In case you’ve always wondered how to measure a gemstone this handy chart shows where to take the measurements from. Found this on the Rio Grande website. I know I’m a little bias here, but gotta love Rio Grande!
HOLLOW FORMS – METAL CLAY November 3–4, 2012 (Saturday–Sunday, 9:30 am–4:30 pm) Instructor: Patrik Kusek F12J604 • All Levels
Tuition & Fees Current Mendocino County MAC Members: $187 Current MAC Members: $198 Non-members: $220 plus a non-refundable $25 non-member registration fee
Fairy Ring No 816 by Patrik Kusek, Photo by Abby Johnston Sterling Silver and 22K
A few months ago I proposed an article using PMC Sterling to Jeannette at MCAM magazine. It’s been like waiting for Christmas waiting to see it in print. Yesterday I got the magazine in the mail! It’s always nice to see your work in print, on-line and included in books. Two of my favorite things are to 1) Open up the kiln and see how the work came out. That edges out even seeing the final completed piece sometimes. and 2) Seeing my work published. It looks great! Thanks MCAM!
PMC Sterling article by Patrik Kusek in Metal Clay Artist Magazine
It reminds me of my first design job at a large package design firm. (We worked on small little jobs like The Olympics, Henry Weinharts beer etc. ) My first contribution as a Jr. Designer was working on a redesign of the Brown and Haley Logo. Brown and Haley makes Almond Rocca. Yum! My little tiny contribution was adding the flourished cross bar on the letter “H”. I remember that time in my life and the sense of accomplishment I felt every time I walked into a super market and happen to see Almond Rocca on the self. When the package first hit the shelves I even took my college roommates to the local supermarket to point and stare at it!
I didn’t last long at that job, preferring smaller design firms where I could make larger design contributions, but I still feel that sense of being a part of something bigger and being able to share my art to whoever is willing to look at it.
Today I get that same feelings when I complete a big project, teach a great class, hear from students about the what they are doing and yes seeing my work in a magazine! It’s a great job! Making things from a lump of clay and magically turning it into something beautiful. I guess the concept of transformation is the thread here. Transforming ideas into reality, transforming thinking, transforming a mind set. Ok… so now, I’m rambling a bit.
But transformation does not happen on it’s own.
PMC Sterling and Aura22 by Patrik Kusek Photo by Abby Johnston
The editors at MCAM are fabulous, picking up on the grammatical inconsistencies, technical nuances and tons of other untold details. Making it look good takes work too. Special thanks to my photographer Abby Johnston who took the fab hero shot. Thanks Abby!
Head phones and mic – done
Sound check – done
Hugh Heffner style smoking jacket- even though I don’t smoke – done
Beverage of choice – well done
Ah it’s nice to work remotely!
A few weeks ago I was cleaning up the studio and found a box of old projects that didn’t turn out the way I expected. Projects that no longer represented me as an artist, and projects that I would get around to “some day”. I decided to collect everything together and send them to Rio for refining. Usually I melt some of the pieces into small balls and use them as decorative components in my work. Kind of like granulation. But one can only have so many components.
There are lots of different places to send scrap into for refining, some of them even give better rates Rio does. But to be quite honest, since I deal with Rio all the time it’s just plain easier to send it to Rio. If you haven’t done it give it a try. It’s easy and in my case, since the price of silver went up from the time I purchased it, I think I actually made money!
Keep your fine silver scrap separated out from sterling, gold (per karat) even coin silver .900. Remember EVERYTHING can be refined, this includes wire clippings, clippings from head pins everything, jump rings that bent of out of shape. You can also send in filings from your bench as well as long as they are not contaminated with other matter. Just keep them separated out. Also remove any gemstones as well.
For metal clay artists be sure to fire everything before you send it in. Metal artists also remember you CAN reconstitute unfired metal clay. See my post reconstituting metal clay.
Step 2 – Weigh the silver
In my case the scale will only measure up to 300 grams. So I had to break up the silver into a few batches.
Step 3 – Bag up the silver Clearly mark the silver content and the weight of each bag. Remember not to use tape because scrap can stick to the tape.
Step 4 – Mail it to Rio Fill out the downloaded form accordingly and package it all up to mail to Rio. I usually send it USPS flat rate with signature verification.
In a few of days you’ll get a call from Rio to verify they got and how much the silver (or gold) is worth!
Here is what I bought with my mistakes!
I can’t wait to get into the studio to use my new tools!
Hi everyone. Here is a link to the video I talk about all the time. By Lisa Cain from the Midcornwall School of Jewelery. I save so much money with this technique!
I’ve been noticing some great info on PMC has been systematically being added to the Rio Grande website. Check out the “Videos, Projects and More” tab When you click on it your find that there are back copies of Studio PMC and Fusion, White Papers, MSDS sheets, Instructions of how to use products, some how to article and some Projects. Check out this project that I wrote on bezel setting. Thanks to Tim and Nettie at the Guild and to the team Rio Grande for posting all of this valuable info!
Show and Sell: My Favorite Product – ArtGlass Clay
I was lucky enough to run into Paula Radke during registration. She recommended that I stop by to see her new colors and reformulated ArtGlass Clay. I took a ArtGlass Clay class a few months ago, it was so much fun and we learned a lot! Steven and I made a quite a few pieces. So I’m excited to try out this reformulated version of ArtGlass Clay. I also look forward to trying it out with PMC, it seems like there will be lots of possibilities! For those of you who don’t know Paula Radke check out her website at www.paularadke.com. What I love about ArtGlass Clay is that the process is similar to metal clay. Of course there are some major differences, but the process is familiar enough that it’s very approachable for the metal clay artist. Her directions are clear and easy to follow. She has wonderful colors of ArtGlass Clay, beautiful molds that can be used with not only her ArtGlass Clay BUT also with metal clay as well. She also has a wonderful selection of dichroic glass which she is famous for. Check it out at www.paularadke.com.
Ok so now to the vendor hall. I found these great carnelian bullets from Gem Resources. Actually I wasn’t really looking for any more gemstones because I have LOADS of them. But I needed a few of these bullets for a special project. Then Shirley showed me some of these wonderful bezel cut topaz. I was so taken with them I had to buy some. I’m thinking I might make something with windows a la Tim Burton. Hard to see in the photo but trust me they are cool!
Bezel Cut Topaz
Patrik Kusek and MariaElena Baca at the Rio Grande Booth at the PMC Conference
Of course my friends at Rio Grande were there. Maria and Thomas were showing the latest things in metal clay. The weird part was I had everything they were showing. hmmmm what does this say about my paycheck?? hmmmm. The only thing I didn’t have ( and it’s on my list of things to buy) was the JoolTool. I covet this machine. What a smart and brilliant design! The disks spin and you can see through it to polish away!See it on the Rio website.
JoolTool Polishing System
Dynasty Stamps
Candace from Dynasty Stamps was also doing demos at the Rio booth. She was showing her new line of stamps. I love Dynasty Stamps and Candace. She makes the best quality stamps out there on the market. The most creative designs as well. The detail of her stamps is amazing and she is an outstanding person as well! You go girl!
Here is a video of Candace using her stamps!
Pyrite in the schist from Horizon Mineral Co 302-644-3333
Next stop was the Horizon Mineral Co. booth. This booth was mobbed almost the entire time I was there. No wonder, they had some wonderful things! I bought these luscious pyrite cabs in the schist. Yes schist. Although I knew what it schist was, I had to look it up anyhow. Ok Wikipedia gave me far too much info but here is the link to see for yourself the definition. Schist. hmmm sounds like Yiddish to me…
I think I might make a big huge ring from these, not sure yet but they are too great to pass up.
Also in house was Don Butler the Carving Glove guy.Don sells great Dock Yard carving tools which seem to be the gold standard of carving tools for metal clay. I already own 4 sets, yes I know, but they are worth it. I also own the sharpening tool called the Dock Yard Strop. Unlike other less expensive carving tools Dock Yards can be sharpened. I’m including the video here as I’m so happy he made the sharpening tool. I often forget to sharpen them and then I remember and I’m happy to have nice sharp tools. I should try to sharpen them at least every couple of months. If you have Dock yard carving tools you need to buy one of these NOW. Tell him I sent you!
Another person showing in the vender room was Cindy Moore. I didn’t get a chance to visit with her but here is a video of her bracelet bender which I saw the Metal Clay World Conference last summer.
Absent from the vendor room Tonya from Whole Lotta Whimsey. 😦 Tonya we missed you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!! But never fear visit the Whole Lotta Whimseywebsite to check out the latest in metal clay products.
ALSO check out Tonya’s Artful Success and innovative program where participants can gain from Tonya’s expert business acumen in the art world. Follow www.tonyadavidson.com