I know that lately I have been doing a lot of things other than making jewelry. It's because I see what other artists are doing and I get inspired and really, I want to do it all. I want to spray paint and make patterns and apply gold foil to everything. I want to have a journal and keep a diary of all the art techniques I have learned. I want to make pretty polymer clay tiles and lay them down like a collaged quilt. I want to learn about encaustics and paint boards with little bits of paper embedded in them. I want to sew strange stuffed creatures and give them angora hair. I want to sew clothes for a Blythe doll and alter her face and hair. I'd love to draw black line cartoons and scenes that are figments of my imagination. I could make stencils of people's faces and of flowers and also cut my own rubber stamps. I'd really like to learn about monoprints and make a line of cards that are small modern works of art that no one would ever think of throwing away. I want to make and trade even more ATC's.
Well, I like learning and trying new and different things because it keeps my mind moving, active, curious and challenged. I'm not dead yet!
My favorite medium right now is Precious Metal Clay. I used to spend most of my time throwing pots, making platters from slabs of ceramic clay and sculpting animals. So when I heard about PMC around 8 years ago I got very excited. It is clay after all. I took a basic class and then with that information I started experimenting. I feel like anyone can learn how to use it and make whatever they can imagine, as with regular clay.
At Artfest 2008 I will be teaching just such a basic class with a focus on making pendants. If you want to learn how to use PMC, come and try it out with me. You will make at least two or even three pendants and I think you will like it. I will have supplies for stringing and you will be able to wear your piece out of class.
In my second class, I will teach you how to make a whimsical, moveable jointed bird. This class is a bit more intense because we actually need to finish all our pieces. You can then rivet the pieces together in class so they can move.
Here are some bracelets I made. The first two have PMC components in them. I make holes in the pieces with needle files if they are unfired, or with a drill bit if they are fired and assemble after I patina all the parts. When they are put together, I polish with a pad made especially for PMC and remove the dark from the high sufaces.
Do you think you'd like to try PMC? Then join me!
Knitted sterling silver wire with a PMC tag, green aquamarine nuggets and a clasp from my favorite shop, “A Grain of Sand”. O.K. the bead caps are from my bead store but I fused and hammered fine silver rings in between the stones.
Knitted sterling wire with a PMC daisy tag and PMC charms and toggle. The rose is carved tangerine jade and the dangly stone is a CZ (cubic zirconium - they come in all shapes and colors now). The bead caps are from the store.
Knitted wire with sterling bead, fused & hammered fine silver rings and sterling endcaps. The round stones are fire agate and are fantastically gorgeous. I got those and the clasp at ‘A Grain of Sand’ too. The other stones are pale white and pink shades of peruvian opal.
The last one here is my attempt at my hammered wire idea of a few weeks ago. I’m not sure I like it. It is quite a bunch of curly wire. There is a pattern here, although any description is beyond me at this point. The spirals at the back are where it opens and closes. It looks great on but I would say it is for evening wear with a cute dress or fancy gown. Not for someone with long hair! HA!
