All levels of ability
A fun and spontaneous applique technique covering all the fundamentals of using Silver Metal Clay to make jewelry. You will learn to make a sheet of patterned Metal Clay of your own design. From there, you will add and assemble other elements to create a series of pieces that can be used for a pendant, matching earrings, bracelet components, or other set. The class featured highlighting include:
• Basic Tools
• Rolling & Cutting Metal Clay with ease
• Creating Your Own Texture with the Applique Technique
• Wet and Dry Construction
• Adding a Bail
• Understanding Shrinkage
• Understanding Sintering
• Firing your Piece with a Torch or in a Kiln
• Making Wire-like Forms in Metal Clay
• Fire in Place Bezel Gem Setting
• Best Practices for Construction• Making Holes in Metal Clay for Jump Rings and Dangles
• Finishing Techniques• Liver of sulfur patinas
I'll work my hardest to make sure you leave more informed than when you came, providing tips, tricks, and handouts all in a relaxing environment.
Materials List: Fine Silver Metal Clay such as PMC3 or low fire Art Clay 25g, 2- 5 mm fire in place gems ( must withstand 1650 ˚F or torch firing). 400 grit sandpaper, 3M polish paper, polishing cloth. tumbler or Eve® Rubber polishing wheels and knife edge for Silver, blue (medium), pink (fine) for rotary tool, 3M Radial Bristle Brushes 400 grit to fine, liver of sulfur, basic tool kit, also your favorite metal clays tools, Torch or Kiln. 25 g size restriction with torch use.
Peruvian Applique Style 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.
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.