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.

• Original fine silver pendants, and bangle and brangle bracelets, incorporating sterling silver, artisan made lampwork beads, and / or silver precious metal.
• Handcrafted pure silver and gemstone earrings, chains and findings, and Precious Metal Clay pendants and charms embellished with 22K gold Keum-Boo or enamel work.
• Special artisan pieces, such as contemporary hinged box pendants and inspirational word jewelry. Intention is everything.
  
• Remembrance jewelry – truly special memory jewelry, so you can wear your loved one close to you or as a testament to a special and loving pet.
• In addition to one-of-a-kind jewelry items I offer a limited selection of vintage, antique, and estate jewelry, antique buttons, vintage collectibles and interesting found objects for collectors, fashionista's, scrap bookers and altered art artists.
• Custom Orders

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News!!! Coming in 2008 I am completely revamping my Ruby Lane store, all new look, all new jewelry designs – think edgy, cool, beautiful.

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Carol Augustine

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

Precious Metal Clay - PMC
Mitsubishi of Japan developed Precious Metal Clay. "PMC is a combination of water, binders, and small particles of either silver, gold or platinum. It is molded into a desired shape and then heated in a kiln to remove the binder and fuse the metal powder into a solid form." The result is a metal that can be hallmarked as .999 - pure silver, 24 karat gold or platinum. Because PMC contains no other metal alloys it is lighter in weight than sterling silver or 18K gold and does not tarnish.

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PMC - Metal Clay Class Schedule: Spring 2008

GEORGIA: PMC MINI-RETREAT - APRIL of 2008

• Date: I am still hammering out the details. Send an email to be added to the email class notification list. April 2008
  
• Location: 1904 Country Farmhouse - Doerun (Anderson City), GEORGIA
• Think Serenity! Come and be renewed, inspired and creatively energized!

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I won't be teaching classes this summer at Miami Dade, I am going to take some time off for creating, relaxing and getting my daughter off to college..yahoo! We always have a great time at class and I hope to see you in one of two remaining classes before the heat of summer sets in! The double-sided focal bead or slider is an intermediate class and makes a lovely pendant. The gemstone metal clay cuff bracelet is an advanced class and requires the student have a significant of class instruction and on hands experience. Hope to see you there! Carol

FLORIDA: MIAMI DADE COLLEGE, Kendall Campus - SPRING 2008

• 4/13/2008 - Double Sided Focal Bead (Slider) Reg# 463186
  
• 4/27/2008 - Gemstone, Sterling Silver & Metal Clay Cuff Bracelet Reg#463190
  
• To register at Miami Dade Kendall Campus visit the website or call (305) 237-2612
  
• Advanced registration required by Noon on the Friday before the class on Sunday. I suggest signing up earlier to make sure you get a sit in the class. Maximum 8 students accepted.

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PMC - METAL CLAY CLASS - THE STUDIOS OF KEY WEST

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.

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SUBSCRIBE and SAVE

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.

Studio Art JewelryHandcrafted - Quality Craftsmanship - American Made

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ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

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.

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INSPIRATION

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.

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The Process

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.

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A LITTLE OF THIS and A LITTLE OF THAT

• You will never see all of what I produce, just a small sample. Often items are made and shipped out the door so quickly I don’t even get a decent photograph of the piece.
• I do quite a few custom orders – special requests from individuals who want something extra special just for them, or for a friend or loved one.

  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.

• A comment or two on having your own website:

  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.

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TESTIMONIALS

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!

• Just letting you know that the Koi necklace arrived with today's mail. I love it! I love it! Your photos of the piece, which were very nice, didn't do it justice. It is even more gorgeous in the hand. I've always been a fan of tourmalated quartz and the gradation of the quartz is so sharp looking. Even the silver pendant of the koi is much more vibrant than the photos suggested. And I also want you to know that I did notice and very much appreciated how well packaged the necklace was. Thank you so much for such a beautiful work of art. A. from New Jersey
• It (beaded dichoric pendant necklace) is gorgeous. What are my chances of getting earrings to match?... L. from Florida
  
• My gorgeous pin arrived yesterday, I am really thrilled with it. C. from New York
  
• The earrings are lovely and I am so happy with them. I love the way that they move and are not stiff and formal. Thank you so much!! K. from Kentucky
  
• Hi: I am watching your work with interest. You seem to love the pmc craft and you are good at it. I love the little bird and the bee earrings. Also I hope you will do some work with stars. I watch Ruby Lane all the time like tv. People love the cosmic gifts, moon and stars. I hope you will do something in those I love your dangle star earrings. I have purchased a few items from you and they are really nice. I gave the long silver shell earrings last year to my daughter for Christmas. I kept what I call my radical earrings (the hoops) Modern style. Thanks, and keep loving your talent. God Bless, from B. in Oklahoma
  
• I just got it (Hummingbird Pendant) today, when I got home from a trip - I LOVE it! I'm gonna wear it tomorrow.... hugs from H. from Texas A fellow artisan.
  
• I must tell you that it is absolutely gorgeous!!!!
• Got the ring yesterday and absolutely love it to death. You are so talented.
  
• It's absolutely BEAUTIFUL. AMAZING! The silk strands necklace is so right for the pendant. Thank you so much. I hope you have a very lovely day. D. from Washington
  
• The earrings came today. They are just beautiful and well worth the wait. Thanks again and I'm sure we will do business again with all your wonderful jewelry.
• The ring arrived and it is beautiful.
  
• Boy was it worth the wait! I can't thank you enough! The bracelets are amazing, I love them!...I hope you took pictures of the moon and stars because you should make more of that - I think it would sell, sell, sell - it's awesome - all three are awesome!!(Peyote Stitch Bracelets)
  
• Again thank you so much ...You're work is really fantastic!! I'm sure I'll be back again as a customer.
  
• It (cross necklace) is beautiful and exactly what I hoped it would be! I'll be wearing it at my wedding this coming spring. I have enjoyed doing business with you, you have been so friendly, polite, and helpful. Thank you!
  
• I've got to tell you, the set (necklace and earrings) is really gorgeous. The pictures did not do it justice. Thanks.
• Stunning, absolutely stunning. (Victorian shell earrings) Thank you so much.
  
• Just wanted to let you know I received the cross necklace today. It is gorgeous. It is a gift for my Mother and I know she will love it. Thank you.
  
• I was thrilled when I opened my package today. I just love my earrings. Thank you!
  
• I received your bracelet. It is WONDERFUL. What color, originality and style. Thank you again!

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