“You can paint it, use it in molds, and yes, you can sculpt it.”

About a year ago, nail tech Faith Glionna was browsing through the newsletter put out by her local museum – Brevard Museum of Art and Science in Eau Gallie, Fla. – when a class on PMC jewelry-making caught her eye. Glionna, the owner of Cuticles in Indialantic, Fla., has always been artistic and had even taken a class in jewelry design many years before, but PMC – or precious metal clay – was new.

Formulated by Mitsubishi Motors in the 1990s, PMC combines water, binders, and small particles of either silver or gold into a pliable material with a consistency similar to modeling clay. Once the clay has been molded into the desired shape, it’s heated in a kiln and the binder burns away. The metal particles fuse to form solid precious metal that’s 99.9% pure.

When it came to working with this versatile material, Glionna’s experience sculpting nails held her in good stead. “You can paint it, use it in molds, and yes, you can sculpt it,” she says. “My nail sculpting experience does come in handy. I have a knowledge of thickness and shape, not to mention working with a brush.”

Recently the museum opened a store to allow students to sell their artwork. In just a few months, Glionna has sold five pieces at the museum store and another five at her salon. They’re priced between $25 and $75.

Though she has no plans to abandon the beauty industry, Glionna is serious about her jewelry endeavors. She’s purchased a kiln for her home and is in the process of becoming certified as a PMC instructor.

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