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 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 cuff 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 and gemstones.
• Special artisan pieces, such as contemporary hinged box pendants and inspirational word jewelry. 'Intention is everything.'
  
• In addition to one-of-a-kind jewelry items I offer a limited selection of vintage, antique, and estate jewelry, antique buttons, architectural salvage, vintage and antique postcards, vintage collectibles, and interesting found objects for jewelry making, scrapbooking, altered art, and your home and garden.

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NEWS

Once again I am teaching classes at my home in Georgia. I have been away for awhile but look forward to teaching and meeting new people and welcoming back past students.

My brand new working/teaching studio will be completed in November. I am so excited! I am currently in the process of developing the class schedule for 2019 (dates, descriptions & fees). I will post the schedule here, and to my Facebook Event page, by Oct. 31. If you have questions or if you would like to offer a class suggestion (a specific technique you would like to learn), please email me.

I also plan to bring in guest teachers (I want to take a class, too!). One instructor will be invited to come and teach a certification class. If you are interested in getting certified with Rio Rewards, please send me an email so I can get an idea of the number of students who are interested. We need a minimum of 8 students to do a certification class.

Tentative: (Beginners) December 5 Copper Clay - December 6 - Bronze Clay
Specifics will be posted here and on my Facebook Page October 31st.

Location: Farmhouse, 340 Belk Road, Anderson City, Georgia 31744

Email, call, or visit my Facebook page for details, see Events section. Search for Carol Augustine.

Think Serenity! Come and be renewed, inspired and creatively energized!

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A few bits of information about me.

• Rio Rewards Certified
  
• PMC Connection Certified
  
• Former Metal Clay Instructor - Miami Dade College, Florida
  
• Visiting Instructor: Studios of Key West
  
• University of Las Vegas: Special Education & Fine Art Studies
  
• Horse enthusiast. A new adventure. I have a rescue horse, a mare named Pepper. She is wonderful.
  
• Sara - my daughter and very best friend.
  
• Soon to be Grandmommy. I call 'him' Peanut.
  
• Organic Gardening Enthusiast - I absolutely love my garden. My goal is to have the best looking 'ditches' on my little stretch of country road. A work in progress.
  
• Books, books, and more books. Reading & learning is a passion.
  
• Treasure hunting, meaning not only antiquing, but also stopping along the road to see what 'that' is I saw out of the corner of my eye, and picking up beautiful stones and other organic things for my 'ditches'.
  
• I love old salvage pieces. Better to build my old farmhouse with!
  
• Creating anything, anytime, and anywhere.
  
• Yes, I watch reality TV. My favorites are: So You Think You Can Dance, Amazing Race - American Idol and Survivor (on and off again) - Biggest Loser: an inspirational show - Hell's Kitchen (because he is a screamer and I get that) - Dancing with the Stars (I can't even believe I am admitting to that one.)
  
• Some say I am blunt, I call it impulsively honest. A flaw? Humm???
  
• I believe the 'point of power is in the present moment'.
  
• Cooking is a creative pursuit, but I am so messy. Sigh.
  
• Veteran USAF - I will always support the troops. They are doing a job and if they are like me, they understand it, and soldier on.
  
• My Mom taught me how to sew, and I wish I had more time to do it, especially for home decorating. I love the antique and vintage patterns. Aprons should make a come back - old aprons are great for metal clay artisans and students (and neat cooks).
  
• I believe we shape our world &, our life, with our thoughts and words. Now, if I could only remember that when it counts the most - that would be a major step forward.
  
• Registered Independent. I do my best to be supportive of whichever party is in office, but the two main parties are in need of a major overhaul. Get honest. Get real.
  
• Organic Farmer Wanna-be: I have 15 acres of land, which I am dreaming of getting a section of it Certified to grow something healthy and beautiful, like heirloom tomatoes, or flowers and more flowers.
  
• Painter: Acrylics and Oil
  
• I make mistakes...lots of them. Forgiveness is a good thing.
  
• Cancer survivor. Lesson learned - one must be a WARRIOR, before one can be a survivor. A line from a poem I wrote: Forever strong, a warrior's song; I can do it, I can go on.
  
• I love my dog Poppi and my cat Abigail. The best friends I have ever had. Always happy, always loving.
  
• Laugh long and often.
  
• I cry when I need too, and when I don't.
  
• I am loud, or so I am told by some. I call it passionate expression, it is in my DNA, and it is not 'fixable'.
  
• And... I am emotional...there is no cure.
  
• I tend to live in creative chaos - one would not describe me as neat; clean - yes, neat - no. In other words, I tend to bounce from project to project, with lots of things going on at one time. If you attend one of my classes, be ready for it.
  
• Once upon a time, Karate and Kickboxing. This gal can still throw a decent punch, and a surprisingly good kick, and if all else fails, run like heck. Beware! LOL
  
• Editor: Ruby Lane's Creative Hands newsletter; Co-Editor: Notes from the Lane, the Ruby Lane blog; Administrator: Ruby Lane, and Ruby Lane's Facebook Pages and Twitter.
  

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.

Studio Art Jewelry
Handcrafted - Quality Craftsmanship - American Made

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ARTIST STATEMENT

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 have taught a full range of metal clay classes at Miami Dade College, and also workshops in Florida and Georgia. I now live full time in Georgia, and will once again be offering workshops at my 100+ old family farmhouse. We always have a fabulous time, but be prepared. I am in the process (a very slow process) of restoring and updating the farmhouse, so the classroom is well, a little bit out of the ordinary. I think of it as a creative adventure. Some folks may find the environment enjoyable and comfortable, while some may not, which I understand. If you have questions, please email them to me.

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. For me to witness a student have one of those “oh, wow” moments, after creating something truly special, is inspiration, 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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Other things:

• 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 rarely do custom orders. I try very hard not too. It just doesn't work for me. I have found that once I 'have' to do something, it becomes tedious, I can't concentrate, and nothing flows or goes right, from start to finish. I need to work when my mind and hands are willing and free to do whatever they will.
• 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
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  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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