What's New on the Metal Clay Academy Website?
This page provides you with a quick idea of what's been added in the past month. If you are a regular visitor, you can see what we've added since your last visit here.
Archived What's New pages for earlier months can be seen here
May What's New Archive - you can see everything that was added during May 2013 here.
19th June
A new call for entries to a metal clay related competition was added.
Saul Bell Design Award 2014 Call for Entries
Deadline for Entries: 20th September 2013
Now in its second decade, the Saul Bell Design Award competition invites you to challenge yourself. Stretch your boundaries. Overcome limitations. Push your most innovative ideas into the spotlight. Inspire us all. Named for the founder of Rio Grande, the competition celebrates Saul's spirit and legacy by inviting artists and students to enter their most innovative creations in any of six categories: Gold/Platinum, Silver/Argentium® Silver, Beads, Metal Clay, Hollowware or Enamel.
18th June
A new UK Art Clay supplier was added.
Metal Clays 4 You - UK
UK suppliers of Art Clay, Noble Clays, Goldie Clays, Prometheus clays, wire and findings.
A new jewellery business class provider was added.
London Jewellery School - London
Jewellery Business Bootcamp - six days of intensive business training for jewellers. Taught by successful jewellery business owners and entrepreneurs. If you are serious about building a jewellery business this course is for you! Topics covered include: - Setting a vision for your business - Building a brand - Pricing, selling and marketing - Finance, figures, funding and much more. Sign up on the website.
17th June
New video tutorials for jewelry making were added.
Folded Beads in Polymer Clay Part 1 - Helen Breil
Great tutorial about making folded beads with polymer clay.
Folded Beads in Polymer Clay Parts 2 and 3 - Helen Breil
Part 2 covers adding a surface effect to the folded bead, and Part 3 explores some design ideas.
16th June
A new texture making tutorial was added.
Texture Making - Blueberribeads
Great tutorial with images of a number of easy texture making materials.
A new UK bead shop was added.
Funky Mo - Kings Heath, Birmingham
UK bead shop.
15th June
A new jewellery making class provider was added.
Bonkers Beads - Wolverley, Kidderminster
UK supplier of beads including seed beads, glass beads, ceramic beads, dichroic beads, metal beads, resin beads, findings, thread and tools. They also run wirework, chainmaille and jewellery making classes.
14th June
Metal Clay Artist Magazine Back Issues
All back issues of Metal Clay Artist Magazine are now in stock but supplies are limited on some of the early issues. To buy back issues, visit our order page here.
A new advanced level metal clay project tutorial was added.
Hinge Project - Evelyn Pelati Dombkowski
Ever wonder how to build a working hinge out of metal clay? This detailed, step-by-step tutorial will take the mystery out of this often-feared technique, using only simple tools! It's not free but for a small cost, you'll get a great tutorial!
13th June
A new jewelry making tutorial provider was added.
Clay Lessons
This website is free to join and has some free tutorials as well as some which you have to pay for. Covers jewelry making in polymer clay mainly.
12th June
A new chain maille tutorial was added.
Chevron Chain - Bead Man
This chain maille project has been created using 20ga 2.0mm ID and 20ga 3.0mm ID. But other sizes can be used, like 20ga 2.5 / 20ga 3.5 or 18ga 2.5/18ga 3.5
11th June
A new jewelry making video tutorial supplier was added.
Craft Daily
Craft Daily offers access to over 100 (and counting) craft video workshops, starting as low as $19.99 a month. This allows you to stream the videos on your PC or Mac computer, or the latest generation iPhone, Kindle Fire, iPod Touch and iPad for the duration of your subscription. You can even watch these craft workshop videos on your living room TV, from an iPhone or iPad with AirPlay & the latest AppleTV!
10th June
A new video jewellery making tutorial was added.
How to make a chain bracelet using silver silk - Palmer Metals
Palmer Metals has come up with a fab new chain called Silver Silk, which can be twisted and threaded to make on-trend accessories. Corinne Bradd guides you through the step-by-step process of creating a delicate bracelet using this inventive new material!
9th June
A new metal clay training provider was added.
The Skills School - High Wycombe, Bucks
Silver clay, polymer clay and resin classes. Jewellery making classes.
8th June
New instructions for bronze metal clay and copper metal clay were added.
Goldie Bronze and Copper Clay Instruction Sheet
Updated in May 2013, this instruction pdf has everything you need to work with all the Goldie Bronze varieties and Goldie Copper clay.
7th June
A new pearl supplier has been added.
The Pearl Goddess
Should you be searching for the exotic, the extraordinary, or the unique in cultured pearls and more, The Pearl Goddess can provide it with consummate style.
6th June
A new metal clay event was added.
Lesley Messam Masterclass in Yorkshire, UK
What: Overgrown Garden Vessels
When: 7th - 8th September 2013
Where: Lynne Glazzard, Holly Barn, Glaisdale, Whitby, YO21 2QA
In this workshop you will learn how to use PMC Sterling* silver clay to construct a very beautiful hollow formed vessel with a clever screw threaded lid, embellished with a cabochon of glass or stone, set after firing.
Sterling silver does have some advantages over fine silver, its additional strength is great for pendants on long chains that could be accidentally knocked and also for rings where durability is important.
Lesley will teach us how to make a screw thread in various sizes at minimal cost. Her method does not use gadgets or kits; works every time; is cheap and works to make the thread in many different sizes. She will also show you how to add texture your vessel without the use of commercial texture sheets so that you can add embellishments of your own unique design or, if you would prefer to make little roses she will be happy to show you how.
5th June
A new silver working class provider was added.
Tangled Web Arts and Crafts - Pontypridd, Wales
Silver working classes, enameling on copper, private tuition and make your own wedding rings.
4th June
A new entry was added to the metal clay competitions page.
Saul Bell Design Award
The Saul Bell Design Award competition has both inspired and challenged jewelry designers around the globe for the past decade, and now in its eleventh year, it continues to recognize artists whose work challenges traditional perceptions of jewelry design. Named for the founder of Rio Grande, the competition celebrates Saul's spirit and legacy by inviting artists and students to enter their most innovative creations in any of six categories: Gold/Platinum, Silver/Argentium® Silver, Beads, Metal Clay, Hollowware or Enamel.
Presented by Rio Grande.
The 2013 finalists and winners can be seen here
Everyone at the Metal Clay Academy would like to congratulate Wanaree Tanner for winning first place in the metal clay category with her fabulous bracelet.
3rd June
A new video tutorial for steel metal clay was added.
Drying Steel Clay - Hadar Jacobson
Low-Shrinkage Steel XT does most of its shrinking while it is drying, not so much during the firing process. This shrinkage can cause the steel to distort significantly while it’s drying. How do we prevent it? People have come up with all kinds of potential solutions, including air-drying, or drying under heavy objects. However, because of friction between the back of the piece and the drying surface, the flat piece may crack while trying to shrink (even if you oil the surface). This can happen even if you dry it very slowly or in the air. Placing a heavy object on top of it is likely to interfere with the shrinkage and cause cracking.
The best way to dry a flat square is to watch it and flip it over once it starts curving upwards. Then flip it again when it starts curving again. By flipping it each time it curves, you allow it to curve back in the opposite direction until it is flat, while also avoiding friction with the drying surface. The process is short and safe.
Here is a short video clip demonstrating the process:
2nd June
A new metal clay forum was added.
French Metal Clay Forum
This forum, is about all metal clays. It is a French forum but people can write in English, German or Italian because some members do the translation.
1st June
A new publication to promote metal clay work was added.
The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry and More 2014 Book - Holly Gage
Submissions will start June 1, 2013 through October 1, 2013
Release date: January 2014
For the first time the annual calendar will become a book. It will have the same quality and event information, but include more of what you already love -- big beautiful photos of outstanding artistry in Metal Clay.
The title, The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry and More 2014 will include jewelry and all Metal Clay forms - necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, brooches, vessels, objects and others will be considered. Unique and diverse design styles and techniques are desired. Metal Clay is the predominant material and all types and brands of Metal Clay will be considered, but other media - resin, gems, metals, enamel, and more may be incorporated into the design. High digital images will be accepted by mail or e-mail.
Gage Designs
c/o Book submission 2014
P. O. Box 614
Bowmansville, PA 17507
E-mail: hgage1@ptd.net
Artwork for inclusion will be selected based on:
- Design,
- Innovation
- Craftsmanship
- High degree of excitement
- Unique use of metal clay and degree of challenge
Visit Holly Gage's website here for complete submission details.
