Metal Clay resources

Copper clay octopus I made

For some reason I am totally behind on online resources for crafting.
I mean, Im becoming online distance education specialist, thats just pitiful and shameful--of course I could blame it on all the class work I've been doing the past 4 years, with breaks to work my fingers to the bone.

Yeah, thats my excuse.

So, I thought I would collect and share a few of these fantatistical resources for myself and my friends.

This resource list if for metal clay, because I miss it when Im writing research papers.


Do you know about Squidoo?
its sort of a wiki for all kinds of fun stuff
(wi·ki  
/ˈwikē/
Noun
A Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content.)

There is a specific Crafting Squidoo:
http://socrafty.squidoo.com/

Articles are called lenses.

They even organize so you can search for a collection of lenses on a given topic. Heres the collection for metal clay:

http://www.squidoo.com/groups/metalclay

I've found these articles to be helpful, especially regarding firing schedules.

Jewelrylessons.com is an interesting site, loads of tutorials, some for free.
All kinds of jewelry how tos, even metal clay.
You just have to do a search
http://www.jewelrylessons.com/tutorials/all?fil4=metal%20clay

I found 9 tutorials here for metal clay, between $5 and $12.

The sister site claylessons.com only had one, and its a repeat from jewelrylessons.com.

 On youtube.com I found well over 20 pages of videos, just search "metal clay." Around page 20 or so there started to be some off topic videos, like clay roofing.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=metal+clay


Metal Clay guru has a list of projects
http://www.metalclayguru.com/metal-clay-projects

So does CoolTools
http://www.cooltools.us/Metal-Clay-Projects-s/1429.htm

And craftsy has 48 projects listed here
http://www.craftsy.com/project/course/torch-fired-precious-metal-clay

Jewelry Making Daily has 178 listings for metal clay here:
http://www.jewelrymakingdaily.com/search/SearchResults.aspx?q=metal+clay

Fire Mountain Gems and Beads has a few projects in their library
http://www.firemountaingems.com//resource_guide/resource_search.asp?kwsearch=kwmetalclay

And Metalclay.com also has a few projects:
http://www.metalclay.com/OtherPages/Projects.htm

About.com also has content:
http://jewelrymaking.about.com/od/metalclayprojectsinfo/Metal_Clay_ProjectsInformation.htm

And there is a lovely long list of tutorial here:
http://creativetexturetools.com/news/2009/01/13/learn-to-use-metal-clay-free-online/

Im sure there are also a ton of links to blogs and the like on Pintrest. However, every time I search metal clay on Pintrest it displays Star Trek and paper crafting.?!?!? Huh?

But wait there's more!

Lets not forget Metal Clay Artist Magazine:
http://www.metalclayartistmag.com/
or Metal Clay Today:
http://www.metalclaytoday.com/

And you can take online classes from Craft Art Edu:
http://craftartedu.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=3&q=Metal+clay

and Craft Cast: http://www.craftcast.com type metal clay into the search window

This by no means an exhaustive list, but it certainly should be enough to get you started!

Want more?
What to search on for Google or Bing?
Try these search phrases:

metal clay
metal clay projects
metal clay tutorials
online metal clay
metal clay online classes
diy metal clay
metal clay diy
how to metal clay
how to use metal clay

then try them all by being specific to the metal:

silver metal clay

silver metal clay projects

silver metal clay tutorials

online silver metal clay

silver metal clay online classes

diy silver metal clay

silver metal clay diy

how to silver metal clay

how to use silver metal clay

silver, bronze, copper, precious, sterling

Also, Google will also provide a suggestion list of search terms.
And last thing: don't be afraid to just ask the search engine a full question. Key terms are all fine and good but sometimes you just need to know:
 "How do I make a hinge in metal clay?"

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=how+to+metal+clay&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#client=safari&rls=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=how+do+I+make+a+hinge+in+metal+clay&oq=how+do+I+make+a+hinge+in+metal+clay&gs_l=serp.3..33i29i30.40678.48018.3.48659.35.32.0.3.3.0.212.4298.1j29j2.32.0...0.0...1c.1.15.psy-ab.YliHaEFjw9I&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47380653,d.dmQ&fp=4b4d315285e64b78&biw=1210&bih=648

Excited

About a week ago, Fire Mountain Gems sent me the matted image of my medusa necklace. I knew it had placed as a finalist in the metals competition, but this.... this looks like a magazine ad.

Im so excited. I will make sure I share if and when it gets used as an ad.

Intimidated

I have a sample pack of glass clay (yes you heard the right glass clay), and a sample pack of Hadar's metal clays.

Both have been in their respective packages for over a year at this point, waiting for me to reconstitute them and make something amazing.

I know what I want to do, but I am intimidated as $%^&*(. Seriously, a cuss word was needed, thats how bad it is.

I guess after I get over my fear of cleaning off my desk, I need to venture forth and use these products.

Developing my skills

When I first got into metal clay, it was awesome, I was addicted. My husband bought a class for me for valentine's day, he knew I wanted to try it. We were very strapped for cash, but he saved lunch money and did it (he is amazing at doing stuff like that for me). He also did it knowing I would probably be hooked.

My obsession gradually led to certification classes (ok they were actually the only classes happening in town, so of course...)

And lots and lots of various projects.....

I want to be more than just hooked, and making lots of "stuff." I want to be good. I want to make sure my skills are where they need to be.

This has led me to the Master's Registry.
At this point Im not sure if I want to financially commit, or if I just want to work myself through the projects and develop my skills and knowledge base.

I've already begun work on the patina sampler, and Im researching what I want to do for my votive figure.
This will be interesting, and fun.

Just as Im talking about give aways...

Stumbled across this little gem of a prize
Metal stamps.

Hey I bet I could find a use for them.
I also like the method of getting the prize. Networking the blog post.

So if you are interested (I know I am!)
go here
http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/2011/01/metal-stamp-giveaway.html
and visit Lori Anderson's Pretty Things blog

Too darn hot!

Its too hot to be inspired by anything other than really good air conditioning at the moment.
This is supposed to be one of the worst weeks we have this entire summer, and yet this entire summer has been nothing but record breaking heat.
So its gross hot out, what do I choose to do?
Play with my kiln and figure out why its giving me pF 1 on ramp up when there are no power failures, and its not in cool down mode (which is what this code is supposed to mean).

My thoughts will be with the bomb pops and the AC vents!