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PMC Workshops     
Precious Metal Clay is perhaps the coolest product to hit the market during this generation!  The best way to learn a technique is in person with an instructor.  Anne is PMC certified and a member of the PMC Guild.  She offers 3-hour workshops for beginner and intermediate students in Winchester, Virginia and Newark, Delaware.   silver clay, metal clay, pmc

Where: Sparkles Bead Shop in Newark, Delaware
To Register: Contact Sparkles  (302) 368-3944
 Teaching fee: $60, due at registration
Basic Tool Kit: $40
PMC Clay: approximately $25 (fluctuates with the silver market)

Please Note: The maximum class size is 6.  Students who are not familiar with silver clay must take a beginner-level class before intermediate.  If you have any questions, please email Anne.  You can read more about PMC here.

Schedule
There are no PMC Workshops scheduled at this time because Anne is taking some time off for her little one.  Feel free to email Anne or speak to Connie at Sparkles Bead Shop to let them know which workshop interests you.

What to Bring to a Workshop
The teaching fee does not include supplies or tools, so please bring the following:
· all tools and supplies listed in the class description (see below)
· reading glasses or a magnifying glass if you may have trouble seeing bead holes
· notebook and pen so you can remember what you learn
· bottled water and snacks to fuel your brain!

Private PMC Instruction
If you'd like to work at your own pace or learn a technique that is not a scheduled class, Anne can work with you one-on-one.  This is a great option for students who are short on time, can't make a public workshop, or want to customize their learning experience. 
To Register: Email Anne for availability and to discuss the location
 Teaching fee for PMC: $40 per hour, minimum 2 hours.  For you and a friend (2 students) the teaching fee is $35/hour per student, and for groups of 4+ it is $25/hour per student.  The teaching fee does not include tools or supplies, so if you have any difficulty finding the materials needed, check below or email me.  Anne also offers other types of jewelry classes, and kits and tutorials for independent study.

 

PMC Workshops By Level

Beginner

Charms
Pendant & Earrings
Textured Toggle

Intermediate*

Box Pendant
Hollow Forms
Lentil Beads
Rings
Riveted Bead Caps
Stone Setting

 

*Students who are not familiar with silver clay must take a beginner-level class before an intermediate class. 
 

PMC Workshop Descriptions

Box Pendant
 Level: Intermediate
Create a hollow pendant using dry construction, and decorate the surface with PMC Sheet and Syringe. 

Materials Required: PMC Basic Tool Kit, PMC Clay, reading glasses, notebook, pen.  I will have additional tools and supplies for you to use in class with an option to purchase.

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Charms
Level: Beginner

This introductory course covers the basics of working with silver clay.  I'll talk about the types of clay, firing techniques, and textures like rubber stamps and silicone molds.  We'll make charms together, fire them, and polish.  Then you can add jump rings, wire, and beads to complete the look.

Materials Required: PMC Basic Tool Kit, PMC Clay, reading glasses, notebook, pen.  I will have additional tools and supplies for you to use in class with an option to purchase.

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Hollow Forms
 Level: Intermediate
We will use PMC Slip/Paste to coat materials like seed pods, cereal, and leaves to create lightweight, organic looking cones, and pendants.  We'll also create ceramic-core beads, which is a great way to create weighty beads without using a whole lot of clay.

Materials Required: PMC Basic Tool Kit, PMC Slip/Paste, reading glasses, notebook, pen.  I will have additional tools and supplies for you to use in class with an option to purchase.  The jar of slip/paste is approximately $25.

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Lentil Beads
Level: Intermediate
Create hollow disc-shaped beads and decorate the surface with PMC Sheet.  We'll talk about edge options, hole placement, and drying forms.

Materials Required: PMC Basic Tool Kit, PMC Clay, reading glasses, notebook, pen.  I will have additional tools and supplies for you to use in class with an option to purchase.



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Pendant & Earrings
 Level: Beginner
 This introductory course covers the basics of working with silver clay.  I'll talk about the types of clay, firing techniques, and textures like rubber stamps and silicone molds.  We'll make a pendant and earrings together, fire them, and polish.  Then you can add a bail, earwires, and beads to complete the look.

Materials Required: PMC Basic Tool Kit, PMC Clay, reading glasses, notebook, pen.  I will have additional tools and supplies for you to use in class with an option to purchase.

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Rings
Level: Intermediate
A fabulous use for this medium!  We'll talk about strength and sizing, make a textured overlap ring band that you may decorate with a syringe, and make a bypass ring.  The rings will be fired in a kiln for maximum strength. 

Materials Required: PMC Basic Tool Kit, PMC Clay, ring mandrel (available at Sparkles), reading glasses, notebook, pen.  I will have additional tools and supplies (including PMC Syringe, ring sizers) for you to use in class with an option to purchase.

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Riveted Bead Caps
 Level: Intermediate
Embellish your favorite lampwork beads with PMC bead caps, and learn the cold connection technique of tube riveting to join all the parts.

Materials Required: PMC Basic Tool Kit, PMC Clay, lampwork beads with large holes, jewelry hammer, steel bench block, reading glasses, notebook, pen.  I will have additional tools and supplies (including sterling tubing, jeweler's saw, and other tools) for you to use in class with an option to purchase.

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Stone Setting
Level: Intermediate
One of my favorite things about PMC is that you can fire stones in place right in the kiln.  No bezel pushing, no prongs, no soldering!  We'll talk about what kind of stones can be used in PMC, different ways to make a bezel, and other options for stones that are heat sensitive. 

Materials Required: PMC Basic Tool Kit, PMC Clay, reading glasses, notebook, pen.  I will have additional tools and supplies (including stones and PMC Syringe) for you to use in class with an option to purchase.

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Textured Toggle
 Level: Beginner
 This introductory course covers the basics of working with silver clay to create a focal toggle clasp.  I'll talk about the types of clay, firing techniques, and textures like rubber stamps and silicone molds.  Once your pieces have been created they will be fired in class so you'll learn finishing techniques and walk home with a beautiful, functional piece of art!

Materials Required: PMC Basic Tool Kit, PMC Clay, reading glasses, notebook, pen.  I will have additional tools and supplies for you to use in class with an option to purchase.

 

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PMC Tutorials
 These are great for people who can't make it to a workshop or want to learn at their own pace.  They include detailed, step-by-step instructions with high-quality color photographs and a materials list.  The tutorials are listed on the Kits & Tutorials page under PMC.

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PMC Products - The cost of each depends on the market price.

Clay
This is the "lump form" of PMC and resembles modeling clay.  It dries out over time once the package is open, so just open what you'll need for the week.  I will have sealed packages of clay available for purchase in class, but you are welcome to purchase your own elsewhere and bring it with you. 

Slip/Paste
This is a thinner consistency of the same material as clay, and is used with a paintbrush to join pieces together or coat combustible materials.  My Basic Tool Kit includes a jar to start your own Slip/Paste, but the Hollow Forms workshop requires the purchase of a new jar so you have the correct consistency.

Syringe
PMC Syringes are pre-loaded with soft clay to make perfectly consistent vines, snakes, and coils.  You can change out tips to make various sizes of extrusion.

Sheet
Cut it like paper in order to embellish surfaces with a subtle texture, or fold like origami.

Basic PMC Tool Kit
 Includes work surface, clay roller, brush, 2 sets of thickness guides, flexible palette knife, stainless steel brush, regular tweezers, cutting knife, burnishing tool, needle tool, jar for slip, file, and a handy roll-up case.  These will be available for purchase in class for $40.

 

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Jewelry and website design copyright 2009 Anne Hussey