10 Days and 10 Grams - Playing in Leaves with Silver Metal Clay

Summer Leaf Collection by York Avenue Studio

When the price of Silver shot up, it seemed like my chances to work with Silver Art Clay were shot, too.  I’d just begun building techniques and skills working with precious metal clay and enjoyed making jewelry with fine silver to the point that it was my focus for future designs.  The price hike certainly busted my big plans, but I have been fortunate enough to still have the chance to work with fine silver, just on a much smaller scale.

First thin layer on leaves

With only 10 grams of fresh clay, I decided to try a technique of painting leaves and for 10 days I have had the pleasure to work with metal clay, enjoy the process of creating fine silver pieces, stretch my design skills to include a pendant with a hinge and just truly enjoy the entire time.  I have some amazing new pieces of jewelry and I am writing this post to reveal the photos of the projects and the stories behind the scenes.

10 grams of silver metal clay is not much, about the same amount as one stick of gum.  I used half the package as slip by adding water and thinning the clay until I could paint with it.  I scouted around my yard for tiny leaves that had nice shape and texture, picturing what they would look like as silver.  I selected a Violet leaf, three tiny Maple leaves and an Elm leaf.  They were small and I figured each leaf would require about 1 gram of silver, give or take.

Thicker layers with some curling as they dried

The technique for using real leaves with metal clay is basic, just paint thin layers and let them dry.  Fire them and finish, voila!  But, along the way, chatting with other metal clay artists, I discovered so many different methods and variations to the process, each idea or tip added even more possible outcomes and results!  It is amazing how each artist interprets the layering and resolves little issues along the way.  My Etsy team, Metal Clay Heads, had so many helpful suggestions and photos of their own leaf projects!  It was like having them by my side along the way, super great members with tons of experience to share.

I started with thin layers, then progressed to thicker paste-like layers.  As the layers became thicker, the leaves began to curl as they dried.  For my projects, this was a good thing.  But I was given a few tips that would help for keeping the leaves flat, if that is what I was hoping for.  There are also many ways to keep the leaves from sliding around or blowing away, and more tips on how to manage the silver that leaked under to the front of the leaf.  Great ideas that I have tucked away for future use!

The first leaf that was thick enough to fire was the little Violet leaf.  I layered my logo cutout on the back, dry clay to dry clay, using slip.  Once dried, I torch fired it and was thrilled to see the result!
I already had a design in mind for this leaf and make a bail with fresh clay, added a genuine Peridot gemstone and carved some leaf, stick and berry accents.  I fired the second time, did some finishing, used some Liver of Sulphur patina gel and was thrilled with the final piece!

Fine Silver Leaf with Peridot by York Avenue Studio

Fine Silver Leaf with Peridot - Back - York Avenue Studio

The next leaves ready were the tiny Maple leaves.  I had a design in mind for the upcoming Metal Clay Heads Team Challenge, which is to use the technique of a working hinge and the theme is Magical or Mysterious.  I put a lot of thought into this tiny pendant and with big expectations that I would have success, I carefully worked on the details and was thrilled that the planning worked out well!

Here is the big reveal with descriptions:

Tiny Secret Fine Silver Maple Leaf by York Avenue Studio

Tiny Secret Fine Silver Maple Leaf by York Avenue Studio

Tiny Secret Fine Silver Maple Leaf by York Avenue Studio

Tiny Secret Fine Silver Maple Leaf by York Avenue Studio

Tiny Secret Fine Silver Maple Leaf by York Avenue Studio

Tiny Secret Fine Silver Maple Leaf by York Avenue Studio

Along the way, the Elm leaf project went south, and I plopped the leaf back into the slip jar to reuse the clay.  But, I picked some fresh Bella Donna leaves and made them into gorgeous little earrings!

Fine Silver Bella Donna Leaf Earrings by York Avenue Studio

I would highly recommend trying some leaves with metal clay for anyone who is just starting out or for anyone who is stuck without any inspiration for a time.  Making leaves is so rewarding and without fussing over the detail or shape, just letting nature be the “mold”, the result will be beautiful detailed pieces of jewelry for charms, earrings, pendants, etc.  The added bonus is that just a little clay goes a long way!

3rd Place Winner! Metal Clay Heads: March Challenge - The Elements

Earth Goddess Amulet by York Avenue Studio

The voting is Closed - My Earth Goddess was voted ito 3rd Place!

The Etsy team Metal Clay Heads has a Challenge every other month with a selected theme and technique for members to create beautiful metal clay designs and the submissions are posted on our blog for everyone to vote!

Metal Clay Heads: March Challenge - The Elements: "Our theme this time is The Elements - Water, Fire, Wind and Earth. The required technique is using syringe or snakes when creating the desig..."

Here is how I created my entry into this Challenge:

Sketch up of idea as the design hit me initially

Maybe it was the oncoming of the full moon, but this idea just "hit" me and I grabbed a pen and the first paper I could find, which was the back of an envelope on the counter!  I wanted to create a special pendant for myself to wear daily, something sturdy and smooth, something that wouldn't jab my son when he jumped up on my lap and hugged me!

I recently lost my dad, less than two weeks ago.  He was in hospice in MI with just days to enjoy and I'm in NJ and didn't get there in time.....big misfortune and lost opportunity.

I also recently lost my doggy, about a week prior, and missing her hour by hour, still "hearing" her in the background only to re-realize she's not here.

Trying to stay positive has been tough lately, and these last events plus more....well, I decided to focus on what I have that is good and appreciate it.

This amulet represents the Earth Goddess, which to me means Motherhood.  I have 5 amazing children and I am surrounded by their love, which IS my life!  The swirls on this pendant would represent them.  In my final design, I used 5 spirals in her hair and on the back, I enscribed each child's Zodiac symbol for the month they were born.

The Blue Sapphire in the round moon being held high represents focus, protection, devotion and awareness:
"When misfortune is anow, wear the Blue Star on thy brow"

I made her face joyous, with eyes closed because that is how I laugh when I am with my kids, sometimes laugh so hard I'm in tears!

Earth Goddess Amulet with Blue Sapphire by York Avenue Studio

I used a rainbow patina on this pure silver pendant, but kept some areas shiny silver.  On the moon, there is a waxing crescent moon on the left highlighted in silver and also a waning moon on the right. 

The Earth Goddess Amulet Pure Silver by York Avenue Studio

I designed the pendant to hang so that the arms would stretch above the cord and hold the moon and star high.

I love my new necklace and haven't taken it off since I made it!

I hope you enjoyed this post and I'm so glad to share this story behind the scenes!
Kathy

Part 2 Charm Factory Metal Clay Stamp Product Test and Review by York Avenue Studio

Update for Feb 3rd:

I've been selected as a tester for a new product by The Charm Factory.  After I was contacted, we exchanged ideas on my logo design for the stamp.  The stamp is about the size of a thumbnail, 1/2 inch circle.  My logo is a little too complex to be that tiny, so I suggested a simple street sign with "York Ave".  Here is my logo and a preview of this idea:

I was pleased, but not completely thrilled that the stamp for my jewelry would be so simple and plain.  It was a wonderful stamp and I would use it, but I wished there was more detail.  Well, I am thrilled with what happened next! 

Here is what the stamp would look like in metal clay:

Charm Factory Signature Stamp

I drew a smaller version of my logo and played with the words and the picture and came up with an idea with more detail, but not so much that it wouldn't be recognizable as a stamp.  I sent the sketch to the Charm Factory for their input.

The Charm Factory responded very quickly with the following version of my logo sketch, which is the final design for my new stamp!  I am so thrilled with how professional the design looks and how wonderful the Charm Factory is to work with.  They truly put such effort into making my stamp look like MY stamp!

My sketch for logo














Charm Factory Design from my sketch



Charm Factory Signature Stamp - York Avenue Studio

I will be posting the testing adventure on my blog as soon as the stamp arrives!  Stay tuned, and here is some detail on these amazing stamp tools.  Visit the Charm Factory website at http://www.charmfactory.com/signature-stamps.aspx

Signature Stamps feature your logo or name and make it very easy to cleanly and precisely brand your jewelry and art. Simply gently press your Signature Stamp into the clay to cut a deep and lasting mark.

These custom made stamps are small (1/2" wide) and laser engraved to give you the precision impression you are looking for. You get a long lasting and clear product (unlike rubber stamps) and a great value over more expensive brass stamps. The handle is cast from lead free pewter, and your custom clay stamp is made to order from Delrin, a high temperature plastic also used for notary stamps and other demanding applications.

Order quickly online. There are no quotes, set up fees or additional costs. No matter what the content – text, your signature, or a logo – your Signature Stamps price is only $44.99. (Plus, free shipping is offered in the US.)

 http://www.charmfactory.com/signature-stamps.aspx

Winners Announced! January Challenge "My Favorite Place" Etsy Team Metal Clay Heads

Congratulations to the winners of the Metal Clay Heads Team Challenge! 

First Place Winner is "Mother and Child Pendant" by Ghislane of GS Creations!  Along with the privilege of issuing the next Monthly Challenge Theme, Ghislane now has "bragging" rights, as well as a photo of her design included in the Team Blog's banner!

To see the complete list of Challenge entries, photos and stories of inspiration, visit the Metal Clay Heads Blog:

http://metalclayheads.blogspot.com/

FAQs about Gold

Frequently Asked Questions:
Q:  What is White Gold?
A:  Gold is a precious metal and an element and is yellow.  Jewelry can be made from 24k pure gold because it is so soft and very strong, however, it is still very pliable and can be easily scratched or dented.  Gold jewelry is often made from a combination of gold and other metals, which is called an alloy.  For example, 14k gold is 14 parts gold mixed with 10 parts of another metal, equal to 24 parts or karats.  Likewise, 10k gold is 10k of gold mixed with 14k of another metal.  If the “other metal” is copper or silver, mixing it with yellow gold keeps the gold color.  More copper results in rose gold.  If the “other metal” is nickel or palladium, then the result is white-ish.  Recent years, white gold is commonly rhodium plated, partly because the “other metals” are not as high of quality and most manufacturers may just accept the lower standard because it will commonly be rhodium plated anyway.
Q:  What is Rhodium Plating?
A:  Rhodium is a precious metal and an element, like gold, but much more expensive.  The opposite of pure gold, which is soft, rhodium is too brittle to use for jewelry, but perfect for plating due to the dazzling shine, much like chrome, and the durability against tarnish and wear.  The white mirror-looking Rhodium plating will still wear off after time.  If the metal beneath the plating is a contrasting color, the wear will show up more obvious than a similar white metal below the plating.  Almost every piece of white gold jewelry is rhodium plated, whether it is stated or not.
Q:  What is Gold Plating?
A:  Layering gold over another base metal, the industry standard is .15 to .25 mils thickness plated over the base metal.
Q:  What is Gold Filled?
A:  Also layering gold over another base metal, but the layer or layers are combined and rolled together with a thickness that is usually stated.  For example, 1/20th  14k gold filled means that the piece is at least 1/20th of 14k gold of the total weight.
Q:  What is Vermeil?
A:  Sterling silver piece that is heavy electroplated with 22k yellow gold.  The depth is about .002 or .003 inches thick.

The Story of the Amethyst Ring

Starting out with a memorable 1st gem I ever owned, 10 x 8mm rectangle Smoky Quartz, I’ve taken what I’ve learned by experience and have become very accomplished at selecting gemstones, envisioning just the right settings, getting the stone straight, prongs at the right angles without dents (oh, those first attempts back at the start!), the settings are polished to gleam and the final buff is gorgeous!  Very tedious work and very rewarding.

I’m so passionate about gemstones, their properties, their origins and the history.  So much to learn, too, about finishing precious metals.  I will never get bored of my work and look forward to the moments that I can sit down and start a new project.  I’d love to keep each finished piece, but I’d also feel proud for someone else to choose my jewelry to wear and enjoy.  My items are not like the mass-produced rings out there for sale, no one put their creative energy into focus to make them individually, mine are handcrafted one by one, each piece given 100% focus so it will become a small precious treasure to own and keep for years.
Almost always, there is a little story behind each piece of jewelry that I create.  Something about the gemstone or the setting.  This is the story of the Amethyst Ring:

This night started out pretty much the same as usual, I waited until the baby was asleep to start working.  I had three ring settings that were polished and ready to set gemstones.  I’d been holding the gemstones for a few weeks, waiting for the inspiration on how I wanted to set them.  Once I decided to use antique style rings, I contacted my silversmith to cast the rings and model them after antique settings stumbled upon at estate sales.  Once I received the castings, it took some time to get them filed, sanded, polished and buffed.  Now the rings were ready and so was I, I couldn’t wait to get started!

One of the gemstones was a bright purple Amethyst pear, so pretty!  My oldest daughter has always loved Amethyst, so I thought of her the entire time I was setting the gemstone and finishing the ring.  Being that my daughter is older now and going to college 650 miles away, it didn’t seem likely that she would get to see the ring, and I planned to post the ring on my Etsy website for sale.  But this night, I re-lived some memories of when she was younger and how she would be drawn to the purple gemstone, especially the rougher version rocks or the crystal versions that look like spears.  Once, we had made a trip to the Detroit Science Center and the gift shop sold little bags of rocks, minerals and gemstones. Pretty stones to collect.  The Amethyst was her favorite.  I took some nice photos tonight of the finished ring and started to put my tools away and call it a night.

Just then, my phone rang.  It’s after midnight, so that surprised me.  A bigger surprise was that the call was from my daughter!  Not only was it ironic that she called right while she was on my mind, but she was only 3 hours away and asked if she and her friends could spend the night!  Wow!  I was so excited, no bother at all no matter how late, I got a second wind, and started setting up the pillows and blankets for her to arrive!
As she and her friends settled in, tired from the drive, I took a tiny moment to show her the Amethyst ring photos before we all went to sleep.  In the morning, I had the pleasure of making a huge breakfast for everyone, I made waffles and bacon, my home smelled so great and we all had such a nice visit.  I miss all those times from when the kids were younger and this was such fun!

I took the Amethyst ring from the packet and gave it to my daughter to try on and it fit her.  She was very happy and told me the ring was beautiful and I told her all how she was the one I had on my mind as I was crafting the ring.  How amazing that she would be right with me, in person, out of the blue, that I could present the ring to her as a special gift, just because I love her and know she really loves Amethyst.  It was such a special moment, when just a few hours before there wasn’t even a hint that I would have this opportunity!

As she and her friends headed out with hugs and home-made sandwiches for the road, I had a “mommy” moment to treasure as a wonderful memory with MY daughter.

That makes the Amethyst ring priceless.

My Daughter's Amethyst Ring

Metal Clay Heads Team Challenge “My Favorite Place”

Laissez les bon temps rouler! Let the good times roll! When is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras 2011 Dates : Jan 6th thru March 8th!

Silver Art Clay Mardi Gras Mask by York Avenue Studio

The Etsy team Metal Clay Heads has a Team Challenge every other month to create and submit an original piece of jewelry made from precious metal clay.  The January challenge was titled “My Favorite Place”.  This pendant was inspired by that challenge:

This is a fine silver pendant, handcrafted and designed by me to represent the Big Easy, the Crescent City, my Favorite Place, NEW ORLEANS!

This Mardi Gras Mask has a harlequin design, with a genuine Garnet gemstone and black and blue polymer inlay accents for color!  The 1 inch mask is .999 pure silver and has a matte white finish, like theater makeup, which is the natural oxidization from torch firing.  Hidden beneath the finish is the most shiny silver , the most gleaming metal of all precious metals.  I kept this “hidden” to keep with the theme of the Masquerade! While you are wearing this mask you can hold it up for a mini instant disguise!

My favorite place is New Orleans!  There isn’t anywhere in the world that I would rather be than visiting the French Quarter.  There are festivals almost daily for music, art, food, fun, history, etc.  Steering clear of Bourbon Street, I spend most of my visits there browsing unique shops that sell candles, art, perfume, jewelry and treats!  There are so many amazing people that work and live there and I will never get bored of the jazzy sounds, the spicy smells of Cajun food, the Pecan Prailines, the Coffee Shops, the lush green foliage, even the muggy heat!

If you go there, take the Jazz Steamboat Dinner Cruise or visit the Aquarium and the Zoo.  The St. Charles Streetcar is back now!  Visit the Garden District and the glorious Historic Homes!  Try a Muffalata sandwich with chopped olive salad on top and have a Bloody Mary for breakfast!  Got an hour, I’ll give you the short version of why I love New Orleans!

Silver Art Clay Mardi Gras Mask by York Avenue Studio