Cool Video of a Metal Clay pendant being made!

JenKahn has entered this into the Etsy metal Clay Video Comp!

Etsy Handmade Metal Clay Moment

Posted to Etsy Handmade Moment by jenkahn on June 23, 2009

Click to Play View Details

Vote for the Video and Help Promote the Etsy Metal Clay community :)
Nic xx

Babies Footprints Captured Forever....

This week I've been mainly using my nail lamp! This is the original footprint plus the black out transparency that I used to make the photo-polymer plate with. The finished pendants are then created using the finished photo-polymer texture plate.

I also use my nail lamp with my UV resins. I get them from Petra over at silverclay.co.uk and they're so much more convenient than mixing up big pots of two part resin. No weighing required, a blob of the resin, a drop of colour, a twiddle with a cocktail stick, a visit to the "sun bed" and it's done!

This is every colour resin that Petra does (except yellow - ran out of daisies DOH!). You can vary the intensity by adding less colour to get a more transparent look too. Marvelous!

I just need to take lots and lots of photos now so I can get them in my shop and up on Etsy ;)
Nic xx

Perfect Torch for PMC & Soldering!

This is the Nimrod PT 500 Pro Torch, it's quite simply the best torch I've found for PMC and small scale jewellery soldering. Teresa Speer (head Honcho at the In the Studio Jewellery School) recommended it & I've been using mine for two years, for a large variety of jewellery tasks, without a single problem....

At approx £38 it certainly isn't the cheapest option, but it IS perhaps one of the best value:
1) It's solid construction, looks like it will last forever

2) It has a 60ml Butane reservoir so less refilling

3) Long Running Times - even when doing lots of work (up to an hour!)

4) Max torch temp 1350º C (2460º F)

It's also eminently adjustable and has done everything from firing PMC to fusing fine silver & melting dichroic glass too!

Top Torch Rating: 4.8 stars!
Ease of Use *****
Versatility *****
Construction *****
Price ****

If you haven't chosen your torch yet this is a great buy!
Nicola x

Silver Clay Etsy Treasury & Inspiration

I love being in Etsy Treasuries - it's such an honour when someone chooses my work :)
My creation is the Wave Pendant in the bottom right hand corner. The treasury is live until Tuesday June 2nd and you can see some of the other wonderful artisans work by visiting it HERE .

This one has been put together by Destiny's Creations a talented Artisan who specialises in Metal Clay work. Here are her "Love Letter" Earrings, which are stylish, simple and very, very eye catching!

Currently working from Windsor, Connecticut us UK folks will have to buy her lovely creations via her Etsy shop (which you can get to by clicking this Destinys Creations link!

Happy shopping
Nicola x

Fingerprint Cufflinks - perfect for Fathers Day

These fingerprint cuff links are the perfect gift for the man who has everything....including two gorgeous children and a brilliant wife (who plans ahead!). They're still to be burnished and oxidised but for those of you with a packet of Silver Clay, kids and some soldering skills (for the cuff link back) what are you waiting for??
Nic xx

Creating Bronze Jewellery - Firing Times

I made whole heap of Bronze jewellery recently and after the last firing (when the bronze wasn't fully sintered) I decided to fire them really, really slowly. It worked!
The bangle, which is the thickest piece, was even formed into shape post firing. It stood up to whacking it with a mallet on a bangle mandrel... Hoorah! Success :)

This is how I prepared it:
1) 1 inch of charcoal firing medium in my steel firing pan
2) Bronze bangle and another piece with 1 inch between them
3) Another inch charcoal
4) Some more bronze pieces
5) Another Layer
6) More pieces
7 ) Top up with charcoal, leaving 2/3 inch gap to lid
8) Put lid on & programme Kiln

My Firing Temps & Times:
I used a UK Paragon SC2 Kiln, with a viewing window. The firing pan was slightly raised off the bottom by putting it on my smallest kiln posts. Be careful not to let it touch the Pyrometer at the back of the kiln. I fired it overnight as this is a very, very long firing schedule.
1) Programme 1 - Ramp speed 80 Centigrade per hour
2) Until it reaches 850 Centigrade
3) Hold for 2 hours
4) Remove when cold & sieve out your pieces!

Hope that helps anyone with their own experiments, there are some more close up pictures on my shop blog :)

Nicola xx

Silver Clay Course - Student Pieces!

I'm so proud of these fabulous pendants my students made today.

One had tried silver-clay and been disappointed with the results, while the other two had never had a go at all...... So these stunning pieces are their first pendants, their first time soldering, first stone setting, first use of LOS patina and first time using UV resins!! They worked really hard and learnt lots very quickly.

I'm already looking forward to the 28th June, when I'll be introducing a new course which will concentrate on setting glass into silver clay & adding colour.
Nicola xx