Precious Metal Clay Certification

This weekend I taught my first Precious Metal Clay Certification Module!! Since the beginning of the year Amy Surman - The Oxford Beadshop has been an Accredited Training Centre for the PMC Certification Programme. The programme is split into three modules...

• Module 1 - Naturals The 7 projects in this module are designed to teach you how to make a textured pendant, simple stone setting, combine PMC with glass, make a ring, use organic materials, make a clasp, dry construction and the use of wood clay.

• Module 2 - High Finish This module focuses on achieving a professional finish. The 6 projects also teach you how to use Japanese enamels, achieve a high shine, set a natural stone, use PMC 22K gold and combine PMC with fired ceramics and bisque.

• Module 3 - Innovative design Create your own designs whilst learning techniques such as Keum Boo (24K gold foil), syringe design, chain making, ring with natural stone setting, combining PMC and Sterling Silver and liver of sulphur.

The modules can be taken in any order and this weekend we completed Module 2. We had a great three days - everybody worked really hard to complete their projects. You can see how hard from the table mess!!!!

This module really did concentrate on achieving a high professional finish - this takes time so the three days were jam packed with technique and focus.

A Collection of all 6 Projects

One of the things I like about this module is the way it combines PMC and traditional jewellery making techniques. For example...enameling, rubover setting and high shine. These techniques are more commonly seen combined with traditional jewellery making but they work so well with PMC. Enameling is perfect for PMC work as it is fine silver so there is no need for depletion guilding and no risk of oxidisation to the surface.

Rubover Set Ring with Blue Goldstone

Out of the six projects we covered I think this is the most difficult - The Bezel Set Ring. Firstly rings are not the easiest project to make with PMC due to the shrinkage, sizing and the join can sometimes be problematic. Within this project you also have to make a bezel (the bit that sits around the stone) out of fine silver and set this into the PMC - again you have to be careful with the shrinkage so the setting doesn't go out of shape or splits the ring completely!! I was very pleased that this project went well for all of us!!

Enamel of Precious Metal Clay

There's lots more images on our Facebook page...Later on in the year I will be delivering the Module 1 & 3 alongside all our other workshops...busy..busy!!
Last week we also had our first Beading Group meeting - last Tuesday of the month. It went really well although I was doing some private tuition that I said to myself I wouldn't!! The next one is at the end of February - I going to take part this time. Everybody bought along their own projects, tools, we provided the cake and tea and we all made a £2.00 contribution to Breast Cancer Research. It was great to see lots of different projects and ideas around the table.