Daily Blogs : Step by Step Beads

Learn Metal Clay from the Pros Who Know!

Leslie — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:18:00 GMT

Clay it Forward

Sometimes we all need a light from another flame to get our own candle burning. That's the way it was for me with metal clay. Usually I'm a selt-taught type of gal, so when metal clay first came on the scene. I thought, what's the big deal? It's CLAY. Heck, I've been playing with clay since I was three! But of course there's way more to the medium of metal clay (and polymer, too) than the aromatic plastilene we took from containers at recess! Once I'd learned I needed tools and a special type of kiln, I knew I had to take a class to see how the pros worked with this alluring material.

This is a picture of the only metal clay piece I ever made, the product of a 3-hour Bead Fest class I took years back when metal clay was still a relatively new product. Kinda embarrassing. In an entire 3 hours this inch-long charm is all I brought home. But I had fun making it, squishing it, sanding the "leather hard" pre-fired clay, and seeing it become real silver. But go ahead, you can chuckle at my elementary efforts. I still do!

Now, I am not saying the class was a loss, not at all! I learned about the tools and the properties of metal clay in ways I would not have done on my own, and my little "Lame Lily" pendant––yes, I named it––is by no mean a reflection on my teachers, either. Martha and Ed Biggar were delightfully gracious and informative teachers who continue to teach at Bead Fest. They gave me my first chance to get my hands into metal clay. And, others in that class made way cooler stuff than I did, believe me. I admit I often get a bit paralyzed by beginning something, like writers block. Most of us do from time to time. Those times it helps to get out, open a book, take a class,so the experts can get us jump-started.

Of course, since then I have seen more and more examples of metal clay explorations by artists drawn to the material. The medium itself has been developed to be better and easier to work with. There are other metal clays beside silver, like the breathtakingly gorgeous bronze clay. I have read more about techniques and applications, such as how to use it in a more liquid form called "slip" and combine it with seed beads, shown in this March '06 Step by Step Beads project "Beautiful Boughs" by Jessica Beels. (Photo by Todd Murray.)

I am also captivated by the patinas which can be coaxed from or applied to metal clay, like the verdigris in these earrings I bought from Kelly Russell. Don't they look like archeological finds? These earrings are so rich in their imagery and color, and so very different from the sleek lines I tried to get in my little polished lily charm. There are many artists who have contributed to the evolution of the art of metal clay, from Celie Fago, Lora Hart and Lisa Pavelka to Sherri Haab, Debra Weld and Hadar Jacobson.

Do I sound inspired? You bet. I now own a few precious ounces of silver metal clay, tools, an acrylic roller and even some texture plates. I know where I have access to a kiln. Have I made more little Lame Lilies on my own? Not yet. I still need some guidance, especially about something called shrinkage...

But for inspiration and how-to, I plan to dive into the easy-to-follow projects in our downloadable eBook from Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist: 10 Metal Clay Jewelry Projects.

What are your favorite resources for tips and techniques to shape your skills with metal clay? Who are the artists and teachers who inspire you? Share your comments below or on the Beading Daily forums!

MY BAD! Forgot your FREE PROJECT!

Make this metal clay quilt pendant designed by Hadar Jacobson!

How to Add Thread Mid-Project: Tips and Video

Michelle M. — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:43:00 GMT

Though many beaders do it, I don’t like working with long thread. It tangles, it knots, it snags under the casters on my chair, or reels in my cat as she plays with the nest of excess at my feet....(read more)

From Seed Bead Circle to Spiral Peyote

Michelle M. — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:09:00 GMT

I have a good friend who buys only the exact number of beads that she needs for a project. Leftovers drive her crazy. I drive her crazy, too—how can I buy beads and have no idea what I'm going to do with them? But I've been beading long enough to know that an idea will eventually come and the last thing you want is to have the idea without having the perfect beads at hand....(read more)

Learn Bead Speak with This Free Crossword Puzzle

Michelle M. — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:36:00 GMT

“Pass through 5B; *square-stitch 1E to 3B. Weave through 7B; add 3B picots to the next 2B and the following 2B. Repeat from * fifteen times.” Am I speaking another language here? Yes; Beaderese. Does it give you a headache to read? Of course. Want to know why? The synapses in your brain are getting the workout of their lives! ...(read more)

7 Tips for Designing Summer Jewelry

Michelle M. — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:14:00 GMT

I am so a Summer girl. Warm weather means lighter clothing in both color and fabric weight, so I can wear jewelry against my skin instead of around a turtleneck--so many more parts to adorn, from throat and ears, to arms, wrists, ankles and even toes. (I have to admit I can’t get comfy wearing toes rings, but they look great with a nice pedicure!) Bared arms just scream for stacks of bangles and anklets are elegant against a tan. Fashion fabrics show a perfect palette for the colors of summer—especially blues and greens. I am a green girl all year round, but the greens of summer seduce me because they evoke the ocean....(read more)

Learn Odd-Count Peyote: Free Video and Tips

Michelle M. — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:03:00 GMT

Do you think odd-count peyote is a wicked ol’ stitch? Does the extra time and tangle to make that quirky figure-8 twist at the end of every row just burn you up? ...(read more)

Create These Easy Crystal and Seed Bead Earrings

Michelle M. — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:39:00 GMT

I've been looking for an earring project for an April birthday gift and this week's free project from Step by Step Beads, Crystal Corona Earrings, is perfect. The materials (crystal bicones, seed beads, ear wires) are common ones you're likely to have in your stash already or could easily purchase at your local bead shop. It's also astonishingly quick--I finished the first earring in less than half an hour. The project illustrations are excellent--they are fairly large with arrows showing the thread path and numbered beads, so you know exactly what to do next even if half your attention is diverted by the subtitles on Heroes. ...(read more)

Free Video: Learn Peyote Stitch Today

Michelle M. — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:50:00 GMT

In my beginner tap class we practice the basic steps over and over. Single taps, single flaps. The fun part is adding sounds to the basic taps, taking a shuffle and making it double shuffle, then combining basics into a time step, a double time step, a triple buck time step! The more sounds we make, the better it sounds! Plus, we put attitude into our arms, shoulders and hands to further embellish the basics. Though we are mostly beginners, we have advanced dancers taking our class to keep their basic skills sharp. ...(read more)

Good News: 5 Reader Galleries That Want Your Work!

Michelle M. — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:29:00 GMT

Have you ever submitted your work to a reader gallery? If you're trying to sell your work or build a name for yourself, submitting your work to a reader gallery is one way to get the word out. The benefits are obvious--it's free, quick (at least the submission part), great exposure, and you usually can submit at any time. It's also low on the stress and anxiety scale. If you're nervous about sending out your work, a reader gallery may be just the way to get started....(read more)

6 Brick Stitch Tips, Plus Free Seed Bead Pendant Project

Michelle M. — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:57:00 GMT

Brick stitch, aptly named for the way the beads sit like bricks in a wall, has to be one of my favorite all time stitches. After building my bead vocabulary with lots of techniques, I still rely on brick stitch in its many forms for most of my signature designs. ...(read more)

Using Black for Drama in Jewelry Designs

Michelle M. — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:52:00 GMT

Today I'm sharing a column by color expert Margie Deeb who writes the "Colorworks" column in every issue of Step by Step Beads. This column on using black (originally published in the January/February 2008 issue) will give you several ideas on how to combine black with other colors or with black beads of different finishes. I've recently been fascinated by the effect of black on other colors, particularly in seed bead work. Take a look at my Jane of the Jungle bracelet as an example.--Michelle Mach, Beading Daily editor....(read more)

How to Add an Exotic Touch to Your Jewelry

Michelle M. — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:54:00 GMT

Global, multicultural, tribal, ethnic. These are words we use to describe things that are exotic to us, and not of our national heritage, place of origin, or even time period in which we live. Most of us are very inspired by jewelry that looks exotic, and some cultures’ designs may mysteriously appeal to us more than others. Why are we drawn to elements from that culture? And, how do we recreate that look in our own jewelry?...(read more)

5 Tips for Designing with Color

Michelle M. — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:25:00 GMT

Color is such a key element of good design. Yet each of us wrestles now and then with being in a color rut—“I only buy purple beads”—or wondering what shade of blue brings out the best in a new multicolored lampwork pendant. Do you ever watch The View on TV? If so, you’ll understand how much fun it is to poll several of our bead magazine editors and learn new and different angles from each one....(read more)

Macrame Bracelet with Focal Bead

Michelle M. — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:27:00 GMT

Macramé was one of my teenage passions. I used soft, cotton string from the hardware store, and my favorite macramé experiences were wall hangings. I learned all my knots from one book, and would simply start knotting, making it up as I went along. I was in it for the journey, not just the destination. One of my pieces still hangs in my parents’ house....(read more)

The Sparkle of Silver (And Other Favorite Metals)

Editor — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:00:00 GMT

The Sparkle of Silver (And Other Favorite Metals)

Rectangle Bangle by Stephanie Everett features silver wire.

Who doesn't love silver?

Apparently, not many! More than 1,000 readers voted in the latest poll ("What's your favorite metal?"). As I expected, silver was the clear favorite with 61% of the vote. Copper came in second (22%) and gold in third (7%). Why do we love silver so much? Silver is striking, classic, and fits every occasion--it's the quintessential "little black dress" of the jewelry world.

While I love copper (see the first part of the post "Zulu Beadwork"), I was pleasantly surprised to find that other people felt the same way. Just a year or two ago, it was not unusual for me to walk into a bead store and not find any copper chain or findings. Copper is still difficult to find in the large craft stores. I wonder whether the use of copper will continue to rise, or whether it has already peaked in popularity?

Pewter, brass, and vermeil were all in the 1-3% range. Some of the answers in the "other" category included stainless steel, aluminum, niobium, gold-filled, gold-plate, gunmetal, bronze, and shibuichi. (Shibuichi is a mix of silver and copper. You can see some examples of it at Green Girl Studios.) Thanks to the reader who made me laugh by saying that that her favorite "other" metal was "anything I don't have to polish"!

At right: Elaine Ray's Cascading Tangle uses a mix of metal chains and findings.

New poll: Do you work on your beading at your kitchen or dining room table?
Poll ends October 17.

Thanks to Beading Daily reader Wendy H. for suggesting this poll question (see her comment on the "Beads for Dinner" post).

A Simple Wirework Necklace with Lampwork Beads and Crystals

This week's featured project, Afternoon Tea, is by Sandi Wiseheart. Some of you may recognize Sandi's name as the editor of Knitting Daily. In addition to being A Knitter Extraordinaire, Sandi is also a talented beader. I literally stole this pretty necklace off her neck to share with you. (Don't worry--I gave it back!) Here are three reasons I like it:

It's colorful. Not sure how to combine colors? Choose a lampwork bead you like and then choose 2 or 3 crystals to match.
It's easy. If you can make a wrapped loop and use jump rings, you can make this necklace.
It's affordable. This necklace lets you showcase a few special beads and a handful of crystals and silver spacers and still have money left for more beads. (Or rent.)

Five More Wire Projects Coming Soon
Afternoon Tea by Sandi Wiseheart is the first of six free projects that are featured in Easy Wire magazine. (Only photos of the projects appeared in the magazine--the instructions are exclusively for you as Beading Daily members!)

Other projects coming soon: Lotus Blossom (necklace) by Sandi Wiseheart, Drops of Jupiter (bracelet) by Marcella Austenfeld, Purple Zig-Zags (earrings) by Michelle Mach, Spiraling Out of Control (necklace) by Michelle Mach, and Ballpoint Earrings by Karen Tihor.

2007 Bead Arts Award Winners

Step by Step Beads announced the winners of the 2007 Bead Arts Award Winners in the November/December 2007 issue. Pictured at right is the second place winner in the "beaded object" category. This bracelet uses peyote stitch and right-angle weave.

Look for a profile of Christine Marie Noguere and her "larger than life" beadwork in the January/February 2008 issue of Step by Step Beads.

Titania (Jewelry for Giants, No. 5) by Christine Marie Noguere. Size: 9". Photo: Phil Pope.

See the rest of the winners in the online gallery (PDF format). I'll pass along the information on entering the 2008 awards as soon as it's available.

Coming Friday: Wireworking tips, how to create rubber stamped polymer clay beads, plus some adorable dog beads by Lori Peterson. (Lori designed the pretty floral lampworked beads in the featured Afternoon Tea necklace.)

Michelle Mach is the editor of Beading Daily. How could it be Wednesday already?