Learning As We Go!

Sea Snail 'Trap Doors' from Bahia Kino

 My last two posts share my trip to Bahia Kino Sonora Mexico, my collection of sea shells, and how I'll use them in my jewelry. 

The polymer clay molds from the shells (see the previous post)

Silver Metal Clay Shells just out of the molds.  You can see the 'imbeddable silver connectors in two on the left.

After experimenting with polymer, it is time for silver metal clay.  For those of you not familiar with this material, silver metal is cut into micro filaments and a binder is added making a pliable clay.  It is then fired at 1650 degrees in a kiln.  The binder burns out and the micro filaments of silver fuse together to make 99% fine silver.  When I saw these shells, I knew silver beads would be my goal!  

'Imbeddables' are fine silver jewelry components that can be fired at the same time as the silver clay to become part of the piece of jewelry.  I sandwiched them between the front and back of the bead, let them dry, filled and sanded the edges of each bead.

Since the beads or hollow and domed, they are fired in the kiln on a bed of fiber blanket that supports the shapes.   

Fired beads just out of the kiln.

Next comes tumbling and adding a patina to show some detail of the shells.  You may notice how much smaller these beads are than the polymer beads from the last post.   There is a shrinkage to all metal clay and that has to be taken into account when making any metal clay piece.  These are a lovely size of bead for earrings and necklaces.