I’m very much into making ear cuffs at the moment. So much so that I’ve even started turning old pairs of hoop earrings into ear cuffs. If it’s made of metal, and vaguely circular in shape, chances are I will try to make a cuff out of it.
At the same time, I’m testing out a couple of different methods of making, too: beads on a length of wire, and precious metal clay.
The beaded cuffs are a lot simpler to make, and I can get about six to eight of them made while an episode of whatever European drama I’ve found that looks interesting plays in the background (this week it’s The Announcer, a French crime thriller set in the 1960s). And while it gives me a lot more opportunity to add some colour, I do love getting to work with silver clay.
I say “love”. Like a lot of projects, be it cooking, drawing, writing or even jewellery making, I love it when I get to admire the finished product. The bit where I get to show everyone What I Made. That’s my favourite bit. The actual process of making is occasionally annoying and sometimes stressful. Yeah, even stringing beads onto a piece of wire (is “stringing” the right word here? It’s wire, not string) is a bit much for me after a while, and I have to find something else to do. But if I’ve not finished, I feel a little bit guilty…
Anyway, where was I?
Silver clay. I’m still finding the best way for me to work with it, but one thing that really helps me – especially with making cuffs – is wire. It gives me something to build the clay design onto. I’ve been experimenting with a simple leaf design, using a bit of the exposed wire as a stem. I think the “leafy” clay part is holding up quite well, and it dried still firmly attached to the wire, so I’m trying to remain positive that it’ll look just as good – if not better – once it’s all fired and polished up. I’m typing up this post as I wait for my kiln to heat up, as a way of distracting myself from assessing my work so far, so I won’t be tempted to add anything to it. Or take anything away. Which would likely be worse. Metal clay shrinks as it’s heated, see.
And that was pretty good timing, as the kiln is now up to temperature so I can get on with the next step in the process. I shan’t be adding any pictures right now; I just wanted to get this posted as I realise I’ve not posted in quite some time and am worried the Blog Police will be knocking on my door any day now.
So that’s all I have for now. Just a quick “while I’ve got a minute”, stream-of-consciousness type thing. All off the cuff, as it were.
Until next time, I’d like to thank you v muchly for popping in and having a read. Have a lovely rest of your day!
If you’d like to see more from me, there are other posts on the blog to read if you haven’t already. Plus, you can find me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and of course, you can treat yourself and visit my Shop!
BRIDGE JEWELLERY 