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Happy New Year!!
Hoping this is the beginning of YOUR best year yet. And thank you, thank you, and thank you to all of our loyal clients. It is through your continued support that we have grown and been successful in seeking out new and creating different tools, equipment and products for use with metal clay. We are in our fifth year and look forward with pride and trust in you to many more.
New, Lower Prices for Certification classes!!
The big news for the 2007 New Year is that PMC Connection Certification classes have been restructured and the prices have gone WAY down!
Now you can take advantage of all of the benefits of being a Certified Artisan by completing a 2-Day Level 1 Certification class and the new cost is only $295.00! While it is necessary for some Senior Instructors to charge a bench fee of $25, the projects still cover the use of all types of PMC clay, paste, syringe and sheet. In the NEW 2-day class you’ll complete 5 fabulous projects. These include a slide pendant with dichroic glass and gemstone, delicate syringe earrings, dry constructed hollow pendant with a split bail, a hollow vessel with sheet embellishment and coiled handles and a wonderful band ring. Check out the class schedule for the dates and more details.
Also new is the 2-Day Level 2 Certification Class for only $325.00. You’ll build on the skills learned in Level 1 Certification and add more complex, exciting techniques to your arsenal of possibilities for jewelry and classes. Level 2 Certification projects includes a gold and enamel pendant, a ring with bezel set natural stone, a three textured pendant and a custom clasp with fine silver wire. You will leave with a whole new outlook about your jewelry.
Brand new for metal clay enthusiasts is a 2-Day Level 3 Certification class priced at $325.00. This class will really take your work to the next level. You’ll complete a hinged box with carving and oh-so-fabulous Keum Boo. Then you’ll learn to make original stamps using photopolymer plate material to complete a pin and pair of earrings. This project includes learning how to solder on the 3-pc pin back and ear post findings!!
Check the class schedule at www.pmc123.com for dates and details!!
| Points of Interest
• By Special Request . . . Making Stamps
• Scheduled Classes - Jan/Feb 2007 Classes
• Featured Products of the Month
Glass Cutter set,
Studio in a Shoe Box, and two wonderful Diamond File sets.
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PMC123 Schedule of classes for Jan 07 and Feb 07
  3 Jan 07, Wed, San Antonio, PMC+ Link Bracelet, $140.00
4 Jan 07, Thur, San Antonio, Ori Box Pendant, $140.00
5 Jan 07, Fri, San Antonio, Fabulous Fused Glass, $135.00
6-7 Jan 07, Sat, Sun, San Antonio, Level 1Certification Class, $295.00
20 Jan 07, Sat, San Antonio, All the Finishing Touches, $135.00
21 Jan 07, Sun, San Antonio, Eastern Magic: Kimono and Keum Boo, $185.00
31 Jan 07, Wed, Houston, Fused Glass Basics & PMC Inclusions, $140.00
1 Feb 07, Thur, Houston, Custom Stamp Bracelet, $140.00
2 Feb 07, Fri, Houston, Hinged Boxes, $140.00
 3-4 Feb 07, Sat, Sun, Houston, Level 1 Certification Class, $295.00
24-25 Feb 07, Sat, Sun, San Antonio, Level 2 Certification Class, $325.00
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Featured Products of the Month…
Do you have these yet??? Glass Cutter set, Studio in a Shoe Box, and two wonderful Diamond File sets.
We are proud to present a new tool set at a great price. By going to the source, we save you money and give you value. Our  Glass Cutter Set includes a carbide tipped glass-scoring tool that needs no oil! You will save time by not having to clean your glass after cutting before fusing it in the kiln. The wooden handle and handy multi-sized breaking slots are easy on the hands. Also included is a sturdy pair of glass running pliers with nylon covers on the working ends. No more fear of chipping or accidentally scratching your glass. The non-slip handles, overall length of 6 ½”, return springs and screw-type thickness control make these pliers a pleasure to use.
The Introductory price is $19.95 (offer good thru 31 Jan 07)
Retail price $21.95
Order Link: http://www.pmc123.com/proddetail.asp?prod=GST30007
Another PMC123 exclusive!! Just right for the novice or advanced metal clay artist!! We introduce the  PMC123 Studio in a Shoebox. It contains everything you need to get started making jewelry with metal clay (including materials! 2 pks. 18gm PMC+ clay, 18gm PMC+ paste, 9gm PMC3 syringe, 2 pks. 5gm PMC+ sheets) or to take with you on your travels. Handy, contained, complete and a FABULOUS value! Your portable studio is jammed with over $315.00 worth of tools, stones, mold-making material, files, brass texture plates, a torch and torch block, everything you need to create, fire and finish metal clay jewelry at home or on the road. Order yours TODAY!
Introductory price is $285.00 (Offer good thru 31 Jan 07)
Retail $295.00
Order Link: http://www.pmc123.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Studioinashoebox
You can’t beat the value of this set.  PMC123 5-pc Toothpick Diamond File Set comes in a slotted pack to prevent files from rubbing together during storage. Each file is 80mm long with a non-slip handle. The five shapes, round, equaling, half-round, 3-square and 4-square, allow you to get into even the tiniest places. Use wet or dry.
Sale priced at $6.95 (Offer good thru 31 Jan 07)
Retail price $7.95
Order Link: http://www.pmc123.com/proddetail.asp?prod=60
Here’s your opportunity to get a  10-pc Diamond File Set at a great price. This set also comes in a slotted pack to maintain the cutting quality of your files. The shapes included are round, half round, equaling, triangle, 4-square, crossing, round-edge pillar, slitting, and warding. Each file is 5 5/8” long, with non-slip handle and diamond grit permanently bonded to the stainless steel base. This means that you can file in any direction, even with water for filing glass or stones, without fear of rust. These files will cut clean and even for years to come.
Order yours today at the Sale Price of $19.95 each!!
(Offer good thru 31 Jan 07)
Retail price $21.95
Order Link: http://www.pmc123.com/proddetail.asp?prod=FCS20002
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PMC123 “By Special Request”
Topic: Making Stamps
This month Sherry is including “By Special Request” with yet another twist. Part of the article appears here and a second part appears on a different website!
Making custom and personal stamps for use with metal clay has been a huge boost for many artists. She has had many questions about the technique; not only about how to create the images, but also about what to do when you just don’t have SUNSHINE! Here are suggestions for creating the images.
The most basic way to create an image suitable for making a stamp is to simply copy a line drawing onto a transparency. If you have access to a scanner and computer, you can also manipulate the copied image many ways. You may reduce or enlarge, stretch, crop, layer, reverse, mirror, or (really great) reverse the background and image from black on white to white on black. During my experiments with actual photographs I learned many things. 1) Color photographs just don’t work. The different color toners laid down allow differing amounts of UV rays to penetrate to harden the photopolymer plate and the result is way less than what you expected! So, black and white photos are the way to go. 2) Even black and white photos need to be manipulated for best results. They need to be practically totally black and white, that is, with only the tiniest amount of gray tones. You can accomplish this by increasing the contrast and/or brightness of the image until it is only black and white. Avoid half tones altogether. When you make the stamp, consider ahead of time how you want the image to appear in metal clay, as a negative or a positive. Using liver of sulfur patina and wiping back the top areas accentuates the image. If you’ve created an image of, for example, your house where it looks like a negative on the transparency, the resulting stamp will create an impression in the clay that when patinaed and highlighted, will appear as a positive! That is because the photopolymer hardens in the open areas of the transparency, yielding a stamp that makes those areas recess in the metal clay. Then when you color the metal black and remove the black from the top areas, the recessed areas stay black and you have a positive image. By the same token, photopolymer stamps made with a positive image yield an impression in metal clay that will appear as a negative when darkened and highlighted. I’ve had grand success with photos that are even portraits! The unique shapes of the subject product an image that is quite easy to recognize. So, no color photos and only very high contrast black and white photos should be used for making photopolymer stamps.
To read all about the “processing/exposing” part of the photopolymer plate technique, go to www.metalclayconnections.com. This is the website where the PMC Connection has unveiled a new e-newsletter called Metal Clay Connections. Each issue is themed, so one technique, tool, or product will be highlighted. It will also include interviews, a gallery and other interesting tidbits. So far there is no way to subscribe directly to the newsletter so I will remind you when each issue is available. The site includes an archive so you can read any issues that you may have missed.
Check out the complete Photopolymer Kit, Exposing Kit and Refills on www.pmc123.com
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