All levels of ability
Personal memorabilia and the theme of moving on in an “ever-changing world,” will become the inspiration for the elements in your kinetic necklace. The technical portion of this project is inspired by constantly changing designs in wind kinetics and wind sculpture. We will explore:
- Multiple free moving parts and kinetic motion.
- Purposeful design while creating sub-patterns as the spinners pass
one another.- Flush and Metal Clay tube set gem.
- Ball set riveted connections.
- Stilt connections.
Bring a piece of personal memorabilia that has meaning to you. Anything can be used as inspiration such as a piece of cloth, a trinket, or picture. This item is meant to stimulate your creativity.
Materials Needed: Materials Needed
Art Clay Silver, 25g and PMC Sterling 925, 25g (we will mix to make our own 960, which is 50/50 of each clay), (4 or 5) 3 - 5 mm fire-in-place gems, Gem setting bur the size of the gems, Pencil, Ultra Fine Tip Sharpie®, 6” 14g Argentium Sterling wire, Foam sponge applicator, 400 grit sandpaper
3M polishing papers, Circle divider - provided by instructor, Plastic stencil paper for templates, Pin vise, Carving tools, Soft brass wire brush, Flexible shaft or rotary tool, #52 & #67 twist drill bits, Liver of Sulfur, Riveting Hammer, Masking Tape, Wood or Steel Hammering Plate, Polishing pad, 3M Radial Bristle Brushes, (Coarse to fine), Eve® Rubber polishing and knife-edge wheels for Silver (Coarse to fine), Basic Tool Kit, Heatproof bowl and Vermiculite, Tweezers, Handheld torch, Kiln
Ever-Changing World: Kinetic Jewelry Tutorial by Holly Gage
Lessons are in a PDF format are for students who need no teacher guidance with the lesson. You do, however, have an option to purchase a 1 hour question and answer session by appointment.
To purchase a private session in addition to the self guided lesson, select the "A Private Session with Holly Gage." separately. You can select how many sessions you would like. Sessions are live on the Go to Meeting platform. This option is for seeking answers to questions and have an interest in seeing Holly Gage perform select demonstrations.
©2021 Gage Designs. All rights reserved. This lesson and information within are protected under copyright law. Sharing or reproduction in whole or part are prohibited.Each tutorial suggests what Metal Clay to use, but you can use the clay you choose with these guidelines in mind since clay preference is an individual choice, however this project needs a sturdy Metal Clay.
I tend to use Metal Clay with a good melting surface, which means adding water to eliminate imperfections on the greenware surface makes an excellent "self slip" that you can move around with a brush or healing tool to smooth the surface. Many of the lessons use this technique.
Since PMC Sterling is discontinued, the handmade 960 (1/2 PMC Sterling and 1/2 Art Clay Silver) you see in some lessons can be replaced with another strong clay with good carving properties — 950, 960, Sterling Clays, and Base Metal Clays that carve smoothly without chipping.