tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64488027157452438162024-03-05T23:35:51.447-05:00Metal Clay Artist MagazineMetal Clay Artist Magazine's mission is to share, exchange and develop ideas; promote education; inspire creativity; and increase appreciation for the work of metal clay artists worldwide. We feature step-by-step projects, articles, guides, tips, techniques, artist profiles and other valuable information about metal clays and mixed media. Our international focus includes content, subscribers and advertisers from around the world.Metal Clay Artist Magazinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07769567499660105998noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-22845132449741243952012-07-12T13:51:00.001-04:002012-07-12T13:51:33.497-04:00Call for Entries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Hh27sCNM_sW6bsZHaQnAPNJUaQSjrcA99nhBy7Cpea88ytgPA3xbyV7aa-H-u9Q-RGgX4ErfWtb9nJKaLZlwSRjnbjTtcdf1vAtIROer25-wxa9A_flgRM6Wj8DJO-kWo-U-sHGfHlgB/s1600/Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Hh27sCNM_sW6bsZHaQnAPNJUaQSjrcA99nhBy7Cpea88ytgPA3xbyV7aa-H-u9Q-RGgX4ErfWtb9nJKaLZlwSRjnbjTtcdf1vAtIROer25-wxa9A_flgRM6Wj8DJO-kWo-U-sHGfHlgB/s320/Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Now Accepting Calendar Submissions for The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry 2013
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Deadline: Aug. 15, 2012
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Release date: Late - October 2012
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We are seeking images to feature in the next annual calendar, The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry 2013. In addition to including jewelry as in the past, this year ALL Metal Clay forms will be included - necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, brooches, vessels, objects and other items will be considered. Unique and diverse design styles and techniques are desired. Metal Clay should be the predominant material and all types and brands of Metal Clay will be considered, but other media - resin, gems, metals, enamel, and more may be incorporated into the design. High digital images will be accepted by mail or e-mail:
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Christine Norton <br />
c/o Calendar Submission 2013
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13754 Knight Court, Gainesville, VA 20155
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<b>E-mail: <a href="mailto:gagecalendar2013@gmail.com">gagecalendar2013@gmail.com</a></b>
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Artwork submitted must represent work that is unique and original in design. New unpublished/unseen work is preferred. Group shots or individual pictures will be accepted. Limit 3 entries, no more than 2 shots per entry. Please don't send actual pieces. Professional photo quality is a MUST. Please consider the fact that viewers will only see your photo, not your original work, so clear, uncluttered photos with an accurate representation will be priority for the selection process. Images should be 300 dpi, in tiff, jpg or psd format with no compression. The image size should be no smaller than 5". However ONLY large format photos 8 1/2 x 11" can be considered for the prominent cover position.
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Artwork for inclusion will be selected based on:<br />
- Design
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- Innovation
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- Craftsmanship
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- High degree of excitement<br />
- Unique use of metal clay and degree of challenge<br />
Hint: The above is a great checklist for submissions
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Artists retain copyright of their work and receive a free copy of the calendar if selected. Each calendar page measures 8.5” x 11” and measures 11” x 17” when opened.
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Please include the following information with your submission. Missing information may forfeit your position in the calendar: (<i>Please consider over 300 photos arrive for review</i>)
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1. Name<br />
2. Address
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3. Website or e-mail (indicate if this information should be included on the calendar)
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4. Title of piece
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5. Materials used
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6. Dimensions in millimeters
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7. Brief Description of process and/or motivation to how it was conceived. An interesting, well written statement is encouraged, 50 words or less. (This information will be published so put your best foot forward. Entries may be edited.)
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8. File name
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9. Has your file been retouched?
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10. Is your file 300 dpi?
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Please direct all inquiries to: <b><a href="mailto:gagecalendar2013@gmail.com">gagecalendar2013@gmail.com</a>
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To see a sample of last year’s calendar go to: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/3cbn4o">http://tinyurl.com/3cbn4o</a> <br />Christine Nortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754956945954251018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-60835571913513752482012-06-26T17:00:00.000-04:002012-06-27T03:13:08.984-04:00Design Contest Winners: Metal Clay Plus<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were happily surprised to see the nearly 200 entries for the Metal Clay Plus Contest. We saw pieces with polymer clay, resin, enamels, fibers, ceramics, wood,etc. All the pieces were beautiful and very innovative.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank You to our contest sponsor, <a href="http://pmcconnection.com/">PMC Connection</a> and to CEO Jennifer Roberts for her support. Also a big thank you to the judges,<a href="http://www.lorahart.com/"> Lora Hart</a>, <a href="http://www.celiefago.com/">Celie Fago</a> and <a href="http://www.joyfunnell.co.uk/">Joy Funnell</a>.<br />We also want to thank all the wonderful artists who submitted images for the contest for taking this opportunity to share your art with all of us.<br /><br />After the judges carefully scored the images the winners were selected and are as follow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>FIRST PLACE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Kimberly Nogueira</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoRhbsVak2vMAApy-HQDF0M8UgmPGyp2KHoCS44wjyjirjYs4MhIuf-FfvzAJTReei4F7OUGCt__I2Xpp4kycDwfa3t5aOn3fvGn2AdcCQPLt3tUCW1YSOPLEETuDKMOWchonVBJF98U/s1600/Kimberly_Nogueira_USVirginIslands_metalclaypendantautomatonfrontopen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoRhbsVak2vMAApy-HQDF0M8UgmPGyp2KHoCS44wjyjirjYs4MhIuf-FfvzAJTReei4F7OUGCt__I2Xpp4kycDwfa3t5aOn3fvGn2AdcCQPLt3tUCW1YSOPLEETuDKMOWchonVBJF98U/s640/Kimberly_Nogueira_USVirginIslands_metalclaypendantautomatonfrontopen.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lost Point of Origin<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">©</span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Kimberly Nogueira</b><br />
Fine silver, sterling and bronze clays, Mica, Vitreous glass enamel, Paper, Thread, Tourmaline,Found object,<br />
Pearl, Etched and pierced copper sheet, Fine silver wire, Sterling silver sheet, wire and tubing.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>SECOND PLACE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Noortje Meijerink</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIO-fiXvuKb-xWF-OcdzSWgzGJZpDNbHmiHZ98ZpAVJj1b9wm8rpAibXIn_YE-rVFKRFjGupW8RR5dqORRyTwFXXcmAf7Tcbop_1wPmP9u65CBKFsy_G37j0oslPYqtm1pRfAT7I2dwN4/s1600/Noortje_Meijerink_+Netherlands_Copper+clay+porcelain+bird+Speedy+h56.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIO-fiXvuKb-xWF-OcdzSWgzGJZpDNbHmiHZ98ZpAVJj1b9wm8rpAibXIn_YE-rVFKRFjGupW8RR5dqORRyTwFXXcmAf7Tcbop_1wPmP9u65CBKFsy_G37j0oslPYqtm1pRfAT7I2dwN4/s640/Noortje_Meijerink_+Netherlands_Copper+clay+porcelain+bird+Speedy+h56.JPG" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speedy bird<br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">©Noortje Meijerink</b><br />
Porcelain clay and copper clay</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>THIRD PLACE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Liz Hall</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfEzMI8sauRpVE-BFMEMBnTYckD0UJcB9fXFUqCE7JdW8IsGMzF4F-4OFcEvDSj6A40Y8ZkHks4agRsSWzoA-fE8V3fhA11cht-Zu-bio6nS2vmmQii1iQe4xXHPFX_hr6TGzVrBvm5M/s1600/Liz_Hall_USA_FSilver_Polymer_InnerWorks_Pendant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfEzMI8sauRpVE-BFMEMBnTYckD0UJcB9fXFUqCE7JdW8IsGMzF4F-4OFcEvDSj6A40Y8ZkHks4agRsSWzoA-fE8V3fhA11cht-Zu-bio6nS2vmmQii1iQe4xXHPFX_hr6TGzVrBvm5M/s640/Liz_Hall_USA_FSilver_Polymer_InnerWorks_Pendant.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inner Works Pendant<br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">©Liz Hall</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></b>Fine silver clay, Polymer Clay, Fine silver wire, Glitter, Iridescent powders, Liquid polymer.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HONORABLE</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> MENTION</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Milica Bubanja</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdXOy99kHyTBc6RXotQeQ8yThEixN2uWj8Hs4nSaUpxK_3SX0Y1ByT1wFGbHL2rDVcXF0bhD3Lx32RKjbREc-Ex1geBMZn23oL3ZCqU3mUdnFOut6zodJlJvsGUwcsk6irY5ryOKKwqk/s1600/Milica_Bubanja_Slovenia_vintage_fabric_silver_clay_ring_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdXOy99kHyTBc6RXotQeQ8yThEixN2uWj8Hs4nSaUpxK_3SX0Y1ByT1wFGbHL2rDVcXF0bhD3Lx32RKjbREc-Ex1geBMZn23oL3ZCqU3mUdnFOut6zodJlJvsGUwcsk6irY5ryOKKwqk/s640/Milica_Bubanja_Slovenia_vintage_fabric_silver_clay_ring_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vintage Fabric Silver Clay Ring 2<br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">©Milica Bubanja</b>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Congratulations to all !!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lorena Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11226278311825866576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-60192871833245399462012-06-16T09:02:00.000-04:002012-06-16T09:03:07.599-04:00PMC Conference 2012The last <a href="http://www.pmc-conference.com/home.html">PMC Conference</a> will take place next week. Yes, this is the last conference and I am sad about it. I attended my first conference in 2010 and it was an amazing experience, I was able to finally meet so many talented artists that I have admired their work for a long time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D-mQQv9Ai4sqhh53HPME6EVQn6QcAvvhE1zVIub_OdremPagbhcc7miClb4ZyJ4tWTZxaXelICuFfbr_UWx9v0BOzPcxRODt7LkEmb9r2522H5roYEsvsifyxQsWGkiOyC_czjXE5w0/s1600/purdue3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D-mQQv9Ai4sqhh53HPME6EVQn6QcAvvhE1zVIub_OdremPagbhcc7miClb4ZyJ4tWTZxaXelICuFfbr_UWx9v0BOzPcxRODt7LkEmb9r2522H5roYEsvsifyxQsWGkiOyC_czjXE5w0/s400/purdue3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My traveling companion was the amazing <a href="http://www.vickiehallmark.com/">Vickie Hallmark</a>, I was so thankful she was with me since I am terrified about airplanes. I am sorry Vickie had to deal with my excessive talking , you may think it was because I was nervous but NO this is my normal way of being. ;o)</div>
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The Conference is not only a place to see demos by incredible artists and listen to great lectures, the conference is also the best time to connect and socialize with so many people who comes from so many places. People that maybe you only know from social networking sites like Facebook. This is a great time for you to talk and make friends, to share and to be inspired.<br />
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If you are coming to the conference I sure hope I can meet you. I will go again with the best traveling companion, my friend <a href="http://www.vickiehallmark.com/">Vickie Hallmark</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvZXYmW-AeTX_OK1-ZLTcoDOzinkXzA6lQlcCiAuUL-gBJFIpeMCdzk2ASS1aNfskfgkvDLk5dn0k9rWMPlCz6dd7MywzPb4ubIWfbSffGKmR9Qr7r7BPMkhZhtYj3zSKPl0FYytArKE/s1600/purdue2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvZXYmW-AeTX_OK1-ZLTcoDOzinkXzA6lQlcCiAuUL-gBJFIpeMCdzk2ASS1aNfskfgkvDLk5dn0k9rWMPlCz6dd7MywzPb4ubIWfbSffGKmR9Qr7r7BPMkhZhtYj3zSKPl0FYytArKE/s640/purdue2.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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Be ready to have lots of fun and make great memories !!<br />
See you there !</div>
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Love,<br />
<a href="http://lorenaangulo.com/">Lorena Angulo</a></div>Lorena Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11226278311825866576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-88937203937265638142012-03-18T10:17:00.002-04:002012-03-22T21:57:58.574-04:00Truer Words Have Never Been SpokenI have grand plans for future blog posts that delve into the many ways polymer clay and metal clay intersect. There is so much to explore: how artists use both types of clay in mixed-media designs, as well as how polymer clay is such a versatile tool for creating shapes and textures out of metal clay.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfUyvlpf8vF3iEOwOa8Ci2tFqsaPCfxEBlMLKxy5GsKK7yJFPaoWySnxWI13-Seh2rsetdAMBO_vnONTUq5cjYTzv1JyxoQdHeDuiO8nPxMSkCj8YaUrukmzBRr7ecGVlvn_1W0PSaLgJ/s1600/metal-clay-student-gogoshebogo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfUyvlpf8vF3iEOwOa8Ci2tFqsaPCfxEBlMLKxy5GsKK7yJFPaoWySnxWI13-Seh2rsetdAMBO_vnONTUq5cjYTzv1JyxoQdHeDuiO8nPxMSkCj8YaUrukmzBRr7ecGVlvn_1W0PSaLgJ/s320/metal-clay-student-gogoshebogo.JPG" height="320" border="0" width="240" /></a></div>I recently taught an introduction to copper clay class to parents and kids. Some of the children were as young as 6. I really didn't know what to expect from the kids, but they all did an amazing job! Unlike many adults, who approach new mediums a bit hesitantly, the kids aren't plagued by creative doubts. Each one told me with confidence that she is an artist.<br /><br />Ella, age 7, is particularly talented with polymer clay. She makes miniature accessories for her toys and all sorts of other very detailed creations. I tried to explain that she shouldn't touch her very metal clay very much to prevent it from drying out and that it is different that the types of clay she is used to working with. I didn't feel very successful since Ella is very tactile and every time I turned around, she was rolling the clay between her hands as she debated her next move.<br /><br />Yet on the ride home, when Ella's mom asked her what she had learned in class, Ella responded<br /><br /><b><i>"I learned that each type of clay has its own attitude."</i></b><br /><b><i><br /></i></b><br />How true! What type of attitude does your clay have? Do the different brands and various formulas speak to you in different voices? I think it would be fun to assign each one a persona - after all, we spend a lot of time with them! Please leave a comment and have a wonderful day!<br /><br />- Cindy Morris, <a href="http://www.gogoshebogo.com/" target="_blank">gogoshebogo design</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028571427843486418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-51316345734707109962012-03-05T11:52:00.002-05:002012-03-05T11:52:27.059-05:00Kiln Maintenance - Relay Replacement on a Paragon SC-2 Kiln<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The day was bound to come when my Paragon SC-2 kiln would need some maintenance. I got a bit of warning that there was trouble coming when I started to hear a whining noise after the cycle had completed (after the regular beeping completion alarm). Eventually, I got the whine during the cycle, turning on and off as the relays clicked. When I called Paragon service, they suggested it might be a relay nearing failure, so I ordered a replacement to have at the ready. Then I decided to replace it immediately, as I read stories of the relay failure leaving the kiln full on to maximum temperatures. No melted silver for me, please!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q9KJiJbE2y8" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The relay is the part that opens and closes, giving a clicking sound, to allow electricity to flow to the kiln heating elements. By turning the elements on and off in varying proportions, the kiln can adjust to any temperature. Relays have a limited lifetime, with only so many clicks in them. Failure is guaranteed, eventually. The failure may be either in the open or closed state. If open, the element fails to heat. If closed, the element can't turn off. For larger kilns with more than one element, losing a relay can be somewhat compensated for by the computer brain and the other elements. But with only one element on these small kilns, there's a potential melt down risk, with a total loss of glass or metal work inside the kiln. That's a risk I decided to avoid, thanking the kiln gods for the early warning.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The relay arrived with no instructions, so I started a web search to find out how to do it. The <a href="http://www.paragonweb.com/Instruction_Manuals.cfm">Paragon kiln instruction manuals</a> are all online, including the <a href="http://www.paragonweb.com/files/manuals/IM164_Paragon-SC-Series_Manual_May2011.pdf">SC-2 manual</a>. The manual has detailed instructions for replacing the relay, with plenty of photos. If you're a visual learner, you may prefer the video demos available at <a href="http://www.electrickilns.co.uk/vide.htm">Cherry Heaven</a>. In either case, be sure to unplug your kiln before starting any repairs. As well as relay replacement, there are instructions on both sites for thermocouple and controller replacement, as well as lots of other helpful details such as programming instructions. Read more about relays in kilns on the excellent <a href="http://electrickilns.blogspot.com/2008/05/this-summary-will-explain-different.html">Paragon blog</a>.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">After all this research, I decided to make my own slideshow/video (a learning process in itself), and recruited my son to take photos for me during the ten minute procedure. Perhaps it will convince you that this is a simple process that all kiln owners can manage on their own.</div>Vickie Hallmarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13633814450520474638noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-82948975110014632152012-02-18T23:37:00.001-05:002012-02-18T23:38:14.500-05:00Metal Clay Artists are Setting Trends!In the worlds of fashion and art, it is sometimes impossible to tell who inspired whom, or who is copying whom! The fashion industry has very little copyright protection. This forces fashion designers to constantly innovate and make their pieces unique and hard to replicate, or to build their brands so that even if knock-offs are available for less, their target markets will stay loyal.<br />
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Although I'm a blue jeans and hoodie kind of girl, I find it really interesting to watch the trends . For example, feather jewelry and hair adornments are not new, yet feather accessories have definitely had a recent upswing in popularity. Why? Most likely celebrities like Steven Tyler had something to do with it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.timeinc.net/instyle/images/2011/wrn/040811-steven-lead-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.timeinc.net/instyle/images/2011/wrn/040811-steven-lead-300.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Personally, I find his rings to be way more interesting than his feathers, but I digress. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So how does this relate to metal clay artists? Well, TierraCast®, an American manufacturer of pewter jewelry components, recently released a new line of buttons featuring leaf and shell patterns. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tierracast.com/images/featured/503full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.tierracast.com/images/featured/503full.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div>If I didn't know better, I would have thought these were handmade from metal clay. Leaves were one of the first textures I wanted to impress into my metal clay. I'm not alone - pretty much every beginner's metal clay book features a leaf project! Handmade metal clay components featuring organic shapes and patterns are widely available and very popular on sites such as Etsy. This represents real income for real people, so while a part of me is sad to see "mainstream" industry capitalize on their efforts, another part of me must say:<br />
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Congratulations metal clay artists! While you might not agree that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, you must admit that metal clay is having a direct impact on jewelry trends. It is a milestone worth noting!<br />
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~ Cindy Morris, <a href="http://www.gogoshebogo.com/">gogoshebogo design</a><br />
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</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028571427843486418noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-31974723005236795382012-02-05T14:16:00.000-05:002012-02-05T14:17:41.662-05:00Metal Clay Design Competition<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start your year by challenging yourself and enter this wonderful competition organized by <a href="http://www.metalclayartistmag.com/">Metal Clay Artist Magazine</a> and sponsored by USA-based <a href="http://www.pmcconnection.com/">PMC Connection.</a><br />The theme for the competition is "Metal Clay Plus...." You can use any type of metal clay and another non-metal material to create your piece. This can be a great opportunity to start experimenting and playing with materials that you may have not use before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Design requirements:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Metal clay needs to be feature prominently in the design. You can use one or more non-metal materials like resin, glass, polymer clay, enamel, cement, paperclay, fabric, found objects, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Example:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXujRY3INbhVaEJtMY70eWJTvRIYs9IRBFkArsNvm_Xk4hwpPF7ARhRMuWsIyIdUD6O4_I7iXBc-YxzgkGZp4FcmzzNBptgmDQ4hYBSCHXEOminsx9c7gY6T5bTY18XTjgZjSK8QdMrP4/s1600/anillo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXujRY3INbhVaEJtMY70eWJTvRIYs9IRBFkArsNvm_Xk4hwpPF7ARhRMuWsIyIdUD6O4_I7iXBc-YxzgkGZp4FcmzzNBptgmDQ4hYBSCHXEOminsx9c7gY6T5bTY18XTjgZjSK8QdMrP4/s320/anillo.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">©2011 Lorena Angulo<br />
FastFire Bronzclay, Creative paperclay cabochon<br />
with colored pencils.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Judging Criteria:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pieces will be judged based on their workmanship, originality, presentation, creativity and effective use of materials.<br />Artist may enter up to 3 pieces.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Eligibility:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Any independent artist who neither is employed by a metal clay manufacturer nor is a staff member at either PMC Connection or <a href="http://www.metalclayartistmag.com/">Metal Clay Artist Magazine</a> may enter his or her work into the contest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Entries:</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All designs entered in this competition must be original. Winning pieces from other competitions are not eligible to be entered. Each entry must be accompanied by a description of the design, inspiration, construction technique and materials used.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Photos:</b><br />Images must be .jpg labeled</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> using the following format:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Artist Name_Name of piece(optional)_brief description_country.jpg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(example, Jessica Wong_Morning Mist_PMC Pearl Bracelet_Japan.jpg).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image dimensions: minimum 4" x 6"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">resolution: minimum 300 dpi<br /><br />Send photos to <b>contest@metalclayartistmag.com</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with the subject line "MCAM Design Competition"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Awards:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1st Price <b>$300 gift certificate from PMC Connection</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2nd Price <b>$200 gift certificate from PMC Connection</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3rd Price <b>$100 gift certificate from PMC Connection</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Winning pieces will be feature in a PMC Connection ad and an article in MCAM.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Entry Deadline:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pieces must be submitted by 11:59 Eastern Time on <b>February 29th, 2012</b>.<br /><br /><b>Judging:</b><br />Winners will be determined by a panel of jurors<br /><br /><b>Availability of winning entries:</b><br />Winning entries will be showcased in <a href="http://www.metalclayartistmag.com/">Metal Clay Artist Magazine</a> and must be available to be photographed professionally (if necessary).<br /><br /><br />You still have time to make something and share your creativity with us !</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6ec5c5;"><br /></span></div>Lorena Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11226278311825866576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-7434136614871709172012-02-05T00:58:00.000-05:002012-02-05T00:58:24.538-05:00Firing pans for base metal clays: how to choose!Hi bloglandia! I'm Cindy, and I'm a (base) metal clay addict. I have my firing system pretty well worked out these days. It wasn't always like this, though. I remember being very unsure about how to fire bronze and copper. I did a lot of homework, but it much of the information available seemed contradictory. Book learning could only take me so far - I had to test the methods myself!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtNQ7feedlbWSLaANoVsFrk3kRyvPFxzCYZWgLSSQzG2pKtEf_RRMa2rzc0h84M0yUZ1DkJ2TWDILD3EHBAfhRNBl8k-TQE93P0e3kUGnwOpShTPt3ncnH_FNRJXepnwDqYLGdwiPkEmg/s1600/bronze-examples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtNQ7feedlbWSLaANoVsFrk3kRyvPFxzCYZWgLSSQzG2pKtEf_RRMa2rzc0h84M0yUZ1DkJ2TWDILD3EHBAfhRNBl8k-TQE93P0e3kUGnwOpShTPt3ncnH_FNRJXepnwDqYLGdwiPkEmg/s320/bronze-examples.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Since base metal clays need to be fired in activated carbon, you need a container to hold the carbon in. But what kind is best? Many of you probably thought you'd never have to worry about this, since you work in silver. However, now that sterling silver clay is becoming popular, you very well might need a firing vessel!<br />
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I can't claim to be an expert, but I can share what I've learned from direct experience using all the popular firing vessels - ceramic, fiberboard, fiber blanket and stainless steel. Here are what I believe are the pros and cons of each. If you've had different experiences, please leave a comment below so we can all learn together!<br />
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<b>Ceramic firing vessels</b><br />
Pros - durable, available in variety of sizes, won't "contaminate" the kiln (more on this later), can be used with a lid or without, transmits heat well.<br />
Cons - susceptible to thermal shock, relatively expensive.<br />
<br />
<b>Fiberboard firing vessels</b><br />
Pros - won't "contaminate" the kiln (more on this later), can be used with a lid or without, transmits heat well. Thermal shock isn't a concern.<br />
Cons - not as durable, deteriorates after a few firings. Last I checked, was only available in a pretty small size.<br />
<br />
<b>Fiber blanket firing vessels</b><br />
(For this method, you pin a piece of fiber blanket together with steel t-pins to form a firing box.)<br />
Pros - relatively inexpensive, transmits heat well.<br />
Cons - difficult to find materials, requires construction, flimsy, can be difficult to get in/out of kiln, can't withstand the recommended firing schedules for all brands of clay (I had one disintegrate entirely after a single BRONZclay firing - but the pieces sintered just fine at least!)<br />
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<b>Stainless steel firing vessels</b><br />
Pros - durable, cheap, can be used on a camp stove or gas burner to burn out the clay binder.<br />
Cons - relatively poor conductor of heat, might leave kiln dirty.<br />
<br />
Here is where the issue of kiln "contamination" comes in. Some stainless steel containers (in my experience, all of the square steel firing boxes - which are actually restaurant food pans, if you want to source them cheaper! - and most stainless steel mixing bowls) will turn black during firing. Black flakes and dust fall off the pan/bowl into the kiln.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DtVfatgHTcVzIFUpextllJwMKixc6watoXegGhMKjmbvARbaqt9DbOEQWGeH0RW-qWzUTE7rO9yJd4-NFX7TNelObetUmTBzqAVhkbTf57PR10VCphTJjurYsOYL4J1vRt1ePezTQ437/s1600/jewelry+122-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DtVfatgHTcVzIFUpextllJwMKixc6watoXegGhMKjmbvARbaqt9DbOEQWGeH0RW-qWzUTE7rO9yJd4-NFX7TNelObetUmTBzqAVhkbTf57PR10VCphTJjurYsOYL4J1vRt1ePezTQ437/s320/jewelry+122-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>My kiln is right next to my Shop-Vac in the basement, so this isn't much of a concern for me. Five seconds of vacuuming and the dust is gone. I put contamination in quotes because the dust is just that - dust. It is easy to clean up and is not ruining your kiln. However it is possible to avoid the dirty part. It seems that there are different grades of steel and some of these don't flake off during firing. Every steel bowl that I have purchased from thrift stores has <b>not </b>flaked, yet every one that I've purchased new has. Go figure.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSjO5TqDfGvmHRZxvNOAUPUWQMj7HYRPAX8CTngFlRWm4EehVMPaz_pdnGsFRP-GxsMcRl0VrMyHeULE_RteE1OZAlNLhqWFuy5O_4sLZFIaQWARuIdJiyoSnh1rq4lX8WuTDmDVxMIPY/s1600/2011-11-02_17-11-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSjO5TqDfGvmHRZxvNOAUPUWQMj7HYRPAX8CTngFlRWm4EehVMPaz_pdnGsFRP-GxsMcRl0VrMyHeULE_RteE1OZAlNLhqWFuy5O_4sLZFIaQWARuIdJiyoSnh1rq4lX8WuTDmDVxMIPY/s320/2011-11-02_17-11-30.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>For the past few months I've used the faster-firing schedule Hadar Jacobson shared on her blog. It really does work with all brands of clay (or at least all the brands I've tried!). This firing schedule is two-phase, with the first phase completed on a gas stove. For this reason, I now only use stainless steel firing boxes and bowls. For awhile I used the lid from my fiberboard box as a lid on the steel bowl, but then I discovered that a aluminum foil pie plate with a few holes punched in it worked just as well (for the gas-stove step only - don't use aluminum in your kiln!). The photo above is my Pocket Rocket stove with a bowl full of metal clay creations hiding under that lid - and my supervisor Indigo in the background.<br />
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So there you have it - many options for firing your metal clay creations in carbon! My advice is to keep is simple and use a stainless steel bowl. More money for clay that way! Enjoy your weekend all! ~ Cindy Morris, gogoshebogo designAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02028571427843486418noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-70568932027105621152012-01-24T18:12:00.001-05:002012-01-24T18:12:25.289-05:00You never know where you'll find inspirationThe piece of crystalline titanium came to me in the mail. Sent carefully packaged by <a href="http://www.hollygage.com/" target="_blank">Holly Gage</a>, it was nestled in a Newman's Own ginger mints tin. As soon as I took it out I was not only delighted by the titanium, but I was struck by the pretty art on the tin. I squirreled it away.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhwiN1k4vmiqQhBinHL6DihypECHh8Xsh0VKHj06u0SNHAzL206zLqiv7-qlz-4LMlKPyWF8ML-y1MXij9VMkXBk8EIwIUDlnx_ECkz50UNPX8Zn3Gtc5gvAxP2i0WV6N_5367-lK2Ag/s1600/DSCN1746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhwiN1k4vmiqQhBinHL6DihypECHh8Xsh0VKHj06u0SNHAzL206zLqiv7-qlz-4LMlKPyWF8ML-y1MXij9VMkXBk8EIwIUDlnx_ECkz50UNPX8Zn3Gtc5gvAxP2i0WV6N_5367-lK2Ag/s400/DSCN1746.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took this photo after I started cutting it.</td></tr>
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Now I wanted to design something to do justice to that sparkling titanium. I sketched out several versions of a necklace, and decided it would be cool to cut a circle out of that tin and make it into a cabochon to use in the piece.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbMR5BWAX76uyT_1_7EBLhQEuEjKxe6_rkqaljiWf-oyc4OBUIPo6_uWwOJXwCQkjmH2raQ6tGgQ8DaIOgwoYINH5Mn_ScCr1uyesEgoBFS6RvxaKNfDbq24JeLfxH5MbSSQsaE5C0pY/s1600/sketches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbMR5BWAX76uyT_1_7EBLhQEuEjKxe6_rkqaljiWf-oyc4OBUIPo6_uWwOJXwCQkjmH2raQ6tGgQ8DaIOgwoYINH5Mn_ScCr1uyesEgoBFS6RvxaKNfDbq24JeLfxH5MbSSQsaE5C0pY/s400/sketches.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I liked the bolo idea best.</td></tr>
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<br /><br />So this was July, and I had my sketch ready to go—sort of. I started what I call "circling". This is what I do when I'm not 100% certain about carrying something out. I circle, figuratively speaking. I circled and thought about it and never did make it. Something was holding me back, I don't know what it was...<br />
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Enter <a href="http://www.lorahart.com/#home" target="_blank">Lora Hart</a> and her 4 a Month challenge for 2012. This <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1890560@N22/" target="_blank">group on Flickr</a> is created around the concept of making 4 pieces a month—anything you'd like—but you must make four of them. You can choose your theme and process.<br /><br />Coincidentally, I also had just completed a "mentorial" with Lora. This is the "creative coaching" service she provides through her <a href="http://www.lorahart.com/#mentorials" target="_blank">web site</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lorahart" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a>. We discussed my being in a stuck spot with my jewelry business. Lora provided much food for thought, and encouraged me to explore and try new things.<br /><br />The 4 a Month challenge, the mentorial, the tin…inspiration! What if I made that pendant I had sketched out, and 3 more pieces using parts of the tin? Almost right away, I pictured all 4 pieces. I signed up for the 4 a Month group and got to work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLzk4fw36cCXPN872dOuFDvVjl3EzF2i2H11RvTd40v7Xi9VruPim8Jlxkzx92h31hHelzBcz0TxHTC72CR03hRmNQS2sAfwUKTCRGCKtMfWlZbUTukF-L6mCGwfT9u1Shyphenhyphendz3AbE_ko/s1600/4+a+monht.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLzk4fw36cCXPN872dOuFDvVjl3EzF2i2H11RvTd40v7Xi9VruPim8Jlxkzx92h31hHelzBcz0TxHTC72CR03hRmNQS2sAfwUKTCRGCKtMfWlZbUTukF-L6mCGwfT9u1Shyphenhyphendz3AbE_ko/s400/4+a+monht.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">top, left: Holly's Necklace; right: Dragon Cuff<br />bottom, left: Rainbow Drops Earrings; right, Window Box Pendant<br />All are precious metal clay except the cuff, which was done with sheet copper.<br />©2012 Evelyn Pelati Dombkowski</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The first piece was the titanium pendant. For this, I cut out a circle from the tin, dapped it into a dome, and set it like a cabochon in a bezel in a bolo above the pendant. I named this piece "Holly's Necklace" in honor of Holly Gage, who I'm sure had no idea she was providing a boatload of inspiration when she tucked that titanium into that tin.<br /><br />Next came "Dragon Cuff"—because of course I HAD to do something with that dragon!<br /><br />After that I made "Rainbow Drops" earrings. Last, "Window Box Pendant". <br /><br />It was a lot of fun and very satisfying to complete a series like this. I am looking forward to continuing on with 4 a Month each month throughout the year. <br /><br />Thank you to Holly and to Lora for getting me to stop circling and to move forward. You never know where you will find inspiration!<br />
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~ Evelyn Pelati Dombkowski<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-1987146294249207162012-01-17T01:59:00.000-05:002012-01-17T02:20:41.971-05:00Are you lost in cyberspace ??<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have talked about the importance of crediting your images the right way every time you post a picture of your work in any site in the Internet. This not only gives you the rights and credit of your work but also makes your images have an identity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I talked about this topic in this post: <a href="http://metalclaymag.blogspot.com/2011/01/do-you-credit-your-art-work-right-way.html">Do you credit your art work the right way?</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crediting your images is very important but it is also not the only thing you have to do when you post your images on line, tagging your pictures is extremely IMPORTANT !! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>You will be lost in cyberspace if you do not tag your images.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some people may think this is too hard or they may not want to do the extra job of writing tags for their images, but I am telling you, if you do not do it then I do not see the point in posting your images without tags. Tags help you to make your pictures visible to others when they do search in the Internet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tagging an image is simple, tags are words that will describe what is in your picture; for example:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rIZOwVh5C1LlPnrCyhHcFT4qgP7-Jlgpr-Rbin0U6sFdinKyTD_alO5uMBJoJ6azySLUPxRrcZEYhm0VN8ad81f5kzRFN8sj1XkvPLDSAiQPbepw9kUXbKeRws9wEHLDcxo4m1OI5DA/s1600/Anillo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rIZOwVh5C1LlPnrCyhHcFT4qgP7-Jlgpr-Rbin0U6sFdinKyTD_alO5uMBJoJ6azySLUPxRrcZEYhm0VN8ad81f5kzRFN8sj1XkvPLDSAiQPbepw9kUXbKeRws9wEHLDcxo4m1OI5DA/s400/Anillo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ROSAS<br />
©2011 Lorena Angulo<br />
Sterling PMC<br />
Photo: Speedy Peacock</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Tags: Lorena Angulo, Ring, Silver, PMC Sterling, Sterling, Metal Clay, Roses, flowers, leaves, jewelry, textures, hand sculpted</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every word in this list will make my image visible when someone writes a "key" word in any search page. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />I hope you will take the extra time when you see a space that says "tags" or "labels" to write tags in your images the next time you post a picture, this will help you and help others find your work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Tagging !!!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keep Playing, keep creating !</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://blog.lorenaangulo.com/">Lorena Angulo</a></span><br />
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p.s. I almost forgot !! I need to tag my blog post too ! ;o)<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lorena Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11226278311825866576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-83355921667558164382011-12-18T18:34:00.001-05:002011-12-18T18:39:26.025-05:00BREAKING NEWS!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">Metal Clay Artists Magazine is proud to announce that starting in the new year, the digital subscriptions and back issues will migrate to the Zinio (January 2012) and Nook Newsstand (February 2012) platforms. Being offered through these two platforms will greatly enhance the magazine's offerings and provide a better way to explore and enjoy the magazine. Customers will be able to view the magazine on their iPad, Mac, PC, Android (V2.2 and higher), Nook and Kindle Fire.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;">Stay</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"> tuned for additional details in the new year !</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><br /></span></span>Lorena Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11226278311825866576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-80462845727857668802011-12-13T11:41:00.000-05:002011-12-13T21:31:46.036-05:0025 grams of PMC Sterling<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was very happy to have the opportunity to play with the new <a href="http://www.metalclaysupply.com/PMC-p/54923.htm">PMC Sterling</a> back in November. Finally we can have a metal clay that it is stronger and can me mark as .925 silver (sterling).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got a package of 25 grams and I got into my studio to make some pieces with it. The working time for this type of clay is longer and it gives you the flexibility to not worry about the clay drying too fast while you are working with it. The color of the clay is darker and the texture is great and easy to work with.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My plan was to make a ring, earrings and a pendant. The first piece I made was the ring, I hand roll a long snake and wrap it around a mandrel to form the band. The joining of the joints was easy to make and I just added some water to smooth the connections.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyLyS_oHNCMiQmP6izuvdeiwphQcmqy-a9DXugNQaeuPSNbJFnAW-7y5Vj3zNwVWabU-iVuRy06L0cH53LGMLOzjr6Nxy_7VC6Va_lwyXysDdyDlUqgW7VNaZIzgo3MK5NoEam0wyW-Y/s1600/joining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyLyS_oHNCMiQmP6izuvdeiwphQcmqy-a9DXugNQaeuPSNbJFnAW-7y5Vj3zNwVWabU-iVuRy06L0cH53LGMLOzjr6Nxy_7VC6Va_lwyXysDdyDlUqgW7VNaZIzgo3MK5NoEam0wyW-Y/s320/joining.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I decided to go 3.5 sizes bigger than the size I need it for the ring. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do not use any inserts in my ring when I fired it, I believe it is better to let the clay shrink all the way.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carving is another thing I wanted to try with this clay since most of my work has carving in it. I was surprise to see how smooth and easy carving was with this type of clay. The carving went perfect and I saved my carving scraps to add some texture in my pendant later on. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka92lUS67ljtTauwEB64FJQRVIdInuNtbJLWF3FXnsLNnlJBhO2wvLxtVo4NGANQk_gZlSF2XvE9xgFk7Kz4oie9TBnqG7kkMXgjzjgfxNw93le-kEiRIYVlrjFKV6yv3nSOaJk6qRu8/s1600/carving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka92lUS67ljtTauwEB64FJQRVIdInuNtbJLWF3FXnsLNnlJBhO2wvLxtVo4NGANQk_gZlSF2XvE9xgFk7Kz4oie9TBnqG7kkMXgjzjgfxNw93le-kEiRIYVlrjFKV6yv3nSOaJk6qRu8/s320/carving.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since the clay has a longer working time before it gets dry, I knew hand sculpting will be easy and great to do. I hand sculpted a rose to add to my ring and it was perfect for sculpting.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6YM25E-crcG4qFM9NSgwmc1CT1ACCu79D48JUAA_d6zQO5W80CS_hgGn2S7tq6jqKttwZCNFKex0MNNVLZI0xBzvzqgnTK0ElcfeW0GUxJ7-RtmYL31MHdVBxg2zxk2JRGzZOxjBVu0/s1600/sculpt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6YM25E-crcG4qFM9NSgwmc1CT1ACCu79D48JUAA_d6zQO5W80CS_hgGn2S7tq6jqKttwZCNFKex0MNNVLZI0xBzvzqgnTK0ElcfeW0GUxJ7-RtmYL31MHdVBxg2zxk2JRGzZOxjBVu0/s320/sculpt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I let the rose dry first before I added it to the center of the band, this way you will not deform the rose. Adding the rose was easy by using water and fresh clay to join the rose to the band. I do not like to use paste for this, I prefer to use fresh clay instead of paste. I continue to hand formed little rose buds around the center rose and some leaves.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the earrings I wanted to use sterling jump rings and fire them in place. I embedded them in the earrings with fresh clay and hand formed flowers and leaves. In the center of the flowers I attached a CZ Garnet. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLKVCKbEdFpABHH-kk9_Cnnqy-MRyW59myXlfyy65VfXE1OnZidlYTs8vvTPtKFygE3bwdKys-xvAF9QqasQRHyUfegk8rK5Xi-ZhdSYJzssAXEW9ivCPobeAebYEErNRbaLu3nSI6rI/s1600/pmc+sterling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLKVCKbEdFpABHH-kk9_Cnnqy-MRyW59myXlfyy65VfXE1OnZidlYTs8vvTPtKFygE3bwdKys-xvAF9QqasQRHyUfegk8rK5Xi-ZhdSYJzssAXEW9ivCPobeAebYEErNRbaLu3nSI6rI/s320/pmc+sterling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the pendant I play with textures and added my carving scraps on top of the heart with water. I carved and hand formed roses for the front and back of the piece. I always like to add something extra on the back of my pieces.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My firing schedule was different from the package because my pieces were thicker than 3mm. For the open shelf firing I fast ramp to 1000F and hold there for 40 minutes. I let the pieces cool down completely inside the kiln before I took them out to do the second firing.<br />For the second firing I added a coat of activated carbon at the bottom of the steel pot and added my pieces in one layer. I covered them with more activated carbon and closed the pot with the lid. I fast ramp the kiln to 1500F and hold there for 45 minutes. I also let the pieces cool down inside the kiln when the firing was over.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3IIx8RyP6OUZwn6lNOEZ1OD8jirdY62D3oPPAkl2OYllUaSVi9tlOySJ4dOz_Gv9mAHn3I9OCLrjsRxj775-yQawfCwGdjZQmvKPIBjvxrQM6bYTlsR6OyYPO_lgozk6_W2S9OeDP2A/s1600/after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3IIx8RyP6OUZwn6lNOEZ1OD8jirdY62D3oPPAkl2OYllUaSVi9tlOySJ4dOz_Gv9mAHn3I9OCLrjsRxj775-yQawfCwGdjZQmvKPIBjvxrQM6bYTlsR6OyYPO_lgozk6_W2S9OeDP2A/s320/after.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />This is how the pieces look like when they are fired and out of the kiln. A white matte color and they do not have any oxidation or black coloring in them, not even in the sterling jump ring.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I brush them with a brass brush and soapy water, added LOS Gel patina and finally I polished them in a magnetic tumbler.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mraqGJYfWOgVxiXQEhnnuszE8HCy5wWBiqeBUZD84YUYBtAqHB_W2GcgrfFaMvKQIp8wT1bIMreMgouYeeNvXBe0HU2i21fVJKNxW0e0iv4CWY-60GE3218sWnX5rBRbdMrrwThlTB0/s1600/_P2H0159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mraqGJYfWOgVxiXQEhnnuszE8HCy5wWBiqeBUZD84YUYBtAqHB_W2GcgrfFaMvKQIp8wT1bIMreMgouYeeNvXBe0HU2i21fVJKNxW0e0iv4CWY-60GE3218sWnX5rBRbdMrrwThlTB0/s320/_P2H0159.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVZiAwk2N2IbJ44QXnBLhKWALsKEfijz9DT5TbyppvtxCTRoOFunEZg0DYIVqynvsL9106GdjSeLwmPmHplXeuEv7hPH_Q5cmGk3lPkdkOu6mAChPrzSLnkT_fZyVN7jyGgvDVnhtX8s/s1600/collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVZiAwk2N2IbJ44QXnBLhKWALsKEfijz9DT5TbyppvtxCTRoOFunEZg0DYIVqynvsL9106GdjSeLwmPmHplXeuEv7hPH_Q5cmGk3lPkdkOu6mAChPrzSLnkT_fZyVN7jyGgvDVnhtX8s/s400/collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Nobile;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">EL CORAZON<br />©2011 Lorena Angulo<br />PMC Sterling<br />Photo: Speedy Peacock</span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqH5npaTo6ptvMgSrtUBT8A65HIm2bpWYe8TDm4Yv0XChzj1dgut1Z2IKgnQYWMUasoJftPcSNO0BdrNUGCuTnUhomWUcpC7dXqIti4DdcoWNKP9mEiUXFXLI4nM7SbaACIGxOWONhcZ0/s1600/aretes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqH5npaTo6ptvMgSrtUBT8A65HIm2bpWYe8TDm4Yv0XChzj1dgut1Z2IKgnQYWMUasoJftPcSNO0BdrNUGCuTnUhomWUcpC7dXqIti4DdcoWNKP9mEiUXFXLI4nM7SbaACIGxOWONhcZ0/s320/aretes.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FLOR<br />
©2011 Lorena Angulo<br />
PMC Sterling, CZ Hessonite Garnet, Pearls<br />
Photo: Speedy Peacock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeueiJ3A1rMtjpOW0vpkUE9DTvCF2dTo93d046OHE9ESuqF1VCSbuelQY1BuQOogtnONRJF47DJUKTrc8jD5fX0ThJMd101JwW_BC35xc7RHv3ELuF4BCE23H7y01GYh7cINx-QPzRlYo/s1600/Anillo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeueiJ3A1rMtjpOW0vpkUE9DTvCF2dTo93d046OHE9ESuqF1VCSbuelQY1BuQOogtnONRJF47DJUKTrc8jD5fX0ThJMd101JwW_BC35xc7RHv3ELuF4BCE23H7y01GYh7cINx-QPzRlYo/s320/Anillo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">ROSAS</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">©2011 Lorena Angulo</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">PMC Sterling</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Photo: Speedy Peacock</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to continue experimenting and I am going to fire the clay to a longer time, maybe close to 2 hours. I will let you know how this goes and if the size of the ring shrinks more if I add more time to the firing.<br /><br />I am sure you will all like to work with this clay and the best of all is that the price is very similar to PMC3.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keep Playing, Keep Creating !!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.lorenaangulo.com/">Lorena Angulo</a></span>Lorena Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11226278311825866576noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-2500508566874578022011-11-14T00:16:00.001-05:002011-11-14T10:47:26.580-05:00Kathleen Nowak Tucci: A wonderful innovative artist.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have the latest issue of Metal Clay Artist Magazine, you have seen the wonderful front cover piece made by this incredible artist, Kathleen Nowak Tucci. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRakXrIqkvXu9jFgnQ2kSOeQGcev7vxeh86xnk1_DqXWGg9pguL2HRZm2_P3IAkPIxurrUGx2n9O6ZNaG_Usj1FapD2P7k5jR5WGwM9cAo45uTjY8sIAzAUHS33qlSbNQSAt_ta4usFM/s1600/299545_10150311093923157_97877003156_8200400_1839678540_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRakXrIqkvXu9jFgnQ2kSOeQGcev7vxeh86xnk1_DqXWGg9pguL2HRZm2_P3IAkPIxurrUGx2n9O6ZNaG_Usj1FapD2P7k5jR5WGwM9cAo45uTjY8sIAzAUHS33qlSbNQSAt_ta4usFM/s400/299545_10150311093923157_97877003156_8200400_1839678540_n.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember the first time I saw her work, it was magical to see how she was able to transform recycled rubber bicycle and motorcycle inner tubes into amazing pieces of wearable art. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had the pleasure to interview Kathleen to introduce her and her work to our blog followers. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>How did you started creating your work and where?</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew that I was an artist even as a little girl, but I was
also good at Math and Science so I attended college and majored in Computer
Science and minored in Biology.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My
schedule never allowed time for any college level art classes however I always
had some kind of art project that I would work on in my limited free time.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the rubber jewelry, I initially began using industrial
rubber products such as o-rings to construct jewelry. Then I got an idea that needed thin rubber,
the only rubber products that I could find were too thick. I ended up going to a bicycle shop and asked
them for the old inner tubes off the bicycles that they repaired. My initial idea was a flop and the tubes sat
in my studio for months. I hated to
throw them away so one day I just started to “play” with the rubber. I soon realized that it was a great medium to
work with, flexible, easy to cut and to manipulate. One of the best things about the rubber from
the inner tubes is that it is so lightweight. I can make large, dramatic pieces with little
weight. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S-aR2bIpTlHvYETAatCDwpXrwC4jf2CyZ5R3-8z1b_GQSYmVKn5ElDvqHUvU8scOsu0UZreRq0GGpIx-AEyyv7CnF75sk0K_a0q_XvyUuPQM7CVI-EbX-DLTjfm_db1aggZoRvDX06w/s1600/Beth+Necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S-aR2bIpTlHvYETAatCDwpXrwC4jf2CyZ5R3-8z1b_GQSYmVKn5ElDvqHUvU8scOsu0UZreRq0GGpIx-AEyyv7CnF75sk0K_a0q_XvyUuPQM7CVI-EbX-DLTjfm_db1aggZoRvDX06w/s400/Beth+Necklace.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What inspires you?</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most anything visual is an inspiration to me. I have been inspired by architecture,
paintings, sculpture, nature and other artists.
There is nothing more fun for me than to visit a museum or art gallery
and be inspired by the great talents of other artists both past and
present. Somehow all the visual
information stews in my brain and then comes out reconfigured in my own original
creations. I am fortunate to always have
ideas and only wish that there were more time to make everything. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Why do you use recycled materials?</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really just stumbled upon making work in
recycled materials. I freely admit that
it was the properties of the material of the recycled rubber that first drew me
to create architectural jewelry in rubber.
As my designs progressed and I began to acquire cohesion of vision, the
Gulf Coast was hammered with the Gulf Oil Spill. I was struck by the devastation of the event,
its numbing anguish and our own human interaction with Nature, for good or
ill. I began to see the relevance of my
work as an Eco-artist and Eco-designer and am now proud to call myself an
eco-designer. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6_2uAORzcI1XcIujUhhn5wcPp2wFmKNXMJFLc3t1xcyfbiPc-UbJBArII1eH6laEQZscOSxyZuu7XaVtamM5c5RiyMeTeZKdDR14nFjpAfRg9IyElhlQx982Dq1yvmda62SWG7QgN0s/s1600/Necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6_2uAORzcI1XcIujUhhn5wcPp2wFmKNXMJFLc3t1xcyfbiPc-UbJBArII1eH6laEQZscOSxyZuu7XaVtamM5c5RiyMeTeZKdDR14nFjpAfRg9IyElhlQx982Dq1yvmda62SWG7QgN0s/s400/Necklace.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How did you know about metal clay and why did you started
including it in your work?</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have worked in many mediums including, ceramic clay,
polymer clay, silversmithing, and most
painting mediums. Since I have always
read art books and magazines, I must have learned about it though one of those
resources. The editor of MCAM Jeannette
Froese LeBlanc and I meet at an Architectural Ceramics Class by Peter King held
in Pensacola FL, in the Spring of 2001.
We talk to each other about this new medium and how interesting it
seemed. By that fall we signed up to
take a class together in silver metal clay.
Because we had both had previous experience in ceramic clay, working
metal clay was very intuitive for both of us and we realized that it was an
amazing medium. Though we live a great
distance from each other, every time we were able to visit, it seemed that we
always made some time to work in metal clay together. So eleven years after our first taste of
metal clay, Jeannette owns MCAM and I combined the metal clay with my rubber
jewelry and am on the cover of the magazine!
It still amazes me and I am so proud of Jeannette! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCsiYgqTDr-ky3MT9gFq2m3x9EKSwUIrYmvcJAOHrOS93NrQgtJOSGL_OH_JIBJC7zxfJEWiXfZ6LHHemNb3TMGeQXOwp3Wlp7VrzxWo07uwiu-uEdGPYjUarV5uvSxZajIV5Nnyd67k/s1600/Kay+Necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCsiYgqTDr-ky3MT9gFq2m3x9EKSwUIrYmvcJAOHrOS93NrQgtJOSGL_OH_JIBJC7zxfJEWiXfZ6LHHemNb3TMGeQXOwp3Wlp7VrzxWo07uwiu-uEdGPYjUarV5uvSxZajIV5Nnyd67k/s400/Kay+Necklace.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you have any advice to a new beginner? </b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My advice to a
beginner would be to start off working in one of the base metal clays. Take a class with an experienced teacher to
skip over all the trial and much error of working in a new medium. Also don’t expect a masterpiece the first
time you work in any medium. Even those
of us that have much experience, have many pieces and designs that are not
brilliant. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That being said, metal clay is a medium that even a beginner
can create some really outstanding work.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To advance in metal clay, learn other metal working
techniques such as riveting, sawing, soldering, etc.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Can you share with us what has been one of the best moments
in your career and why?</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow, I have had so many amazing things happen in my
career. I have been an artist for almost
30 years now and it seems publicity has always come my way. The first time I saw my work in a gallery was
exciting as was my first feature in a newspaper. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having my rubber jewelry, on the cover, of the controversial
‘Oil Spill Issue” , Vogue Italia. August 2010, certainly has to rank as a very
exciting moment in my career.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vogue
Italia is considered by many as the top fashion magazine in the world.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The photography was by Steven Meisel a top
international photographer.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being the
first Eco-artist on the cover of a major fashion magazine is still pretty
surreal.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGhHMs7gPjndmdqBkuVAtPgLGagi1CCfFgWF8OGVSgTZntoS7pnMdoydlpml1Y-UTiBuO6TgPyfAZfue-9HvygkDGXw_YmYnWKg5ODijjMW05Cx0H-AvVNkhRtyl6hvfLakMPlCfOwT0/s1600/tucci-easels-14x20-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGhHMs7gPjndmdqBkuVAtPgLGagi1CCfFgWF8OGVSgTZntoS7pnMdoydlpml1Y-UTiBuO6TgPyfAZfue-9HvygkDGXw_YmYnWKg5ODijjMW05Cx0H-AvVNkhRtyl6hvfLakMPlCfOwT0/s400/tucci-easels-14x20-1.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A very close second is getting to see the MCAM cover, that
my work is featured on, for the first time at the Smithsonian Craft2Wear
Show. What an exciting day!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8JoNb6fUDqeeBGzuL310JlIaf8gwhnfzLG3d-3VQ3qu4-KRCEuK3uoUtu_-qONX6jqmmNZ3D3XkRvNt5TtmrpLgehSPkAgvT75d1KG3o00uDcB9uqtKTxwDLKxUByG82crEO_1Xohdk/s1600/327305_233780870014584_154789581247047_710207_171125201_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8JoNb6fUDqeeBGzuL310JlIaf8gwhnfzLG3d-3VQ3qu4-KRCEuK3uoUtu_-qONX6jqmmNZ3D3XkRvNt5TtmrpLgehSPkAgvT75d1KG3o00uDcB9uqtKTxwDLKxUByG82crEO_1Xohdk/s400/327305_233780870014584_154789581247047_710207_171125201_o.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can you talk to us about your experience doing the
Smithsonian Show ?</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Smithsonian Craft
Show, is a beautifully run show put on
by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee.
It is definitely the big league!
I was one of 120 artists juried in out of 1300+ entries. Because I normally do not do retail shows, it
was really a tremendous amount of work to get ready for the show, set up for
the show and to be at the booth for five days.
I still don’t know if I have fully recovered. My favorite part of the show was getting to
see all the other amazing art and to be able to meet and talk to other artists
that I have admired “from afar”. It
really is the best of the best and it was very exciting to be a part of it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was one of forty artists invited to show at the October
Smithsonian Craft2Wear Show. All artists
have previously been juried into the Smithsonian Show and it was quite an honor
to receive the invitation. This show was
much shorter, three days, and it felt much more manageable. Once again, I had so much fun seeing people
interact with my work and because it was a smaller show, I was able interact with other artists and their work.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One more exciting thing that happened at the show was that I
was the only artist asked to speak at the lecture that was given during the
show. So many exciting adventures!</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to thank Kathleen for taking her time to give me this interview and to be so generous to share her story with all of us.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To see more of her amazing work click on the following links:</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathleen-Nowak-Tucci/154789581247047">Facebook Page</a></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kathleennowaktucci.com/">Website</a> </span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Love,</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Lorena Angulo<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathleen-Nowak-Tucci/154789581247047">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathleen-Nowak-Tucci/154789581247047</a></i></span></div>Lorena Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11226278311825866576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-48621007943657226412011-10-10T15:03:00.000-04:002011-10-10T15:03:51.116-04:00More Vocabulary of Chains<a href="http://lindakayemoses.com/">Linda Kaye-Moses'</a> <i>The Vocabulary of Chains</i> (in the latest issue of Metal Clay Artist Magazine, vol. 2, issue 4) and <a href="http://www.joyfunnell.co.uk/">Joy Funnell's</a> <i>Summertime Bling</i> chain necklace project (MCAM's last issue, vol. 2, issue 3) will have you thinking about chains and metal clay in a new light.<br />
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Coincidentally, I just completed a course about chain-making with <a href="http://www.metalwerx.com/staff/196">Leslie Hartwell</a> at <a href="http://www.metalwerx.com/">Metalwerx</a>, in Waltham, MA. Inspired by Linda's and Joy's articles and Leslie's class, I thought I'd share some more ideas for expanding your own chain vocabulary.<br />
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Often, we spend so much time and effort working on a piece that when it is ready to be paired with a chain, we grab the most convenient commercially-made one and we're done.<br />
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Integrating the chain and pendant requires a little pre-planning. Think about the chain, too, when you are designing your piece. What kind of chain will complement the pendant? Will the finished piece look unified? How will the chain connect with the pendant? Also, think about other things, such as proportion—should the chain be large and chunky? Or thin and delicate?<br />
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If fabricating a custom chain is not your thing, there are ways to modify commercially-made chain that might be a solution for you.<br />
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Consider altering chain by methods like hammering, cutting apart, or applying patina.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITkn3S2EcMH13NJ_7H7luPKf-XdsJ3Q1UZkiVI5ikrabTdmcf4_5cDGi8eN3Q85QVRDhRl8fjdNg9RPqkzNDPDflH2rTKnmXfzM2dsTbgAqhgJWa1RIdKUmeYAFGYHgIJYy_FxF_e_a0/s1600/chains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITkn3S2EcMH13NJ_7H7luPKf-XdsJ3Q1UZkiVI5ikrabTdmcf4_5cDGi8eN3Q85QVRDhRl8fjdNg9RPqkzNDPDflH2rTKnmXfzM2dsTbgAqhgJWa1RIdKUmeYAFGYHgIJYy_FxF_e_a0/s640/chains.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper left: Altering commercial chain by cutting apart and interspersing with beads, plus adding patina<br />
Upper right and bottom photos: custom made chains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For example; if you have a chain with large, open links—you can rest the edge of a link on your bench block and hammer it. The link can be turned and hammered all the way around, or just partially hammered. A pattern can be created by hammering alternate links or every link. How about hammering just a centerpiece where the pendant will hang?<br />
<br />
Chains can be cut apart and the segments re-joined with interspersed beads—or like Linda's project—custom-made metal clay components. Graduated size chains can be linked into one, unified look. You can connect multiple strands of chain to single strand sections. How about mixing metals?<br />
<br />
Adding a patina to the chain might be just that little extra something to bring the entire piece together with a customized feel.<br />
<br />
If you enjoy making more complex work, there are many additional ways to design chains to complement a pendant. You can be daring and fabricate a chain, or a section of chain, from metal clay. Or, you can make your own chain by soldering wire. Several books are available for soldered chain technical information and design inspiration. Here are three that I really like: <br />
<br />
• <i>The Complete Metalsmith</i> by Tim McCreight. This book has a wealth of information—so it's a worthwhile addition to your books anyway—but in this case it offers many tips on chain construction, chain styles, clasps and bails. <br />
• <i>Creative Silver Chains</i> by Chantal Lise Saunders. Nice step by step instructions on some interesting designs, plus a very good introductory section with information on materials, techniques and design inspiration. <br />
• <i>Making Silver Chains</i> by Glen F. Waszek is another well-organized book with great step by step instructions and a lot of good lessons for working with silver.<br />
<br />
~ <a href="http://www.metalclayartistmag.com/AboutUs.asp">Evelyn</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-1315166982148611962011-10-03T14:57:00.001-04:002011-10-03T22:21:07.042-04:00Now You See It, Now You Don’t…Transforming Your Workspace<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The latest Reader Challenge is to show us your workspace. </span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all love to see where other artists work! </span></i></b></div><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MCAM reader, Yvonne Kuennen shares her experience with organizing her space and clearing the clutter… </span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you work with metal clay, you tend to fall in love with it because it takes up so little space. It’s extremely portable, and a very small toolbox will hold most of your tools. Many of the basic tools are common things you might find in your kitchen or around the house: miniature rolling pin, cookies cutters, picks, emery boards, brushes, etc. In no time at all the tools multiply; and, before you know it, take over a portion of your house! The other people who share that living space are forced to give it up. It really is unfair—to everyone concerned. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNBF8C7P5uZnxhW7xsv6N__AF-17ZaBOUzglIC5ERhj_OLQ2HeutSdv7bQRO6myclUNAuZwWcXq3hKaftRDEB31MjHeX83jHVa1mVggyovU4qEuCsDqwQbIXkFkT5kg1GtP1OyhZpx2A/s1600/YvonneKuennen_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="507" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNBF8C7P5uZnxhW7xsv6N__AF-17ZaBOUzglIC5ERhj_OLQ2HeutSdv7bQRO6myclUNAuZwWcXq3hKaftRDEB31MjHeX83jHVa1mVggyovU4qEuCsDqwQbIXkFkT5kg1GtP1OyhZpx2A/s640/YvonneKuennen_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is a challenge to organize so many tiny tools. You can’t have too many tools or too many beads (everyone knows that)! The question is, what do you let go of? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my study of Feng Shui I ran across a book entitled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clearing the Clutter. </i>Then I attended a workshop on the same topic. The basic premise for Feng Shui is in the clearing of spaces. The best tip I learned was to create three boxes (or bins) with these labels: donate/repurpose, pitch and keep. The trick for me was getting the boxes to the thrift store or the trash before I got a chance to pull things back out. I kept telling myself, “less is more.” It is so true. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QpL2K-VcAzV1HRQr11ZlI2q00mqhhnQmy1WMb1vHVNjsIgFxLdUqmsdESt7hb9ZcsankooP8Hm3Ztjw-fGBR94fIVSBS_2T0au8sQXNEimokpnrZbbgCbQpuwVBKn2fZigLBlh7-tzM/s1600/YvonneKuennen_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QpL2K-VcAzV1HRQr11ZlI2q00mqhhnQmy1WMb1vHVNjsIgFxLdUqmsdESt7hb9ZcsankooP8Hm3Ztjw-fGBR94fIVSBS_2T0au8sQXNEimokpnrZbbgCbQpuwVBKn2fZigLBlh7-tzM/s640/YvonneKuennen_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sort it all out and systematically categorize the things you are sorting through. If anything appears to be taking up too much space, find a bin for it. Be ruthless…is it being used? Selling or donating unused items is the easiest route in making them go away. The cash or credit you receive is such a plus that the pain of letting go is minimized.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Space planning is also no small feat. It requires a good deal of thoughtful planning and engineering. It also requires a high degree of organization. Without organization, you don’t know what get rid of. In my own case, the dining room table became a parking lot for all stages of design and production. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrfWm2KUp9RckDiCG_CEz51y9Z_w9B-njpXc3GqOpmNnmVGJ14XWyBKGxw6Y2xmJEBKQL2gVhtFxrPhA9hTl3DVBDe8MbHdf_UHXGfSWTIQBTc7Vno0amdgO1kZIxDJM_dqDsaRQRntc/s1600/YvonneKuennen_3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrfWm2KUp9RckDiCG_CEz51y9Z_w9B-njpXc3GqOpmNnmVGJ14XWyBKGxw6Y2xmJEBKQL2gVhtFxrPhA9hTl3DVBDe8MbHdf_UHXGfSWTIQBTc7Vno0amdgO1kZIxDJM_dqDsaRQRntc/s640/YvonneKuennen_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I struggled for months (years to be truthful) to figure out a better order for all these things. I had several different beading rooms, but each one became a cluttered nightmare with no visible tabletop to work on.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">VOILA! My husband Michael, the wood artist, built a wall-to-wall bookcase from “stick.” It is five sections from floor to ceiling, made of alder-stained cherry with cupboards beneath each section. Each cupboard now houses the myriad of tools and various pieces of equipment for my trade.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-KTl883hSmHdOH8dJPZY-xqPEQhXiCzF2jpBmNwiKjto_XuzxWPNWLLvxGMUg1n7fZgHGfL1IR7wTb_2RnVqkHB6-blrHAKIa220pibjf9nVSKWOUn0M5ZW2OqeU9C8Qc6NpSwWH6qY/s1600/YvonneKuennen_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-KTl883hSmHdOH8dJPZY-xqPEQhXiCzF2jpBmNwiKjto_XuzxWPNWLLvxGMUg1n7fZgHGfL1IR7wTb_2RnVqkHB6-blrHAKIa220pibjf9nVSKWOUn0M5ZW2OqeU9C8Qc6NpSwWH6qY/s640/YvonneKuennen_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One cupboard has kits for seven students (my maximum for teaching workshops), the next has a tower of drawers to house all the molds I’ve made, a variety of texture tips, cutters and the like. The third holds all my firing equipment in a work bucket. The fourth has all my scrap glass and tools for making the dichroic cabochons. The fifth stands empty—yet to be filled, but that is a good thing since I am not finished. I still have beads to organize (get rid of)? The best organizing tool that I have found for beads are 5.5 x 9 x 1 inch trays with separator black felt bottoms. Some even have tops that snap shut. These trays stack neatly, and once labeled, make it easy to find a particular bead.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bringing peace into your house by organizing your workspace can be done without a degree in Feng Shui. It is highly recommended to understand the principles of this ancient art of placement and worth any time you can spend studying it. The timing is important because the process is difficult on an emotional level. Several weeks in between “pitches” made it easier for me, and each one was less painful than the first. The art of organizing your workspace is a process, and you have to remember to “trust the process.” What a difference it has made to have a clean dining room table! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEu3a60vD2LGjXtqzC2zFlr2wTuK3Xt_E5uBVyHVgN9H3MPca4sHVyG4gGctK8fi7vY2m9JeGUWxpChfUVw8QgrMdUAAttamD7bP_Ib5_YDbY15ZZEQSiVS0XgqZSgKDjUb2zD04BlsA/s1600/YvonneKuennen_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEu3a60vD2LGjXtqzC2zFlr2wTuK3Xt_E5uBVyHVgN9H3MPca4sHVyG4gGctK8fi7vY2m9JeGUWxpChfUVw8QgrMdUAAttamD7bP_Ib5_YDbY15ZZEQSiVS0XgqZSgKDjUb2zD04BlsA/s640/YvonneKuennen_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With my new organized workspace, I find myself being much more productive .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEN3NJ9Vjb__-ADIN4f4SWOofz_BaaUs2a3Qadmp8cBDBl51hVrQbJiplvihxr9Ns62wi3eYAxGOOs5lrELtV9KaoDU7qSFw5eotH4Tjev4hSOlihyfBFZBC9iwatpbO1Upu2v75zzMcI/s1600/YvonneKuennen_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEN3NJ9Vjb__-ADIN4f4SWOofz_BaaUs2a3Qadmp8cBDBl51hVrQbJiplvihxr9Ns62wi3eYAxGOOs5lrELtV9KaoDU7qSFw5eotH4Tjev4hSOlihyfBFZBC9iwatpbO1Upu2v75zzMcI/s640/YvonneKuennen_6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My head is clear and I find more room to design and plan new projects. In demonstrating my respect for other people’s space, my relationships have improved. I have started cooking again due to the newly cleared dining room table. The kitchen is no longer permanent parking space for the crème brulee torch, torch stand and tumbler!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">~ Yvonne Kuennen </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-90692261553428973692011-08-26T11:02:00.001-04:002012-01-17T02:28:06.833-05:00I am an Artist and very proud of all my "cakes" !<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have seen a lot of discussions lately about what "Metal Clay" is for some metalsmithing people and I am surprised to see how much misinformation they have about this innovative material.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I understand their lack of knowledge, and those who tried it and said it was a mess, and it does not work. Well, I have some news for you; you did not work with the clay the right way.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I respect everybody's opinion but I think there is a point where we need to be careful in how we talk about people who have chosen</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to work with metal clay, we can express our thinking without being rude and without insulting.<br />I have been called lots of names because of my ethnicity but I never thought I will be called "names" because of the medium or material I choose to create some of my work.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the latest names I saw was "Cake Decorator", people who work with metal clay are consider to be that by some.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am okay with the name, I LOVE CAKES !!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other people feel we are "pretending to BE" metalsmiths.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are not pretending to be "Anything", we are just people who have chosen to work with Metal Clay and create art. We are not "cake decorators", "metalsmiths", etc. We are just Artists that are open to experiment with new materials and we are always willing to learn new techniques.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I always encourage my students to learn how to solder and fabricate pieces because it will benefit their own metal clay work.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started my journey in the art by learning metalsmithing, it was my wonderful and talented teacher -Claire Holliday- who introduced me to this novel material, metal clay, that Claire used to create some of her work. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of Claire's metal clay pieces was featured in the front cover of the Metalsmith magazine, a publication of the <a href="http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/">Society of North American Goldsmiths</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkK7jXTzf4whIGlAf8m09zH8dHX8W61W-AyqvKmV9aQMl-16G70K8jFIwYVqQHnyuV8JVwro0xouDGzByw9BKY9Z8WTy1NxmdFiIh3vB36EvIe43Zu5HmQyqaLghlSYsJIQnJbrAD3GI8/s1600/snag-mag-claire-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkK7jXTzf4whIGlAf8m09zH8dHX8W61W-AyqvKmV9aQMl-16G70K8jFIwYVqQHnyuV8JVwro0xouDGzByw9BKY9Z8WTy1NxmdFiIh3vB36EvIe43Zu5HmQyqaLghlSYsJIQnJbrAD3GI8/s400/snag-mag-claire-cover.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Seed No. 1 (Brooch)<br />
©2005 Claire Holliday<br />
Fine Silver<br />
Photo: Dean Powell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2010 I had a wonderful opportunity to show my work (not exclusively metal clay) to other talented and renowned metalsmith artists, among them, Thomas Mann. Thomas was so intrigued and interested that traded one of his pieces for one of mine.I was honored to do a trade with him !</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_9Gr5MDcrHOHfcAqkL67yKNe0pLx5VhIEaCvGO5xiITmGbeeCLbqSccVHX8HRRfqYIUiwVsdt3nyfbWFTaKZaGH4RfCaJWox_7ubzxlalgvGoBT2FX0qdGCAGXPrQ8LjL01cth0zeAs/s1600/AdornMe-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_9Gr5MDcrHOHfcAqkL67yKNe0pLx5VhIEaCvGO5xiITmGbeeCLbqSccVHX8HRRfqYIUiwVsdt3nyfbWFTaKZaGH4RfCaJWox_7ubzxlalgvGoBT2FX0qdGCAGXPrQ8LjL01cth0zeAs/s640/AdornMe-2010.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas visiting my table and looking at my work.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another fascinating and mind opening experience that helped me expand my creativity and techniques, was when I had the pleasure to participate in a workshop and lecture by Robert Ebendorf at the <a href="http://www.swschool.org/">Southwest School of Art</a> in San Antonio, Texas.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What I learned from Bob gave me a new dimension to create, incorporating traditional metalsmith fabrication techniques with the distinctive style promoted by Bob's work but keeping my own creative voice and designs.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDC5lGKybMBwojZH8m1iPNfY_Ias81U_Ur2-69Q7jtTfGsF12wr7_DOig4vRunpyoECCwwhej3IM2y8LFM9LRGU1EiOuE0i6Rg1Uz3TKDmZ1Luv5eLfGWWXaG8i11Kt63K4aPPcICNT8/s1600/robertandme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDC5lGKybMBwojZH8m1iPNfY_Ias81U_Ur2-69Q7jtTfGsF12wr7_DOig4vRunpyoECCwwhej3IM2y8LFM9LRGU1EiOuE0i6Rg1Uz3TKDmZ1Luv5eLfGWWXaG8i11Kt63K4aPPcICNT8/s320/robertandme.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In case you don't know, Bob was one of the founding members of the <a href="http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/">Society of North American Goldsmiths</a> and an inductee of the National Metalsmiths Hall of Fame.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the workshop, when Bob saw one of my hand sculpted copper clay trees of life, he suggested to me to create a piece using what I learned from him and using the tree of life as the center component.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This piece was later featured in the front cover of the Metal Clay Artist Magazine, and many other publications.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAR_20RcjaMM6-zXnH0F5IncJQZvXYyjJ6MIiKtv6N1RjTrxLuZfRBrvIQZgsCqKkZH4wKYZFdXIEMtB1RmfT5jGRIXQyhkNLQ1_8n6GSzxTccW6plUMgc5FoOCjAJSO07udVhNaScmg/s1600/vol1iss4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAR_20RcjaMM6-zXnH0F5IncJQZvXYyjJ6MIiKtv6N1RjTrxLuZfRBrvIQZgsCqKkZH4wKYZFdXIEMtB1RmfT5jGRIXQyhkNLQ1_8n6GSzxTccW6plUMgc5FoOCjAJSO07udVhNaScmg/s400/vol1iss4.png" width="306" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really want to give thanks to a lot of my metalsmiths friends and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">colleagues that are open to see beyond the material. I have learn a lot from all of you. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keep learning, keep experimenting, keep creating !</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://blog.lorenaangulo.com/">Lorena Angulo</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lorena Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11226278311825866576noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-16516378865102408632011-08-18T15:03:00.000-04:002011-08-18T15:03:34.245-04:00A Splash of Colour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSdqka9Gjs8f93SlpWBS9Cr-W3uc1aD4nEw-aA6-PBbpmLe4StS9h1E1HhSPZgN8DtD4flK_cD-92TINSnp1IxXl9FXG3ORtLjtZtCCil1ou1pXlbMDn6O4JtKHEG5rk8GO2Ahp06yiQ/s1600/newearrings+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSdqka9Gjs8f93SlpWBS9Cr-W3uc1aD4nEw-aA6-PBbpmLe4StS9h1E1HhSPZgN8DtD4flK_cD-92TINSnp1IxXl9FXG3ORtLjtZtCCil1ou1pXlbMDn6O4JtKHEG5rk8GO2Ahp06yiQ/s320/newearrings+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love adding colour to my work and sometimes it does not need a lot to make your work really stand out from the crowd and if you are lucky catch the eye of a potential customer. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I made these earrings above recently and they all have a little enamel, but just a bit of resin would work equally as well. There are lots of different ways to add colour including Keum Boo, prismacolor pencils and patinas so get thinking! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Even one simple colour in the middle of a piece can make all the difference like the enamelled ones below. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJwFxPRu1ft8I1GDoajByEX4B9kLkZ8K95BdDgaCF-cIRmCePazuApfsTUnlgbRUOkQu3c2Qp-KrNo_Lw9d-xtJRytpr8KhahRABoOpNHoOYAcVDj-bWJya21_uRdZ5LGGE84fWB9ixs/s1600/DSC02749+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJwFxPRu1ft8I1GDoajByEX4B9kLkZ8K95BdDgaCF-cIRmCePazuApfsTUnlgbRUOkQu3c2Qp-KrNo_Lw9d-xtJRytpr8KhahRABoOpNHoOYAcVDj-bWJya21_uRdZ5LGGE84fWB9ixs/s320/DSC02749+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczXy3YuoNLcP5wmFrGj3wXMU7-ygbpzGrglYashTsqcDWU34U1wUOuGbn9DmJQzsZXsgN6ghDK6JTUPGQmU1FNwY_rbBrGdYowVzH0et_S4BRqJ9E7Ck94sNDzN5FJjvnvkm5FqBCZHc/s1600/DSC02685+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczXy3YuoNLcP5wmFrGj3wXMU7-ygbpzGrglYashTsqcDWU34U1wUOuGbn9DmJQzsZXsgN6ghDK6JTUPGQmU1FNwY_rbBrGdYowVzH0et_S4BRqJ9E7Ck94sNDzN5FJjvnvkm5FqBCZHc/s320/DSC02685+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" width="320px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtIS7PAT65KjXolwjj-MOnNN9pNhiWNtgI9HVqLuuqMldF7TBZVvy-OQl3FWxI2UO5yp5W9JgfakelmZI_7pUqA20_vnN-e6Kx87-RXIznP8r29QFeXeKoktGyLTRbcQ_IcACjMHDqPU/s1600/DSC03257+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtIS7PAT65KjXolwjj-MOnNN9pNhiWNtgI9HVqLuuqMldF7TBZVvy-OQl3FWxI2UO5yp5W9JgfakelmZI_7pUqA20_vnN-e6Kx87-RXIznP8r29QFeXeKoktGyLTRbcQ_IcACjMHDqPU/s320/DSC03257+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So why not give it a go and add a bit of colour to your life ;-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have fun....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.joyfunnell.blogspot.com/">Joy</a></div>Joy Funnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04813881468698418006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-64451193511967275062011-08-07T17:02:00.006-04:002011-08-07T18:18:44.361-04:00Yoga for Metal Clay Artists<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7751nvS3YcqZeCbsUa5a-EG8rKvdhEpBBHhlz1HGL6RVv3wT9RTDWdHMVXfGYpBYLDhHUPcBGVad7gJHOdafr4kMy2rNLykw47PU7wrMhA9gjzfh5-JJCfsVSo_9kz2S2i6OTTYNmOQ/s1600/yoga.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7751nvS3YcqZeCbsUa5a-EG8rKvdhEpBBHhlz1HGL6RVv3wT9RTDWdHMVXfGYpBYLDhHUPcBGVad7gJHOdafr4kMy2rNLykw47PU7wrMhA9gjzfh5-JJCfsVSo_9kz2S2i6OTTYNmOQ/s320/yoga.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638222990451412370" border="0" /></a> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Sometimes when I’m working at my bench, I concentrate so hard it occurs to me that I almost forget to breathe! Not a good thing, because I like to breathe and plan to keep doing it as long as I can.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Another thing I do is tense up my muscles all around my neck and shoulders. And I don’t blink my eyes often enough… You get the picture.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> I’ve been practicing yoga for many years, and I have realized that I should apply some of my yoga practice when I’m working. I discussed the idea with Rosie, my yoga teacher, and she had several suggestions. I thought I would share a few ideas with those of you who also think you might benefit from this.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> All of these movements should be done very slowly, gently and deliberately. <span style="font-style: italic;">Never do anything that hurts.</span> These are gentle stretches intended to release your body from the tension that builds when we concentrate so hard. This is not intended to be a workout!</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Start with the breath.</span> These are called 4-7-8 breaths. Sitting up straight, inhale slowly and mindfully to a count of 4. Hold your breath to a count of 7. Then, exhale slowly to a count of 8. Slowly repeat a few times, taking care not to make yourself dizzy.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Now the eyes– </span>periodically it’s a good habit to give your eyes a little break. Try these movements; look up to your forehead, then straight down to your chin. Stretch your eyes to look as far to the periphery as you can. Look up, then down, several times. Then do the same thing, but look left and right– from ear to ear. Afterward, rub the palms of your hands together vigorously to generate some heat. Then, cup your hands over your eyes, resting the heals of your hands on your cheekbones and your fingertips at your forehead. Close your eyes and let the warmth and darkness relax the eye muscles.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Next, the neck.</span> Sitting up straight, with your shoulders evenly across, slowly lift the neck as if to stretch the spine. Very slowly and gently lower your chin to your chest. Then, slowly tip your head to the right and roll your head around—right, back, left, and front. Roll very gently and don’t strain your neck. Keep your chin pointed to the center and pivot around it. Next, repeat in the opposite direction. After that– stretch upright again, lifting the neck. Keeping your shoulders down, slowly and gently turn your head to look over your right shoulder. Then, move across to look over your left shoulder. Relax.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Now, the shoulders.</span> Again, sit up straight, shoulders straight across. Then, lower your shoulders down. Roll your shoulders around to the back, then raise them up to your ears, then forward. Roll your shoulders several times, gently. Relax. Repeat in the opposite direction.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Last, something for your forearms, wrists and hands.</span> Sitting up straight, hold your arms against your sides. Raise your forearms at a 90 degree angle out in front of you, hands straight out with the palms down, fingertips pointing forward. Holding your forearms in this position without moving them, bend your wrists so your hands are facing straight up– palms out, fingers pointing to the ceiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now slowly bend your wrists so your hands are facing down, backs of the hands out, fingers pointing to the floor. Keep your forearms in the same position without moving them. The wrists and hands will do all the moving. Repeat up and down, several times. Then, bend the wrists so your fingertips point right, backs of the hands out, palms toward you (as much as possible), forearms still not moving. Repeat by bending your wrists to the left. Left, right, several times, slowly. Then, still keeping the forearms straight, stretch your hands out fully, palms out, fingertips pointing up to the ceiling. Then squeeze the hands into in a fist. Stretch and squeeze, several times.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> I hope you find these exercises calming, but at the same time getting the blood flowing! There are many more ways yoga can be practiced at your bench. Give it a try. Namaste!</span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">~ Evelyn</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-81276170758060749322011-08-01T22:20:00.006-04:002011-08-03T17:55:30.814-04:00Metal Clay World ConferenceAfter much anticipation, the MCWC finally arrived! I packed and loaded my car and headed off to the airport. But it seemed that between the heat and road blocks in my area, and the freak thunderstorms in the Chicago area, I was not to make it there. But eventually, I did and boy was it worth it!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup! That's right-- 37 degrees! (That's 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit!) Who says Canada is always cold?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqZ-zaLyQ9o6uEll4SJjibf2j2OS3Wj3N5Ejo0FiOk8pJTjSo0W49hRl7apV5MnCRZ8cu9Ttge3jf1CyF482DLmnyAEynjX_x3NGPpKr45EWP7Qaim9w3Cl04DIISqjLSRDcPtrErp1MS/s400/DSCF0611.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
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</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Don't they know I'm trying to get to the airport to catch a plane and go to the Metal Clay conference???? </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQJfuuYpCecxzMyJRvtX3RemqkL460bC24Y9wyPkxdoSMNsJOvlo0kZZbMrJNlSiETVhNGqtMUn3Fo7b45wp5AYo-udVPRVHQXuZhVA9PJLO-yoNYo4j50DZq1JTclP4Ib-9o-jgTrpRD/s1600/DSCF0625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQJfuuYpCecxzMyJRvtX3RemqkL460bC24Y9wyPkxdoSMNsJOvlo0kZZbMrJNlSiETVhNGqtMUn3Fo7b45wp5AYo-udVPRVHQXuZhVA9PJLO-yoNYo4j50DZq1JTclP4Ib-9o-jgTrpRD/s640/DSCF0625.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicago--as close as I got to it at least!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This year’s conference was the best MCWC to date! Great work Jackie, Tom, Katie and staff at Art Clay World, USA. The accommodations, workshops, lectures and presentations were top notch! I attended as many conference presentations as I could--if only there were more days to the conference. I had a very hard time choosing which lecture to attend. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was so busy at the conference, I forgot to take many photos! This photo is from the presentation by Deb Wajnarawski. She is demonstrating soldering, and the live video is up on the screen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The shopping was also most enjoyable! Talking with the vendors, many of whom are advertisers in our magazine is always interesting. Some vendors save new products to unveil at the conference--so it is always cool to be in on something brand new! My credit card was squeaking by the time the vendor room closed…so I headed over to the polymer clay retreat room and did some damage in there finding great beads, pendants and rings for sale by the artists who made them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtQS469TJTEu3R9N-flBDrnmv-1LbysU03XPBFrPEcxjx2TmyGtPewD_MKOFhwbQGPdI8fXTewp0V58ZpXChxOtqCMKlNnv27IPN_6Bxb1FHcPCOVxu5oShvIPimQpOt6EhpIa35P_z-r/s1600/DSCF0940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtQS469TJTEu3R9N-flBDrnmv-1LbysU03XPBFrPEcxjx2TmyGtPewD_MKOFhwbQGPdI8fXTewp0V58ZpXChxOtqCMKlNnv27IPN_6Bxb1FHcPCOVxu5oShvIPimQpOt6EhpIa35P_z-r/s400/DSCF0940.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This beautiful polymer clay ring is by Ponsawan Sila. </td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">I enjoyed attending a pre-conference workshop with <span class="cgSelectable" title="View all emails from this sender "><span class="fontDarkGray">Ronna Sarvas Weltman</span></span>. Along with learning some tricks for polymer clay, making new friends was serendipitous! Meeting the people who have written for the magazine, or that I’ve chatted with online or on Facebook is the best part about attending a conference!! </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyQjzT0goNXpZJROURQM55bZmWB8b2niL2OflpdjqwRsR1-498yNP-JQF90QuNwuweaMTd4iUIfWMYWoeI7I8qux6cIWa0fmfVkhtkEVXA0z0U5y3TtqG-qnvPNSDIzw2gjLKzeFVYx_R/s1600/DSCF0681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyQjzT0goNXpZJROURQM55bZmWB8b2niL2OflpdjqwRsR1-498yNP-JQF90QuNwuweaMTd4iUIfWMYWoeI7I8qux6cIWa0fmfVkhtkEVXA0z0U5y3TtqG-qnvPNSDIzw2gjLKzeFVYx_R/s400/DSCF0681.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured is Joy Funnell and a larger than life version of the cover which showcased her piece on the cover. The second cover (bottom) is a piece by Hattie Sanderson.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMKqEPNDqgVSPwcw0nUFzdmO6ESnXa21l_460F4FlmDMREoU1jKPYmnAnEhUHQs4juog0RxZDULr7se7uAsShYRkGPigwu7lj_enAmlk3ctlVX55lvbEAhpFIEJ2DU78cooDpIWp-huFW/s1600/groupb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMKqEPNDqgVSPwcw0nUFzdmO6ESnXa21l_460F4FlmDMREoU1jKPYmnAnEhUHQs4juog0RxZDULr7se7uAsShYRkGPigwu7lj_enAmlk3ctlVX55lvbEAhpFIEJ2DU78cooDpIWp-huFW/s400/groupb.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Pam East, Lorrene Baum-Davis, Hattie Sanderson and Mary Ellin D'Agostino.<span class="fbPhotosTaglistTag tagItem"><a class="taggee" data-gt="{"engagement":{"eng_type":1,"eng_src":11,"eng_tid":1080913496,"eng_data":[]}}" data-tag="1080913496" href="https://www.facebook.com/medagostino"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Many people wore jewellery that they made, so walking anywhere at the conference was like attending a live art show! After losing most of my pieces to a thief in airport security last year, I had to grovel and beg to borrow pieces from my friends. Lucky for me, I have talented friends! (In the photo above I'm wearing a necklace by Kathleen Nowak Tucci. Besides the necklace, also in this picture is Judi Weers, me, Ann Davis, Lorrene Baum-Davis, and Sherry Chaples.)<br />
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I also had fun celebrating the magazine's second birthday with birthday cake of course!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8j1fxU5yzzEbpw1fTxQ-2w_8eobF9MzySG4pD5JG88oEoTjkB9bKU5ZkOa1x4QvBCpKaJGCGxP2mRRbp-DE_-0sceoGlFG5_FMCetdsWyE2v_KzzOJEXErY3nyDYoDDaelnHDzo2AiX31/s1600/birthday+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8j1fxU5yzzEbpw1fTxQ-2w_8eobF9MzySG4pD5JG88oEoTjkB9bKU5ZkOa1x4QvBCpKaJGCGxP2mRRbp-DE_-0sceoGlFG5_FMCetdsWyE2v_KzzOJEXErY3nyDYoDDaelnHDzo2AiX31/s400/birthday+cake.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpOmEhJLMLbg8OiYis5JcRe-x0lHXjFQWvN0EC7e7TV09N33ZCM9oztfcQ09i69503m1S078kLZfxySZJ1w7HRHSEatj0cVNqURz6bvGiBLPlTabQG2wKNgEcps9xdRAWlK8xwAUUGH2K/s1600/266420_1875792979506_1381664703_31701448_6779957_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpOmEhJLMLbg8OiYis5JcRe-x0lHXjFQWvN0EC7e7TV09N33ZCM9oztfcQ09i69503m1S078kLZfxySZJ1w7HRHSEatj0cVNqURz6bvGiBLPlTabQG2wKNgEcps9xdRAWlK8xwAUUGH2K/s400/266420_1875792979506_1381664703_31701448_6779957_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p47YEqPJ9BvmY6QUgUKaGhKwRVsoiuKmNYPr1XXJHpmTdaOP_Kze-RTKUlbZmmgu1zp5Un3d-gHOPC73sU4xD4JTApglu3eLDnMztggBBFfWOIvE5u07FGCwLEhfm48iM2cjNdPh3tow/s1600/DSCF0679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p47YEqPJ9BvmY6QUgUKaGhKwRVsoiuKmNYPr1XXJHpmTdaOP_Kze-RTKUlbZmmgu1zp5Un3d-gHOPC73sU4xD4JTApglu3eLDnMztggBBFfWOIvE5u07FGCwLEhfm48iM2cjNdPh3tow/s640/DSCF0679.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> During the conference, I presented a lecture on “How-To Write a How To”. I know that it is rather surprising for me to talk about writing articles for a magazine! Part way through my presentation, I asked everyone to “change hats” from a magazine reader and to put on their “writer's hats”. What good sports everyone was! Thank you!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXf68cyLAar_wJ3eRnlr2DULh5hgppTUG8nIbChxIx3GDuNCcLaYMzmZ91VCA-8b_mOvLbpA8UdQ_m5BNdnXCF4quzShhNucSz2e5xtJq3TsPGI7EZiWdCLTgV8Q01TRGjmlkyAYeyn7z/s1600/280449_2290847310913_1240891950_32819415_741332_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXf68cyLAar_wJ3eRnlr2DULh5hgppTUG8nIbChxIx3GDuNCcLaYMzmZ91VCA-8b_mOvLbpA8UdQ_m5BNdnXCF4quzShhNucSz2e5xtJq3TsPGI7EZiWdCLTgV8Q01TRGjmlkyAYeyn7z/s400/280449_2290847310913_1240891950_32819415_741332_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you were not at the conference and you’d like copies of my handouts, please e-mail me: <a href="mailto:editor@metalclayartistmag.com">editor@metalclayartistmag.com</a> I'd be happy to send them to you. I gave out two handouts—one was a "fill in the blank" form. When all sections are filled in, the article you are writing is almost complete! How easy is that? The other handout is a completed sample. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Everyone has a story, a technique or a unique way of doing something. I look forward to having articles printed in the magazine from new artists, and from artists we all know and love! Each issue of our magazine has been filled to the brim with outstanding articles and awesome projects, all written by metal clay artists! Come on--pitch your ideas! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">~Jeannette Froese LeBlanc </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Metal Clay Artist Magazinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07769567499660105998noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-58848793918831097942011-07-13T14:32:00.002-04:002011-07-14T23:39:40.118-04:00Gilders Paste - A new way to add color to your metal work<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.metalclaysupply.com/SearchResults.asp?search_button.x=13&search_button.y=12&Search=gilders">Gilders Paste</a> is a wonderful medium to use if you are looking for a way to add color to your metal work. It is very easy to apply and I am sure you will have great fun doing it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gilders paste is a wax based medium used to highlight wood, porcelain, plastic, resin, metal, wax, etc. It comes in different colors and you can apply it directly with your fingers, sponge, cloth or use some mineral spirits to make the paste more creamy and easy to apply with a small paint brush.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before applying the paste to the metal piece, we need to be sure it is free of dust and oil. If the surface is smooth you may have to use a fine sanding paper to create some texture in the metal. The paste will apply better if the metal has some kind of texture in it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The paste dries to the touch in about 10 minutes and takes 12 hours to fully dry.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have enough time to take the color out if you are not happy with it. You can use a cloth to take the color out or mineral spirit.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After your piece is totally dry, you have to finish the piece with a clear lacquer.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbTRCSfaUmwVdyz44rULqmqTB1YLHVGhtOrkLmDGrQZl3-n0O7n7Dq7Z3n2nIsTRbpAVVD6n4jO31tiJ_W9Nf_xmxnMPjSwUFPkXZ6mTY2Hl7XNTbCtcebS6zZeA8wKaP1FU6t_uSNDs/s1600/plata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbTRCSfaUmwVdyz44rULqmqTB1YLHVGhtOrkLmDGrQZl3-n0O7n7Dq7Z3n2nIsTRbpAVVD6n4jO31tiJ_W9Nf_xmxnMPjSwUFPkXZ6mTY2Hl7XNTbCtcebS6zZeA8wKaP1FU6t_uSNDs/s400/plata.jpg" width="346" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">©Lorena Angulo<br />
PMC3 and Gilders paste color Patina</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA486Q2cBUiuDjzOdwzexSm2uECmLC9MzSYw4ikLKSVW4BgeogJ_d-NTfSc5PfeQ89TntmHz0ftCvhomwF_SZEuG2CtqajoQFd1GwzI3zRi9BRDFeCj5umvJkvatmJ3QvsHppmzBshxk/s1600/collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA486Q2cBUiuDjzOdwzexSm2uECmLC9MzSYw4ikLKSVW4BgeogJ_d-NTfSc5PfeQ89TntmHz0ftCvhomwF_SZEuG2CtqajoQFd1GwzI3zRi9BRDFeCj5umvJkvatmJ3QvsHppmzBshxk/s640/collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SPRING MASK<br />
©2009 Lorena Angulo<br />
Copprclay and Gilders Paste ( African Bronze, Inca Gold and Silver)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpiVlj4_k3ANnZk7EIO4VKR0OoB8q7LvgxNwhpJPO0bSR0_gKNzrqxrbXNq1K1lag4qmOt1mRO66fJMJftx3IQI81sT54-FrsAIgIoCGqYSvpY18UqvvEjdysC9Op101VWBjE-TW5Oqo/s1600/Oaxaca+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpiVlj4_k3ANnZk7EIO4VKR0OoB8q7LvgxNwhpJPO0bSR0_gKNzrqxrbXNq1K1lag4qmOt1mRO66fJMJftx3IQI81sT54-FrsAIgIoCGqYSvpY18UqvvEjdysC9Op101VWBjE-TW5Oqo/s400/Oaxaca+small.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OAXACA<br />
©2011 Lorena Angulo<br />
Bronzclay with Gilders paste (African bronze and Silver)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keep Playing, keep creating !!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.lorenaangulo.com/">Lorena Angulo</a></span></div>
<br />Lorena Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11226278311825866576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-10969429292129943512011-07-07T01:56:00.002-04:002012-01-17T02:29:46.390-05:002011 Metal Clay Design Competition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetg8AUUNq-zZE3s3odcRNKYUlELvqsQYvHm5gQBhgiOMeFHWJsDHNWr8cnjntshp7Aw0BtHbQvM3WN91hf7CXg6b2zvbMQ5kTyOtMxAt0nnSf194-RH7OuW8hUZ3ywuxZxbBbSJqsBHI/s1600/2011designcontest_banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetg8AUUNq-zZE3s3odcRNKYUlELvqsQYvHm5gQBhgiOMeFHWJsDHNWr8cnjntshp7Aw0BtHbQvM3WN91hf7CXg6b2zvbMQ5kTyOtMxAt0nnSf194-RH7OuW8hUZ3ywuxZxbBbSJqsBHI/s400/2011designcontest_banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have not receive your latest issue of <a href="http://metalclayartistmag.com/index.html">Metal Clay Artist Magazine</a>, you may not be aware of this great opportunity to participate in a Metal Clay Competition.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://metalclayartistmag.com/index.html">Metal Clay Artist Magazine</a> announced their annual design competition, the theme for this year is "Metal Clay Plus..." The magazine is looking for innovative combinations of metal clay and non-metal materials. Some of the non-metal materials you can use are: Resin, Polymer Clay, Glass, Porcelain, Ceramic, Fabric, Paper, etc.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year competition is sponsored by <a href="http://www.pmcconnection.com/about.html">USA-based PMC Connection</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please, visit the magazine's website to see all the rules and requirements to participate.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the link: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://metalclayartistmag.com/design_contest.html">2011 Metal Clay Design Competition</a></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The deadline to submit your entry is by 11:59 Eastern Time on January 30th, 2012. You have lots of time to play and be creative.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have FUN and participate !</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Winning entries will be showcased in the Spring, 2012 issue of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://metalclayartistmag.com/index.html">Metal Clay Artist Magazine.</a></span>Lorena Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11226278311825866576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-20274716773680589672011-06-30T18:59:00.013-04:002011-06-30T18:59:00.890-04:00Calendar: The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry 2012<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Note to all metal clay artists: Holly Gage has once again announced the dates and details for her annual calendar!</i></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheitauc2UyZgCwzAz7I9Mzi7_NHXR6sVlPSKdQFhdU5mU1PW6YhPCqp3KYeTdnDH_6Elc11U5kQgIXEVGtVHiDgHnx1mP-0q9p77A3lBlFbHDbEjzu7KEPy52Ua4iXWXe-yGmh3so_KMR/s1600/cover_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheitauc2UyZgCwzAz7I9Mzi7_NHXR6sVlPSKdQFhdU5mU1PW6YhPCqp3KYeTdnDH_6Elc11U5kQgIXEVGtVHiDgHnx1mP-0q9p77A3lBlFbHDbEjzu7KEPy52Ua4iXWXe-yGmh3so_KMR/s400/cover_lg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Calendar Submission for 2012<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6448802715745243816&postID=2027471677368058967" id="calendar submissions" name="calendar submissions"></a></b></span><span style="font-size: small;">Submissions will start June 15, 2011 through Aug. 15, 2011<br />
Release date: Late - October 2011<br />
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I am seeking images to feature in our next annual calendar, The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry 2012. All jewelry forms - necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, brooches, and others will be considered. Unique and diverse design styles and techniques are desired. Metal Clay is the predominant material, but other media - resin, gems, metals, enamel, and more may be incorporated into the design. High digital images will be accepted by mail or<br />
e-mail:<br />
Gage Designs<br />
c/o calendar submission 2012<br />
P. O. Box 614<br />
Bowmansville, PA 17507<br />
E-mail: hgage1@ptd.net<br />
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Artwork submitted must represent work that is unique and original in design. New unpublished/unseen work is preferred . Group shots or individual pictures will be accepted. Limit 3 entries, no more then 2 shots per entry. Please don't send actual pieces. Professional photo quality is a MUST. Please consider the fact that viewers will only see your photo not your original work, so clear, uncluttered photos with an accurate representation will be priority for the selection process. Images should be 300 dpi, in tiff, jpg or psd format with no compression. The image size should be no smaller than 5 ". However only large format photos 8 1/2 x 11" can be considered for the prominent cover position.<br />
Artwork for inclusion will be selected based on:<br />
- Design,<br />
- Innovation<br />
- Craftsmanship<br />
- High degree of excitement<br />
- Unique use of metal clay and degree of challenge.<br />
<i>Hint: The above is a great checklist for submissions</i></span> </div><div style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Artists retain copyright of their work and receive a free copy of the calendar if selected.<br />
Each calendar page measures 8.5 x 11, Opened it is 11 x 17.<br />
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Please include the following information. <i>Missing information may forfeit your position in the calendar: (Please consider over 300 photos arrive for review)</i><br />
1. Name<br />
2. Address<br />
3. Website or e-mail (indicate if this information should be included on the calendar)<br />
4. Title of piece<br />
5. Materials used<br />
6. Dimensions in millimeters<br />
7. Brief Description of process and/or motivation to how it was conceived. An interesting, well written statement is encouraged, <b>50 words or less</b>. (<i>This information will be published so put your best foot forward.)<br />
</i>8. File name<br />
9. Has your file been retouched?<br />
10. Is your file 300 dpi?<br />
Please direct all inquires to: Holly Gage, e-mail: <a href="mailto:hgage1@ptd.net">hgage1@ptd.net</a><br />
http://www.HollyGage.com</span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div>Metal Clay Artist Magazinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07769567499660105998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-90782552734954904862011-06-26T21:00:00.037-04:002011-06-27T14:05:40.387-04:00Alien ArtistsWell friends--we've been very busy here at Metal Clay Artist Magazine (our second birthday is coming up in July and we put a lot into our special issue!) so we've fallen a bit behind on making a weekly contribution to our blog. Fortunately, our last two posts had enough "meat" in them for us to chew on for a long time! Evelyn's how-to project was a wonderful surprise to find our blog--and she's received rave reviews! I hope she'll do up another tutorials for our blog soon! An Vickie's article about metal clay sintering--was thoughtfully composed and answered so many questions metal clay artists have wondered about.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfmKBsYTwKb9AjeRRn_GUGM_QecgtgENGHJOHLy8iy6yEHQoSP2viyWg2SbMsCMGlkDjorghflN3yuyc0wtMF6kNaqaMlwHn0MUaaCqx6ljhIf1W_nyJJYoDnmvGdr3-StvoZ1KFqJ3oA/s1600/jeannette4+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfmKBsYTwKb9AjeRRn_GUGM_QecgtgENGHJOHLy8iy6yEHQoSP2viyWg2SbMsCMGlkDjorghflN3yuyc0wtMF6kNaqaMlwHn0MUaaCqx6ljhIf1W_nyJJYoDnmvGdr3-StvoZ1KFqJ3oA/s320/jeannette4+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My ring from Lorrene's class.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I started this blog post in March--with the great intention of posting it--but each issue of the magazine seems to take more of my time--as I learn more about design and layout, and we enter new markets...I have less "down time". But I did manage to slip in a few classes this spring! (One with<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="profileName fn ginormousProfileName fwb"> Lorrene Baum-Davis</span></span>, and another with Celie Fago--both of which would make for great blog posts!) And I was in Washington in April for the Smithsonian Craft Show--another outing I should report on! AND if that were not enough--I have two or three blog posts that have been sent to me to post. OY!<br />
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So I'll start from where I left off in March and promise to try and keep our blog more up to date!<br />
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As most of us know--we often give others the gifts we'd like to receive. And I think that holds true with things we write about. The following is a blog post I started to write in March--which seems to have turned into a "note to self".<br />
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Finding your own artistic voice is often a journey that takes a true artist a lifetime, since we evolve and grow and learn new things. Many metal clay artists have jumped on board learning about the new clays, joining groups or have found like minded individuals in a guild. Even with all of these opportunities, some artists struggle with finding their unique style and more importantly to feel that what they are working on has a purpose. Other artists are over-whelmed with the amount of ideas and things they want to try and all of the medias and ways to express themselves--and so they bounce from one thing to the next, all the while amassing (a.k.a. hording) huge amounts of materials and tools along the way. Added to this is the need to keep costs down in our studios, seeing ideas to fruition and throw in the twisted fact that some of us seem to need to be given permission to enjoy and explore our art on a regular basis. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQV89S9NamhHxc4BsqgCLpkeDdEitQmRJE-ddBhe07xTVhULRm7wdDgIwqI0P5qYMDR7J94h0aM3eykqiwS39-UFsl2Dpe4PaeGk5uYR0UHZ0TAFqaZeYpUhrX-y8P69BcoG_sguQP4KR/s1600/aliens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQV89S9NamhHxc4BsqgCLpkeDdEitQmRJE-ddBhe07xTVhULRm7wdDgIwqI0P5qYMDR7J94h0aM3eykqiwS39-UFsl2Dpe4PaeGk5uYR0UHZ0TAFqaZeYpUhrX-y8P69BcoG_sguQP4KR/s320/aliens.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2 class="shop-title"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AdoptanAlien">Adopt An Alien, </a>Creatures by Lindsey Banker</span></h2></td></tr>
</tbody></table>[Then there are others who stride along--showing off new works almost daily--and while I'm sure that some of these people are just aliens among us--as it is just not possible to be so prolific within a 24 hour day---or is it?]<br />
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Now while we all love new things, and our community has seen it's share of new things in the past few years, are we having too many new clays, tools, techniques come our way? I had an interesting conversation last week with the owner of one of the bigger metal clay distributors. This person expressed the opinion that with so many new clays that some people are jumping "off the band wagon" and sticking with one or two clays. This is of course a logical step as people find their niche and focus on their own artwork. But for many of us--learning about the properties and experimenting with the new metal clays and techniques is not only a part of our studio practice--learning and sharing what we have tried is exhilarating. A tiny chance for us to participate in jewellery making history.<br />
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Speaking of jewellery making history, as most artists in the metal clay community now know, <a href="http://www.mcsj.co.uk/sterling-silver-metal-clay-developed-at-MCSJ.html">Lisa Cain</a> and her staff at the Mid Cornwall School of Jewellery have worked out a way for us to make sterling silver metal clay. (See our current issue for her recipe Vol. 2 #2.) This innovation will undoubtedly change the course of work for many metal clay artists in the UK and Europe and those in other places looking to be able to add the universally recognized stamp of "approval" .925 to their creations. It will be very interesting to see how artists embrace and add to the recipe and techniques developed by Lisa and her team.<br />
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And of course we are all aware of the rising price of silver and we are looking for ways to stretch our studio dollars. This is pushing artists be more creative with their materials. I am seeing more artists incorporating glass, polymer clay, resin, faux bone...and more into their metal clay creations. A blog post by <a href="http://celiefagojewelry.blogspot.com/">Celie Fago</a> really turned a lot of heads. <span style="font-size: small;">She talked about ways to incorporate or even substitute polymer clay into her metal clay designs as a way to stretch her studio budget. See May's post by Margaret Schindel (Our Senior Editor) for more photos and details. Photos from Celie's Blog:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlE9qpJwA1YLOfePfQixhWMhQ6rXrgBVb4lkPk5M3DhdJ_Ox11BLby7_T6Y-yZlLgMzf3PclXx3kXH_Vo4Pj_5wJA-mmnL3ELHO5FJ3M1j259Mmlbl6IFqbYay-oNTbePlMhVenew6mvA/s1600/celie+silver+toggle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlE9qpJwA1YLOfePfQixhWMhQ6rXrgBVb4lkPk5M3DhdJ_Ox11BLby7_T6Y-yZlLgMzf3PclXx3kXH_Vo4Pj_5wJA-mmnL3ELHO5FJ3M1j259Mmlbl6IFqbYay-oNTbePlMhVenew6mvA/s320/celie+silver+toggle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"For many years I've made this toggle clasp out of carved solid snakes of PMC." </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWMtcavLNgyIh7pAwczOus4XFVADIxgHDm0XQq0RhI9Jue4by6vzWBYeGZevbyVFY3maNTybuafuDHobednzNPcHYdT1yQjqFa2q9XYspbpgHnjuz5aVX_BIJfXuuD_X2y8VyeD7kXC3w/s1600/celie+polymer+toggle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWMtcavLNgyIh7pAwczOus4XFVADIxgHDm0XQq0RhI9Jue4by6vzWBYeGZevbyVFY3maNTybuafuDHobednzNPcHYdT1yQjqFa2q9XYspbpgHnjuz5aVX_BIJfXuuD_X2y8VyeD7kXC3w/s320/celie+polymer+toggle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"I remade it out of polymer then embellished it with little bits of PMC." </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Just yesterday an artist friend of mine--(and someone who should have gone to her class) was asking me "what I learned" in Celie's class. Immediately I blurted out that I learned ways to economize my materials. Celie didn't make this part of her lesson--but it's something I observed. When she cut out a shape--if it was a series--she wouldn't make one at a time--she rolled out enough clay to make several pieces and therefore waste less material and kept her clay at the optimum freshness since it wasn't rolled out and rolled out and re-hydrated. Seeing some of her beads and pieces filled or backed with polymer gave me so many ideas on how to keep on developing my ideas and minimizing the use of silver clay. Also check out <a href="http://beadfuddled.blogspot.com/">Kelly Russell</a>'s work as she is also known for mixing her media and has posted some of her beauties on our blog. <br />
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Besides the amount of materials we have to choose from, keeping costs down in our studios, the next biggest struggle in studio life is actually getting down to business in our studios. Ok...that should be "MY" studio. Oh yes, the truth is out--I'm behind on the blog and in working at my own bench on my own little ideas. I wonder why I feel I need to have permission to freely create? I see others online talking about this, so I'm relieved to know that I'm not alone. But I'm sure many who struggle to balance family life and a studio business also find it hard to <i>justify </i>the time away from family or from pushing their business further along. I know it is for me. I have two young children, who I adore. I also have the magazine--and all the stresses that go along with investing house and home to produce something that I feel is valuable and has a purpose. Maybe I should be content with the magazine as my creative outlet--and not beat myself up for not "making stuff". Or--is the bigger question--"why do I feel so darn creative, when I have to do the bookkeeping?"<br />
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Hmmm--something to ponder once I finish checking on what people have posted on Facebook today. I'm curious to see what new pieces of art those "alien artists" who have more than 24 hours a day have made today!<br />
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~Jeannette Froese LeBlanc<br />
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief<br />
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P.S. If you'd like to see what we've been up to--our new issue is due out very soon! Great articles, and great work again team!! And it's our second birthday in July!!! <a href="http://www.metalclayartistmag.com/">Check out what's in our new issue...</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiihjmrr967V5GPDH17vZv09Mtg702ow1wdrxJcOu-034-FOHbmtb4_xVUrmnX-U8YUvPxWxbrw5L9B7FE7SZjvXXpgo4PalkiWqXAE5tN4d-dwNS8A-GE6VBRcCFM7WyeHuxGJNnwO7b/s1600/cover+image_pagenumber.001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiihjmrr967V5GPDH17vZv09Mtg702ow1wdrxJcOu-034-FOHbmtb4_xVUrmnX-U8YUvPxWxbrw5L9B7FE7SZjvXXpgo4PalkiWqXAE5tN4d-dwNS8A-GE6VBRcCFM7WyeHuxGJNnwO7b/s400/cover+image_pagenumber.001.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover Artist: Jen Kahn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Metal Clay Artist Magazinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07769567499660105998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-42649784617292310752011-06-03T17:48:00.004-04:002011-06-03T18:02:32.612-04:00Understanding Metal Clay Sintering<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Many artists tend to view metal clay as a bit of a voodoo material. They have a recipe that works (usually the manufacturer's recipe), and superstitiously follow it exactly, right up until it doesn't work or they need to do something different, and then they're at a loss. Understanding the process of sintering can help demystify firing metal clay, and allow us to approach new situations with an educated guess as to what might really work.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Composition of Metal Clay</b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><img alt="7001 SEM" height="240" src="http://cermetmaterials.com/images/AgPd/SEM7001.jpg" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Metal powder</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Metal clay is composed of super-fine particles of metal plus a binder. The metal particles may be all the same identity, such as in silver or copper clay, or they may be a mixture of different metal powders in the cases of bronze or other alloy clays. The binder is present for the express purpose of making the clay malleable, amenable to shaping in various ways. Once the binder burns off in the kiln or torch, what's left is essentially a shape composed of tiny pseudo-spherical particles of metal with lots of air space between them. As you well know, filling a vase full of river rocks leaves a lot more air space than filling that vase with sand. Smaller particles pack more closely, which explains the drive over the years to reduce the particle size of the metal clays. As we see, this has desirable results in terms of strength in the finished product.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Sintering</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Between the point that the binder burns off and the finished product comes out of the kiln, a process called sintering takes place. This is very much like what happens when you dump your ice container into the sink. The individual ice cubes stick together, with holes remaining between the cubes. However, the ice in your sink is above its melting point, so it will eventually puddle in the sink. Ice does sticks together even below its melting point, as is obvious in ice makers left for some time. How does sintering actually happen?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Metal Atoms Moving</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The key to understanding sintering is energy. Those particles of metal are actually composed of even smaller balls called atoms. The atoms in the center of the particle are happily surrounded by other metal atoms, but the atoms at the surface only have neighbors below and maybe some to the side. Each atom <i>wants</i> to be surrounded by other atoms, but the surface makes that impossible. Even so, the atoms will try to arrange themselves so as to maximize the connections to neighbors and minimize exposure to the outside world. Those little critters are very social and like to be in the midst of a group. Yes, the atoms can move, IF they have energy.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Consider an empty shoebox sitting on a table. Now pour a bowlful of marbles into the box. The marbles are just a mad jumble, probably mounded up in the center. If the box is jiggled slightly, the marbles will start to move, rearrange and pack tightly. The mound in the center will slowly disappear and the surface will flatten. Those marbles at the top of the pile, touching only a few neighbors (three probably), will eventually wind up in a flat layer surrounded by a hexagon of six neighbors. The atoms deeper down may have neighbors below, above, and in the same layer for a total of twelve. That jiggle applied to the box is heat -- energy that allows the marbles to move.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Now suppose one lonely marble is placed on top of a nice flat, but incomplete, layer. When the jiggling starts, that marble will run around on the surface, here and there, until it finds a hole, whereupon it will drop into the layer with all its friends. Happiness!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">What if more heat is added, by jiggling the box more energetically? Then the packing down will happen faster. Unless too much heat is added, at which point the marbles will start to pop out of the lower layers onto the top surface rather than always wanting to drop into holes. That's the melting point -- when so much heat is added that the marbles don't care about staying together nicely. Even more energy might cause atoms to fly out of the box!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Neck Growth</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">When a metal clay project is formed, the metal grains of atoms are separated by binder, touching each other occasionally. The atoms that exist at those points where the grains of metal touch are happier than the atoms off on the surface by themselves. When heat is added, those surface atoms wander over to hold hands with the larger group, forming a neck between the particles. Eventually the particles become more and more connected, and the holes between them become smaller. Atoms migrate from the surface to fill the voids, which causes shrinkage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMS0OQTKzj5IJUEsSxNyV9y1bI153KqM1YHfe48fHVAyCkM8uwg1yObwEj9APGXBIc1jU5JK2xm1iqJ2zWlptYwrBzjwPaovj2JEIGQhnMxDrQR3_wdvE0iAU-pJA44tJ7RDtkTBTkM6N/s1600/MC+sintering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMS0OQTKzj5IJUEsSxNyV9y1bI153KqM1YHfe48fHVAyCkM8uwg1yObwEj9APGXBIc1jU5JK2xm1iqJ2zWlptYwrBzjwPaovj2JEIGQhnMxDrQR3_wdvE0iAU-pJA44tJ7RDtkTBTkM6N/s400/MC+sintering.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As long as energy is available, the movement continues. First the particles stick together, and then it takes time and more energy to fill in the voids. This is why metal clay fired at low temperature or for short times isn't as strong -- the connections within the piece are smaller. For the strongest, densest material higher temperature and longer firing times are advisable.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Predicting Results</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">From this understanding of what really happens on a microscopic level during firing, we can make predictions about what might happen in new situations. Heat provides energy for the connecting process to happen and speeds up the work, so increasing the temperature is good, right up until the point that melting is a concern. Because of inaccuracies in thermocouples and variations in heating distributions within a kiln, it's not wise to try to get too close to the actual melting point. That's why the top firing temperature recommendations are typically at least 50 degrees below the material's melting point.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Even so, at lower temperatures, as with stones or glass, sintering will happen but more slowly. It's wise to fire longer if using a lower temperature. Just because the manufacturer's directions give a certain temperature and time doesn't mean that other choices won't work. Just follow the general guidelines -- the lower the temperature, the longer the time. Firing longer than the recommended time is not an issue, and is probably beneficial, although at some point the tradeoff becomes pretty marginal.<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">With this picture of the microscopic process, we can also start to understand why sintering on the outside can happen while leaving the core of a piece powdery. It takes both energy AND time to do the work of moving those atoms. If the piece is heated very quickly or the piece is thick, the outside layer may become hot enough to sinter, since the atoms don't have to move very far. But the interior may not get warm as quickly, and atom diffusion distances depends exponentially on temperature, so even a small difference in temperature can result in a huge difference in neck formation. For comparison, moving an atom from the surface of a project into the interior one millimeter away is like driving your car 50,000 miles. Just because the car is at highway speeds doesn't translate to quick arrival. Taking a plane would be better, or a spaceship, and even so it'll still take time.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Conclusions</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The upshot is that both time and temperature are important to ensure a well-crafted product. To maximize productive sintering, fire at the highest safe temperature tolerated by the materials in use. To maximize connections between particles, and therefore strength, fire for as long as circumstances allow, factoring in impact on schedule, equipment and personal patience.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><img height="208" src="http://www.mmc.co.jp/pmc/images/pmc/tips/03/sem_03.jpg" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">complete firing</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><img height="208" src="http://www.mmc.co.jp/pmc/images/pmc/tips/03/sem_04.jpg" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">incomplete firing</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The desired result should be to produce a completely fired project, with a surface such as shown in the first image from the <a href="http://www.mmc.co.jp/pmc/english/pmc/tips03.html">PMC website</a>. Low temperature or short time firings may result in incomplete firing, as shown in the second image.</div>Vickie Hallmarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13633814450520474638noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448802715745243816.post-6833230333818424422011-05-29T15:44:00.007-04:002011-05-29T16:24:43.600-04:00How to Make Faux Spiculum Chain End Findings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_McV4QjRfIIGJWfiynfgbVHAk9QnYBBi_aE37ZvmkN05cEvqBoUUeOjLuRtdnbXN7m0swAmd6Rflv9ob876vLIyTwEpOfY9avSjeu3nPBLOhmrbYCPzyfAPwpnlNhUo0HV_SWtSkBwjE/s1600/DSC_0002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_McV4QjRfIIGJWfiynfgbVHAk9QnYBBi_aE37ZvmkN05cEvqBoUUeOjLuRtdnbXN7m0swAmd6Rflv9ob876vLIyTwEpOfY9avSjeu3nPBLOhmrbYCPzyfAPwpnlNhUo0HV_SWtSkBwjE/s400/DSC_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612226509097444722" border="0" /></a><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#666666;"></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#666666;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#FFFFFF;">A spiculum? What on earth is a spiculum? In metalsmithing terminology, it's the name for a tapered tube of metal. They are formed from a flat sheet of metal, the seam is soldered, then they can be curved and bent in a variety of attractive forms.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#FFFFFF;">Metal clay lends itself to a similar technique. Because we can easily roll metal clay into a tapered form, we can make our own version of a spiculum. I make them into custom chain ending findings for unfinished chains and call it a "faux" spiculum–because it's not really a tube. At least not all the way…</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#FFFFFF;">Here is a tutorial on how to make these chain endings, using my faux spiculum technique. It's an easy intermediate project–I am going to assume you know basic metal clay procedures, including how to roll a metal clay "snake".</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#FFFFFF;">If you would like a copy of the PDF just click on the link below. It will immediately automatically download for you. </span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://files.me.com/edombkowski/1tv55s"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">DOWNLOAD THE PDF</span></a></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#FFFFFF;">I hope you enjoy it!</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#FFFFFF;">~ Evelyn</span></p><div><br /></div></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3