What is “Metal Clay”?  Its fine metal particles, combined with an organic clay binder. See it, create it, set it ablaze and VOILA!  A metal creation, in your hand.

Metal Alchemy – Introduction to PMC Metal Clay:  In this fast paced, fun, informative workshop, you will learn and experience the basic techniques for working with Precious Metal Clay (PMC); forming, cutting, creating texture, pre-fire refining, firing, and finishing – and all the tips and tricks we have time for. You will be able to design, create and finish your own individual piece of jewelry.

Hang it Baby: More than drilling a hole through your work . . . learn techniques for hidden bails, fold over bails, tube bails, embedding bails, decorative/artistic bails (with an emphasis on maintaining structure)  . . . and a little bit on how bails make hinges!

Liver of sulfur on fine silver

Prismacolor application to textured silver

Color it Yours: This messy, stinky class will allow you to patina your work in several ways.  We’ll try liver of sulfur, color pencils, glass paint, and color resin . . . and more.  There are lots of possibilities.  I will also do a demo on how to enamel.

Hollow vessel from cork armature

Hollow it Out: In this movin’ and shakin’ class, you will experience basic techniques for making hollow forms.  We will work with cork clay as an armature for a design! We will chat and experience the use of other armatures too!

Loteria card, resin set (Photo Pendant Magic)

Photo Pendant Magic: WOW!  Have you heard of UV Resin?  I’m a big fan.  I’ve tried other kinds and it only takes about 2 -3 minutes for UV resin to cure . . . WOOHOO!  UV resin can be tinted for great effects and used to make other types of eye-popping jewelry with pictures or objects.  Let me show you how! Two days of fun!

Fine silver overlay on bisque

WHAT?  No cork?!: This intriguing class enables you to create metal clay forms without a burnable core! You’ll use your previously acquired skills to create beads or half lentils with textures.We will also create a beautiful vessel and make it look like you worked hard . . . but you worked smart.

Dichroic glass ‘trapped’ in fine silver

Dynamic Dichro: A metal clay Artisan can do it with glass!  Beyond trapping ceramic pieces in metal clay, you can form metal clay around glass.  You’ll have a chance to play with dichroic glass pieces and faceted glass!

Secret Spaces

Secret Spaces: Vessels hold, contain and protect treasures of all sorts.  In this two-part class you will learn how to use a unique armature for creating a container with a lift lid.

Talismans: Surround yourself in good company and a creative mind-trust. In this powerful one day class you will learn a technique for creating your own talisman  . . . a piece of meaning that speaks of where you are in your life.

Private Parties!  Gather a group of friends and let’s have a play date.  I bring all the gear that’s needed.  Participation of the host/hostess is free of charge . . . it’s the least I can do for the use of your home and all the marketing you did to have a class   Let’s coordinate a date – email me!

A little more about me:  A bunch of things have happened – mostly on purpose – you know, I was born; grew up; spent time in assorted educational institutions; had jobs – some I thought might be careers . . . and then . . .

In ’94 I entered the gem business and THEN in 2007, I decided to be the artist I always wanted to be.  I been dabbling in the creative art of metal clay and revisiting my photography work. I haven’t looked back since.

I hold Artisan Certifications through Rio Grande and PMC Connection (Level3) and I am a designated Certification Instructor (Level I) with PMC Connection.

With metal clay there is so much that can be expressed and created.  I really see the possibilities rather than any limitations. It has been a perfect playground for me.  Creation is an expression of who I am and how I think and feel. I find inspiration in all things.