Precious Metal Clay Designs

 After the Studio Saturday post for the Art Bead Scene Blog on July 31st, I was delighted to have several friends email me, surprised with the new choice of media.  I realized that I had no online record of my past pmc collection and that it seemed like a new thing I was experimenting with. In actuality, I have created with precious metal clay since 2006 when I first encountered Sherri Haab's wonderful book; 

The Art of Metal Clay .

 This book is easy to read and gives simple instructions along with inspiring projects that get you started creating your own metal clay items to make jewelry with. I love this book and in spite of several publications having been released since then, it still instructs and inspires me (and it's only $10.00 on Amazon right now!). My goal is to create beads from metal clay but I am still a ways away from that level of skill!

Peridot CZ in Fine Silver Star Fish with Teal Freshwater Pearls.

So here are a few of my favorite pieces made from precious metal clay. I seemed to pair them with freshwater pearls a lot as the satin sheen of the oxidized and brushed metal clay complimented the soft glow of the pearls

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Dark Teal Freshwater Pearls with Tide Pool Fine Silver Charms

 Champagne CZ set in Filigree Imprinted Fine Silver Shield

Cameo Cabochon on Hand Built Fine Silver Band

Detailed Wing Molded from Brass Charm and Paired with Faceted Moonstone and Freshwater Pearl

Imprint of a Single Cattail on Fine Silver and hung from Hand Dyed Silk

Rustic Sapphire set in Fine Silver on Hand Built Band

Peridot CZs set in Molded Nautilus Shells from Czech Glass Beads

Queen Ann's Lace Imprinted in a circle of Fine Silver, Strung with Freshwater Pearls

 

A pressed Flower Coated in Fine Silver Paste then Soldered onto a Band of Sterling Silver

 

And finally my piece de resistance......

 

 This pendant is a whopping 2" in length and is created from a mold I made of Michelle Ward's Flourish stamp. Embedded with a hidden bail and simply strung with brilliant emerald green freshwater pearls, it is my favorite piece to date!

 

 

 

If you have a soldering board and a butane torch you are halfway to creating your own metal clay master pieces! It really is that easy. Sure, as you create you are driven to accomplish more challenging pieces, but I believe that starting is half the battle. I enjoy the added step of tumbling my metal clay pieces now so I can feel more secure of their durability for my customers but I will always look back at these first pieces and remember the amazement of creating in pure, hard, fine silver.