Expanded Cutter Selection
Yes, we’ve got them! Square Cutter Sets and Triangle Cutter Sets are now available at PMC123. Many people have told us that they want these cutter shapes. So here they are! Each set contains 5 graduated sizes and are perfect for use with metal clay. Whether your metal clay (or polymer clay!) is highly textured or smooth, smooth, smooth these cutters will provide you with consistent, perfect shapes time after time.
 
Order yours today! Only $8.95 each.
Order Link: http://www.pmc123.com/products.asp?cat=24&pg=5
New Feature at: The latest and Greatest from…PMC123 “By Special Request”
This new feature will appear “by special request.” That is, when you, the reader, ask for a discussion of a topic you and your friends would find helpful. It may be something you’ve heard in a class, something you feel has not been published or made clear enough, even something you’d just like to read about again as a reminder. I welcome your input and comments but especially your requests.
November Topic: Pricing Your Work
Above all, value yourself and your time. All too often artists fall into the trap of thinking much less of themselves than they deserve. I’ve heard it all. “I just do this for myself”, “I’m just starting out, I don’t have a big name” and the ever popular, “But nobody will pay that much for my work.” You must value yourself first to allow others to value you as well. That said, here is a simple formula for pricing your metal clay work.
[(Weight, in grams, of metal clay in piece) X (price per gram) X 6] + labor = wholesale price
Whenever possible, keep a notebook or a stack of 3”X5” cards on hand to keep track of your TIME and materials. First, figure out how much your material costs. If you purchase a 10gm pack of metal clay for $10.00, your cost is $1.00 per gram. Now consider any additional materials that you plan to incorporate into a given piece. Weigh them and record the weights. Also record your costs for those materials. Proceed to create the piece noting how long each step lasts. I’m talking about the hands-on time. I don’t necessarily count the time in the kiln or tumbler, but I do count the time to get it from the kiln to the tumbler as I typically brush the piece during this step. Even if a step only takes 1 minute, say to take a piece from the drying rack, put it onto a kiln shelf and pop it into the kiln, that is hands-on time and should be recorded. When the piece is finished, weigh it. If there are non-metal clay materials included, subtract that weight from the total weight of the piece. This gives you the weight of the metal clay in the piece. Typically there are two weights listed on the packages of metal clay (i.e. 20gm, 18gm). The lower number is the fired weight of the clay and is the number you should use in figuring the cost per gram of your metal clay.
Now let’s figure up the cost and price of the piece. Add up all of the minutes for a total time spent on the piece. Ah-ha! How much is your time worth? How much do you charge per hour? Ask yourself how much you paid the last time you had to have a plumber come in. Were you paying for a 6” piece of copper pipe he installed, or were you paying for his knowledge? I digress here to make a point. Most of us are fully adults. We’ve read, traveled, studied and paid good money for classes. We’ve devoted time and energy to developing our skills and techniques. We each have a style and tastes uniquely our own. And we are bringing all of that to our work.
So, I suggest that you begin with somewhere between $40-$60 per hour. For the sake of simplicity, I’ll use $60 per hour ($1.00 per minute) in this example. I’ll also assume that there are no additional materials in this example. The piece weighs 6 grams after firing.
Total time spent creating it is 42 minutes. So, [(weight) X (cost per gram) X 6] + labor = wholesale price.
[6 X 1.00 X 6] + 42 = wholesale price
36 + 42 = wholesale price
$78 = wholesale price
That means that the retail price of the piece is $156.00. Stick to it and don’t blink! You’re the one who brought all of yourself to the piece and had the courage to create it and bring it out into the world for others to see and enjoy. If you sell wholesale to a retail merchant, that merchant marks up the work double or even 2.5 times what was paid wholesale. Another small aside: If you have other materials in a piece, you must include that cost in the price. Take your cost of the material and triple it. That is called triple keystone. It is normal practice in the jewelry industry. Add that figure to your wholesale price.
Level 2 Certification Class in San Antonio, 10-12 Nov 2006
ONLY 3 Places Left Open—Grab YOURS Today!
Level 2 Certification expands the range of PMC uses and encourages experimentation and exploration. It builds on the skills learned in Level 1 Certification. 6 more technique-specific, complex projects use new and diverse materials. The projects incorporate enamels, brass (and other mixed media materials), porcelain/ceramics, PMC gold and natural stone or dichroic glass cabochons. Participants may then incorporate them into future work and/or present intermediate and advanced classes in their teaching schedules.
Level: Advanced. Prerequisite: Level 1 certification or PMC Cross-over certification
Format: 3-day workshop, meets 9am-5pm daily
Kit contents: 3 pkgs PMC3 16gm clay, PMC3 15gm paste, PMC3 9gm syringe, PMC Gold .5gm clay, brass & copper screen, brass wire, 2-3 portions transparent colored enamels, folder w/step-by-step directions for projects, PMC info sheets
Supplies provided by students: None
Class fee: $450.00 (includes kit) + $25 Bench fee
Maximum students: 10 (Secure your place. Register TODAY!!)
Remember to bring your LUNCH on Friday. Studio SFoto supplies all tools and equipment.
Register toll-free at 1-866-762-2529 or sherryfotopoulos@hotmail.com
Announcing PMC123’s class schedule for Jan 07 and Feb 07
Want to give or receive a Holiday gift that lasts a lifetime? These classes will really hit the spot!! For YOU, family or friends, spread the word that it just doesn’t get any better than one (or more!) of these classes. You’ll spend fun-filled day(s) with a wonderful group of creative people, return home with spectacular jewelry, and be able to make the jewelry again and again. Dear Santa…….
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
6-8 Jan 07, Sat, Sun, Mon, San Antonio, Level 1Certification Class, $425.00
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
3-5 Feb 07, Sat, Sun, Mon, Houston, Level 1 Certification Class, $425.00
23-25 Feb 07, Fri, Sat, Sun, San Antonio, Level 2 Certification Class, $450.00
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mirror finish! Keep your set in tip-top condition (AND reclaim PMC) by brushing each pad with a toothbrush after each use. These 3M pads can be washed and will last and last. Each pad is numbered so you’ll always grab the right one for the right job!
Just in time for Holiday gift giving! This 
Add the PMC123.com exclusive 3 1/8” stainless steel 
Cut perfect 1.5mm holes each and every time! These
Next up is the 
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