Studio Latest News, Views, and

Breakthroughs in Precious Metal Clay!

Fall 2000

Vol. 3 No. 3

Fun & EasyPage 10

Coming Full Circlepage 6

FREE Webpage Hostingfor Guild Members

page 4

Join the PMC Guildpage 11

Guild Member Benefitspage 16

Certification Q & Apage 12

As I PMC Itpage 2

Portfoliopage 5

Gallerypages 8-9

Tech Tip:PMC Multiples

page 12

Calendar of Certification Classes

page 15

Departments

Special featuresDial Up the PMC Guild’s Brand New Website!

www.PMCguild.com

Announcing…FREE HOSTING of PMC Guild Members’ webpages!The latest and greatest, most exciting and

newest accomplishment of the PMC Guild

is the launch of our better-than-ever web-

site. Dial us up and see for yourself at

www.PMCguild.com.

Webmaster Jonah Spivak and able assis-

tant Sadelle Wiltshire of Bennington,

Vermont have burned gallons of midnight

oil getting it up and running. “The new

site has an elegant interface,” says Jonah.

“It’s much easier to navigate, and there

are far more categories and links than

ever before.”

Get inspired.Dial us up and we’ll greet you with a home

page full of hyperlinks to our main catego-

ry pages. What’s your pleasure? Learn all

about the benefits of membership in the

PMC Guild; get inspired viewing current or

past shows of PMC artists’ work; read back

issues of this newsletter; discover where

to get PMC and related tools and equip-

ment; learn hands-on tips, tricks, and sug-

gestions. And much more!

Continued on page 4.

Win PMCplusand become

famous!—CeCe Wire, director

PMC Guild

Take the PMCplusOne-lump challenge!

page 3

2

As I PMC it

by Steven Edwards, editor

Studio PMC NewsletterMitsubishi Materials Corp.P.O. Box 257 • Bennington, VT 05201-0257www.PMCguild.com

Volume 3, Number 3 • Fall, 2000Editor—Steven EdwardsTechnical Editor—Tim McCreightArt Director—Jonah SpivakCopy Editor—Jill HaysPrinter—Davidson Printing, Duluth, MN

The Studio PMC newsletter is published by thePMC Guild: see PMC Guild information below.

PMC (Precious Metal Clay) and PMCplus

are revolutionary new craft materials.

Shape them just as you would potter’s

clay. But when fired in a kiln, your object

is transformed into precious metal! The

secret is microscopic particles of precious

metals—silver, gold, or platinum — sus-

pended in a pliable organic binder that

burns out, leaving only precious metal.

After several years of research at their

advanced technology research facility in

Thanks for Joining Us!

Sanda, Japan, metallurgists there devel-

oped the moldable silver and gold mate-

rials known in the U.S. as Precious Metal

Clay. They reported their breakthroughs

at scientific conferences and filed for

patents in several countries. In the U.S.

Mitsubishi Materials Corporation was

granted two patents for this material:

Patent #5,328,775 (7/12/94) and Patent

#5,376,328 (12/27/94). ◆

What are PMC and PMCplus?

Dear PMC Guild Members,

With this first “Members Only” issue of

Studio PMC, we thank you for joining the

PMC Guild. You’ve officially declared your

interest in and your commitment to this

new jewelry medium. Your annual mem-

bership fee brings you four issues of this

newsletter plus several other significant

benefits (see p. 16.) Your fee also helps

make the NEW IMPROVED Guild possible.

New features and benefits.The PMC Guild brings you several new,

significant services:

New PMC Certification Classes are

continually being scheduled. See p.

15 or our website for details.

New website www.PMCguild.com is

up and running. Come visit us soon!

New workshop scheduling systemenables those of you who teach to

advertise your workshops on our

website, giving you more control over

when news and details of your work-

shops get communicated to students.

Personal attention to your PMCquestions and requests when you

contact CeCe at the PMC Guild.

Plus, in this very issue of Studio PMC…Take CeCe’s “PMCplus One-LumpChallenge” and win free PMCplus!

See p. 3.

Send in PMC suggestions for our

“Reader’s Tip” box and win fame and

the admiration of PMC artists every-

where. See p. 14.

Meanwhile…We’re making sure that this newsletter car-

ries on its tradition of bringing you impor-

tant PMC news, views, and breakthroughs

while showcasing some of the world’s finest

PMC artists. That’s a great reason to send in

your PMC photos and stories—today! ◆

Deadline for submissions for our November, 2000 issue is September 15, 2000.

Steven

HOW TO CONTACT Studio PMC:• How to submit items for publication…Send articles, photos, letters, Gallery andPortfolio submissions to Editor, Studio PMC, PO Box 257, Bennington, VT 05201-0257. Or e-mail Steven at: editor@PMCguild.com

Articles: Maximum 1,000 words, e-mailed or typedmanuscript with photos preferred. Please includebrief bio information and photo if possible.

Photos: Color slides preferred, black andwhite prints are OK. No negatives, please.Write your name and address on the back,including description of size, materials, photocredit if applicable.

Deadlines: Dec. 15 for Feb. 1 issue; March 15for May 1 issue; June 15 for Aug. 1 issue; Sept. 15for Nov. 1 issue.

• How to get answers to Technical Questions…Write Tim McCreight, Technical Editor, PMCGuild, 34 Danforth St., Portland, ME 04101. Or e-mail Tim at: tech@PMCguild.com

Studio PMC, its staff and contributors, specifically disclaim any responsibility or liability for damages or injury as aresult of any construction, design, use, manufacture, or any other activity undertaken as a result of the use or applica-tion of information contained in any Studio PMC issue or article.

Copyright ©2000 Mitsubishi Materials Corp. Printed four or more times a year. Reprints by permission only. All rights reserved.

CONTACT THE PMC GUILD TO…• Join the PMC Guild

• Enroll in PMC Certification Classes

• Cancel your subscription to Studio PMC

• Change your mailing address

• Request back issues/additional copies

• Receive a FREE PMC Teachers Packet

Ms. CeCe Wire, executive director

PMC Guild417 West Mountain Ave.

Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA

Phone: 970-419-5503 Fax: 970-419-5504

Website: PMCguild.com

E-mail: cece@PMCguild.com

VISIT OUR WEB PAGES TO…• Stay current with PMC people & events

• See back issues of Studio PMC

• Learn about upcoming PMC workshops

• List PMC classes you are giving

www.PMCguild.com ww

w.PMCguild

.com

•

•

•

•

•

•

3

PMC Guild Director, CeCe Wire, issues

the challenge: “Make the most pieces

from a single .9 ounce lump of PMCplus

and win FREE PMCplus!” The whole point

here is to establish a world record for

high production, debunking the “high

cost” myth. When you divide the cost of

one lump of PMCplus (about $30) by 10 or

50 or 70 or more finished pieces, your

materials cost is LESS than for sterling.

And as CeCe points out, “PMCplus is more

precious than sterling because it’s PURE

SILVER, not an alloy.”

Play by THE RULES:Official Rules: Any and all PMC artists are

invited to take the “One-Lump PMCplus

Challenge.” Make your work out of one

lump (.9 oz.) of PMCplus and submit a

photo to CeCe Wire at the PMC Guild, 417

West Mountain Ave., Fort Collins, CO

80521 USA by December 1, 2000. Make

anything you want. Pieces may be sub-

mitted in sets or unrelated. Enter as many

times as you like. Use PMCplus alone or

combined with other materials, but the

silver component must contribute to the

work. And yes, aesthetics count, too.

Beat the PMCplus contest deadline! Submit your photo by December 1, 2000!

You could WIN A PRIZE:The PMC artists making the MOST pieces

(and the most aesthetically valid pieces)

from a single lump (.9 oz.) of PMCplus

will win prestige, prizes, and pictures of

your work in Studio PMC! ◆

1 GRAND PRIZE: 10 ounces of PMCplus!

1 FIRST PRIZE:5 ounces of PMCplus!

1 SECOND PRIZE:3 ounces of PMCplus!

3 THIRD PRIZES:1 ounce of PMCplus!

Feature Story

The PMC world-recordholder: Celie Fago with 72 pieces!

Take the PMCplus One-Lump Challenge!Who will be the world’s most productive PMCplus artist?

Win PMCplusand befamous!—Cece Wire,

director, PMC Guild

“Downright economical, wouldn’t you say?I rolled out an ounce of standard PMC, textured itwith polymer plates into which I’d carved designs.

Then cut them out with a leaf-shaped cutter. 72 pieces out of one ounce of PMC.”

Earrings by artist & Guild-certified PMC Senior Instructor, Celie Fago

4

Feature Story

New PMC Guild Website

Guild Members get FREE WEBPAGE HOSTING

Enroll in Certification Classes.The PMC Guild sponsors a year-round,

country-wide series of Certification

Classes for serious PMC teachers and

artists. You’ll find current listings and

an enrollment form in this and every

issue of this newsletter. But the MOST

current listings will always be found on

our website.

Take a workshop.The Guild also helps PMC teachers and

artists publicize workshops they are

giving. These workshops were listed in

Studio PMC up until this issue: they’ve

grown so numerous that the only prac-

tical way to list them is on our new

website. People unable to access the

web may call the Guild for updated

information.

Attention, PMC workshop teachers:Do-it-Yourself Class Scheduling.Workshop teachers: you can now logyour class schedules yourself right on

our website. Doing it yourself is the

best way we know to assure total accu-

racy and the timeliness of class listings.

It’s easy to enter your dates, time, fees,

and instructions on how students

should contact you by following the

online prompts.

It’s worth a visit. Bookmark us and come

back often. There’s always something new

and different at www.PMCguild.com! ◆

A significant benefit of PMC Guild mem-

bership is the hosting of your own pro-

fessional webpage on the PMC Guild’s

website. You get free space (up to 3 MB)

with prominent links from the main

PMC site.

Just what is “Free Hosting of yourWebpage?”Every webpage must reside on a host

site. You pay “rent” (hosting fees) which

can run up to $240/year. If you are a

Guild member, your webpage can reside

on and be linked to our website

www.PMCguild.com with NO HOSTING

FEE (though a one-time $9.95 set-up fee

applies). And you’ll have the best

address in the PMC world.

If you already have a webpage…It’s simple to change host sites from

your current PAY site to our FREE site.

See complete instructions on our web-

site (or write or call the Guild and we’ll

send you printed instructions).

If you do NOT have a webpage…You need a webpage before we can host

it for you! Adventurous or web-experi-

enced people design and build their

own using any of many “build your own

webpage” books and software programs

available. Or you can hire a web design-

er to build one for you.

Best address in the PMC worldHaving your webpage hosted on the PMC

site tells the world you’re a serious met-

alworking professional. Registration is

painless: our easy online signup walks

you through the hosting process giving

you clear instructions, a user name, and

password. The space is FREE. A nominal,

one-time $9.95 startup fee applies.

Questions?E-mail questions to our Guild Director,

CeCe Wire, at cece@PMCguild.com.

www.PMCguild.com/yourusernamehere

Continued from page 1.

5

Dear Studio PMC,Thanks for publishing a “Call for Entries”

on your website, PMCguild.com. Our work

has evolved out of a love for lapidary art.

Metalsmithing has given our pieces more

distinction, and using PMC has opened

new areas of expression for us.

John and I create our one-of-a-kind

pieces at our Tustin, California studio.

We’ve always used exotic and unusual

materials, and PMC complements our

niche perfectly. We created “Mummified

Heart” at a workshop given by Jean

Vormelker in Anaheim. My background

in sculpture and carving made PMC

agreeable to work with.

Portfolio

The Mummified Heart, by Corliss &John Rose. Fine silver PMC, fresh-

water pearl, 18K gold.

Metamorphosis, by Barbara Snyderman

Corliss & John Rose are craftspeople whorun 2-Roses Studios in Tustin, California.

The Mummified Heart by Corliss Rose

PMC PortfolioA closer look at a PMC artists and their work

Metamorphosis by Barbara Snyderman

I made this depiction of a butterfly dry-

ing her wings on the outside of her

cocoon with PMC, 14k & 24k gold, and

opal. The piece is fully three-dimension-

al, life-size, and hangs from a 4mm

omega chain. In researching this project,

I raised butterflies in my studio. Upon

finishing Metamorphosis, I released them

in my garden in Bonita Springs, Florida.

PMC lends itself beautifully to creating

organic structures. I constructed the

cocoon in silver PMC around a cigarette

filter which burned out cleanly, leaving a

hollow vessel. I soldered the 14k butter-

fly and branch, which served as the bail.

I electroplated the “bumps” on the

chrysalis (which are actually windows to

the inside) in 24k gold. I then set the opal

butterfly wings. I love that as the silver

patinas, the cocoon looks even more

realistic. ◆

Barbara Snyderman is an artist and jew-elry designer who first studied art as ayoung adolescent. Her education contin-ued at Kansas University and Kansas CityArt Institute. She now runs Babs Designsfrom her studio in Fort Myers, FL.

One topic discussed in earnest among

the students in my workshop was the

cost of PMC. Fine silver or sterling is less

expensive. However, as we all worked

with the material, it became very clear

that the processes used in forming PMC

replaced time spent hollow forming, tex-

turizing with a sheet roller, or fusing and

soldering components. That seemed to

put things in a much different light, and

the feeling was unanimous that PMC is

well worth the price paid. ◆

Many thanks,

—Corliss Rose

6

Coming Full Circle

Feature Artist

I confess I did not jump on the PMC

bandwagon the first time I heard of it. I

wasn't being timid so much as cynical.

The claims for this new material just

seemed unbelievable. But after I went to

Rio Grande's "Catalog in Motion" exhibit

at last year's Tucson Gem Show and was

able to talk to the PMC representative,

the PMC bug bit me.

As an art major in college, I dabbled in

a number of different media, including

ceramics and jewelry. At that time

ceramics won my heart. After college I

set up a studio and exhibited decorative

pieces that were handbuilt using slab and

coil methods. After a decade or so, my

thoughts turned to jewelry once again

after I made a line of ceramic pins that

began to sell well. In my mid-thirties I

went back to college to take more jewel-

ry classes and was accepted into my first

national juried wholesale craft show a

year later. I have been making and mar-

keting jewelry ever since.

My work is primarily constructed from

sheet silver and copper, and I have

always found fabrication intensely

rewarding and full of possibilities. I have

often made overly-complicated shapes

from sheet; sitting down and working in

wax is like pulling teeth.

Then I found PMC. I simply cannot tell

you how excited I’ve been to have this

new material to work with. It is a won-

derful marriage of my metal and ceramic

skills. I dug out my old box of favorite

ceramic handtools and got to work using

PMC in a variety of ways. I have made

single elements to attach with jump rings

for bracelets, cuff bracelets, and earring

By Elizabeth R. Agte

7

Feature Artist

elements. I find PMC elements are a won-

derful component to add to fabricated

pins and necklaces. Rings, small fig-

urines, brooches, and a chess set are on

the back burner. The organic quality of

the pieces is wonderfully appealing to

me, and I love the somewhat primitive,

impulsive feeling of the work I create

with PMC.

I find that preserving that sense of

impulse in the work is best achieved by

not over-working a piece and by feeling

confident enough not to mess too much.

Early on I learned a valuable lesson

about working in ceramics: shape clay

without over-burdening its surface with

your intervention. In order to achieve

that sense of nonchalance with the

PMC, I usually work out ideas in model-

ing clay first. Once I have a satisfying

representation of my three dimensional

sketches, I plunge into the PMC with

more confidence. ◆

Elizabeth R. Agte (pronounced “AHG-tee”) is a jewelry artist and designerbased in Rochester, NY, where she cre-ates and teaches in her studio. She hasshown her work in galleries and has cre-ated commissions for corporations.

Visit Elizabeth’s website at

www.agte.com

Photos:Bracelets & Earrings madeof lapis, fluorite, blackonyx, fossil cabochons, andPMC. The bracelets areseven inches long and oneinch wide. The earrings areone and a half inches long.

Photos by the artist

88

Gallery

Frog Necklace

Diane Contine

PMC, cubic zirconia, pearls,

amethyst, and sterling silver

with liver of sulpher patina.

Earrings

Connie Baron

PMC, fiber optic beads,

and Sterling.

Call For Entries!To submit your photos to our Gallerysend slides or prints to:

Studio PMCP.O. Box 257, Bennington, VT 05201-0257.

Please include your name, address,country if outside the US, phone, e-mailaddress, a brief bio, photo credit, plusthe size and materials used in your piece.Submission deadline for November2000 issue is September 15, 2000!

All designs are the property of the artists.

Biographies

Connie Baron is a fiction writer and neo-phyte silversmith. She works in herOregon studio in glass and PMC.

Diane Contine is a craftsperson and

teacher who runs a studio — “Dakota

Moon” — in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

Celie Fago is a senior PMC Certification

Instructor and craftsperson who works in

polymer clay and PMC in her Vermont studio.

Marcia Herson is a juried member of the

League of NH Craftsmen. She markets a

line of Judaica and was featured in the

April 2000 issue of Lapidary.

Shahasp Valentine is a Precious Metal Clay

Jewelry Artist who creates the Precieux line

of jewelry in her San Francisco studio.

Eve Welts is a PMC jeweler and PMC work-

shop teacher in Waltham, MA.

GALLERYA gallery of ideas and designs by PMC artisans and craftspeople

9C9

GalleryBracelets

Celie Fago

Incised red polymer clay

with brass, sterling,

and PMC rings and

dangles.

“Celechée” EarringsShahasp Valentine

Fine Silver PMC.

PinMarcia Herson

PMC and other materials.

EarringsEve Welts

Silver PMC.

10

Portfolio

by Candy Orow

I’m a graphic designer and part-time

jewelry and glass beadmaker. I was

introduced to PMC by my metalsmith

instructor, Allison Parks. She made it

Fun & Easy with PMC

FIREPOWER: Times and temps for firing PMC & PMCplus

• PMC: fire at 1650˚F (900˚C) for two hours.

• PMCplus: fires at YOUR CHOICE of lower times and temps:

-- Fire at 1650˚F (900˚C) for ten minutes,

-- or 1560˚F (850˚C) for twenty minutes,

-- or 1470˚F (800˚C) for thirty minutes.

• PMC combined with PMCplus: If you combine both mate-

rials in one piece, defer to PMC’s requirements: 1650˚F

(900˚C) for two hours.

Here’s a question that comes up from time to time: “What’s the difference in firing technique for PMC and PMCplus?” Here’s the simple answer:

fun and easy. I’ll keep experimenting

with this medium. I plan to combine

PMC with more traditional metalwork-

ing techniques and glass. ◆

Candy Orow of Warren, Michigan is ajeweler and past-contributor to StudioPMC.

Gold Medallion InitialEarrings. Gold PMCand 14K gold.

All photos by Frank Kidd

Rising Sun Pendant.Fine silver PMC and

sterling silver.2” x 2.25”

Heart Earrings.Fine silver PMC, sterling silver,

and Austrian crystals.

FREE Subscription to Studio PMC Newsletter!This specialized and highly informative newsletter is available ONLY to members of the PMC

Guild. Enroll today and you won't miss our upcoming issue!

FREE Back Issues and Multiple Copies!Would you like every single issue of Studio PMC we’ve ever published? Like multiple copies for

classes you’re giving? Guild Members can have them at NO CHARGE – while supplies last.

FREE Professional Listing in the Official PMC Directory!If you’re serious about PMC, here’s a great way to get your name out to people who take classes,

buy jewelry, arrange shows, and more. The Official PMC Directory lists Guild Members ONLY!

FREE Hosting of your webpage on the new PMC website!Tell the cyber-world you are a serious jeweler by hosting your page on our website. You benefit

from a premier “jewelry-oriented” address, lots of traffic through exclusive links from our site,

with NO HOSTING FEE as long as you are a Guild member. A one-time $9.95 set-up fee is charged.

Late-breaking PMC news, views, and breakthroughs!At the Guild, we're always running across interesting tools, techniques, materials, and books that

have great value to PMC users. As a Guild member, YOU will be the first to know all the news!

Join the PMC Guild! Join NOWTo join the PMC Guild, please • MAIL this form and check to PMC Guild, 417 West Mountain Ave.,

Fort Collins, CO 80521.

• PHONE us at 970-419-5503 and charge it.

• FAX form to 970-419-5504 and charge it.

• DIAL UP our secure server to enroll on the web and

charge it by following the links at www.PMCguild.com.

www.PMCguild.com/YourNameHere

$20 Value!

Guild Members ONLY!

$99 Value!

Guild Members ONLY!

$50 Value!

Guild Members ONLY!UP TO:

Name: ______________________________________________________

Business Name: ______________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________

City: ______________________________State: ______ Zip: _________

Phone (day): _________________________Fax: __________________

Phone (eve): ________________________________________________

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Payment: ❑ Check or Money Order Enclosed

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❑ YES! I want to join the PMC Guild! Sign me up for: ❑ 1 year $20 ❑ 2 years $35 ❑ 3 years $50

PMC Guild Directory❑ Please include my name/address/information in the

Guild Directory.

❑ Please do not include my information in the Guild Directory.

My total is...Guild Membership ______ + Web Hosting set-up_______ = _____

PMCguild.com FREE Web Hosting (one-time $9.95 set-up fee)

❑ Send me more information on FREE Web Hosting.❑ Activate my FREE Web Hosting! Set-up fee: $9.95

My username* (www.PMCguild.com/username) _________________*No spaces allowed in username. You will be mailed confimation of your username, password, and instructions on accessing your webspace on www.PMCguild.com.

11Join the PMC Guildto start your subscription to Studio PMC and to get many other valuable benefits too!

12

Tech Tip

Dear Tim,

I’m a full time metalworker. One of my

customers recently asked me to create

several images of his company’s logo in

silver. I think that sculpting the logo in

PMC, firing it, and mounting the fin-

ished piece on a block of hardwood or

marble might work nicely. What’s the

best way to do this? How do I make

multiple copies?

—Brian

Dear Brian,

This is a great idea: unique, personal,

and impressive. There are several ways

to go about making a PMC image of a

company’s logo. Photoetching is the most

sophisticated way, but in this column’s

limited space, I’m going to explain sim-

pler methods:

1. First, make a black and white image of

the logo in the size you’ll carve it. To

allow for PMC’s shrinkage use a photo-

copy machine, enlarging or reducing the

logo until it is 30% larger than your

desired final size (see fig. 1). If you’re using

PMCplus, make it just 12% larger.

2. Use the pattern to sculpt the piece in

PMC (fig. 2) and allow it to dry. In its dry

state, you can refine details and smooth

the surface if you wish.

3. If you’re making just one logo, go

ahead and fire it. But if you’re making

multiples, I recommend you make a mold

using a compound like Belicold, available

from Rio Grande (item #701-003). This is a

soft, two-part putty that cures into a firm

rubber mold. Knead equal parts together

and press the compound over your hard-

ened, dried PMC logo (fig. 3). After the

mold cures (about 20 minutes) pull the

original out and set it aside (fig. 4).

Put a little olive oil on your hands and

roll a lump of PMC or PMCplus between

your palms to give it a light coating.

Press the lump into the mold and peel it

out, trimming the edges as necessary.

You can mold several, dozens, or hun-

dreds of identical logos this way.

Allow the PMC logos to dry, then fire as

usual. Polish the fired pieces and mount

them on a presentation block of stone,

wood, tile, brick, or ceramic (fig. 5). ◆

Tech Tip: PMC Multiples

Tim McCreight is well known in the metals community as a teacher, author, jeweler, metalsmith, and consultant to Mitsubishi. Tim has worked with PMC since its introduction to the U.S. in 1995. His most recent book is Working with Precious Metal Clay.

Ask Tim!Do you have a PMC question for Tim, our Technical Editor? Mail your PMC tech questions to Tim McCreight, Technical Editor, Studio PMC, 34 Danforth St., Portland, ME 04101. Phone 207-761-8217. Fax 207-761-0781. E-mail tech@PMCguild.com

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

13

News & Notes

Pope Paul’s PMC Palmprint

Letters & Notes to Studio PMC

Akira Nishio, Assistant General Manager

of Mitsubishi Materials Corp., maker of

PMC, is a busy man. Between sales visits

to the US, UK, Germany, Australia,

Korea, and Italy, Mr. Nishio was granted

an audience with Pope John Paul II.

The Holy Father was invited to

press his palm into a slab of gold PMC

which will be fired, framed, and pre-

sented to the Vatican Museum. ◆

Guilt Free PMC

Dear Studio PMC,

I've heard about a boycott against Mitsubishi that’s attempt-

ing to stop development of a proposed salt works project

adjacent to San Ignacio Lagoon in the Baja area of southern

California. Do I need to stop buying PMC to keep my con-

science clear? —Dave

Dear Dave,

No, fortunately not. The boycott you've read about was

directed at the Mitsubishi Corporation, a distant relative of

Mitsubishi Materials, the maker of PMC. More to the point,

the project has been scrapped, perhaps because of the

efforts of concerned citizens who made their opinions

known. For details on the matter, go to http://www.mit-

subishi.co.jp/En/press/release40.html

—Editor

All That Glitters...Dear Studio PMC,

I’m having a hard time finding information on gold PMC. I’mdying to order some, but I don’t feel like I have enough infoon it. Can you advise me?

—Treza

Dear Treza,

Gold PMC is sold through Rio in a 24K (pure) version. It han-dles exactly like silver PMC but fires a little hotter: twohours at 1830˚F. The resulting gold is soft but not as soft asstandard 24K gold.

Here’s something you might try: mix 3 parts 24K gold PMCwith 1 part silver PMC. The result is a bright, 18K green goldthat is quite unusual. Fire it just below the usual gold PMCtemperature.

—Editor

14

Q & A

Q&AP=MC2Certification Q’s & A’s

Certification, says CeCe…CeCe Wire, Director of the PMC Guild,

also runs our PMC Certification Class

Program. Here are a couple of questions

readers have asked her recently…

“How and where can I take a PMCCertification Class?”

Q.I’m loving working with PMC and hope to

get certified soon. How and where do I

sign up, and how much does it cost?

—Leslie

A.PMC Certification classes are being

given in cities all across the USA. All are

taught by Guild-trained Certification

Instructors. All have the same curricu-

lum and cost: $335 for three full days of

instruction which includes a tool kit

and three ounces of PMC. You are

responsible for your own transporta-

tion, lodging, and meals.

Some classes and a registration form

are included in this issue of Studio PMC.

We’re always adding locations so visit

our website, PMCguild.com, for up-to-

the-minute class information.

Studio PMC newsletter. (You may also

purchase a one, two, or three-year

membership… with or without being

Certified.) See p. 11 for details and our

Guild membership form.

The second is a program by Rio

Grande, distributor of PMC: Rio’s

Rewards Program gives you best prices

on PMC and PMCplus. According to Rio,

Certified PMC artists become and remain

for the discount as long as they purchase

25 ounces of PMC or PMCplus every six

months. Please note: the Guild and Rio

are completely separate businesses.

“What benefits does Certification bring?”

Q.When I got certified, I was told that

membership in the Guild was included

for the first year, and that to maintain it,

all I had to do was purchase 50 oz. of

PMC during the year. Still true? I’ve pur-

chased much more than 50 oz., and I

want to keep getting Studio PMC!

—Susan

A.You are confusing two separate pro-

grams offered by two separate business-

es. The first is a PMC Guild program:

upon successful completion of a certifi-

cation class, you become Certified. This

entitles you to a one-year membership

in the PMC Guild, which in turn gives

you a one-year subscription to the

YOU’RE INVITED to send in your PMC tricks ‘n tips.

We print the BEST tip we’ve received in each issue!

PMC Tipsters Hall of Fame:

• Mary Reynolds

• Greg & Susan Card

• Judy Neihoff

• Maurice Smith

• Ilse Laffee

• Celie Fago

Make Wax StampsHeat the end of a 1/2” x 1” File-a-Wax

rod with a match, candle or soldering

pen. Press the heated surface against

anything that can tolerate heat: tex-

tured and patterned metal surfaces

like coins, for example. You get very

nice, sharply-detailed impressions.

Modify them any way you want by

carving, filing, or sawing. Use the

stamp over and over, or erase it by

re-heating or filing off the pattern.

—J. Fred Woell

Reader Tip

15

Events

Calendar of PMC Certification ClassesCertification Classes: Certification-earning instruction for serious craftspeople and teachers.

Class No. Date City Location Instructor To Register

#27 September 22, 23, 24 Rochester/Corning, NY Sun Dance Creations Studio for the Arts (607) 566-3587 Barbara Simon8340 Wessel Hill Road, Avoca, NY 14809

#28 October 6, 7, 8 Tucson, AZ Doubletree at Reid Park (520) 881-4200 CeCe Wire445 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85711

#33 October 14, 15, 16 Philadelphia, PA Mainline Center of the Arts (610) 525-0272 Chris DarwayOld Buck Road & Lancaster Avenue, Havorford, PA 19042

#29 October 20, 21, 22 Brookfield, CT Brookfield Craft Center (203) 775-4526 Chris DarwayP.O. Box 122, Brookfield, CT 06804

#30 October 27, 28, 29 Madison, WI Madison Area Technical College, DTEC (608) 258-2327 Tim McCreightJewelry/Art Metal Lab

115 N. Carroll Street, Madison, WI 53730

#31 November 3, 4, 5 Portland, OR Holiday Inn (800) 343-1822 • local: 235-2100 Carl Stanley1021 NE Grand Ave., Portland, OR

#32 November 10, 11, 12 Chicago, IL Lincolnshire Courtyard (847) 634-9555 J. Fred Woell505 Milwalkee Ave., Lincolnshire, IL 60069

#25 December 1, 2, 3 Laguna Hills, CA Courtyard Laguna Hills (949) 661-5000 Carl Stanley23175 Ave. de la Carlora, Laguna Hills, CA 92653

FILL OUT

FORMBELOW

TOREGISTER

REMEMBER:

classes are

small and

enrollment is

EXTREMELY

limited.

First come,

First served.

PMC Certification Program Registration Form Register by MAIL, PHONE, FAX, or E-MAIL! By mail: Mail form and check to PMC Guild, 417 West Mountain Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521By phone: Call us at 970-419-5503 and charge it. By fax: Fax form to 970-419-5504 and charge it. By e-mail: E-mail form information to cece@PMCguild.com, and charge it.Online: Dial up our secure server and enroll on the web and charge it by following the links at www.PMCguild.com

❑ Please enroll me in the class I’ve selected and mail me further details.

It's EASY to sign up!1. Choose the class that's best for you from the schedule above.

2. Fill out this Registration Form.

3. Send Registration Form and payment to the PMC Guild.

PAYMENT is affordable & convenient!

Your class tuition of $335 covers every single class expense:

instruction, studio space, bench fees, firing, a set of tools

which are yours to keep, and three ounces of silver PMC.

Students are responsible for transportation, lodging, and food.

To enroll in a class please mail payment by check or money

order. You may also use phone, fax, or e-mail to charge it to

your credit card.

Certification class payments are non-refundable. Cancellation

at least three weeks before a class will permit the funds to be

used for another class at full value. Cancellation less than three

weeks before a class will incur a $40 handling fee, with the

balance applied to another class.

Class Number: ________

Class Location: _________________________ Class Date: __________

Name: ______________________________________________________

Business Name: ______________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________

City: __________________State: _____________ Zip: ______________

Phone (day): _________________________Fax: __________________

Phone (eve): ________________________________________________

E-mail: ____________________________________________________

Payment: ❑ Check or Money Order Enclosed

❑ Charge Card - ❑ Visa ❑ Mastercard

Card Number: ________________________________________________

Expiration Date:______ Name on Card __________________________

Billing Address on card IF different from above: ________________

____________________________________________________________

Signature (required) __________________________________________

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Check the web for

updated listings

16

WORKSHOPS • FEATURE STORIES • DEPARTMENTS • HOW TO • QUESTIONS & ANSWERS • TECH TIPS

16

PRESRT STD

AUTO

POSTAGE PAIDDuluth, MN

PERMIT NO. 739

P.O. Box 257Bennington, VT 05201-0257

Studio PMCwww.PMCguild.com If your name or address is incorrect, please write corrections on label and return to us.

BECAUSE YOU’RE A MEMBER of the PMC

Guild, YOU receive all these special

privileges…

FREE Subscription to Studio PMC

newsletter!

FREE Back Issues & Multiple

Copies of Studio PMC!

FREE Professional Listing in the

Official PMC Directory!

FREE Hosting of your webpage on

the new PMC website. (Nominal,

one-time set-up fee applies.)

FREE Late-Breaking News of PMC-

related tools, materials, books,

and more!

• To KEEP your Guild membership & itsmany privileges……please note the DATE printed by your

name on the mailing label on this issue of

Studio PMC. That’s your EXPIRATION

DATE: the date your Guild Membership

ends. If your date is getting close, please

re-enroll using the Guild Enrollment Form

on p. 15 of this issue or on our website.

• Do a FRIEND a favor.Do you have friends or associates who

are interested in PMC Guild member-

ship? Please give them the Enrollment

Form from this issue. Or give US their

addresses, and we’ll send them enroll-

ment information. ◆

Guild Member Benefits

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

Do a Friend a Favor

Please send PMC Guild Enrollment

Information to:

Name____________________________

Address__________________________

City ____________________________

State _________________ Zip ______

Name____________________________

Address__________________________

City ____________________________

State _________________ Zip ______

Clip and mail this information to:

PMC Guild417 West Mountain Ave.

Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA

ww

w.PMCguild

.com

Studio