description

This is a class for those who have some experience with PMC, although if you are a person who picks up tactile techniques fast, this is for you.  We will be using our favorite texture patterns in the form of natural objects, or rubber stamps and making pieces to match  an existing template.  We will then create pieces to make a bird:  wings, feet, the body, an eye and a beak.  After they are dry, using a warming tray to speed up the process, we'll sand and finish our pieces to the required size and shape, attach the eye and beak and a loop to the body with PMC paste, dry again and fire these in our Ultralite Beehive kilns.  I will then show students how to assemble the pieces by drilling holes and riveting them together with dremel tool and flexshaft.  You can then choose to patina your piece, or leave it shiny, and I'll have stringing options available so you can wear your birdy right away.

PMC Bird Pendant

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bio

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kit fee: $32   supply list

• kit fee $32 for precious metal clay (28 grams that I can purchase at bulk cost)
  
  
•   -hand salve - balm kind that is greasy as opposed to lotion
• -any natural object that would leave a shallow impression, canvas, plastic mesh, a leaf, flat rock, wood grain, but not bark, unless it only has slight bumps,
•   -2 or 3 of your favorite rubber stamps - background patterns or a small detail that you love.  Choose stamps that look good together. If you have one with a small eye, bring it.
•   -3 small paintbrushes, 2 should be 1/4 of an inch wide and can be flat or round, the other small and pointy and no more than 1 mm of bristle.  Don't buy expensive ones, but they should be soft, not wiry
•   -a very small pair of sharp craft scissors,  or cuticle scissors (if you already have them)
•   -the smallest size v-shaped Speedball carving tool (if you already have one) called a #1 V fine line cutter
•   -a sharp pointed tool, like a tungsten scribe (my favorite) or an awl (only if you already have one)
  
  
• If you've worked with PMC before, and you have a tool kit, bring it, but don't go out and buy one.
  
  
• I will give each student some other tools in class that I use every day, and I will bring some of my rubber stamps too.  Don't worry if there are things on this list you don't have, there will be plenty to share.
  
  
• If you have any questions, you can email me at   cathwitherell@comcast.net

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Catherine Witherell is a Certified PMC Artisan and lives in Orinda, California.   She loves making charms, collaged silver pendants and does a lot of experimenting with pushing the limits of small silver hollow forms.  Working in layers, her birdhouse and bird pendants are a combination of patterns and pieces assembled in a way to allow for visual and tactile movement.  She has been a quiet artist for the past five years developing her playful style.  Her work has appeared in Belle Armoire Jewelry 2 and 3 (coming out in September), and will also be included in a mixed media book called "A Charming Exchange: Connect— Create—Collaborate" published by North Light books out in the summer of 2008.  You can visit her blog at www.happydayart.typepad.com