Photopolymer Plates, Box Making and Mouldmaking Wednesday's 1pm-4pm April 2010

Advanced PMC Techniques Workshop
Dates: Wednesdays April 7, 14, 21, 28 1pm-4pm
Cost: $140 (instruction, use of tools and kiln firing)
Materials Fee: Starts at $120 for 2 packs of PMC 3, mould materials, photopolymer plates and other consumables. More PMC will be available for purchase in class.
Student level: Students who have taken Intro to PMC and Intermediate Level students

This four week course will take your PMC designs and abilities to a new level.
as you continue to create with PMC using new techniques.

Techniques covered include Photopolymer Plates, Box Making and Mouldmaking.

Students are encouraged to make jewelry expressing their own personal design styles and are offered one on one attention by the instructor.

A plethora of tools are textures are available for use in class.

Links and Rings. Advanced PMC Projects. Wednesdays 1pm-4pm MAY 2010

Advanced PMC Techniques Workshop – Links and Rings
Dates: Wednesdays May 5, 12, 19, 26
Cost: $140 (instruction, use of tools and kiln firing)
Materials Fee: Starts at $90 for 2 packs of PMC 3 and other consumables. More PMC will be available for purchase in class.

Student level: Students who have taken Intro to PMC and Intermediate Level students

This four week course will take your PMC designs and abilities to a new level.
as you continue to create with PMC using new techniques.

Techniques covered include: Chain Making aka PMC Links and PMC Rings

PMC Open Studio Wednesday Nights WEEKLY 6-9pm

PMC Open Studio Wednesday Nights 6-9pm Weekly
MARCH, APRIL MAY,JUNE and on....
Studio time is available for those who have taken at least 12 hours of instruction in metal clay by Virginia or other qualified instructor. Studio tools & textures are available for you to practice and explore your creativity with Precious Metal Clay. Virginia will be available to assist you with your projects. You will learn many new techniques as you build your PMC knowledge and skills. Open Studio sessions include firing. Cost: $30 per session or $75 for three consecutive sessions. Bring your own PMC or buy some from Virginia. To register, please contact me at virginiahuffman@gmail.com or 650-630-6061

PMC Hollow Links Saturday May 15th 10am-4pm

Date: May 15th 2010. 10am-4pm
Class Description: Make funky chunky links! Attach links to one another to create a unique bracelet or a necklace, a pendant and/or matching earrings. WOW! You will have people asking you where you got this beauty! And you can tell them, “I made it!”
This class will cover how to make hollow links which will look heavy but be light AND use less clay. Students finished products will vary depending on students output and use of clay.
Cost: $95 for instruction, use of tools and kiln firing
Materials fee: $ 90 includes a 45 gram pack of PMC3 and other consumables. Bring 12-18 inches of chunky chain and clasp to finish off your designs.
Student Level: Intermediate to Advanced Students

PRIVATE PMC INSTRUCTION

Can't make a scheduled class? Have a specific technique or project in mind? Then sign up for one-on-one PMC instruction.Classes I teach include Intro to PMC, Rings, Earrings and Earring Components, PMC and Resin, Photopolymer Plates, Mould Making, PMC Hollow Linked Chain, Riveting with PMC Carving rubber rubber stamps , Stone Setting for PMC, Hollow Forms, PMC chain, Lentil Beads, Fun with PMC Paper, PMC Photo Pendant, Clasps and Toggles, Gold on PMC, and Copper Clay.

Sessions are $45 per hour plus materials. To schdule a session or chat with Virginia contact her by phone 650-630-6061 or e-mail virginiahuffman@gmail.com

What is PMC?

Precious Metal Clay (PMC) is a revolutionary material developed and patented by Mitsubishi Materials of Japan. It is pure powdered gold or silver sprayed with an organic binder then combined with water to form a non-toxic clay which can be molded and sculpted much like regular clay. Once fired, it will yield a pure, solid gold or silver object. Natural as well as high quality synthetic gems can be cast & and fired with this marvelous medium. PMC + your imagination = unending creative possibilities.

For more details on PMC visit the PMC Guild.

Pictures of PMC Design Studio

 

Here are some pictures of my creative oasis.

A Bit About Me

I was blessed with creative parents. My mother is an oil painter, and my father can make just about anything. There were always plenty of art supplies, tools and materials available for me to explore.

Over the years, I’ve worked with a variety of media like photography, beading, bookbinding, painting, pottery and collage. While I enjoyed all of these, I kept looking for the one creative outlet that would hold my attention. When I discovered Precious Metal Clay (PMC), I was fascinated. I took my first class and immediately became hooked making beautiful fine silver jewelry from this wonder clay. A year later I took a PMC certification class and started teaching at The Bead Shop in Palo Alto, CA in 2007. I had such a great time meeting other creative people and sharing the wonders of working with Precious Metal Clay. When the Bead Shop closed, I decided to open up my home studio for instruction.

I am currently working on mixed metal jewelry. I love etching copper and using cold connections like riveting to attach to either sterling silver or fine silver components. I recently started fusing gold onto silver with Keum Boo and Aura 22 is also a new adventure for me.

Cool Breeze Personalized Bracelet

 

Made this for a customer to give to a friend to commemorate her online store "TASHI" which opened 11.15.09. I handcrafted each of the silver components which made this bracelet extra special.

Tashi sells beautiful lingere!! Oooh la la. You must visit.

Hey You....Off of My Cloud!

 

Every have one of those days? Then you've got to EXPRESS YOURSELF with PMC.
I made this pendant with a photopolymer plate. This is a great way to share your favorite quote, sentiment or lyrics to your favorite song.

Photopolymer Plate Class Participants

 

Today's Photopolymer Plate Class was a blast. Everyone made such fun designs to use in their PMC creations. Can't wait to see the beautiful jewelry people make with them.

Click on this link to see a slideshow of the session. You can see what people made and how rewarding the process is. PPP Class Photos

Stephanie's Gorgeous Necklace

 

Whoo Hoo! Miss Stephanie just finished this gorgeous creation tonigh! Congrats Stephanie -- wear it with pride!!

Vine Design Jewelry

Please double click on this picture to get a glimpse of some of my creations.

Carved Heart Mould

 

So this morning I was making some moulds with my favorite mould making material. I realized how easy it is to carve. So with Valentine's Day in mind, I pulled out a wooden heart and pressed it into the mould. When set, I carved out the word "Love" with my razor sharp Dockyard carving tool. And Presto! Insta cool mould. Put some PMC Standard in the newly created mould so my silver comes out 27% smaller. Now its time to go into the kiln. Just in time to tell a friend how much they mean to me.

A Message from Above

 

I wish I had more time in the day to finish projects that inspire me. Today I finished my copper angel wings and message that reminds me that God's Angels ARE watching over me and protecting me. Wings are made of copper clay and the chain is fine silver.

More Pictures of My Designs

 

Stunning Coral Design Earrings

 

I love, love, love this texture. Works well with this shape for earrings. Got to wear them tonight.

Intro to Precious Metal Clay (PMC) in the San Francisco Bay Area Jan. 16th 10-1

Get hooked on Precious Metal Clay! Learn to make fine silver jewelry with PMC. This revolutionary medium is an easy entrée to metal work as well as a new addition to your metalsmithing repertoire. In this class you will learn the basics of PMC (forming, firing, and finishing). Student projects include pendants & charms.
Date; Saturday January 16, 2010 10:00am-1:00pm
Level: Beginner

Cost: $45
Materials Fee: starting at $30 for one pack of PMC 3 (16 grams)and depends on each student's design selection. More PMC may be purchase in class. Tools provided for use in class.

Class Location: PMC Design Studio in Redwood City

To register please e-mail me at virginiahuffman@gmail.com or call 650-630-6061

Photopolymer Plates for PMC February 6th, 2010

Learn to incorporate your design or line drawing into metal clay with Photopolymer Plates (PPP's). PPP's have been traditionally used in the printing industry to create images or words onto paper. Using them with PMC is similar to using rubber stamps BUT the design is your own. Turn a photo into a line drawing and Viola! You can now use this to make a beautiful piece of silver jewelry. In this session we will spend time making plates and then using them with some PMC to make gorgeous one of a kind jewelry.

Date: Saturday February 6th 2010 from 10am-4pm
Cost: $95
Materials Fee: $15 for unexposed plates. Bring your own PMC or buy some in class.
Class Location: PMC Design Studio, Redwood City, CA (45 minutes South of San Francisco)
To register contact me at virginiahuffman@gmail.com or call 650-630-6061

How to USE RESIN...What I learned from Linda

 

 

This is a photo of one of my regulars, Linda Cullen who attends the WED. NIGHT OPEN STUDIOS Sessions. She has been going crazy making resin pendants at home withe a Doming Resin product. Although the results have been beautiful, the resin has wreaked havoc on her skin. She is now fully outfitted with mask and gloves so that she can continue the resin madness. Warning: Don't go out in public like this...people may think there has been a nuclear accident in your local area and you may frighten small children.

Moral of the story: READ all caution labels of chemical products and use with caution. Use in a well ventillated area and in moderation. Do not let resin cure in areas where you sleep or eat.