can see in the image just below (missing toggle & clasp).

Wow, it's a great feeling!

 

I just got back from two days of teaching Introduction to Precious Metal Clay classes in Sydney at my Apartment Studio in Elizabeth Bay and discovered that my Contemporary Clay Jewellery Course happening at Camp Creative Bellingen is NOW FULL.

This is one of those moments when I'm quite happy getting a big fat red X.  You know how you dreaded getting that mark at the top of  your paper in grade-school?  Well this time it's a good thing!  I love it, I love it , I love...

Check out my web page for examples of what my students will be learning.

Kaleidoscope Cane Jewellery

Here's an example of a Kalediscope cane that I made recently, with Premo Polymer Clay, for a class that I'm teaching in the Hunter Valley Southern Highlands in November.

This is an image that may be used in promoting my class at Studio Amara.  The class is scheduled for Sunday the 20th of November in Berrima, NSW.  Kathy Guerts is now taking booking for this class.

I really like using the Skinner Blend technique in this particular cane because it gives it so much dimension.  Quite 3D, I think.

Pretty good colour variations with less than three blocks of clay.

As you can see... I was having a little fun with Photoshop's layering and cloning tools in the image above.

I love the way that you can create unique and original jewellery with Polymer Clay.