Hello My Lonely Blog

I am trying to distract you with my baby porcupine photo. Did it work?

Hello my sad blog. I am so sorry I have been away so long. I write for, and am the administrator for the Jewelry on Etsy Team blog, (JETs), which is 5-6 days a week and it is hard to come back here to see you and nurture you.

Don't give up on me, sad blog. I will be back, regularly. Just not quite yet.

Thank you readers. I will let you know when I am back in the saddle, (pun intended).

This is my latest slideshow featuring my new line of 100% recycled fine silver. Totally reclaimed metal!  Fine silver is 99.9% pure so it is a little nicer than sterling, a little brighter. Sterling is 92.5% pure; the rest being copper.

I took the slideshow off the website because it was taking minutes to load! . So here instead is a link to it, taking you off this blog. But  come back soon, I will be back with content.

         Thank you,

Sneak Peek!

These should be listed in my Etsy shop this week!

Silver Precious Metal Clay

I am photographing my new fine silver pieces made of precious metal clay today. Check back soon to see them. "Fine" silver is 99.9% pure silver, as compared to sterling which is 92.5% silver; the added alloy being copper. Fine silver is very soft and subsequently hard to work with. However, using PMC and  kiln and firing it, leaves you with a solid, strong piece of silver jewelry that will last forever.

Here, I made a mold from a small piece of bark from my yard. It is a lovely, earthy, small pendant. To the fine silver ring I added a green amethyst briolette; and finished the clasp with green labradorite.

I have lots of pieces to show you. Please check back!
Thank you,
Norah

Coming soon!

My new line of 99% pure silver jewelry made from precious metal clay is in the works.

I cannot say enough great things about my three day PMC Connection course taught by artist, Vera Lightstone in her NYC loft. Every minute of the days was filled with learning, doing, and laughing!  And you get to go home with 8 - 10 finished pieces! If three days is too much, she offers a two day course as well. I guarantee you will be hooked, like me. It is good to know she offers lots of advanced courses, as well.

W.39th Street

Carla, Vera's Assistant and a Student's Best Friend

Blob of Clay - Not Very Exciting

Here is a piece I made on the first day! Very exciting!

 

There are many more pieces to come! I have been busy playing with clay, now I have to get new pieces photographed to show you

About PMC, from http://www.pmcguild.com/

• PMC is an amazingly plastic and versatile material. It can be shaped by hand, folded, molded, extruded and painted on another surface.
• PMC can be endlessly textured and takes on microscopically fine definition.
• PMC can be mixed with ceramic powders and oxides to assume new shades of color and a rougher texture.
• PMC can be fired with stones and ceramics. It can be glazed and enameled.
• PMC fits a wide range of artistic visions but not all. It compliments but does not displace traditional jewelry methods.

Basically, you have this little lump of clay that you can shape and mold in a million ways.  The clay is fine particles of recycled silver mixed with a binder that turns it into clay. The binder burns off and you are left with shining, strong, almost pure silver. The final result is 99.9% pure, recycled silver, as compared to sterling which is 92.5% pure. So far, I have only used Silver, but the clay comes in brass, copper, and gold formations too.

You can play with your hands; you can use all of your clay-making tools on it, and then finish it with all of your silversmithing tools.  You can combine it with your beading and wireworking projects.

It can be fired in a kiln, but before making that investment, you can torch it with a simple kitchen torch. You know, the kind you use for Creme Brulee. You will not believe your beginner results!

Feel free to ask me any questions you have and check back here and at my Etsy Shops, Rustic Rock Jewelry and Your Daily Jewels,  for more creations.

(Did I mention that PJClarke retired and  is now Rustic Rock Jewelry)

Thanks for reading,

Norah