Jewellery | metalclaynorth

Amazing class with Anna Mazon

May 13, 2013 2 Comments

I have just had the most wonderful weekend hosting a class run by the very talented and inspiring teacher Anna Mazon. It was my first experience of inviting a guest tutor from overseas and her first experience of teaching in the UK. I was a bit nervous and really wanted it to be a great experience for everyone.

On the Saturday, after brief introductions Anna explained some of her processes. The aim of the workshop was to learn to make a pendant with a raised box setting for a cabochon stone and tiny delicate vines, leaves and floral decorations. She brought with her some wonderful samples of her work to inspire the group. In the first photo the group are on the early stages of their designs.

Here Anna is demonstrating steps in the construction process using a large scale cardboard model she had made, which was very easy to follow.

In the background to this picture are Lesley Messam and Tilly Wilkinson both of whom are talented teachers and regularly run workshops themselves. (They will each be running classes here in my studio later in the year – for more information see my website )

This is the beginning of Chu-mei’s pendant followed by a photo of the early stages of Anna Cambell’s

At the end of the first day they had all completed the basic structure and open work, ready for the addition of tiny details on the Sunday.

This one is Joy Funnell’s . (Joy will also be running a workshop here making her colourful carnival masks in June. There are a couple of places still available see my website for more information or to find the link for booking enquiries).

After a day of concentration we all went into Whitby to the Magpie Cafe so the visitors could sample some of the local fare.

The second day began with Anna demonstrating techniques for creating tiny little leaves, flowers and berries. Then everyone had to work on their little decorations before a late lunch break while the pieces were fired in the kiln.

Anna sell tutorials for projects that that cover some of these processes in her etsy shop

Here are all the pieces ready to go into the kiln.
After lunch Anna demonstrated bezel making techniques and here she is helping Jackie Sisson to solder her bezel into place.

(Sorry this one is slightly out of focus!)
Once the bezels were all soldered on Anna showed us how to refine the bezel and set the stone

clockwise these are by Joy, Jackie, Pam, Pauline and one by Anna that she made to demonstrate each step.

Then finished, these are by Tilly (above),

Joy (above, can you see her little bird hiding there?) and Anna Campbell (below)

Hopefully Lesley will post a photo on her own blog when she finishes her piece (it was fired but she wanted to polish it more before she set her stones).

They were all beautiful! I am thrilled with the outcome and hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did. I learned such a lot, great techniques and tips (I only made a tiny bit of mine as I was really concentrating on hosting and looking after the smooth running of the workshop), but I am planning to work on it later this week. I have to say a huge thanks to Anna for coming over to teach here; thanks to everyone who came and made it so enjoyable and thanks to my partner Jonathan (for constant encouragement, collecting and transporting people around & cooking); to Tilly’s husband David Cowling (also ferrying people around, cooking and preparing lunches and to Lesley’s husband Keith Messam (more ferrying, shopping trips for more food, helping prepare lunches, encouraging us all and making endless cups of tea – couldn’t have managed any of this without you all!

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Guest tutors, Inspiration, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Master classes, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North York Moors, setting stones, Silver clay classes, Tools and tips, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with Anna Mazon, guest tutor, herbaria pendant, Jewellery making, metal clay class, North York Moors, workshops

A little more experimentation and a new Mokume Gane masterclass

March 7, 2013 1 Comment

I have been doing a little more experimentation after a short break staying with my good friend Lesley Messam and with the encouragement and inspiration of Katie Baum.

With Katie we made either perfume pendants or pens and I chose to make the perfume pendant. It is made in art clay silver. Since I returned home I have made an attempt at making a pen using the combination to silver and copper to make new mokume gane. I think I need to do more work on this idea to perfect it but am having fun experimenting.

I am planning to teach the Art Clay New Mokume Gane class later in the year so please email if you would like to learn this technique.

Filed under Art clay certification courses, art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Master classes, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North York Moors, North Yorkshire, Silver clay classes, Tools and tips, Uncategorized, workshops, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with art clay silver, Metal clay, mixed metals, mokume gane, Pen, perfume pendant, Silver clay

A certain lack of concentration

February 15, 2013 Leave a comment

One thing I know about enamel is that you really need to pay attention to what you are doing at every step of the process.

Here is the bead I have been working on in stages over the past couple of weeks. It is constructed in art clay silver, then fine silver wires were added as outlines for flower petals. The next step was to enamel what was going to be the back in a variety of shades of green followed by the front in pinks and reds. It was going so well, too well perhaps – until having stoned it smooth I put it back into the kiln to flash fire the gloss back and then answered the phone. The result is the whole thing got much too hot and the reds and pinks turned a variety of shades of brown and toffee. I made an even worse mess by then adding fine lines of painting enamel to the petals and firing it again….. The lesson is to let nothing, and I mean nothing, distract you from the kiln when you are enamelling!
I really should stone it back to tidy up the lines again but it doesn’t seem worth the extra work now.

You can see quite clearly though that the greens survived beautifully……

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Enamel jewellery, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling classes, Hollow beads in metal clay, Jewellery, Learn to enamel, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, Paper textures, Silver and enamel jewellery, Silver beads, Silver clay classes, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with beads, cloisonné, enamel silver beads, Enamel. Art clay silver

The Button Project

January 19, 2013 2 Comments

Inspiration can come from all kinds of places. A few days ago I received an email from Macclesfield telling me about the Barnaby Festival Art Trail. It included a call for entries into The Button Project. Artists and makers are invited to put their creative imaginations to work and make a button for a vibrant exhibition, taking place in Macclesfield from 14 June – 8 August 2013. The deadline for submissions is 4 March 2013 and you can download an application form here.

Any buttons entered will be part of a display of highly collectible contemporary buttons presented alongside Macclesfield Museum’s internationally important silk costume collection – that also happens to include a classic display of Macclesfield Silk Buttons. Macclesfield was the heart of UK’s historic silk industry, and handmade silk buttons was where it all began. From a cottage-based enterprise, it grew into a flourishing silk industry and helped to make the town what it is today. The buttons exhibited will be tiny works of art and the festival organisers suggest taking the opportunity to explore the theme for the Barnaby Festival this year, ‘metamorphosis’. This does seem like a fantastic chance to showcase miniature artwork in the UK’s premier silk attraction and celebrate our skills and heritage.

I have decided to attempt to make my button on the suggested theme, partly as it fits in with my love of moths, I have many of them doodled among the pages of sketchbooks over the years.

In order to be a wearable and durable button I have decided to make it slightly thicker than I would usually work and have begun by making a large number of tiny sketches to work out the layout of my design within this small circle. I did contemplate making an irregular shape – but decided to work within the formality of the circle. Here is my little paper circle into which I have impressed the background lines of my design so that they are raised up when I roll out the silver clay. The two impressions are made using Art Clay Silver; one will become the button and I am thinking of making the other into a pendant (the slightly thinner domed version). Obviously I still have a lot of work to do on these but am happy with the progress so far.

If you are a maker then why not join in this interesting project? If you would like to learn to enamel or to make your own jewellery then I have lots of classes organised for 2013, see details on my website or email me for further information and to book your place.

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Enamel jewellery, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling classes, Inspiration, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Learn to enamel, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, Paper textures, Silver and enamel jewellery, Silver clay classes, workshops, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with art clay silver, Buttons, enamel, learn to make your own jewellery, Metal clay, workshops, Yorkshire

Introduction to art clay silver

October 29, 2012 Leave a comment

On Saturday I had a very relaxed one to one workshop with Lindsay.

During the day she made two pairs of earrings and two pretty charms. The earrings were made using the technique of rolling out the clay using texture sheets, with different textures back and front. She wanted to make one pair of earrings really black so we ended up oxidising them twice to get the depth of tone she wanted! The little charms were made using little moulds created from buttons and shells using two part mould making compound. They were drilled before firing and jumps rings added after firing and finishing. I don’t have any more introductory level classes scheduled until next Spring – but will be happy to arrange one-to-one over the coming month if you want to do this to make a few few special Christmas presents – if so just email me.

Filed under Art clay certification courses, art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Silver and enamel jewellery, Silver clay classes, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with introduction to metal clay, make your own silver jewellery, silver clay classes in Yorkshire

Finishing the second pendant

October 20, 2012 Leave a comment

It is a beautiful autumn day here so I haven’t spent much time in the studio as I am taking advantage of the sunshine and enjoying the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors. I have been and finished the pretty enamelled pendant that I started yesterday. It is quite small, only 25mm by 17.5mm so my photograph makes it seem much larger than it really is! I love the transparency of the enamel and using art clay silver I have been able to combine a delicate textured background from a photopolymer plate I made last week together with fine silver cloisonné wires. In this piece I have used wires of different thicknesses to try out the effect – though its not particularly evident unless you look very closely.

I am happy to teach enamelling on art clay silver and still have a place available on next Saturday’s introduction to art clay silver, if you think you would like to make a few special little silver charms as Christmas gifts then please contact me

I am also in the process of putting together a really exciting schedule of classes for 2013 so watch this space!

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Enamel jewellery, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling, Enamelling classes, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Learn to enamel, Master classes, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, photopolymer plates, PMC, Silver and enamel jewellery, Silver clay classes, Tools and tips, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with Enamel on silver, enamel on silver clay, learn enamelling, silver jewellery, text and enamel

A work in progress

October 19, 2012 Leave a comment

Here is a little update on one of the pieces I have been working on. This began with silver clay rolled out over a photopolymer texture sheet (see earlier post) and then had an edge constructed before being fired in my electric kiln for 2 hours at 800 degrees centigrade. This gives the maximum sintering so ensures that the piece is as dense as possible, perfect for enamelling onto.
Once fired I give the piece a wire brushing and a preliminary polish. I then attach shaped fine silver wires to the surface and fire the piece again to fix the wires in place.

The photo shows two pieces that have had the wires fixed into place. I then prepare a number of enamel colours by grinding and washing them and apply a thin layer to the surface using water to control the placement of the grains of enamel. I dry the piece before firing it again at around 800 degrees centigrade until the enamel has melted and fused to the silver surface. I apply more layers of enamel thinly, firing each layer in turn, until the enamel is level with the tops of the wires.

This photo shows the third layer of wet enamel, prior to drying and firing. Once I have fired the final layer the piece has its surface ground back so that it is level and smooth before being fired again quickly to get the gloss back on the enamel surface. I can then fully polish the piece to finish it. I used to use the tiny heart and spiral motifs in my work all the time and have enjoyed bringing this fun element back into the current pieces.

I did get to the final firing of this one of the pendants but it was a bit late in the day and the light wasn’t really good enough to take a photograph. I hope you enjoy this insight into some of the working process. I am happy to teach enamelling classes either for small groups or on a one to one basis so please contact me if you would like to arrange something or buy a piece of my work.

Filed under art clay silver, Enamel jewellery, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling, Enamelling classes, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Learn to enamel, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, photopolymer plates, PMC, Silver and enamel jewellery, Silver clay classes, Tools and tips Tagged with art clay silver, cloisonné enamelling, enamel, enamel on silver clay, enamel silver jewellery, Jewellery making, Learn to enamel, Metal clay, Silver clay

Photopolymer plates for metal clay

October 14, 2012 Leave a comment

One of my favourite methods of creating my own unique textures is to make photopolymer plates. The plates are available in a variety of thicknesses and with either plastic or thin metal backing. I choose my image and print it out twice onto overhead projector transparency sheets. I then carefully sandwich the two layers together, this makes the black image a greater density. The image is then placed onto a piece of the photopolymer sheet and sandwiched between a small backing board and piece of glass – for this part I use the pieces of a small clip frame and four spring clips. It is put into an ultraviolet light box (a small nail salon box) and exposed. You will need to do a number of exposure tests as light sources all vary.

Once the plate has been exposed it is carefully and gently brushed under hot water. This removes the unexposed photopolymer from the sheet. I then dry the sheet with a hair dryer and re-expose it in the light box to harden the previously unexposed areas. It is then ready to use – oiling it first like any other texture sheet to stop the clay sticking to it.

Here are my pieces of textured art clay silver and you can see that I have used text, reversing the transparency before exposing the photopolymer of course. It is also a really easy way of producing reflected pieces as you can make one texture sheet then turn the transparency over and make another – ideal for producing earring designs !

I will be continuing to work on these small pieces creating a collection of pendants over the next week. If you would like to take a class and learn how to make your own unique silver jewellery then please contact me. There are places still available on the introduction to silver clay course on Saturday 27th October 2012; on the art clay silver and glass bead combination two day workshop on the 7th and 8th November 2012 and there are one or two dates still available for one-to-one classes this year. Why not make some very special Christmas presents?

For more information see my website

Filed under Art clay certification courses, art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Enamel silver jewellery, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Master classes, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, photopolymer plates, PMC, Silver clay classes, Sterling silver, Sterling silver clay, Tools and tips, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with art clay silver, make your own jewellery, photopolymer plates, PMC, silver clay jewellery, textures in metal clay

Work in progress

October 9, 2012 Leave a comment

I have had an interesting day in the studio working on a couple of projects I began some time ago but hadn’t had time to finish until now. They are two sets of rings. One of them is part of a collection of pieces with moths and butterflies and the other is part of my secret places range – a series of tiny buildings.

These will very definitely be statement rings and I enjoy working on things that have this kind of intricacy and complexity.

Here they are at an early stage, drying on my small hotplate with lots of work still to do.

This view is one of the architecturally inspired rings at a slightly later stage, still with a bit of pre-finishing needed.

This final view shows the rings during the firing process in one of my electric muffle kilns. They will be in here for some time so I can’t add a photo of the finished rings today.

If you would like to learn to make your own metal clay jewellery I still have places available on the Introduction to Art Clay Silver class on Saturday 27th October 2012.

I have also been planning all kinds of exciting workshops for 2013, including a series of classes with guest tutors including Anna Mazoń, Joy Funnell, Lesley Messamand Tilly Wilkinson will be running some of her popular enamelling classes here too.

Saturday 27th October 2012 Introduction to Art Clay Silver £145

Thursday 8th and Friday 9th November 2012 – two day workshop. Glass and art clay silver combination beads with Lynne Glazzard £360. On the first day you will learn to apply a variety of art clay silver products to the surface of glass beads before firing and annealing them in the kiln. On day two you will make some art clay silver beads to complement the glass beads before finishing them all to a high standard. Some glass beads are included in the course fee but not the art clay silver. A detailed materials list will be supplied in advance but you will need approximately 20g Art Clay 650; 10g Syringe type, Art Clay Silver Overlay paste. There are still places on this exciting class and the following photos are examples of the types of beads you can make combining art clay silver with glass beads to make your own very unique charm beads for your bracelet.

11th and 12th May 2013 – Herbarium openwork pendant workshop with Anna Mazoń
£325 per person including materials.
In this class you will learn to make an openwork, romantic pendant, adorned with a bezel set stone and precise, tiny ornaments. You will use silver clay to create lacy, yet strong and secure constructions, which you’ll decorate with extremely detailed tiny leaves, flowers, forest fruits or other ornaments of your choice. You will also learn to make a box like, elevated base for a stone and set it in a bezel setting. All these skills can be easily adapted to your own style, merged with your favourite techniques and used with different metal clays.  Openwork designs are wonderful response to increasing silver prices, allowing you to save on material, but not on the quality of your works. Some previous silver clay experience is necessary.

29th and 30th June 2013 – Colourful Carnival Masks with Joy Funnell
£385 per person including materials
On this 2 day workshop you will learn how to create your own unique silver mask using Art Clay Silver. Then we will cover how to add wires to the mask for decoration before enamelling them to create your very own colourful carnival mask pendant. You will learn tips and tricks including creating the best surface on the silver for the enamel, making a three dimensional mask shape, making bails and decorating the reverse of your piece including setting small stones.
Once the masks are fired and polished you will learn Joy’s unique Enamelled Accents technique for adding wires to make free standing cells for enamel. After covering how to prepare the enamels to get the brightest clearest colours you will learn how to wet lay them onto your piece and how different colour enamels can be used and blended together.
Finally we will use patination to accentuate the bright enamel colours and the textures.
During this workshop you will have a rainbow of enamel colours to use that you will be able to take home with you afterwards.
Some previous experience with silver clay is necessary.

Terms and conditions
For my regular classes in metal clay or enamelling as require 50% of the course fee to confirm the booking.

For guest tutors and master classes – £100 deposit required to confirm a place, £100 payable two months before the commencement of the class and the balance payable by cheque or cash 14 working days prior to the first day of the class.
14 days notice of cancellation is required so that I can resell the workshop place.
In the event of cancellation more than 14 days before the class the deposit can be carried over to another mutually convenient class. Cancellation by the student less than 7 days prior to a workshop will result in forfeit of your deposit and course fee.
Each class has a maximum number of places available and a minimum number before it can run. If I have to cancel a workshop I will give as much notice as possible and a place will be offered for an alternative workshop at a future date. Refunds will be given in the event of tutor illness or insufficient numbers booked for a workshop.
I reserve the rights to vary these terms and conditions at any time.
My studio is based in the beautiful village of Glaisdale on the North Yorkshire Moors, approximately 12 miles inland from Whitby. I can recommend B&B accommodation locally – email me for details.

Filed under Art clay certification courses, art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Hollow beads in metal clay, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Making rings in silver, Master classes, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, setting stones, Silver clay classes, silver clay rings, Tools and tips, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with art clay silver, learn to make jewellery, metal clay classes in Yorkshire, metal clay rings, silver jewellery, Silver rings

Pretty things in silver

September 22, 2012 Leave a comment

I have had a lovely day teaching an introduction to art clay silver to two students. Katy and Vicky spent a full day learning how to make their own unique pieces of precious silver jewellery using metal clay. We began with coffee followed by a short explanation and they selected a few pieces of leaf from just outside the studio door. I gave a quick demonstration of a technique for rolling out the clay, impressing the leaf texture and cutting a simple shape using a fine clay scraper. They then rolled out, textured and shaped their first piece each, setting it to dry.

We then had a short discussion about designing unique patterns and they each doodled on paper exploring their ideas before creating their own little texture sheet using styrofoam and a ball tool, stacking slats either side of the texture sheet and rolling and cutting out their clay.

After this I talked about making textures on the back of pieces and they used Rolling Mill Resource textures, sandwiching their rolled out clay and roller guides between two texture sheets and rolling the piece out. Once the clay was removed from between the two texture sheets they cut out their shape, forming the pieces over plastic measuring spoons and drying them, to give them a more three dimensional shape. I then showed them one technique for setting small fireable stones and with the tiny bit of clay left at the end they made a small coiled bead each – my favourite way of using up that tiny end of packet bit of silver clay!

Most of the work was fired in my electric kiln but they each had a chance to fire a small piece using a little gas torch so that they know how to fire small work at home. After firing they brushed, polished edges and burnished highlights, adding liver of sulphur patina to a small piece each. It was a very productive and enjoyable day and I know they were both pleased with the results.

Here are all their lovely pieces of jewellery – a very good day’s work!

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Charm beads, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, PMC, setting stones, Silver beads, Silver clay classes, Tools and tips, workshops, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with Introduction to art clay silver, learn metal clay techniques, make your own jewellery in silver clay, silver jewellery

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