Precious Metal Clay Workshop

Yesterday was my PMC class.  Up early, dashing about, off I go to find the location of the workshop, 26 miles away in Clackamas, Oregon.  There were 3 students.  Our instructor was Debra Carus, an extremely talented jeweler - check out some of her work here.  Here is my silver project, the bell.  I'll tell you more...

After introductions of the students and a quick tour of her studio, Debra began with a lesson on how to work with the clay and how to use the tools.  One thing I really appreciated is that Debra asked US what we wanted to make, she didn't have us make what SHE thought we should make.  

We all toiled away on our projects - I wanted to make a bell.  I realize now that was a pretty ambitious first project!  The other 2 students made flat projects, a pair of earrings and 2 pendants.  I should have done that! :-)  But I made a little rustic or primitive bell, and a little clanger and a little bead.  Here Debra demonstrates how to use the butane torch.  She also had a kiln and my bell was fired in there, but I got to use the torch to burn out/fire my clanger and bead. :-)

Ta-dah!  My tiny little clanger and bead after they were polished in Debra's mechanical polisher.  I would give myself a C- on these, but they work. LOL! 

Debra gave me a length of sterling silver wire and some tools to use and I put my clanger on the end and threaded it up through the bell and then added my bead to the top and wire wrapped a loop on top.  AND IT RINGS AND WORKS!

Next we worked on using copper metal clay and I made a little bucket.  ME and my dang propensity towards 3 dimensional objects!  This was pretty hard to make, actually.  After it was fired, the little crack you see on the back where I joined the clay together opened and is pretty prominent.  This piece did not get done before it was time to head home, so it's not shined up and a bail will need to be made.  It's not perfect.  But we'll see what it looks like when done.  I was going for a used old farm bucket.. at least that's the excuse I will use.  LOL!  :-)

SO... now I know how to do this.  I had bought a kit some time ago, but I did not know how to use the tools or how to use the torch, or how much to burn out the clay, etc.  Now I can do projects at home!  

I'm awaiting the delivery of my yarn so I can get going on my holiday blanket.  I hope you're having or have had a nice weekend - and I hope the week ahead will be a lovely one.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)