well, it's not exactly new for me. Right after undergrad, back in the late 80's, I spent four years going to ceramics class two nights a week through extended ed at our local community college. LOVED it.
But once the metal/jewelry bug began I only rarely busted out the stoneware, until now! I recently became enamored of some of the etsy shops I see that have AWESOME clay
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jdaviesreazor
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChelleV2
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TinasBeadMind
http://www.etsy.com/shop/greybirdstudio
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyFallout
http://www.etsy.com/shop/RaggedRobyn
http://www.etsy.com/shop/vLaDtHeBaT
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ScorchedEarthonEtsy
http://www.etsy.com/shop/gabriel
I just can't say enough how I adore all these Etsy shops! So I went out and bought myself a couple of different clays. A terra cotta red and a dark chocolate stoneware. I've been making beads and here they are!
I realized in the process of giving them their patinas that colors were all around me in my workroom, some yarns I've yet to make anything of and journal pages from this past fall:
5 comments:
I love your clay beads! Did you already have a kiln or did you just get one? I got one for Christmas and we are just now getting ready to figure out its mysteries. I'm super excited to get started.
Yours look great!
Woman - is there anything you cant do! Your beads look fantastic! Want to trade? I appreciate the shout out... Its interesting the things we fall into...after years of calling stoneware the real clay - as opposed to polymer - I am doing some work in polymer. Cabs that I am setting.... Your beads look fabulous, I love the dark clay.
Thank you!! I bought a small kiln with my first big tax return in 1987 many, many moons ago! It's a small upright test kiln with a "kiln sitter" so I just purchase cones for the temp I need. I have fired PMC in it too. I have to babysit it manually for PMC watching the pyrometer as PMC has different criteria for vitrifying. Ceramic clay is awesome because once it hits temp it's done.
I'm getting ready to try some glazes ont with the beads. I also have two enamel kilns. One was an ancient hand me down with no switch or pyrometer. I had to get an external pyrometer for it and just recently had to replace the element for the first time and I'm certain it's 30 years old! But I love it all the same. Can't wait to see your creations!
What a thrill to have you noticing my work - let alone showing it on your blog! Thank you very much, Melissa.
Your clay beads look gorgeous!! Wonderful patinas, shapes and textures.Lovely!
Thank YOU Petra. I've enjoyed watching your shop for about a year now.
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