Jewelry Created from 2009 Charm Exchange Charms

Creative uses of copper charms were on display at the February meeting where several people wore jewelry created from their copper charms. Shown here is how Carol Hale used her charms. She was disappointed that some of the charms she received were not completely sintered, and subsequently broke. But she made this wonderful necklace using her charms with turquoise and copper beads.

We will show more of these creations as photos are received.

February 16, 2010 - KC PMC Guild meeting

Tuesday, February 16, is the next meeting. This month's topic will be Soldering - What's the Difference?
Led by Janie Clark and Lynette Fisk, they will demonstrate the tools and techniques for two common types of soldering used in jewelry making. The goal: how to attach earring posts to fired PMC earring pieces.

Janie will demo the soldering iron - used in "tinning" copper around glass. This process uses flux, copper foil tape, solder and a soldering iron. But can it attach silver to silver? We don't think so, but we'll see...

Lynette will show other types of solder and flux used on silver (PMC or wire or sheet), using a torch. We know this works to attach items together, but requires more equipment, safety setup, and additional processes, like pickling and cleanup.

If you have a small torch (the creme brulee, butane type) feel free to bring it along, especially if you have never tried it out.

For more info about our location and directions, go to our website at www.kcpmcguild.org.

Kansas City PMC Guild Chapter - 2010

The first meeting of the KCPCG will be Tuesday, January 19 at  Harder Performance Driving School,
10362 Mastin. Overland Park, KS 66214.  Meeting time is 7 p.m. to about 9:30, although sometimes we have so much fun, we stay later. Doors open at 6:30.

Our demo topic will be Using a Light Box to Photograph Your Art. We will demo both a professional quality portable light box and a simple, home-made cardboard one. Bring your camera to practice changing its settings to help you get better photos. Bring something to photograph, too! We'll use the images to update our website, which is http://www.kcpmcguild.org. (More about that at the meeting.)

The program committee will be meeting at 5 p.m. at Jose Pepper's (103th & Mastin) to work on the 2010 demo schedule. If you would like to join us there for (no-host) dinner, you can sit at the table next to us while we work!

Charmed, I'm Sure

Okay - I just couldn't wait. So instead of baking cookies or making those gifts for my Mom and my brother-in-law that are still unfinished, I spent yesterday making myself a charming necklace from my KCPMC Guild Copper Christmas Exchange Charms. It's a little over the top, but just hanging them onto a copper chain wasn't working for me. So, I added a few things: part of a watchband, a couple stone beads, a copper stamped filigree, a few blue glass beads, a cream-colored fossil from a friend and some Harbor Freight copper washers. I pounded the heck out of some 14 gauge wire and the washers, then annealed them with my torch before drilling a couple holes and some hammered texture. (That torch sure adds great color to copper!) Before using 20gauge copper wire to work wrapped loops, I darkened it in LOS to remove the shine a bit. Finished length is about 36" so it can be worn doubled or long.

I can't wait to see what everyone else does with their charms.

December Copper Charm Exchange 2009

What fun! What a variety! Last night 15 intrepid KCPMC Guild members came to our December meeting to share copper clay stories, nibble a snack buffet and swap charms. We felt bad for those who couldn't be there to share with us, but that didn't stop us from a great charm swap.

Here's a glimpse at the loot I brought home - can't wait to make something from all these great charms. Since not everyone made the same number of charms, some people got multiples of some and none of some, but we all got a great stash. (Be thinking about how to do this swap next year - our drawing numbers format got rather complicated toward the end and we are open to a better way to make charm selecting easy and equitable.

As you can see, some people polished, some did not. Some used patina, some tumble-polished, and one person made PMC Silver charms instead (Thanks, Carol!)

To see more pictures and most of the charms up close, go to my online web album or click on the rotating image cloud at top right.

It was very interesting to compare notes about firing the copper clay. Robin didn't know how black the stainless steel box would become and panicked that she had ruined her kiln. (She didn't - it's normal.) Some reports of cintering problems were shared as well as various resources and information about firing schedules. Clearly, there are a lot of variables with this process. Jennifer has had consistent good results with the procedures outline by Hadar Jacobson in her books and website. Check out her information about firing - click on How to Talk to your Kiln on this page.

Hopefully, we'll publish more photos here showing how we use our charms. KCPMC Guild members - please join me and comment, post or send me a pic of your finished project.

November Charm-making Meeting/Workshop

Wow! Last Tuesday night was a blast! 16 members and a guest gathered to work on making charms from copper clay. Charter member Debra Weld was on hand and shared some basic information on working with and firing copper clay. (She's an expert, after all!)

Most of the evening was spent intently focusing on making charms, which will be fired by several volunteer kiln owners before the December meeting when we will exchange charms with one another.

Carol and Betty got their heads together in one corner. They came prepared with previously created silicone molds. Janice and others brought plastic shape molds and stamps to use for textures.

Tools ranging from brushes and sculpting tools to mini-cutters and fingers all were useful. Everyone was working so intently even the normal conversation was minimal as we all got "charming."

Our brave, lone male attendee Jeff really knows what he's doing and jumped right in making his sculpted charms, while Carol pressed clay into a mold.

Carol preps a mold with a bit of Badger Balm for easy release.

Kana uses a rubber texture plate for impressing her design.

Char getting ready to roll out her clay.

We found out how the copper clay is messy, and requires a good clean up. Don't forget to soap and water wash your tools, work surfaces, textures, etc. before using them again with PMC or ArtClay Silver. Debra explained how copper clay contamination will cause black spots (similar to fire scale) in the silver that cannot be removed. Best to avoid it!

Making PMC Rings in July

At our July 2009 meeting, member Betty Chaisson will show us how to make RING from PMC3. (That's the clay that shrinks the LEAST when firing.)

If you plan to participate and make a ring at the meeting, you will need to bring your clay-working tools and have at least 12-15 grams of clay in order to have enough to do more than make a small plain band. You will also need access to a pot of PMC paste.

Betty will be making a bulk order for clay. Members, if you want to order with us, we need to hear from you by Thursday, July 9.