Tiny Tools

Yesterday I shared some photos of demo pieces from my latest classes.   The left over clay earrings were not created with a ready made texture.

When first starting out in metal clay, it's easy and fun to use ready made textures.  But, after awhile it becomes rather boring (and expensive.)  Sometimes I make my own textures from polymer clay or PPP plates.  On this pair of earrings I finally used some little tools I purchased years ago from Leslie Tieke when I took my PMC Connection certification class.  I didn't know what they were or how to use them at that time.  I just knew they were cute little kits with cute little tools in them.   (I like little things.)

For these earrings, I created the texture directly on the clay.  Some of the tools are little wheels with different types of edges on them.  The other set of tools are shaped at the end.  The pattern is random as I just rolled over the clay to test them out.  Now that I've finally used them, maybe I'll create a series of textures with them.

More than Metal Clay

I love taking classes and expanding my metal clay knowledge and skills.

But more than learning about this amazing medium, the world of metal clay has opened a world of new friends.  When I first started making jewelry, I was working out of my daughter's old bedroom (turned home studio.)  Using a few books I taught myself metal clay.  Growth doesn't happen in a vacuum so I sought out classes (which were non-existent in my area.)

My first class was in NC.  My daughter and I went to a bead store and learned how to make an S-hook out of silver clay.  (I call that my $65 S-Hook, which really cost more than that since I had to take my own clay.)  It's a wonder I didn't quit after that one!

But, I persisted and headed to Tennessee to take a  PMC Connection Certification I Course with Leslie Tieke.  It was at that class that I made my first group of friends.  There were five of us and we hailed from PA, TN and SC.  We got along so well that we got together to take the Certification II class and some of us went back to Gatlinburg two more times for PMC Connection's Metal Clay Retreat.

I've made friends (both through being a student and having students) while in Florida.  Sarah Triton (AKA Sarasota Sarah) taught a class in Photo Polymer Plate making which creates molds from drawings.  My Florida students/friends hail from Canada and Maine.

Speaking of students, several of my students from my Transit Studio classes have become good friends that I get together with often........ Ginny and Deb!  (Also it's nice to have a studio in a building that has 23 artists studios....... more friends.)

Joining a guild (I really needed to seek out others who were doing what I was doing) has really added to my growing list of metal clay friends.   Through guild meetings and classes taught by leading artists in the metal clay field, it has been easy and fun to interact with others and make new friends.

And of course, I have my online metal clay friends like Zoe Nelson.  (Who I was able to meet in person at the last PMC Conference.)

As mentioned in my previous post, I attended a couple of classes in Pittsburgh this weekend.  One with Wanaree Tanner and one with Carol Scheftic.  It was because of these classes that I added several new friends including Peyton Barrett.  "Pete" came all the way from Canada to take these classes.  She and her family are involved in metal clay, silkscreening, guided tours, jewelry making, teaching, and pewter casting among other things.  We all really enjoyed having Pete in class as she was just as crazy as the rest of us.

Pete does cultural jewelry from Newfoundland and Labrador.  She was so sweet and gave us all an Ulu  (woman's knife ) pewter cast necklace that she made.

So............ to all my old and new metal clay friends...... looking forward to more good times!

Traditional color

Enameling is a very old technique of adding color to metal, so of course it is one of the methods we were able to try out during Tim McCreight's color workshop. I waited until I got home to do my enameling.

For some reason, my enameled pieces never photograph very well. These are much cleaner than they look.

The single colored piece is created by sifting enamel onto the silver in an even layer. The multi-colored piece is made by mixing the powdered enamel with water and an enamel adhesive; then wet-packing it into the recessed areas.

Wet packing often involves using a mini-spoon type tool or a brush. I took a basic enameling class from Leslie Tieke in Tennessee and she had us use straws that were cut to a point on one end. They worked great (and are much cheaper.)

Currently I'm reading Linda Darty's book, The Art of Enameling. I plan on reading every single word (I told you I was anal.) There's lots of good information that is very clearly written. My order for copper just came the other day as I plan on trying out as many techniques from the book as I can. Copper is cheaper.

I was also pleasantly surprised when I came across several enameled pieces by Adrienne Grafton in Ms Darty's book. (One is on the back cover. She also wrote an article in the book on making a cloisonne' brooch.) Adrienne use to have a studio across the hall from me at the Transit Building but she relocated her studio to Shadyside. She is currently teaching an ongoing enameling class in New Castle, Pa.