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About PMC Studio Art Jewelry by Carol Augustine
Our Service Pledge To You:
My jewelry designs are unique; I individually handcraft each piece and thoroughly enjoy the process. To be true to myself, the creative process and my customers, I search for the best stones, materials and the right ideas; and I continually study and practice to improve my craftsmanship. My goal is to create jewelry you will love to wear and to give.
I will do my best to respond to all orders within 24 hours. If you have any questions or if you would like to discuss a special design idea please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you. Warmest regards, Carol Augustine
About Us
Featuring jewelry handcrafted from PMC, sterling silver and 22kt gold, utilizing pearls,semi-precious gemstones and mixed media altered art by Carol Augustine.
My one-of-a-kind fine silver jewellery creations come in a variety of design motifs from grudge found object pieces using recycled elements (my small contribution to planet earth and our environment) – to contemporary jewelry, including sophisticated studio art and zany altered art pieces – to period styles with a modern twist.

Jewelry Instructor / Professor of Metal Clay: Miami Dade College, Kendall Campus
PMC Certified Artisan, Rio Rewards PMC Guild program
PMC Certified Artisan, PMCConnection br>

GEORGIA: PMC MINI-RETREAT - APRIL of 2008
FLORIDA: MIAMI DADE COLLEGE, Kendall Campus - SPRING 2008

We had a terrific weekend at the Studios of Key West. The Studio is a lovely place to teach and learn, the building is open and filled with light, the ceilings are high, typical of older buildings, the staff is gracious and they serve the best LUNCH, and the area is quaint and filled with 'interesting' people and places to visit. The Studios offers a range of classes with well known artists and writers. Take a few days, visit Key West, sign up for a class or two at the Studios and have a great time learning and sight seeing! For a link to complete details visit the 'Favorites' section.
Sign up to receive notifications of sales or when new items are added, or create your own Wish List, and receive Free USPS Insured Shipping. Click on Subscribe located on Shop Toolbar on the left side of my shop homepage to register. And don't forget to use the Wish List to save items to view again later.



I have been an artisan all of my life. From sewing to painting – to sculpting to jewelry making – if I can see it, touch it, manipulate it, take it apart, put it together, ‘feel it,’ or just think about it, I am driven to create something from it, with it, or about it. Working with my hands is almost a requirement for living, like breathing, I can’t seem to not do it.
Many years ago, I stumbled upon a class of metal clay students while out shopping for beads for a decorating project. The students were in the back room of a bead shop, pushing and pulling on a pale gray material that looked like tiny lumps of clay. Once the students had the desired shape they popped the items into a kiln, fired them for twenty minutes, and miracle of miracles, out came a pure .999 silver object, that once burnished was shiny and beautiful. I just had to have some of that “stuff”, and once I got my hands on it, I was,... well, captivated, or to be quite frank – just plain addicted. I have been creating with metal clay ever since.
In the 1980’s I attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas where I pursued a bachelors degree in Special Education with a special emphasis in Fine Arts. I have continued to pursue my art and, yes, craft education by attending workshops, classes at the university level, and attending private artist and artisan classes in a variety of disciplines. I am certified as a metal clay instructor through the Rio Rewards / PMC Guild program, and as an artisan through the PMC Connection program, and I plan to complete my Art Clay certification…eventually.
I currently teach a full range of metal clay classes at Miami Dade College, Kendall campus, and also, the occasional workshop somewhere around the country. I offer workshops at my 100+ old family farmhouse in Georgia twice a year and we have an absolutely fabulous time.
I have also taught metal clay classes at my home in Pembroke Pines, but those are rare today. I have a very full life and, as a result, I don’t really have the time to teach extra classes in my home – my planner is bursting at the seams. To be direct, I really like having my home and my studio all to myself. It keeps me grounded and forces me to take time to relax and enjoy the creative process – and more importantly, I like having the time to spend with my family – one special, sweet as honey cat named Abigail; one cute as a button, mischievous like a toddler Shih Tzu dog named “Poppi” (short for Popasan), and the best thing in my life, my eighteen year old daughter, Sara.
I enjoy teaching almost as much as I do ‘creating.’ My students inspire me. They make me laugh, they become my friends, and they cause me to really think about the how and why of a process, and for me to witness a student have one of those “oh, wow” moments, when they have created something truly special, is inspiring, gratifying and joyful.
There are so many things that I derive inspiration from, that it would be impossible to list them all. Just the act of living inspires me. Stories from ancient times, world history, all religions, the beauty found in nature, the textures and patterns of vintage textiles, politics, antique buttons and old, rusty hardware all excite me and fill my mind with thoughts and ideas. Not to mention the masters of fine art, ancient and modern architecture, dirty, beat up found objects, the sound of pounding ocean waves upon the sand, a gentle, meandering mountain stream flowing over rocks covered with moss and, panoramic views – any time, anywhere. But most of all it is my friends, my family, my pets, my daughter that inspire.
I craft each piece of jewelry by hand using a variety of techniques, including sculpting, photo-polymer plates and hand built molds constructed from found objects. I use natural materials, such as seashells and tree bark to produce different patterns and textures. I love color and old things.
Precious Metal Clay is fabulous to work with; it can be pushed, pulled or rolled similar to potters clay (not totally the same but close to it). Details can be added using just about anything: bottle and tube caps, pottery tools, wax carving tools, and wood working tools, to name just a few. No two pieces are just alike, because each piece will reflect the maker’s mark (in this case, mine), giving each piece its own individual, unique characteristics.
I generally start with pencil sketches or doodles (not always, but most of the time) drawn on just about any kind of paper imaginable. I do this because I like to have a vague idea of where I want to go. It helps to keep me focused. I am always jotting down notes, recording ideas in my journal, and sketching, doodling, or clipping text, photos and illustrations of things I like – it could be a sunset, an ad for gorgeous and expensive fabrics, or a wonderful piece of antique jewelry.
Having a sketch or an idea in mind assists me in determining the best process to use and what techniques are required to execute the design. Next, I work out the mechanical details, including engineering any movable parts and determining what type of connection, bail or ‘gizmo’ will best compliment the piece in design and function.
Once the design is rendered in PMC, the piece is allowed to dry thoroughly before being further refined by either using a damp paint brush or by sanding or a combination of the two. I use a variety of sanding tools (files, sand paper, sanding sponges, a Dremel) and I always start with the roughest grit first, moving through to the finest grit, step by step. Next, the item is placed in a small tabletop kiln and fired for the appropriate amount of time and at the correct temperature for the clay and inclusions. Finally, if I want to add a beautiful patina, I will dip the item in a homemade liver of sulfa (LOS) solution, Black Max, or some other chemical or natural bath I have concocted in my studio. Almost all of my pieces have a patina and are tumbled in a small tumbler until they are somewhat shiny and bright. Then they may be polished by hand with polishing papers or cloths, and finally, returned to the tumbler for a short period of time. The type of patina and the polishing method is determined by what is required to make for successful design.
If you have an idea for a special item, then let me know, and I will tell you if I can do it, how much it will be (special orders cost more) and how long it will take. I will warn you ahead of time – I don’t rush. It takes as long as it takes.
If your special request is something that I feel is not a good fit for my skills and abilities, or if I just can’t fit another thing into my schedule, then I will do my best to recommend another artisan who can.
Maintaining a website takes time, and growing one for success takes not only an investment of time and money, but a great deal of patience. Let me repeat that … it takes time, it cost money, and patience is a requirement. Success is not instant.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on Ruby Lane and plan to be around for a long time. Even though it can be time consuming maintaining a website, it is fun. I meet lots of interesting people from all around the world, and it has a creative side to it as well, which is definitely ‘good’ for me.
As much as I would like to post each and every comment I receive, I just can't. Because when I am on the computer I am not making or thinking about jewelry and art, and that makes me just a wee bit cranky. But know this, I appreciate each and every comment, and I save them all. They boost my confidence, inspire me, and keep me plugging along, dreaming, doodling and creating. Thank You!

Copyright © 2001-2008, All Things Beautiful™ - Carol Augustine, All Rights
Reserved