Aquarius

  A while back I taught a class using Hadar Jacobson's technique of using a rock to form the metal clay.  A two card thickness of clay is wrapped around a rock and the edges are smoothed together.  When the clay is totally dry, the clay is cut all the way around the rock, removed and pasted back together.  

   This was my demonstration piece during the class.  During the process of sanding the piece, I broke off one end into several pieces.  As I was getting ready to piece them in, I decided to just seal the end up.  The piece looked more interesting to me this way as it suggested a water pitcher.  (See I broke it as a learning experience for my students........ right!)  

   I added a swarovski crystal drop for the water droplet.  Originally I was going to add crystal beads for the necklace, but decided a more earthy stone would work better so I used tiger eye beads instead.  There are a few crystals spread out through the beading to tie in the drop.

   Nothing ever goes smoothly.  Every creation is a challenge and often, that is a good thing.  (Now I  sound like Martha Stewart again!) 

Swarovski melt

    I've added another new charm to my education bracelet, (actually three more which I'll share over the next few days.)  Two of the techniques I learned at the Arrowmont retreat.  The Senior Instructor from South Africa, (sorry I can't remember her name.) showed us this.  It only takes a few seconds and can add a spark of color to your metal clay creations.

   Drill a hole in the piece you want to decorate (of course it is easiest to do in the dry clay before firing.)  Also, make sure the hole is fairly large.  (This helps the crystal to melt down into the hole better.)  After the piece is fired and cooled, position the crystal on the hole.  I used a 4 mm crystal bead.  (Metal backed swarovski beads and AB swarovski beads are not good for this technique.)  Using a torch, begin heating the area around the crystal and over the crystal until it begins to turn orange and balls up.   That's it.  That's all there is to it.  How cool is that? 

   My charm has held up (which for me was a test of the strength since a bracelet gets lots of pounding.)  I did not tumble this piece as I liked the white inside the dish shape.   I also tried it in a by-pass ring I made but the holes were too small for the bigger crystal to melt down into.  It might have worked if I had used a smaller crystal.