Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

                When I took the original picture of the white seed pod, I had no idea it would be the beginning of a series.  First there was the challenge of making a translucent polymer seed pod, then came the seed pod jewelry.  Now the seed pod made of sterling silver metal clay.   I think this is the last of the series.  It was fun to take the idea from photo to translucent to solid forms.   I've  learned a lot about forming and joining shapes in different mediums and about patience and experimenting!  So here is the  procession  of the 2013 Seed Pod!

I've been stuck in seed pods this fall! This is my sterling silver piece.  I thought it might be difficult to mold the silver clay into the correct shape and of course I tried several forms to accomplish the support. Among some of the solutions were egg cartons (they were not quite the right shape), paper (it did not hold its shape) and microsphere clay (it was too crumbly or I did not have the expertise to use it). Finally I rolled the clay to 4 cards thickness and used my paper pattern to cut 4 sections of the pod.  This is the same pattern I used to make the translucent polymer pod.  Then I used big bead of air dry clay as supports for the sections.   I also used a special form I made to be sure the 4 sections would fit together correctly and dried them separately.  Once dry, I knew I could sand and glue them together with water and clay and they would keep their shape.  The same texture plate was used as in the previous polym...

Kim's Beautiful Beaded Necklace and My End Caps What a way to start the New Year!   First time working with Sterling Silver Clay, using my rock tumbler and hand forming bead end caps!   A very good friend, Kim Neff ( www.beadjeweledraven.com ) needed large size end caps for her beautifully beaded spiral necklace.   When she could not find any, she asked if I would make them.   Oh, why not???   I’d never done anything quite like them but I was certainly willing.   Polymer Prototype First I decided to use the Sterling Silver clay I had sitting in my drawer for way too long.   It needed to be used and I needed to learn to work with it.   Then I decided to make a prototype with polymer clay.    Seemed like a mold would be good to create since I needed two matching caps and of course, my 2 part mold mix was way past its shelf life.   I ordered more. Being impatient, the thought of creating the end caps using the p...