Anyone else have problems with Art Clay Silver ordered from Fire Mountain Gems? I don't usually order my pmc clay from them but I did early on and it was all much drier than I thought it should be. I took it to a class and the instructor also was surprised at how dry it was. It is supposed dry less quickly than PMC. I had a syringe that was completely dry and my AGS22 was nothing but dust. The Oil Paste that I bought was super thick too (almost dry) but thinned down well and has worked well on several pieces. I've never boughten ACS from any other dealer, I always buy PMC and it has always been nice and moist. I wondered if it was the dealer or the ACS?

I bought Art Clay--slow dry, and didn't have a problem. Didn't order the syringe. Fire Mountain has great customer service. If you contact them and let them know (if this happened recently) my bet is they'll make it right for you. If the package was still sealed when you received it, seems like it would be a manufacturing problem.

I bought it in Feb. Even though it was dryer than it should be I was able to use it. The dried up syringe I just dumped into my paste jar. I haven't been ordering ACS since and have been using PMC instead, but if it ever happens again, I will follow your suggestion. I do lots of business with Fire Mountain Gems. Thanks, Alice

Hey Alice,
How's it going. It's been a while. I met a lady at a bead show in April. We have gotten together a couple of times to do some clay projects. We placed an order a couple of weeks ago. I ordered PMC and she ordered Art Clay. Her AC was slow dry and it was dry. She mist it and it was a little too wet. Having clay on her fingers seemed to make even more clay stick. I told her to just wash her hands to keep any more from sticking. I was going to try AC but I'm not sure if I will. I like PMC and have had no problem with it. I guess it is always possible to get a batch that's not quite right. I often wonder about the clay having no expiration date. I guess I won't have to worry about that because you know how fast it can go.
I would definitely have called FMG. Buying metal clay is not like buying 1.99 polymer clay.You paid for a fresh pack of clay and that is what you should have gotten.
What have you been working on lately?
Donna

Hi Donna,
Wondered where you went.
I've been really busy even though I was in TN for a week and NC for a week. And I'm taking a quilting class and golfing almost everyday.
I've been working on charms for the charm swap. Just finished making them today and now have to sand and fire them. I made them in a mold and tried one already (which led me to making the second mold). I made it into a necklace.
And I just cut apart my ring that was too big and made a pair of earrings out of it.
My next project is making a bezel for a piece of broken china I found on the beach at Lake Erie and a ring that incorporates an opal and white CZ..
I also signed up for a Level 1 Certification class in TN while I was down there. My hubby and I are going back in October for that.
That's nice that you have someone to work with, No one around here knows about it.
I don't think I will buy the ACS again. I do like the PMC. Although I like the ACS paper. I haven't tried the PMC paper yet, but the ACS is nice and solid. I used it to punch out some shapes to add to textured backgrounds. I've sold two of those pieces.
Good to hear from you. What have you been up to?

Hey Alice,
You know I can't keep still. I'm trying my hand at chainmaille. I bought 2 kits, one for me and one for hubby. This is sure something I'll have to get used to. The rings are quite hard to open. I'll have to post a question to ask about using DS wire. I'm still using my metal clay but I've been quite moody lately. Have 3 packs of clay opened (standard,pmc+, and 3). Find myself just blocked sometimes as to what I want to do. Sometimes I have too many ideas and can't pick one. My friend and I have talked about certification. She is very suspicious about what is going on. There was a post on another forum from a woman who was unhappy about Rio changing their pricing, having being told certification would receive the best price. Have also noticed very subtle changes on websites in re: to their pricing. Not the price per say, but the wording. I'm kinda wondering where all of this is going, although I probably would still like to get certified. Well good for you. I don't think there's anywhere near here that offers certification classes. Things won't be as easy for me now that the older one is off to school. He will be coming home soon from the summer program. I am attempting to incorporate the wire, metal and maille together. Need some more stuff (I always do). Never seem to have everything I need. Will be going to Wirefest next week so hopefully I can pick up some things I need to complete, I said complete, some of the unfinished projects.
Good luck on your charms and I'll catch up with you soon.

Donna[:)]

Donna,
There are certification classes in Stockton, NJ. How far is that for you. Chris Darway is teaching the classs. I would have like to gone to that one, but hubby voted for the one in TN. My class is offered by PMC Connection. Hopefully it will help with the clay prices but if not at least it sounds good if I want to teach some classes, even though I don't need it to teach classes. I have been teaching myself so far and trying everything. I think that I will pretty much have done most of what is taught in Level 1. Never tried chainmaille. I have enough trouble wrapping loops to hang some of my pieces let alone a piece totally out of wire. You go for it and let me know how it goes. I know what you mean about always needing something else. Everytime I do something I find something else that I need. It just snowballs. I have to order everything online as there are no beads stores close. The closest (except for places like Michael's and Pat Cattan's) is 2 1/2 hours away. I usually stop in at the bead stores in NC when I'm down there visiting my daughter.
Surprisingly my charms are done 2 weeks early. I have them bagged with an insert that tells about them and everything. Now, all I need is to find out where to send them
Good luck on your new venture. I'll be anxious to hear how it goes. Your husband is doing it too?

Alice,
No hubby's not doing it. I'm doing one for him too. Mine is 18g and his is 14g. I couldn't really visualize how small or large the bracelets would be. If I had I'd have gotten 16g, at least, for myself. Never mind the fact that those rings are hard to open. I had to use some plasti dip on my pliers so I wouldn't mar the wire. Can't use them until tomorrow so they'll have time to dry.
I'll have to check on that class in N.J. I don't know how far it is but it's probably better than having to take a plane ride. Where can I find the info?
Donna

I'm trying to remember; I have been over so many sites. I think I went to the PMC Guild site to check and checked on their classes. There is also one in Pittsburgh on Sept. 21. I would have gone to that one but I have a wedding to go to in Penn State that weekend. Both the NJ and Pittsburgh class are Rio Grande Classes. Also, try typing in PMC certification classes. I think that was something I did also. Most of the classes are in the west. The Rio Grande classes are 3 days while the PMC Connection classes are 2 days. Same requirements as a 3 day, only less required pieces. It is cheaper and they combine several techniques in each project. I think that Stanton NJ is just across the border and the class should be happening very soon. Alice