This is my first attempt with precious metal clay. I partnered up with a friend who has a clay studio and another who has a small kiln.
We experimented with adding stones, and that didn’t go too well, these are actually amethyst, peridot, and garnet. After firing, they turned dark. I still like them, they look like marcasites.
Melissa has a wonderful studio to work in, complete with a show. Her husband was making pottery while we worked.
This is one before firing. The clay powder is mixed with an emulsifier and water that make it clay- like. When put in a kiln, the moisture bakes off and you are left with solid silver.
Here is another crappy, not fired yet, one I did. Fingers crossed that the emerald chips stay green!
But oooh, look at these! Melissa’s look professional. Well, she is a professional ceramic artist, so might know a bit about clay and it shows.
And look! The citrines retained their yellow!
There was copper to try too. I look forward to seeing how that ring turns out.
I’ll show you when this batch gets fired.
Interesting. I’ve never worked with that either. I might try punching holes in the clay the size of the gemstones you want to use, then gluing them in after the firing….