Category Archives: Tips-n-Tricks

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Updates and Such

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Hello Lovers of Lovlies and Learning!

I do realize that it seems to take forever between Blog Posts. On average, I am teaching twice a week and have pretties to make, my stores to tend to and other business affairs to handle and as we know… I am a one woman show.  I love you all, I promise :)

I did update my calendar this morning with new dates . . . check it!

Newsletter notes:  I took last week off.  I didn’t mean to take the entire week off from all things Magyk . . . but then there were tax *things* . . . and I’ll just say that I am glad that it’s over for the time being.

Question of the week: ”Since PMC is torch fired (generally) can bottleglass be used as a gem stone? Specifically, sea tumbled beachglass of which I have buckets. I know that its melting point is fairly low if the piece is of an older vintage that’s why you could throw an old Coke bottle in a fire ring at the beach and end up with a slumpy blob.  Anyway, I have some small gem sized bits that have been tumbled so much they look like gems themselves- spectacular. – Jen F.

Answer: Dear Jen (and others thinking about this idea), Please do not torch fire glass. You are right when you indicate that glass has a low melting point, and more importantly a low heat tolerance and fracture point. It can sit in a bonfire and melt because it is contained in the heat. Glass generally shatters when hit with high heat and exposed to cooler temps, which is what occurs when doing any torch firing. That’s called ‘thermal shock’. Anytime we metal clay artists use glass/ceramic in our work, it is recommended that we kiln fire. So – check out a bead store or glass store in your area and see if they have a kiln and will fire your work for you. If you don’t have luck with that, bring your work to me and I will kiln fire it for you. Be aware that in my recent test firing of beach glass, it changed color . . . from a lovely sea foam green to yellow. I will be test firing again, to see if a lower temp might prevent this, however, I fired at 1170, which is lower than traditional firing.  I will keep you all posted and if you want me to kiln fire for you, know that there are never guarantees.

Have a question about metal clay/firing/gems/making things?  E-Ask me and it will go in next weeks newsletter.  If I don’t know the answer, I will also find it and provide the resource where I got it. Thank you Jen for being the first to jump in! You may also submit a joke :)

Metal Clay Learnin’

Sunday, April 28 - AT CRAFTED – 3p to 6pm •  The mini-intro class is $70 and includes 3 hours of instruction and play time, 18 grams of clay, assorted clay supplies, a gemstone, a take-home sheet and loaner tools. You will walk away with a finished piece, your left-over clay and resources to purchase more supplies. I also offer ‘lifetime’ tutoring and a money-back guarantee. Follow my directives and if you hate your experience when it is over, I am happy to give you, your class fee back.  You can even keep your left-over clay.

Registration closes Sunday – April 21 at 6pm.  Use the link below to make payment and you are registered! I will confirm for all registrants as I receive notice from PayPal:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=4LXHS67CYMT56

What people have said about classes:

“This was sooooo much fun!” -Rain C.

“I can’t believe I created a piece of jewelry!” – Xaver P.

“OH MY GOODNESS! Look what I did!” -Deb F.

“This was really fun and I look forward to more classes!” -Esther Y.

“Delia has a great personality that makes learning fun.” -Iris S.

“I felt like I was taught by a real expert.” – Dawn S.

Coming Up in other locations:

• Mark The Date  PMC Certification – Level 1 - June 8 & 9 in Long Beach.  In two days we create 4 pieces covering many skills.  More in-depth forming, stone setting, ring making, bead making, carving, syringe work and more.  After you complete all the projects, you’ll be tired, excited and Certified as an Artisan.  This makes you a big deal and able to qualify at many metal clay suppliers for a discount on materials :) It is not for the faint of heart and it is expensive, however, since I have done all three Level Certifications, I can say it was worth every penny. Go here to see sample projects, a full class description and to register: http://bit.ly/YSxcbT

• In May, I’ll be teaching a four week Introduction-Intermediate Metal Clay Class at Glendale College – there are 8 spots open. We will cover A LOT in 4 weeks.  Go here: http://bit.ly/14OcNtL

Joke:  “What was T-Rex’s favorite number?”

“ATE!”

Be well . . . 

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Level 1 Certification

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This year I jumped through the additional action ‘hoops’ to become a Certification Instructor with PMC Connection (PMCC).

I had previously ‘clayed’ my way through Level I, II, & III certification with Senior Instructor, Lora Hart. I learned so much.  My design skills improved, as well as my ability to implement my often far reaching musings. It was with Lora’s encouragement that I took the plunge to teach certification classes myself.  I cannot thank her enough! I will forever be grateful!

I have scheduled my first class in Level I . . . this December 15 & 16.  The class will take place at my home studio in Altadena.  If you’d like to play, call PMCC for registration: 888-762-2529.

PMCC Level 1 certification is a two-day class designed for the student ready to step beyond the basics.
Each of the four projects in this class combines two or more metal clay construction techniques and challenges the student to create jewelry that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

See the projects.

Students explore and demonstrate mastery of basic hollow forms; carving green ware; ring sizing and construction, setting faceted stones, controlled syringe drawing, and forming sheet clay, as well as incorporating functional elements such as bails and embedded wire.

Projects are evaluated according to the care taken with design, joining, finishing, attention to detail, and the student’s understanding of the material covered in discussions. Completion of the class prepares the student for PMCC Certification Levels Two and Three and entities the student to a Certified Artisan discounts honored by most metal clay suppliers.  This 2 day event is $399 plus a $50 materials/studio fee.  You’ll get everything you need to be successful with all four projects!

Weather you want to just improve your skills or teach classes yourself – I cann0t tell you how valuable Certification classes can be.  Do it!  Sign-up today!  You won’t regret it, I promise. Call 1-888-762-2529

Here is all the BRAG :)

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Top 10 of Things

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I am a Dave Letterman fan.  I don’t generally go to bed until I’ve seen the top ten for the evening :)   So inspired I was by the segment, one day I sat down and created a Top Ten Reasons to take a Metal Clay Arts Class:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So you can probably guess?  I’ve come up with a new one for your consideration:

Top 10 Reasons to Buy Handcrafted Goodness

10) You love handmade goods.

9) Your item is unique and not mass-manufactured.

8) You were able to have a relaxed buying experience.

7) Handmade everything can be customized to you – ask your artist!

6) Your purchase is cooler than anything you’ve seen in a “big box” store

5) Your gift to yourself or someone else will last much longer!

4) Your purchase allowed the artist to buy something *they* needed.

3) You can tell you friends/loved ones that the item you bought was handcrafted.

2) Your purchase is “go green” with little or no waste on the part of the artist.

1) You made a new friend in the artist you purchased from.  They know more about what you like and need and you can order from them FOREVER!

This is still a ‘work in progress’.  Your feedback would be appreciated :)

My shop and home are full of handcrafted beauty that I use everyday.  My tools are stowed in artisan created pottery.  I buy T-shirts for myself and my daughter that are crafted by artisans I know. I have an extensive collection of jewelry and pins that are made by artists.

My top reason for buying handmade is knowing the difference it makes in the life of the artist I have purchased from AND I own beautiful art!  I relate to the idea of this being one’s ‘chosen career’ and what sort of challenges we face.

So as we head into holiday shopping “season” – give a pause – consider the advantages of buying handmade. Consider the experience of shopping in a space like Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles or a local arts fair versus a mall *gasp*. I’d appreciate it if you bought handmade and I know ALL the other artists in the world would appreciate it too!

Be well!

Go make something!

Go find something handcrafted!

“Make It Lovely”

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I heard that from designer, Kristan Cunningham on “The Talk”.  Yes I do listen to some TV . . . and you can view that episode here: the talk

The general gist of the segment was, why not spiff up your environment by using pretty containers to stow stuff like cotton swabs, soaps, lotions and more.

I’m a big fan of this idea.  I happen to believe strongly that one’s home is and should be a sanctuary and more than being concerned about what people ‘think’ when they come into my home . . . what I think and feel is most important.  I’m not a super-serious-OCD-neat freak – close – but I do appreciate neat and tidy and sanctuary like.  You’ll find unlikely containers for many things and kitschy things that delight me, including my own art.

What does this have to do with art or jewelry or metal clay? EVERYTHING!

I am one of the few artists I know that has a home studio NOT at the dining room table.  I did for a while and then in a spare bedroom . . . until three things happened.  My son went off to college, my computer hard drive melted and I stepped on a box of beads. Three years later I am still picking up beads outta that room.  I like to spread out when I work and lay things around so I can see them and I had successfully stepped over that box of beads many times and finally missed the floor.  The significance of my son moving out was that we had converted the 200 sq. ft. space that was a garage, into his room.

I moved into that space (with his permission of course) and it is now my shop/studio. And it is a sacred space.  More often than not, when I walk in to that space, I allow the world outside to drift away.  I rarely answer the phone, I rarely look at email or Facebook (except when I take a break) and I spread out and I play, and create and it is all a form of meditation for me. AND it is sacred time.  When I am in the studio, it is often a chance to reset and center myself . . . I am often able to come back to a consciousness that is about presence in the moment.

So as a sanctuary and sacred space, I make an effort to treat it as such and “Make It Lovely”.  My tools are stowed in pretty containers.  I have pictures of my children on the walls, as well as the pages from the Rio Grande catalog.  I keep my vision bodice in there (see picture), my intention statements are often taped to the wall . . .

My version of a Vision Board

I have faux flowers about and recently I added this little thing: [pic of JOY].

a recent addition and reminder

I am still NOT a super-serious-OCD-neat freak.  You will often find scraps of paper, glue, paint, carbon pieces and bits o’ metal on the floor – and as my friend Robin says to me often, “It IS a shop” . . . as I apologize for the disarray when she stops by to fire.

Diane Dobson Barton has a terrific book on organizing your space, “Controlling Creative Clutter” you can get it here: Dobson’s book.  “If you have everything out where you can see it, you find it inspires you and helps to free your creative spirit. “ (pg. 14).  Diane also cautions that if there is too much clutter, it cost’s time and “ . . . zaps your energy”.  Been there, done that! I do try to keep things at a dull roar and appreciate the tips I got from this eBook.

Unlike my house sometimes, all the outlets work, I can find everything and since I do not share the space with any of my family, it is undisturbed from the usual controlled chaos – which really works for me J

I teach, work and ‘live’ in that space and love to make it lovely and welcoming for those I invite to share it.

A carved antler piece I picked up from another artist

I feel warm and fuzzy in my shop.  I can take a break from the routines of daily life in there . . . when I feel afraid I seek courage in there, when I feel courageous, I can manifest it  . . . in there . . . through something I create.

Pretty things I stow my tools in

Another pretty...'jeweled' basket for supplies

A Mother's Day present

My daughter painted the piece to the right, before I changed my business name.  I so love it and she is so talented.  I’d share pics of my children if I were “allowed” but they don’t like it.  There are many of them, from birth to current days.  I love to gaze at that often :)

Soooooooo . . . big or small? Dining room table or cluster of tables in a room?  How is your studio: lovely? sacred? welcoming to you? a haven? How does it support your work? What boundaries do you create to maintain a YOUR sense of energy?  [For example, I rarely have food in there, other than a little nosh].

Talk about your space . . . how you make it your own.

AND . . . Make something everyday, even if it’s trouble!

All my best,

Delia