'Petals' Experiment in Silver ClayTechniques
'Petals" finished pendant Experimenting with different metal clays involves risk, creativity and knowledge. The risk is about the price of silver and not wanting to waste it. The creativity is about an idea and the knowledge comes from experience. In this project, I wanted to used fine silver bezel wire to hold a unique cabochon and I wanted to use FYI clay. I knew from experience how to cut tabs in the bezel wire so that some tabs go into the clay and some are perpendicular and lay flat on the clay. When the clay fires the wire and silver clay setting become one. What I did not know was what the higher shrinkage rate of the FYI clay backing would do with the bezel wire. Would it all come apart (I've had that happen) or would it shrink with so much curvature that the stone would not fit? Typically I use the Art Clay brand of silver clay that does not have so much shrinkage. This time I wanted to use the FYI clay because it is much less expensive and