Welcome to the Metal Clay Academy
Here you will find everything you need to know about metal clay. We've collected together the best resources and information from the internet, metal clay teachers and experts around the World to provide you with this comprehensive source of information.
On the left there's a link to a page which explains what metal clay is. If you are a complete beginner, check out our metal clay beginners page. You'll find basic information, links to more resources and a useful article about how to work with metal clay without spending lots of money on tools and equipment. Advanced metal clay users will find inspiration and more challenging projects and information in these pages.
Check back often to find out what's new in the world of metal clay, send us your questions and we'll add them to the FAQ page.
News!
7th December
PMC Sterling now on Sale
PMC Sterling is now available to buy in the US through the regular suppliers and in the UK from the Mid Cornwall School of Jewellery and Bluebell Design Studio.
You can download the package insert with full firing instructions here.
24th October
You can now order a copy of The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry Calendar 2012 by Holly Gage for UK/EU delivery from our website. Take advantage of reduced price shipping from the UK. This is a must have for anyone interested in metal clay and is a wonderful showcase of exceptional work.
1st September
The Mid Cornwall School of Jewellery has launched the world's first home study metal clay qualification. Their highly regarded Silver Metal Clay Diploma launches as a home study course today. The Diploma Grade 1 is available to order from their website now . The next two Grades will be launched in 2012.
School Director Lisa Cain explains why they developed the Diploma into a home study programme. “The MCSJ Diploma is widely acknowledged as the most thorough and comprehensive metal clay qualification in the world. We know from our email and post that many people would love to study the Diploma but have work or family commitments that prevent them travelling to study with us. So we decided to take the Diploma to them!”
“People can study at their own pace and at a time that suits them. This allows them to fit it around their own commitments. The course consists of two 90 minute DVDs.” Lisa explained. “One contains me teaching all the basic metal clay skills and knowledge just as we do in the live training. The other has a detailed tutorial of each project in which I demonstrate the techniques. All the tips and tricks we give students in our live training is on the DVDs. There are detailed project notes and illustrations on CD in the pack also.”
We asked Lisa what else is in the Home Study pack. “In the full Diploma pack, we’ve included all the materials required to make the projects. This includes PMC3, PMC+, PMC Standard and Art Clay 650 lump clay, a metal clay syringe, cork clay, moulding compound and all the resources you need.” Lisa explained. “A complete tool kit isn’t included to keep the cost down but we will give students a list of the tools they require and students can buy a tool kit from us if necessary. We also have the Home Study course for sale without the materials and resources. This option will be attractive to people outside the UK as the shipping costs are lower. It may also be useful for people who have all the resources and access to the materials. It's a cheaper option than the full Diploma pack. ”
The cost of the full Home Study Grade 1 course will be £350 plus shipping. The Home Study course without materials costs £210 plus shipping. To see a complete breakdown of the buying options click here.
The course is also supported by a network of official Diploma Support Centres around the UK and in Ireland, Austria, Spain, Greece and Germany. All these Centres have signed up to a Teaching Code of Practice to give students peace of mind when choosing metal clay training from them.
10th June
The PMC Guild has announced it will close its doors to new members from the end of June 2011 and cease trading in June 2012. Here is the complete announcement.
"Effective at the end of this month, the Guild will no longer accept new members. We will honor our obligations to current members with Annual 5 and four more issues of Fusion. In response to financial realities, the journal will shift from a printed publication to one that members will receive electronically.
We want to thank the thousands of dedicated PMC artisans whose enthusiastic support has made the Guild such a vital organization. This conference will mark the termination of the PMC Guild. We hope you will join us at this historic event next year to celebrate the successful conclusion of the Guild."
The Perfect Present
If you're looking for the perfect present for the metal clay maniac in your life, have a look in our shops. We've now added a UK shop so whether you're based in the US or the UK, you can buy affordable t-shirts, sweatshirts and other merchandise with fun metal clay slogans. Take a look now...
Get Involved
If you're a metal clay supplier or a teacher, make sure you're listed - it's free. Got a great metal clay tip? Send it in and we'll publish it with full credit to you.
And if you have a website, please add a link to the Metal Clay Academy to your site. Thanks!
We hope you enjoy the site.
