The first stage in creating a CopprClay necklace with disc-shaped focals is to roll out, texture, fire, and finish the focals themselves. Start with small balls of CopprClay, about 3/8 inch across. Keep all of them under plastic wrap except for the one you're working with at the time. Follow the general instructions found at this tutorial for handling your clay.
Next week I'll take you through the steps of assembling these discs into the necklace shown above!
1. Roll out the clay on parchment paper and use texture plates to add patterns to each one. Use a small awl or nail to create holes where you will be linking the focals later. Gently transfer each disc to a small plastic paint palette and let them dry there to create a gentle rounded shape.
2. After the pieces have dried thoroughly, file and trim any areas that need it (like around the holes and rough edges). Fire according to the general instructions given in the tutorial link above. The photo above shows the discs as they look straight from the kiln.
3. Use a brass brush to clean any oxidation from your pieces. You'll get a shiny, but not polished finish like that in the photo above.
4. Use liver of sulfur or other patination techniques if desired. I love the depth that LOS brings to a piece once it's repolished.
5. Use your brass brush again, and polish with buffing compound if desired. Do not try to clean all the LOS out of the cracks...that defeats the purpose of using it! Simple brush and buff across the high spots to achieve both shine and depth.
Copyright 2009 Cyndi Lavin. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.
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