Midsummer's Dream Metal Clay Retreat

02/05/2025

We are incredibly proud to announce that Holly Gage has been named the 2025 recipient of the Lis-el Crowley Vision Award, AMCAW’s highest honor recognizing extraordinary vision, generosity, and service to the metal clay community.

Holly’s journey as a jewelry artist began at age 13, when she rode her bike to the local art center in Philadelphia to learn metalsmithing. That early spark ignited a lifelong passion for creative expression and innovation. Since then, she has built a remarkable career spanning 47 years, earning a degree in Fine Arts and Education, developing cutting-edge metal clay techniques, and mentoring artists around the world.

She is the founder of the Metal Clay and Mixed Media Facebook group—a creative hub for artists of all levels—and co-founder of the Healing Phoenix Arts Program, which helps individuals find strength and healing through art. Her deep library of classes covers everything from bezel settings and kinetic jewelry to helping artists discover their personal design voice.

Holly’s impact as a teacher, artist, and community-builder has been felt far and wide. Her work has appeared in over 80 publications, and she’s received numerous accolades, including the Saul Bell Design Award and AMCAW’s Innovation Grant.

The Lis-el Crowley Vision Award was created in memory of AMCAW co-founder Lis-el Crowley, to honor those who carry her legacy forward: uplifting others, advancing the art form, and championing the spirit of community.

💛 Please join us in congratulating Holly Gage! 💛

03/07/2024

In lieu of the online workshop I just scheduled starting Monday, July 29, I made an infographic starring the work of one of my past students, Anastasia Stepnova, from The Art of Designing a Signature Jewelry Line, a 10-week intensive. I loved her style and uniqueness, but best of all, I loved hearing her story, watching the process, and seeing this line develop. I hope it inspires you to be you. Your thoughts are welcome and encouraged.

14/06/2024

A day ago, I posted Dimensional Mandalas with Opals:
Using Simple Scratch Foam Techniques, and it filled in hours. I gotta say, I felt really warm and fuzzy after that and I'm so so grateful. I added another and now have only 2 spots left. Who wants one??

05/06/2024

Monique Perry is our 3rd Annual Cultured Fire in Place Opal Challenge winner!!

Her design was clean and balanced, and Loretta Hackman, one of our judges, commented, "It was an exciting piece that immediately captured my attention for its composition and professionalism."

The emphasis of this challenge was a Metal Clay gem setting that was well-crafted, and I felt, "The dark patinaed concave area surrounding the stone punctuated it nicely."

We asked for impeccable craftsmanship on the bezel with no cracks, visible imperfections, or distortion, and it sure did.
The photography highlights the beauty and sparkle of the gems in the piece, and we didn’t have to imagine what she was describing as you could see it without verbal explanation.
Christopher Gage, another judge, Felt that the piece met all the criteria from top to bottom."

We want to thank the others who participated and challenged themselves, as this was a learning experience. We made a big attempt to educate folks with the free Creative Gem Setting in Metal Clay tutorial with literally 100s of downloads.

Let’s thank our gift sponsors, Christopher Gage of Healing Phoenix Lapidary, for providing a selection of beautiful and sparkly Fire in Place Cultured Opals, and Loretta Hackman for providing a tool kit full of awesome tools.

Our judges were: Christopher Gage, Loretta Hackman, and Holly Ginsberg Gage

22/05/2024

I'm sharing another FREE article. It's your "Complete Fire-in-Place Cultured Opal Guide." It has been updated!

Here is the skinny on what you will find.
Natural Opals cannot be fired in place in Metal Clay as they will become mere dust if you put extreme heat on them. This all changed when we discovered a Cultured Opal that can fire to 1650 F /900 C.

Now, the possibilities for artists working with Metal Clay and Opals have just burst wide open. Our minds went wild, and immediately we wanted our hands on them to see for ourselves the heat tolerances of the stones and what you could and couldn’t do.

I put these beauties through an extensive series of tests, and they were also tested by several Metal Clay experts using various Silver and Base Metal Clays. I went through a lot of trial and error I documented in several blogs, but once I understood what I needed to do, it was easy peasy, and now I share all the information gathering with you in this guide.

• About Cultured Opals
• What difference is there between Natural Opal, Imitation Opal,
Fake Opal, Cultured Opal, �Lab-Grown, and Synthetic Opal?
• How to Fire in Place Cultured Opals in Metal Clay
• Kiln and Torch Firing Cultured Opals
• Handling, Setting, Tumbling, Finishing, and adding a Patina with
Cultured Opals in place
• Educating Customers about Cultured Opals in Your Jewelry

20/05/2024

Who will take home all of those tools and Cultured Opals?

20/05/2024

Well, I finished my piece but not the tutorial I'm writing. I'm struggling with a name for the project. It is inspired by Mandalas, and I wanted to take the use of Metal Clay and Scratch Foam for textures to the next level by introducing dimension and some outside-the-box thinking. It will also have lots of information about working with Fire in Place Cultured Opals. Any suggestions? They would be very welcome.

17/05/2024

Will You Be Joining the Challenge?

06/05/2024

Annual Fire in Place Opal Challenge?
I'm on a mission to teach jewelers how to make beautiful, clean bezel-set gems in Metal Clay to elevate our game. This shouldn't be a secret.

Since I'm an admin on the Metal Clay and Mixed Media forum, I've been provided daily with information on how to do that properly. To celebrate what we're learning, we put together the...

3rd Annual Fire in Place Opal Challenge?

About:
Create a piece of jewelry highlighting the most innovative, fun, and unique bezel set Fire in Place Cultured Opals. (Not to be confused with Artisan Opals or Natural Opals that can't be Fired in Place)

What we are looking for:
• Innovative, functional, and balanced design with a high degree
of excitement.
• Unique use of Metal Clay gem setting.
• Bezel Craftsmanship must be impeccable. ­­— No cracks, gem
haze, visible imperfections, or distortion.
• The photography must highlight the beauty and sparkle of the
gem you are using.
How to enter:

All entries must be submitted to the Metal Clay and Mixed Media Facebook forum in an original post on Wed., May 31 by the end of the day. (Facebook.com/groups/metalclayandmixedmedia).
This is a learning opportunity, so tell us about your piece.
Tag Gage
(Facebook.com/healing.phoenix.lapidary),
so he can see and share your entry with his followers.
Hashtag:
when posting.

One winner receives:

Notification on June 5th
ALL of the Opals and prizes valued at $175!!
Their artwork will be displayed on the Metal Clay and Mixed
Media Forum for 30 days and in Social Media blasts.

Judges:
Holly and Christopher Gage, and Loretta Hackman
Gift Sponsors:
Chris Gage of HealingPhoenixLapidary(.com), where you can get the Fire in Place (FIP) Cultured Opals. Loretta Hackman Designs, Art Clay Instructor and designer at LorettaHackmanDesigns(.com)
(Prizes are not to scale in the photo)

01/05/2024

I have a really fun newsletter for you.

Hi Everyone! I have another fun newsletter today! We're announcing our Annual Opal Challenge, with the winner receiving $175 worth of FIP Opals and Metal Clay tools. On April 16, I gave away a Tutorial called "Creative Gem Setting in Metal Clay." It's packed with unique ways to set a gem in Metal Cl...

23/04/2024

We have a full retreat in May, and we just added 2 new dates! We've asked ourselves and our students what they want in an experience? From that, we've come up with the perfect mix of workshops: You'll cut Cultured Opals with Christopher Gage and enjoy comprehensive jewelry techniques for setting your stone in a piece of jewelry with me. I love surprises, so there are a couple of those for you, and we bookend every day with flavorful meals and good spirits. Don't miss out on a wonderful getaway .