Contents
Introduction 4
Chapter 1: Tools and materials 6
Chapter 2: Tips and techniques 16
To my parents, Yoneko
Projects
and Masataka, who
Chapter 3: Beginner metal clay projects 42
introduced me firsthand
Silver swirl pendant 44
to the cultures, music,
Funky heart pin 46
and arts of the world,
Wheel earrings 48
and to the memory of my
Carved pendant 50
friend Michiko Sugano,
Appliqué ornament with gem 52
who had a wonderful Hollow bead bracelet 54
Moon pendant 57
enthusiasm for life.
Silver bookmark 60
Chapter 4: Intermediate metal clay projects 62 Inspiration 118
Sweet home pendant 64 Resources and suppliers 125
© 2005 Nana V. Mizushima. All rights reserved. This book
Pillbox 66 Suggested reading 126
may not be reproduced in part or in whole without written
Renaissance glass vase 68 Glossary 127
permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief
Wire ring with ornament 70 Index 128
quotations used in reviews. Published by Kalmbach Trade Press,
a division of Kalmbach Publishing Co., 21027 Crossroads Circle,
Two-part ring 73
Waukesha, WI 53186. These books are distributed to the book
Open ring 75
trade by Watson-Guptill.
Ring band 78
Polymer beads 80
Printed in the United States of America
Beloved pet tag 83
05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Chapter 5: Working with metal-clay paper 86
and syringe
Publisher's Cataloging-In-Publication
Message jewelry 88
(Prepared by The Donohue Group, Inc.)
Personal salt and pepper shakers 90
Mizushima, Nana V.
Origami star pin 92
Metal clay magic : making silver jewelry the easy way / Nana
Origami crane 96
V. Mizushima.
Shimmering daisy pendant 100
p. : ill. ; cm.
Lacy box bead 102
ISBN: 0-87116-220-2
Little house 104
1. Jewelry making. 2. Precious metal clay. 3. Silver jewelry. 4.
Silverwork. I. Title.
Chapter 6: Using organic materials 106
with metal clay
TT212 .M59 2005
739.27
Leaf with dew drop 108
Butterfly wing with gold 110
Senior art director: Lisa Bergman
Clock with silver hands 113
Book design: Kelly Katlaps, LuAnn Haas Williams
Shell pendant 116
Editors: Julia Gerlach, Terri Torbeck
Photography: Process photos by Nana Mizushima; lead and cover
photos by Bill Zuback and Jim Forbes unless otherwise noted.
b c
a
A beautiful
gleaming swirl
ef
d
what you will need
Use roundnose pliers to Use a clay shaper or a
1bend a 2-in. (5cm) piece 5small plastic makeup - tools for working with metal clay, pages 11-13
of 18-gauge fine-silver wire brush to fill in any gaps - PMC3 or Art Clay 650
into a loop for the bail [a]. around the bail with metal- - PMC3 or Art Clay 650 slip
Smash, twist, or press lines clay slip [e]. Let the clay dry. - 2 in. (5cm) 18-gauge fine-silver wire
into the ends of the wire to - smooth plastic lid or piece of Plexiglas
rough them enough for the Support the brittle - roundnose pliers
metal clay to grip. 6metal clay with three - wire cutters
fingers of one hand while - burnishing tools, page 14
Open the metal clay you sand with the other. - silver chain for necklace (optional)
2packet, take out a piece Start with 400-grit sandpaper - Hot Pot kiln, butane torch, or electric kiln
the size of a macadamia nut, and progress to 600-grit
and immediately wrap the sandpaper or finer. Brush off Before you begin, review the following sections:
unused portion of the metal any particles with a soft - Metal-clay slip, page 21
clay in heavy plastic wrap. brush. Finally, use a damp - Working with fine-silver wire, page 28
Store in an airtight container makeup or paintbrush to - Drying metal clay, page 29
or seal back in the original smooth the entire surface [f]. - Carving and sanding metal clay, page 30
This simple design is
package. Roll the clay into The more time that you - Burnishing, page 37
elegant and easy. Take time
a ball, then place a lightly spend finishing and polishing
when you sand the surface before
oiled plastic lid over the the piece at this stage, the
metal clay [b]. more brilliant the shine will
you fire the clay in order to achieve
be. Let the clay dry.
a smooth finish and wonderful shine.
Roll out a tapered
For this project, I used the metal clay 3snake. It should be Fire the piece using
thinner on one end [c]. Keep 7a Hot Pot kiln, butane
Hot Pot kiln (see page 31). As you go
it moist by covering it with torch, or electric kiln (see
through the steps for this project, feel
plastic wrap. pages 31-33).
the metal clay and experiment with its
Immediately shape the Use a soft brass brush
shape. Often the most interesting
4clay snake into a swirl. 8to burnish the piece.
pieces come unexpectedly. You can
Press the bail into the moist For more shine, burnish it
metal clay so that the wire and then polish it with a
always start over if you don t like
ends are completely covered polishing cloth. You can
the shape or the texture of
[d]. Do not worry at this time also put it in a tumbler
your final piece.
if the area around the bail is with stainless-steel shot
rough. Let the metal clay dry. and a burnishing compound
for at least 30 minutes.
44 45
Beginner metal clay projects
Silver swirl pendant
Metal Clay Magic
A beautiful
first ring
a
c d e
b
Make a mold of the Use flatnose pliers to
1ornament you want to 4slightly flatten all four
use. In this case, I used an ring band wires [d]. Make
inexpensive plastic button and sure the wrapping wire is
a molding compound. Let the flattened against the rest of
mold set while you begin the the band. Try the wire ring on.
ring band. It should be a little loose at
this point so you will have
Use a strip of paper and room for the ornament piece.
2tape to make a ring
which fits comfortably on the To make the ornament,
finger and is easy to get on 5press a lump of metal
f
Make this easy ring and off. Tape the paper ring clay firmly into the mold to
closed. Place the paper ring ensure there are no air
by attaching a molded
what you will need
on a ring mandrel and mark pockets [e]. Immediately pop
metal ornament to a wire
the wider spot on the mandrel the piece out of the mold by - tools for working with metal clay, pages 11-13
with a pencil [a]. gently bending the mold. - PMC3 or Art Clay 650
band. Because the band is
Avoid handling the piece - PMC3 or Art Clay 650 slip
wire instead of metal clay,
Wrap the silver wire and distorting the moist - 15 in. (38m) 18-gauge fine-silver wire
you won t need to worry
3around the mark on ornament. Place it faceup - roundnose and flatnose pliers
the mandrel three times [b]. on a playing card to dry [f]. - wire cutters
about shrinkage just make
Use small, roundnose pliers If you are using a flat piece - button or other item to mold for ring ornament
the band to fit your finger. If
to wrap the tail of the wire for the ornament, place it - two-part silicon mold compound
you don t want to mold the
around the three bands to on the mandrel or your paper - ring mandrel
hold them together. Cut the ring and press it gently so - Hot Pot kiln, butane torch, or electric kiln
ornament piece, simply
wire so that the ends meet it curves. - burnishing tools, page 14
roll out a thick flat piece
and they both can be covered continued on the next page - liver of sulfur (optional)
of metal clay and by the ornament [c]. Slightly
bend or smash the ends of the Before you begin, review the following sections:
texture it.
wire with pliers so that they - Making a mold, page 28
will grip the metal clay - Working with fine-silver wire, page 28
ornament and not slip out. - Burnishing, page 37
- Adding patina, page 37
70 71
Intermediate metal clay projects
Silver wire ring with ornament
Metal Clay Magic