Master Instructor, Lorrene Baum–Davis won an Award of Merit in the California State Fair Fine Arts Division: Summer 2010 for her piece "Cologne No. 3". The competition included over 1200 entries for all art divisions and only three jewelry items were chosen. This work is a lariat/neckpiece. It can be worn doubled around the neck or as one long beaded work with a focal metal clay ‘pendant’. The Art Clay Silver is a hollow form with a removable top as if it were a perfume vial. The beads are gem labradorite, fresh water pearsl and Bali sterling details. This is Lorrene’s third award at a California State Fair competition; all for Art Clay Silver items. To view Lorrene’s piece please use this link.

Pardo Jewelry Clay is a new, non-–oxic, phthalate free modeling clay. This earth–friendly clay contains beeswax and premium, natural pigments. Ideal for blends and canes, this clay can be used by all levels of crafters/artists.
 
Pardo is endorsed by Lisa Pavelka, a well–known author, polymer clay artist, and Art Clay Senior Instructor!

We have recently created a GlasClay Product Guide PDF. It is now posted on our website under the Tips and Techniques page, the Product Instructions page, as well as the online store. Click here to view the GlasClay Product Guide PDF

GlasClay is a great new product, affordable and easy to use. It is composed of powdered glass and a binder. Just add water, shape, dry, and fire. This clay can be stamped, molded, drilled and sanded. You can make 3 dimensional objects, hollow and free standing, set stones, hand–fabricate intricately decorated beads… discover new applications! GlasClay shrinks approximately 10–15% during firing. A KILN WITH A DIGITAL, PROGRAMMABLE TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER IS REQUIRED TO USE THIS PRODUCT. Click here to view this and other new products.

Progress Tools Loss is Your Gain!
Progress Tools recently closed its doors and liquidated its entire inventory. Representatives from ACW USA Inc. were on hand to acquire a wide array of products that we plan to make available to our customers. First, we would like to present a selection of professional grade tweezers and emery boards. These items are only available to our retail customers and Art Clay Certified Instructors. The limited inventory makes these products available only on a "first–come, first–served" basis. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity! Click here to view our Sale / Clearance Page.

Overview:
Prepare yourself for 3 days of learning, networking, food, fun, friends, and more at the 2011 Metal Clay World Conference! The biennial conference is being held at the luxurious Hilton Chicago Indian Lakes Resort, in Bloomingdale, IL (only 20 minutes from O'Hare International Airport). Attendees will have the option of 21 different lecture/presentations to attend, with topics ranging from writing articles to special techniques for metal clay. Registration includes access to all the presentations, a vendor room for purchasing supplies, as well as both breakfast and lunch!

Want to get your hands dirty?
There will be 3 days of pre-conference classes directly before the conference, at the same location. We have scheduled 8 hands-on classes including "Enameling on Copper Clay", "Combining Metal Clay with Polymer Clay", "Developing an Artistic Indentity", and more. These classes are individually priced and have limited seating. More details on the classes, as well as registration will be coming in the near future.

Registration:
Registration for the conference and hotel reservations will begin in July 2010 (we will announce the opening day of registration as soon as it becomes available). Please note, all hotel reservations will be handled directly by the Hilton Chicago Indian Lakes Resort, and special room rates will be available to attendees of the 2011 MCWC!

Keynote Speaker – Michael David Sturlin:
Michael David Sturlin is a studio jewelry artist, educator, industry consultant, and an award winning goldsmith. Recognized for his expression of minimalism in precious metal by the World Gold Council and the American Jewelry Design Council, Michael’s jewelry has appeared in 70 magazine articles and is displayed in select galleries throughout North America. Michael is a member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths and is on the faculty of the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, teaching classes in goldsmithing and professional development. Michael’s contributions on marketing, pricing, promotion, and publicity can be found in numerous magazine articles as well as in the upcoming book "Profiting by Design" by Marlene Richey. Michael and his jewelry will also be featured in the Lark book "Masters: Gold" to be released in 2009, highlighting the most innovative goldsmiths of our current age.

Check the Metal Clay World Conference Website often for updates!

We would like to congratulate Level One Instructor, Jennifer Smith–Righter, for her Honorable Mention Award in the 2010 Silver Accessories Contest. Her piece, "Equilibrio," was the only US entry to win an award out of 647 worldwide submissions in this year’s competition. There will be an award ceremony held in Tokyo Japan on June 23, 2010. The piece will be on display at the National Art Center, Tokyo from June 23 – July 5, 2010. (*Closed on June 29, 2010.) Visit http://www.artclayclub.com/gallery/ for complete contest results.

Annual grant award for a new American jewelry designer planning to sell nationally. Complete eligibility details and submission requirements can be found on the grant website: www.HalsteadBead.com/grant.
 
Entrance Fee: None
Prizes: $5000 cash grant, $1000 merchandise credit, press release to the trade.
Deadline: between April 15 and June 9, 2010

Art Clay World, USA is saddened to announce the resignation of Master Instructor, Kurt Madison. Although Kurt will remain a Senior Instructor and Master Emeritus (retired), he has decided not to continue as a Master Instructor, for personal reasons. We wish Kurt the very best and thank him for his contributions to Art Clay.

We have recently put together a list of classes to be offered at the Art Clay World USA main office in March 2010, including a Level One Certification! A printable calendar is available online along with details on each class. You can view this flyer by going to: www.artclayworld.com/news/pdf/2010_Spring_ACW_Classes.pdf. As always, all of these classes and more can be viewed on the online calendar.

We are excited to announce that Art Clay Copper has been released for purchase as of December 1, 2009. There has been an overwhelming demand for this product, and supplies are very limited. Click here for the announcement flyer.
Click here for the Art Clay Copper Pamphlet

The Art Clay World Commercial will be airing in the U.S. between October 19 and November 1, 2009. The commercial will be shown in 200+ cities during primetime. To view a listing of the different cities that will be running the commercial, please click here.

The tentative schedule of events that Art Clay will be attending in 2010 is now available. To view this list, please go to www.artclayworld.com/shows.php

The North American Design Competition will not be held in 2009. The Metal Clay World Conference as well as other extenuating circumstances made it necessary to postpone the competition. The competition will resume in 2010, and we will release the contest information as soon as it becomes available.

Sfona Pelah and Jay Whaley will co-teach this Workshop melding their specific areas of expertise, to the benefit of the student. The goal is to introduce metal clay workers to basic silversmithing techniques, and to demystify the torch.

Jay will instruct utilization of the torch, which will include melting, alloying, pouring and forming ingots, as well as basic soldering.

This will make use of scraps and rejected pieces of previously fired metal clay. Sfona asks that you bring in "problem" pieces, for this project.

Sfona will focus, among other things, on recovery of not yet fired metal clay, which may yet prove to be usable.

This is a new direction for a workshop, and we welcome questions and suggestions that you may have. Please direct them to terrie@whaleyworkshops.com

Jay Whaley has been a jewelry instructor for over 30 years, the last 25 primarily at UCSD’s Craft Center. In recent years Jay has established his own studio in the Hillcrest area of San Diego and has been offering private classes and workshops there.

Beginning in October, Jay will be teaching all his classes at his own studio. Jay is leaving UCSD at the end of this current semester.

Sfona Pelah is a known artist and printmaker, and more recently a metal clay instructor. She has given lessons and workshops in the San Diego area for some time now. Her own metal clay pieces reflect her exquisite artist training, and are masterpieces of design and quality.

When: September 26th, 2009 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Where: San Diego, California
Who Should Attend: Students, teachers, jewelry makers, suppliers, hobbyists
Fee: The cost to attend the Metalsmithing for Metal Clay Artisan is $125.00.
Contact: Terrie Masters, the Workshop Coordinator at 619-299-9619.

As of Monday, August 24, please make sure the contents of your shopping cart are correct BEFORE checking out. All online orders will now be final and cannot be changed or modified after submission. If you need to add or change items to an order, you will have to place a separate order, and pay for separate shipping.

You may cancel an order before it is shipped by contacting the main office as soon as possible to make your request. Remember, orders are typically shipped within one business day of receipt, if not the same day.

Any additions or changes to an existing order will not be accepted. If you would like to add items, you must place a separate order. Items that cannot be purchased online must be called in and ordered separately.

We are pleased to announce that a short corporate demo video explaining Art Clay is now available for viewing on YouTube. This video will also be broadcast on various television stations in the near future. You can view the video on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywwYsrZG5jo&feature=channel_page

The video is also being streamed on the Art Clay World website in two different resolutions:
High Resolution – www.artclayworld.com/Video/ACW_corporate_demo.wmv
Low Resolution – www.artclayworld.com/Video/ACW_corporate_demo_low_res.wmv