The organic bell shape of the calla lily makes a graceful jewelry component. The pendant is 1½ x ¾ in. (38 x 19mm), and the earrings are 2 x ½ in. (51 x 13mm), including the ear wires. FCT-CR-071116_04 2007 Kalmbach Publishing Co. This material may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher. facetjewelry.com
beginner/intermediate metal clay Use syringe metal clay to accentuate the lines of a floral pendant-and-earring set. by Irina Miech, adapted from her book, More Metal Clay for Beaders he malleable nature of metal clay lends itself to being sculpted and shaped into botanical forms such as the calla lily. However, if you re new to working with metal clay, which is a material that dries quickly, practice making these jewelry components first with polymer clay. This project also offers the opportunity to explore using a syringe applicator to apply metal clay paste with fluid precision.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Make the stamen. Working on a flexible, oiled Teflon sheet, roll metal clay into a snake approximately ½ in. (13mm) long and 1 8 in. (3mm) in diameter. Taper one end to make a stamen shape. Use an oiled texture sheet [1] or a small ball stylus [2] to texturize the stamen. Set it aside until it s completely dry. Make the petal. Roll 2 3g of clay into a ball and then flatten it with your fingers. Using an oiled acrylic roller, roll the clay to 3 playing cards thick, changing direction between passes to keep the clay circular. Using a paintbrush, apply a line of clay paste to the center of the clay circle, and place the stamen on the paste [3]. Shape the lily. Fold one side of the clay circle over the top of the stamen. Add metal clay paste if necessary, using the paintbrush to press the clay in place [4]. Repeat with the other side [5]. Pinch the top of the lily to close the gap above the stamen. Gently pinch the bottom of the lily to give it a floral shape [6]. Using your paintbrush, flare the opening of the lily a little bit [7]. Make a bail. Using a flat piece of clear, hard plastic, roll clay into a 2 3 8 -in. (60mm) snake. Oil a toothpick, and, keeping the ends of the snake even, wrap the snake twice around the toothpick. Twist the ends of the snake two or three times [8]. Attach the bail to the lily. Using either paste or syringe clay, attach one snake end to the front of the lily and the other snake end to the back [9]. Add detail. Apply a line of syringe clay along the edges of 9 10
the petals. Set the pendant aside until completely dry [10]. Fire and finish. Fire the pendant When the piece is cool, polish it with a brass brush or in a tumbler with steel shot (How-Tos). If desired, add a liver of sulfur patina 1 Make two flowers. Following Part 1, make two calla lilies in the mirror image of each other, omitting the bails [1]. Set them aside until they re mostly dry. Make loops. Using a sheet of clear, hard plastic, roll clay into two ¾-in. (19mm) snakes. Bring the ends of each snake together to make a loop [2]. Dab paste onto the upper back tip of each lily [3]. Set the lilies on the loops, pressing them slightly to form a solid bond [4]. Set the lilies aside until they re completely dry. Refine the loops and add detail. Use a round needle file to refine the loops [5]. Add a line of syringe clay along the edges of the flower petals [6, 7]. Set the lilies aside until they re completely dry. Fire and finish. Fire the earrings according to the manufacturer s When the pieces are cool, polish them with a brass brush or in a tumbler with steel shot. If desired, add a liver of sulfur patina To add a pearl, cut a 2-in. (51mm) piece of wire. Make the first half of a wrapped loop on one end (see Basics, page 82). Slide the lily s loop onto the wire loop and complete the wraps. Slide a pearl on the wire, and make a wrapped loop. Repeat for the other earring. Attach ear wires to the earrings. 2 3 4 5 6 7
materials Metal clay: 7 16g Metal clay paste Metal clay syringe 2 pearls 2 ear wires Sterling silver wire: 19-gauge (0.91mm), round, half-hard, 4 8 in. (10.2 20.3cm) tools & supplies Flexible Teflon sheet Olive oil Texture sheet; or stylus: small ball Acrylic roller Playing cards Paintbrush: fine-tip Clear, hard plastic sheet: 3 x 3 in. (76 x 76mm) Toothpicks Kiln, kiln shelf Finishing items (choose from): Brass brush Tumbler, steel shot, burnishing compound Liver of sulfur Needle files Pliers: chainnose, roundnose Craft knife (optional) Wire cutters Soldering station: handheld butane torch, fire-resistant surface (soldering pad, firebrick, or charcoal block), pickle pot with pickle, flux, steel cross-locking tweezers, copper tongs (optional) Dowel: wooden, 1 4 in. (6.5mm) diameter (optional) Steel block (optional) Chasing hammer (optional) Sandpaper: 600 grit (optional) States of dryness for metal clay Wet Semi-dry Mostly dry Completely dry Clay contains a lot of moisture and is very pliable Clay contains some moisture, but is firm and holds its shape Clay is nearly devoid of all moisture and is rigid Clay contains absolutely no moisture and can be fired To enhance this jewelry suite, connect a circle of calla lilies into a bracelet. Make five calla lilies. Following Part 1, make five calla lilies, omitting the bails. Set them aside until they re completely dry. Make loops. Following Part 2, make and attach a loop to each lily. Set the lilies aside until they re completely dry. Make a hole in each lily. Place the tip of a craft knife 1 8 in. (3mm) from the bottom edge of the back of a lily. Holding the blade at a right angle and without applying pressure, gently rotate the knife [a]. Turn the lily over and repeat on the front side to make an evenly sized hole. Repeat to make a hole in each of the remaining lilies. Refine the loops and add detail. Refine and embellish the lilies as in Part 2 [b]. Set the lilies aside until they re completely dry. Fire and finish. Fire the lilies Finish them as desired. Connect the lilies. Cut a 3-in. (76mm) piece of 22-gauge (0.6mm) sterling silver wire. On one end, make the first half of a wrapped loop (How-Tos). Slide the loop of a lily on the wire loop, and finish the wraps. Slide a bead on the wire. Make the first half of a wrapped loop, and attach the petal of another lily. Finish the wraps. Repeat until the linked lilies are the desired length of your bracelet. Attach a clasp. On each end of the bracelet, attach a jump ring to either the remaining hole or loop of the lilies. Attach half of a clasp to each jump ring. materials Metal clay: 25g Sterling silver wire: 22-gauge (0.6mm), round, half-hard, 12 in. (30.5cm) 4 6 5mm drilled pearls or other beads 2 4 jump rings: 20-gauge (0.8mm), 5mm inside diameter Toggle clasp a b