Sneak Peek

Doesn’t just about everyone like to get a little sneak peek at items, programs, or events that are coming up in the future?  Who knows?  There might be something coming up that you’d like to be a part of.  Maybe a new tool has been invented.  Maybe a new technique is on the rise.  Or, just maybe, you want to go somewhere and join in a group of like-minded artisans and learn something that you’ve wanted to for a very long time.  If any of this commentary sounds like you, look ahead on your calendars and earmark, save or otherwise set aside

Those are the dates of two mini Artist’s Retreats.  What does “mini” mean?  It means that a small group of 3-6 world-class, seasoned (read experienced) metal clay professionals will gather to teach not only all three levels of certification and the Marketing class you’ve been asking for, but some brand-spankin’new classes.  “Mini” also means all classes will be strictly limited to 10 participants, no exceptions.  First come, first served. 

For all of you who noticed that the dates are during the dead of winter, I guarantee there will be NO SNOW at either retreat!!

New Products!!!

Many people have asked about the availability of the carbon for firing copper and bronze clay. We carry it in a 5-lb package and now PMC123 carries the coconut shell-based carbon in handy 1-lb packages! The retail price is $5.95 and the discount price is $4.95. This carbon is on Introductory Price Special at $4.50 (Offer good thru 31 Oct 09)

October Projects

In an effort to bring added value to PMC123 clients and e-newsletter subscribers we offer two virtual classes each month. Currently the classes are in a “Step-by-step” format with text and photo images detailing each step along the way. One class is a fun, easy, relatively straight-forward class that is, I’ve found, appropriate for beginners. This is a completely FREE, downloadable class. The second virtual class typically is a bit more “meaty”, presents a project with a twist, or otherwise offers up a technique that is more advanced. This virtual class is a “Pay per view”, i.e. there is a fee to download.

Though all of the virtual classes are © by Sherry Fotopoulos, we hope you will use them not only for your own enjoyment but that you might add them to your personal repertoire of classes that you teach. Everyone has a slightly different take on any given project so you are invited to add your tweak and present any of the techniques. Should you wish to copy a download(s) for handouts, we ask only that you include credit where credit is due. This month’s offerings are:

Click here to view and download FREE Glorious Granulated Ring.

Click here to view and purchase The Dinner Ring

Note on August 09 Pay Per View Project All Prong Ring

Hola (client’s name) ---So sorry about that. When I made the ring I must have been out on Pluto! My mandrel stand has been setting on my bench for at least 15 years and I just didn't connect that everyone else is not a metalsmith! HELLO, Sherry! And you are correct; it is an integral part of the project. EuroTool has one, and it's called a Bur Holder, Stock #BUR-350.00, $5.45, Desc---Bristle block holds burs, mini buffs, brushes and any 3/32" shank attachments. Injection-molded plastic measuring 3"x5"x7/8". Perfect organizer for any bench. Rio Grande also has their Bench-Top Bur Holder, order #113-339, $6.50, Size 3"x5", Desc. ---This sturdy, flexible plastic holder has a space for up to 100 3/32"-shank burs, depending on head sizes. Color may vary. I think I'll note this in my next e-newsletter. Thanks so much for bringing it to my attention. (And they are pretty handy!)

Best, Sherry

Classes

Ready, set, yes, yes, yes!!! Dear loyal friends and clients I will send out a special edition of the e-newsletter before the end of this month with my class schedule. I will cover the first four months of 2010 with new classes, great classes and all of the certification classes. PMC123 sends out many thanks to all of you for your thoughtfulness, loyalty and trust.

Name It - Win it!

September 09 Winners

Darn it! Darn it!! Triple darn it!!! Here I was all ready to send out one of my inventions, the PMC123 Easy Squeeze, but it got away from every one of September’s guessers. Please don’t lose heart faithful ones, just go to the website and guess for October! Looking forward to hearing from ALL of you! Good luck.

You could be our next winner. Go guess!

Featured Products of the Month

Do you have these yet?

80-pc Rotary Tool Set 26-pc Steel Dapping Block Set, Tool kit roll-up pouch, Toolkit upgrade package, Classic metal clay tool kit, Brass Texture plates

The 60-pc set was such a hit that we’ve hunted up this brand new 80-pc Rotary Tool Set. You can’t beat the value of this great set. The PMC123 Rotary Tool Set comes with a molded plastic carrying case and has an 80-piece assortment of attachments. The low-power, small sized hand piece makes it handy, comfortable to use and very easy to control. I recommend this set for all of your shaping, sanding, cutting, quick filing, piercing, deburring, scribing and drilling needs on leather hard and dry, unfired metal clay pieces.

Sale priced at $18.95(Offer good thru 31 Oct 09) Retail price $24.95

With our 26-pc Steel Dapping Block Set you’ll be able to whip up a perfectly matched pair of domed discs in a snap!  24 steel dap punches and the steel block fit perfectly into the labeled wooden stand.  This is the real deal at a fabulous price! 

The set is Sale priced at $69.95 (Offer good thru 31 Oct 09) Retail $79.95

Now that there are so many different types of metal clay with which to work I’m finding that I have to keep track of a lot more tools.  It’s simple as can be with our Toolkit Roll-up Pouch.  Ours are 100% cotton, washable, and have six sewn pockets.  We have many different color patterns so it’s easy to designate one for silver clay, one for bronze clay and another for copper clay, not to mention gold clay!!  These also make great gifts for your metal clay friends.  

On Sale at $4.95 (Offer good thru 31 Oct 09) Retail $7.95

Many of you have a metal clay toolkit that contains the basic tools. Through experience we’ve learned that there are a few more tools that will really upgrade your toolkit. We’ve put a dozen together in a brand new, convenient, value-priced package called the Toolkit Upgrade Package. It includes a folding ruler (that makes measuring for bracelets a snap!), our Flush cutter for silver wire and bezel wire up to 10ga, a Pin Vice (with 12 steel twist drill bits), a Double-ended Spatula, Fancy Scissors (that will make trimming metal clay easy and quick), a Multi-sizer ring sizer, the double-ended Clay Clean-Up Tool, a 2-pc Wipe Out Tool Set, a Wire Rounder, a classic 6-inch steel ruler (inches on one side, mm and cm on the other), a pack of Clean-Up Sticks (3-pc with 6 different grits), and a Dusting Brush (for cleaning up stones or sweeping up metal clay residue). Individually priced these items would cost $41.97! Order yours today.

Sale priced at $29.95 (Offer good thru 31 Oct 08) Retail $34.95

Our Classic Metal Clay Toolkit is on sale this month. It contains a clay roller, #3 round brush, 2 sets of thickness guides, flexible palette knife, stainless steel brush, regular tweezers, clay clean-up tool and burnisher. In this $36.25 value all of the tools are fitted into a pocketed, washable roll-up tool pouch for safety, convenience and easy accessibility.

Sale priced at $24.95 (Offer good thru 31 Oct 09) Retail $34.95

We offer an extensive selection of Brass Texture Plates and this month they are all on special. Now is the time to stock up, for yourself and gifts for your metal clay friends. This month only Buy 3 – Get 1 Free. That’s right, 4 for the price of 3. Don’t wait, order today.

On Special at Buy 3 – Get 1 Free (Offer good thru 31 Oct 09) Retail $3.99 each Simply choose your brass texture plates and add them to your cart. Then when you click “Checkout” enter the number(s) of your free Brass Plate(s) in the “Additional Information” block just below the shipping address block.