Featured Artist - Aussie Metal Clay

Aussie Metal Clay Featured Artist

Specialty: Artist
Location: Breaux Bridge, LA

Website: crownofgracedesigns.etsy.com

Nicole’s Bio:

Who am I?

I am a mother, I am a wife, I am a “Minnie”, I am a daughter, I am a sister, I am a Christian, and I am an artist.

I have grown roots in my beloved town of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, deep in the heart of Cajun country. This part of the world embraces artists from all walks, and I am so blessed to be able to create in a community with so many other inspirational and supportive individuals.

Through my many stepping stones as a designer, I have landed with a passion for creating jewelry made from base metal clays. I have strongly niched my designs in light and bright gold bronze. I have a love for Baroque, Victorian, Art Nouveau and French styles, and my replica jewelry is inspired by these periods. I passionately hunt for unique, antique, religious and ornate designs that are on many occasions over a century old. A silicone mold is made of the treasure and the design is replicated using Aussie Metal Clays. This process allows me to bring these beautiful antique images back into circulation for people to enjoy.

Something that sets me apart as a designer is the unique way that I finish my bronze designs. I use a rough wire brush to create a matte finish to the sintered metal and then burnish only the high points to create a brushed gold base with a lustrous shine on the high notes. The finished product has a dimensional, baroque styled finish. The completed charms and pendants are then paired with high quality anti-tarnish chains in the same matte gold color.

One of my designs was a gift from the Lord through prayer for making some much needed changes in my life. It is the Crown of Grace bracelet. This leather bracelet is modeled after Christ’s Crown of Thorns and is meant to serve as a daily reminder of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. The charms adorning this bracelet are my original carved designs which have been molded and replicated in gold bronze.

I feel like the most fortunate individual to make a living creating and doing what I love. I am so grateful to have found Aussie Metal Clay and the beautiful gold colored bronze to support my new and growing brand. (Crown of Grace Designs) I especially appreciate the cool chicks that create, make, answer questions, help trouble shoot mess ups, and whom I consider to be sister friends. In the US of A, I know that Jo is just a phone call away. I love this adventure and thank you for the invitation to be this month’s featured artist.

Specialty: Artist
Location: Mount Magnet, Western Australia

Website: Desertdesignsart.com.au

Jade’s Bio:

I live in the harsh arid environment of Western Australia, this is where I get most of my inspiration. Animal tracks in the desert sands, in the early morning can conjure up creative thoughts and designs. I walk with my 2 dogs most mornings and look to nature for ideas, and the reason why I chose Desert Designs Art as a business name.

For more than 30 years, I have been creating, using different mediums including fabrics, pottery, ceramics, acrylic painting, water colour and pastels. For the last 24 years I have lived with my partner, in very small towns in Western Australia, where there is not a lot of access to classes or groups, unless you are willing to travel hundreds of kilometres. This is the reason I started volunteering and sharing my skills.

In 2014 the art centre in Mount Magnet had a visiting artist who ran polymer workshops. I loved it and I started making jewellery. In 2017 I took my first metal clay course and I was hooked. The possibilities were huge, but also very limiting! I was only able to use metal clay for about 3 maybe 4 months of the year as our temperatures are over 40C often up to 45+ for weeks on end. My metal clay would dry and crack, meaning I had to work fast. There was no time to play, explore and be creative along with a major process to rehydrate. Then… I found AMC (Aussie Metal Clay) and that changed my world!!!!! Quite literally, I can now make jewellery any time of the year and indulge in the process of creating.

Aussie Metal Clay has created such a unique product and are always there (Kim and Ros) with assistance or suggestions when you stuff up a project. Kim’s process of “waking up the clay” when it has dried a bit is amazing and the rehydration process is sooooo easy too. I use “No Fuss Fire” (a technique innovated by Kim Booklass), which, as Kim says is a game changer. Just as Kim and Ros do, I believe in test strips. I create a test strip for each firing. I know it sound like a bit of an over kill, however I sell all my pieces, having a test in each firing, having the confidence that each piece I put up on my website or in my physical store has been sintered correctly.

The AMC Facebook communities are supportive friendly environments, full of encouragement and guidance. Why would you go anywhere else?

I mainly use AMC Silver Clays; I add gold nuggets to my pieces and the AMC silver’s especially the AMC 960 Argentium Silver is just so perfect to showcase the gold.

When I want to push myself outside my comfort zone, I open a base metal pack and have fun! I am not good at using the base metals, I need a lot more practice!

Specialty: Artist
Location: Drexel Hill, PA

Website: kathyavicolli.com

Instagram: instagram.com/kathyavicolli

Kathy’s Bio:

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a fascination about how things are made, especially jewelry. When I was gifted a pair of artisan made earrings, my curiosity deepened and I began to seek out handmade jewelry on my own. With each piece I wondered, how did “they” do that?? During a knitting class there was the mention of a local bead shop. This was new to me! While out and about one day I just happened to notice this said bead store. Without hesitation I had to pay a visit! There was a display of the classes being offered and my eyes fell on a sterling silver pendant. I signed up right on the spot. That class was the beginning of my journey making jewelry.

I spent many years learning metalsmithing, long before venturing into metal clay. As an Esthetician I spend my working hours using my hands and swinging a hammer was taking its toll. When metal clay classes were offered at Bead Fest, I decided to give it a go. Would you know it was with base metals. I was hooked instantly, my hands were happy.

Because I like to experiment, I tried several brands of base & silver metal clays. Eventually, I would try the Aussie brand and once I did there was no turning back. It is a breeze to work with. It is dreamy, creamy, soft and smooth, easily takes shape and when fired, it produces beautiful art forms. Much of my work is influenced by my travels abroad. Texture and the various shapes found in ancient buildings and ruins drives my creativity. And so my journey continues as I learn how “they” do that.

Specialty: Artist
Location: Opelousas, LA

Ann’s Bio:

Ann was born and always returned to her roots in Southwest Louisiana, with its French influences in cooking and art. Her faith in God and love of her family are the cornerstones of her personal life. Professionally, she has been a nurse practitioner for 24 years and recently achieved her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (because you are never too old to learn).

Ann has been a metalsmith for 10 years and started working with metal clay in 2019. In the spring of 2020, with the lockdown in place, Ann began to spend more time on social media and joined various metal clay groups. She noticed the gorgeous work of Kim Booklass and was introduced to Aussie Metal Clay and Kim’s wonderful techniques, classes and videos. “Once I tried Aussie Metal Clay, the difference in the texture, the flexibility and the working time was so much better when compared to the other brands I used. I simply no longer purchase any other brands.” Ann also enjoys the support from Kim Booklass and Ros Bailey, who make themselves available to help artists throughout each day. “I have made so many FB friends in the metal clay artist community and learned so much from them. I am constantly inspired, and the clay, along with my faith, has been a much needed solace for me this past year.

Thank you to the AMC community for every like, post, encouraging word and inspiring creation that you have shared. I have so much more to learn- I’m just getting started!

Specialty: Artist
Location: Buchanan, Virginia

Holly’s Bio:

Holly attended Sweet Briar College, graduating with double majors In Anthropology and Sociology. After three years working as an Archaeologist in SW Virginia she began a career, spanning 40 years, in Food Service Management. Holly returned to the mountains of SW Virginia when her husband retired in 2018. She began her journey with metal clay five years ago with Aussie Metal Clay and hasn’t stopped since.

Although Holly works with many clays, she always returns to her favorite clay -Aussie Gold Bronze.

Holly says “Aussie Metal Clays are constantly developing and improving their clays. I attribute this to Ros Bailey and Kim Bookless, who are the dynamos who developed and continue to test and improve these clays. Lastly I want to say that no clay company invests in their customer base like they do. They want you to succeed and be happy with their products. They listen to our needs and invent the answer!”

Specialty: Artist
Location: Buchanan, Virginia

Holly’s Bio:

Although Holly works with many clays, she always returns to her favorite clay -Aussie Gold Bronze.

Read Cindy’s complete bio here

Specialty: Artist & Teacher
Location: Lake Charles, LA USA
Certification: Level 1
Contact:
Email: CAvesDesign@yahoo.com
Web: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AvesDesignC