Pam Feindel

After a 32-year banking career Pam was finally able to submerse herself in art. After working in several mediums, she discovered metal clay in 2009 and it quickly became her passion! Pam follows many paths with her art, never constrained by any particular metal, theme or topic.

Pam became an Art Clay Instructor in 2010, a Senior Art Clay Instructor in 2011 and a Hadar Jacobson Accredited Instructor. She is juried into the Metal Arts Guild of NS, and Craft Nova Scotia. Pam taught at the Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design, Halifax Bead & Metal Clay and from her home studios. Pam has 2 Craftcast tutorials, and a couple of tutorials on AMCAW’s website. Pam presented at SINTER22 in Pittsburg and will be presenting at SINTER24, in Bradford England.

Pam has been on the Board of AMCAW since its inception in 2018, where she has held various positions. Find Pam online at pamfeindeldesign.com.

Julia Rai

Julia Rai is an award-winning artist, writer and teacher working predominantly in metal clay. Well known in the international metal clay community, she has been working with this exciting medium since 2004 and teaching it since 2007.

She is a regular guest tutor on Craftcast with 10 recorded classes available to buy and keep at the beginning of 2024 and more on the way.

She works closely with the Jewellers Academy, having recorded four online classes that are included in their Diploma in Silver Metal Clay. She is a mentor for the online Jewellery Business Academy which helps jewellers to convert their jewellery making hobby into a business and grow it to provide a regular income.

Having run a successful jewellery school in Cornwall, UK for many years, she now lives in Rushden, where she teaches one-to-one bespoke classes on demand. You can find Julia online at juliarai.co.uk or csacj.co.uk.

Terri Hickey

Terri is a Cleveland based jewelry artist, working in fine silver metal clay and glass enamel. She attended the University of Illinois earning a degree in Fashion Merchandising and Design. She worked for several years developing and manufacturing clothing lines for such companies as Spiegel Catalog and Edison Brothers Stores. After a move to Cleveland with her husband she took some time at home with her three children. In 2009, wanting to expand her artist endeavors, she began taking classes in Metal Clay at the Valley Art Center in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. She fell in love with metal clay and received her PMC certification through Rio Grande in 2012. Her love of color and fascination with glass soon led her to start exploring enamels. Feeling like she had found her jewelry niche, she reached out and arranged to study with some of the enamel industries most prominent jewelry artists. The inspiration behind her jewelry comes from an appreciation of sophisticated clean lines, with minimal frill and maximum impact; streamlined, but never boring.

Terri participates in art shows in Ohio and Chicago and surrounding areas. Her work can be found in numerous Galleries in Ohio and New York. She has been a guest artist on the Cleveland area TV show, “Artists at Work” and was the featured artist in the February 2019 issue of Ohio Magazine. Terri teaches Metal Clay and Enamel classes, Viking Knit and Chain Maille at several Cleveland area venues.

Find out more about Terri’s work, shows and teaching schedule at www.thissideofclassic.com.

Wendy Ernst

Wendy always enjoyed the arts in its many forms but it wasn’t until her youngest child left for school ten years ago that she started making jewelry. While trying different techniques, she discovered metal clay and has been hooked ever since. She is a certified Art Clay instructor and has almost completed her jewelry certificate in traditional metalsmithing at her local community college. Always eager to learn new techniques, she has attended numerous jewelry classes in Canada, United States and England. She enjoys concentrating on metal clay, polymer clay, and enamelling.

She lives in Pickering, Ontario, Canada and is a retired certified public accountant and mother of three children. She has volunteered for several organisations in a financial capacity. She looks forward to helping AMCAW navigate through the next few years as the organisation continues to grow and prosper.

Martha Vaughan

Martha discovered metal clay when a fellow artist challenged her to try her pottery skills in another format; when a four-hour class resulted in a silver pendant and earrings, she was hooked. Now a certified instructor and passionate advocate for metal clay, she regularly exhibits in juried shows for metal clay (also pottery and glass). Her studio has been a part of the North Dallas Artist Studio Tour for years, and her work was featured in the inaugural 2020 Exceptional Work in Metal Clay calendar.

As a reformed banker with a 30-year career in communications and marketing, she heads the Communications and Marketing Committee for AMCAW. Martha lives in Dallas near her eight grandchildren with her husband and a thoroughly spoiled rescue Labrador retriever.

Find Martha at prestonhollowstudios.com

About Patrice Baker

Patrice is a collector and maker of wearable art. Her work is detailed and complex, and she favours reversible, layered pendants. She uses metal clay, sheet silver, etched copper, bronze, mica, concrete, resin, pearls, gold leaf, skeleton leaves, insect wings, snake skin, ephemera and other found objects in her work. She considers all kinds of materials fair game in the world of adornment and decoration.

Patrice works from her studio in Fergus, Ontario (Canada), creating and teaching jewellery classes. She is also an instructor at Georgian College, The Bead and Button Show, The Nature Printer’s Conference, and by invitation to private studios. Her pieces have been recognized with best in show at Lambeth Art Gallery and Summerfolk, and she received The Elora Arts Council Award at Insights.

Find Patrice online on Facebook at SilverfishStudios and on Instagram at SilverfishStudios

Brandy Boyd

Brandy found her way to metal clay while searching for a way to make her beadwork more her own. Armed with a starter kit with instructions in only Japanese, she jumped in with both feet and never looked back. She has combined another passion, enameling, with metal clay and also enjoys combining traditional metalsmithing processes with metal clay to take advantage of the unique properties of metal clay.

She opened her metalworking studio in 2012 and teaches classes throughout the southeast United States. Brandy lives in the Memphis area with her husband and their cats.

Find out more about Brandy and her classes at www.bmb-designs.com, instagram.com/bmb_designs facebook.com/BMBDesignsArtJewelry

Barbara Clow

Barbara has a PhD in history and has spent more than 20 years as a researcher, writer, educator, and policy analyst supporting and promoting social justice for women, girls, and other equity-seeking groups. In 2020, she stepped back from this work for health reasons, leaving her with more time to pursue metal clay and other arts. Barbara has been a serial crafter her whole life, learning sewing and other art skills from her mother and then dabbling in many different media over the years, including painting, glasswork, pottery, beadwork, and others. A dozen years ago, she happened upon an introductory course in metal clay and, like a good serial crafter, decided to give it a try. She was hooked and has been working primarily in metal clay ever since, though she is always looking for ways to combine media. Barbara is now a qualified Art Clay instructor as well as a busy and enthusiastic AMCAW volunteer.

About Anca Crahmaliuc

Anca began her jewelry making adventure in 2016, when she attended her first metalsmithing and metal clay courses in Bucharest at Assemblage Art and Design Institute and Argila de Metal Jewelry School. She holds a Certification in Basic Metalsmithing and an Art Clay Silver Diploma level 1. Her crafting interests include mixed media (beads, wire, polymer clay, micro macrame, all types of glass, mosaic). Anca’s background as geologist and geophysicist explains her addiction to stones and their relation with metals. She began her career in communications as an IT journalist. and continued then in Marketing and Communications for hardware and software companies for more than 20 years.

Since she retired in 2018, Anca is dedicating her energy to jewelry making and promoting metal clay. Living in Bucharest with her husband, Anca loves to travel, attend art events, volunteer for AMCAW, and spend time with her granddaughter. Find Anca at www.breslo.ro/ACHandmade and on Facebook.

Robert Dancik

Robert Dancik has been an artist/teacher for more than 30 years. He is the originator of Faux Bone™ and Solid Expressions – Artist’s Concrete. These two new materials are perfect for artists involved in jewelry, artist’s books, sculpture, and other disciplines. Robert is also the author of the book Amulets and Talismans: Techniques for Creating Meaningful Jewelry. Robert teaches workshops worldwide and has work in numerous museum, public and private collections both here and abroad. He has artwork published in many books including, in the Lark series, 500 Pendants, 500 handmade Books and 1000 Rings. Robert’s work is also featured in PMC Decade, Fine Art of the Tin Can, The Art of Resin Jewelry, Zilver Klei (Denmark), and Creative Metal Clay Jewelry. Robert lives in Connecticut, is an avid cook (he didn’t say good) and collector of toys, maps, and compasses. Find Robert online at www.robertdancik.com www.fauxbone.com www.thestudioeye.com

About Bronwyn Evans

Bronwyn has been creating jewelry since college, as she studied psychology at the University of Virginia. While working in public welfare, and later as a stay-at-home parent and community volunteer, she found increasing joy in working with beads, fiber and paper.

Bronwyn began to study metal working at the Silvermine Guild Art Center in Connecticut in 1994. When she found metal clay, she knew she had found her passion and now holds metal clay certifications from Rio Grande, Art Clay, PMCC and Camp PMC. She has been teaching metal clay since 2002 and currently teaches in her home studio in coastal Virginia (U.S.)

She frequently returns to Connecticut to teach workshops at the Silvermine Guild. The welcoming, generous spirit of the metal clay community has inspired her and continues to be a focus of her life.

Lora Hart

As a designer, educator and creativity coach, Lora’s passion for the art and business of jewelry making has taken her across the United States. She greatly enjoys helping other makers explore their own passions, develop their craft and expand their skill set. Having started creating with metal clay in 2000, Lora holds certifications from Rio Grande, PMC Connection and Art Clay Silver.

Lora was a Senior Instructor with, and the Artistic Advisor for PMC Connection until that company dissolved in 2018. She has juried the PMC Guild Annual and our Spring 2021 Bling challenge.

Lora is the head of the Advanced Studies Team and has been the leading force in the creation of the Mastery Modules project for AMCAW.

A metal clay artist inspired by historic imagery, Lora’s award winning work has been featured in numerous books, magazines, and calendars. Find Lora on Instagram @lorahartclasses and facebook.com/lora.hart

Susan Lokaj

Susan Lokaj has been working with metal clay since 2014. Her work is inspired by nature and her love of the ocean, and often incorporates themes of water, beaches, shells and sea creatures. Her background is in graphic design and corporate training.

A self-proclaimed “jewelry class junkie”, she loves learning new skills and techniques, and brings that love of learning to her classroom. Susan is a Senior Certifying Art Clay Instructor and a CampPMC Certified Instructor.

About Barbara Rivolta

A retired museum profession with a background in Near Eastern Archaeology and the history of ceramics, Barbara Rivolta is a mixed media artist who combines ceramic and metal clay with glass and other materials. She is inspired by ancient art and especially by the lines and shapes of ancient pottery. She teaches at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center.

Steve Spurgin

Steve is the Business Manager for Craftworx Jewellery Workshops, the metal clay jewellery teaching school run by his wife, Tracey, in East Yorkshire UK. Steve is a Business Studies graduate with a focus on Marketing Management. He has spent more than 30 years working for Fortune 500 & UK FTSE 100 companies in the medical device sector focusing on international marketing and business development.

He has helped Tracey grow her business since its inception in 2007 and has been a full-time partner since 2017. His general management background means he can apply himself to all things business related including financial, marketing, website and social media, product design and manufacture (metal clay accessories) etc. leaving Tracey to focus 100% of her time on the creative side of the business. You will find more information about the business at www.craftworx.co.uk

Vanessa Weber

Vanessa is a clinical social worker in Dover Plains, NY. She grew up in a very artistic family, but was more like her psychiatrist dad as a child than her artistic mother and sister (a ceramicist). Vanessa began working with metal clay in 2007 when she realized that her young, newly adopted daughter, Polly, was very talented in art. After taking classes in beading and wire with Polly and later polymer clay, Vanessa began working with metal clay, which is now her favorite medium.

A passionate animal lover and show dog enthusiast, Vanessa has bred toy spaniels for over 30 years. She enjoys making jewelry reminiscent of 18th and 19th century dog art which she has collected; she also enjoys drawing/painting a dog in watercolor pencil and transferring it onto polymer clay embedded in the metal clay pendants she is currently making. She considers herself a multi-media artist.

Paula McDowell

Paula is a second career jewelry artist, utilizing metal clay, traditional metalsmithing and mixed media techniques to create wearable objects that echo nature’s textures, forms and movements. Paula has been working with metal clay since 1999, and is an Accredited Teacher for Hadar’s Clay and holds PMC certification from Rio Rewards and PMC Connection. She regularly attends workshops to broaden her skills and offers metal clay and metalsmithing classes. In addition to being a cofounder of AMCAW, in 2011 Paula formed L’esprit du Metal to promote metal clay and support its artists in the Lafayette, LA area. Now living in Cincinnati Ohio, Paula is busy re-inventing her creative community and business. You can find Paula online at plmcdowell.com

Stephanie Chavez

Stephanie is a certified metal clay artist and instructor. She is a diverse artist, proficient in many jewelry mediums, although her love, passion, and expertise remain in metal clay as well as combining it with a variety of techniques.

Originally certified through Rio Grande, she has been working with metal clay for over 15 years. With national and international recognition through her online courses in metal clay; Stephanie has been considered an expert in her field.

Stephanie has traveled the United State teaching at expos, retreats, symposiums, and art studios. From beginners to advanced; she believes we each have the capacity to be inspired, artists. Many people just need a safe and fun environment to explore their own creative limits. That is what she provides and shares, bringing joy to all those who attend her workshops.

Stephaniechavez.com

Anne Acker

From an early age Anne enjoyed creating handmade objects. In her early twenties she was thrilled to find a local artist who taught her the basics of silversmithing. It was fun, but when she discovered metal clay, she found the medium she enjoys working in the most. She is certified through Rio Grande, PMC Connection, and Art Clay. Anne lives in Jacksonville, Florida, and teaches silver metal clay classes at least twice a month at the Jacksonville Gem and Mineral Society.

Sian Hamilton

Sian has a BA in 3D Design, specializing in silver and ceramics, and has been in the design industry for over 25 years. She was the Editor of Making Jewellery magazine in the UK for over 9 years until it closed in April 2019. She has written 14 ‘how to’ jewellery and craft books. Sian is also the website designer for AMCAW and runs her web design business from home.

Sian was introduced to silver clay back in the mid-90s’. As a traditionally trained jeweler, it was hard for her to imagine what she could want with such a soft, clay-like substance. Now it’s a firm favorite, and Sian has been working with it for over 20 years. Sian has a great passion for metal clay and her mission is to spread the love as far as she can. Her own work in metal clay is quite simple, with an emphasis on classic shapes. She also loves to use scratch foam to create her own unique textures. Sian can be found online at sianhamilton.com

Website and Technology Committee

Develop and maintain the architecture and functionality of the website
Interpret the AMCAW brand for the website and digital newsletters
Create new sections, pages, and blog posts on the website as needed, working with the communications and other committees
Execute digital newsletter setup and distribution

Member Engagement Committee

Develop a strategy to nurture existing members ensuring retention and encouraging every member to become an AMCAW promoter
Grow membership through the provision of new initiatives, consistent promotion, and community engagement
Promote member benefits in dynamic ways and through diverse channels to increase the profile of AMCAW
Engage with worldwide metal clay influencers to encourage and promote membership benefits
Seek opportunities for AMCAW to be represented through online channels
Engage with the wider artistic community at conferences and other events, including those focused on metal clay as well as those representing other mediums or disciplines

Guild Support Committee

Create resources to help new guilds get started
Develop meeting topics and other tools to help existing guilds prosper
Create and test a virtual guild concept
Identify and foster connections between members who are interested in being in a guild

Finance Committee

Develop annual budgets to reflect organizational priorities.
Develop accounting systems and practices to provide financial support and guidance to the organization.
Assist and the support the Executive Board during annual audits.
Prepare all financial documents included submissions to state and federal authorities.

Fundraising Committee

Foster relationships to secure corporate sponsorships
Develop strategies to encourage private donations
Identify and apply for grant funding
Create other opportunities to raise funds, such raffles or auctions
Solicit giveaways for prizes and conference goody bags

Education Committee

Curate existing available resources and present the information so it’s useful and relevant for beginner, intermediate and advanced audiences
Create new educational content for artists of all levels
Develop challenges to push the community to stretch and grow
Generate tutorials and other educational content to be shared via trade media partners under the AMCAW banner
Develop educational content for newsletters, blogs, etc
Curate and create business development resources to help metal clay artists be successful in the business of teaching and selling their work
Develop metal clay curriculum resources for high school and university programs

Curating for Excellence Committee

Develop printed high-end juried publications
Facilitate juried online showcases
Seek opportunities for juried gallery and museum exhibits
Provide judging for challenges
Identify opportunities to provide jurors for non-AMCAW exhibits or publications

Conference Committee

Plan and execute high quality AMCAW conferences on a recurring basis
Ensure that the conferences have an international scope
Possibly provide support to regional conferences

Communications Committee

Create and share content and moderate discussion on social media platforms
Develop digital newsletter content for members and non-members
Generate blog content
Pursue opportunities to promote AMCAW via PR and trade media
Provide editing support to the entire organization to ensure consistent voice in our messages
Provide graphic support to the entire organization to ensure consistent branding of our materials
Provide marketing communications and strategy support for initiatives across the entire organization to ensure consistent messaging and branding

Advanced Studies Committee

The mission of this Committee is to support and engage members of the world-wide metal clay community by developing and implementing practical, hands-on educational programs, welcoming makers of all skill levels and perspectives, and providing guidance as they pursue a higher level of personal excellence.

AMCAW Board

AMCAW’s 16-member board of directors include instructors, professional artisans, enthusiasts, and suppliers. What they share in common is a passion for metal clay and for this community. All of the board members are volunteers, and since AMCAW has no paid staff at this time, the board members are donating significant time to doing the work that’s needed to build this organization. Many of the board members also serve on committees as chairs, vice-chairs and committee members, further contributing to the cause of AMCAW meeting its goals.

The advisory panel is a group of influential champions who believe strongly in AMCAW and have agreed to support the organization. The advisory panel members will be called upon to counsel the board and committee members, lending their expertise as needed.

Click on the person’s profile picture to see their biography and work.

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Pam
Feindel
President

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Julia
Rai
Vice-President

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Terri
Hickey
Secretary

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Wendy
Ernst
Treasurer

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Martha
Vaughan

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Patrice
Baker

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Brandy
Boyd

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Barbara
Clow

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Anca
Crahmaliuc

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Robert
Dancik

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Bronwyn
Evans

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Lora
Hart

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Susan
Lokaj

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Barbara
Rivolta

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Steve
Spurgin

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Vanessa
Weber

Meet Our Staff

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Paula McDowell
Director of Operations
Past President 2018-23

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Stephanie Chavez
Virtual Assistant

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Anne Acker
Bookkeeper

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Sian Hamilton
Webmaster

Former Board Members

Lis-el Crowley

Wendy McManus

Annemarie Klappe

Rebecca Natanson

Susan Konter

Alan Rein

Sian Hamilton

Corina Gheorghe

Alison Lee

Pam Feindel

Julia Rai

Terri Hickey

Wendy Ernst

Martha Vaughan

About Patrice Baker

Brandy Boyd

Barbara Clow

About Anca Crahmaliuc

Robert Dancik

About Bronwyn Evans

Lora Hart

Susan Lokaj

About Barbara Rivolta

Steve Spurgin

Vanessa Weber

Paula McDowell

Stephanie Chavez

Anne Acker

Sian Hamilton

Website and Technology Committee

Member Engagement Committee

Guild Support Committee

Finance Committee

Fundraising Committee

Education Committee

Curating for Excellence Committee

Conference Committee

Communications Committee

Advanced Studies Committee

About Metal Clay

About AMCAW

Our Activity Calendar

Teams & Volunteers

Contact Us

Join AMCAW

Learning Center

Member Tutorials

The Technique Library

Classes & Events

Calendar / Catalog

Galleries

Lis-el Crowley Vision Award

Blog

Community Guilds

Challenge

Apply to present

Grant Award Program

Virtual Guild

Support Us

Calendar & Catalog

AMCAW Store

Artist Showroom

Business Directory

AMCAW Board

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PamFeindelPresident

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JuliaRaiVice-President

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TerriHickeySecretary

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WendyErnstTreasurer

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MarthaVaughan

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PatriceBaker

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BrandyBoyd

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BarbaraClow

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AncaCrahmaliuc

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RobertDancik

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BronwynEvans

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LoraHart

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Pam
Feindel
President

Julia
Rai
Vice-President

Terri
Hickey
Secretary

Wendy
Ernst
Treasurer

Martha
Vaughan

Patrice
Baker

Brandy
Boyd

Barbara
Clow

Anca
Crahmaliuc

Robert
Dancik

Bronwyn
Evans

Lora
Hart

Susan
Lokaj

Barbara
Rivolta

Steve
Spurgin

Vanessa
Weber

Paula McDowell
Director of Operations
Past President 2018-23

Stephanie Chavez
Virtual Assistant

Anne Acker
Bookkeeper

Sian Hamilton
Webmaster

Paula McDowell
(president 2018-2023)