Custom Silver Earrings and Silver Clay Brands

This is a pair of earrings I just finished for a custom order.  It was pretty difficult.  Some tiny sculpting and a little molding.  They are to match a much larger pendant that the customer already had.  The sanding and polishing was very tedious!  It was also the first time that I worked with PMC original.  Sorry, if you are not a silver clay artist, I realize that means nothing... It is the first formula of silver clay that was invented. Now, there are several different brands and types on the market.  PMC original silver clay has a ton of binder in it.  Because of this, it shrinks quite a lot upon firing.  It also must be fired at 1650 degrees for two hours. 

I also want to show a photo of them with an unfired piece of PMC original to show the shrinkage for those who haven't worked with it yet.  It can also be a pain to sand because of the binder.  It felt like micro straw to me.  I had to wait for them to dry thoroughly, and I mean thoroughly before doing the fine sanding.

You can see from the photo, that that is quite a bit of shrinkage.  Because of this, PMC original definitely has it's uses. The main reason I chose it for this project was because of it's shrinkage factor.  However, after working with it for a while on this, I don't think I'll be using it much any more.  Just not as nice to work with.  It doesn't seem to take as fine of a detail as PMC3 or Art Clay Silver do.  It's also more expensive than the other silver clays, and you are paying for all that binder it contains.

So, does anyone else out there have any PMC original silver clay stories to tell?  I would love to hear about other's experiences with it.  And, along with that, which brand of silver clay do you prefer?  And why?

Have a great day!

Janie



Handmade Polymer Clay Cane Keepsake Boxes

There are so many things you can make with polymer clay canes.  One of the things that I like to do with canes is to make keepsake boxes.  Here are some boxes I made with some canes that I got from some very special clay friends online: 

 

The boxes are all solid polymer clay.  They are quite fun to make.  And, they don't have to be very big.  Here are some photos to show context of size:

Might as well show you the bottoms and insides also:

I hope you like them. 

Have a great day!

Janie

Create

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start my friend, anyone can start from now and make a brand new end.
-- Carl Bard

Read more: http://greatday.com/motivate/index.html#ixzz1HWLwTrCg

 

Have a great day!

Janie

Disaster Relief Effort for Japan

I belong to a metal clay team on Etsy.com where I have a website to sell my jewelry.  The name of our team is Metal Clay Heads.  We are each donating proceeds from some of the items that we've made to help in our own small way with the disaster  relief effort for Japan.  Click on the Treasury of items link below and you can view each product. 

The recycled silver clay that I use is manufactured in Japan.  The future availability of this product is unknown at this time.  Hopefully, that won't become a problem.  But, if it is, I will continue to work with my polymer clay, and maybe start working in copper or bronze...

 http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d834c787a4d6d915fa94dc5/metal-clay-heads-disaster-relief

 

Have a great day!

Janie

Making it Count

Even if you think there's not enough time to finish, get started. Getting started is better than getting nothing. The wasted and idle moments in your life add up. If you always have something ready to do with them, they can add up to great value in your life.
It would be nice to have all the time in the world to get the job done. But then, of course, you'd probably procrastinate, knowing how very much time you had.
In fact, the limits on your time are really a blessing in disguise. Those limits motivate you to use your time in the ways that are most meaningful and valuable.
Today is filled with time, but it's quickly being used up. There's nothing you can do to stop it, but there's a great deal you can do to make it count.
Precious time is coming to you right now. With your thoughts, actions, feelings and words, you can transform it all into lasting value.
-- Ralph Marston


Read more: http://greatday.com/motivate/index.html#ixzz1H3THh3ax

What's on the Work Table Today

Just a couple of photos of a clay sheet and some beads I'm making.

What You See is What You Get (WYSIWYG)

What you see is what you get

When you consistently see the best in others, it will bring out the best in you. When you regularly see the positive possibilities in any situation, the best of those possibilities will happen for you.
What you see is what you get. When you look at the world around you, what do you see? Do you see a place filled with problems, obstacles and limitations? Or do you see a place filled with possibilities, opportunities and richness? Do you complain about what you see and what you experience, or are you profoundly grateful for it all?
What you see is what you will get. The way you view life is the way you will live it. When you're filled with resentment, anger, greed, envy and cynicism, you'll be quite appropriately miserable. When you look at the world with love and gratitude, when you appreciate the beauty, when you act with benevolence toward others, life for you will be joyful and fulfilled.
Life will unfold for you just as you expect it to. Love, value, and treasure life in the splendor of every moment, whatever the superficial circumstances may be. See the very best and it will be yours.
-- Ralph Marston

Have a great day!

Janie



A Silver Heart and a Bead Experiment

This is an update to yesterdays post about the pieces that were fresh out of the kiln.  The starfish didn't work out.  The beads are still an experiment.  And, I really like the heart.  I gave it and the beads a patina and here is how the look now...

Have a great day!

Janie

Fresh Out of the Kiln

Here are some brand new silver pieces I just took out of the kiln.  A playful heart, a starfish, and a couple of fine silver beads.  They still have a way to go before I use them.  They've been steel brushed.  Next, they will need to be finished a little more and tumbled to strengthen and shine. 

I haven't decided whether to apply a patina or not.  What do you think?  Usually when I add a patina, it is to bring out finer details.  I think I will give the starfish one for sure.  It has some nice texture that you can't really see without a patina.  The beads are an experiment. 

Have a great day!

Janie