Fired Beads #2

These are newest design of fired beads and will be ceramic jewelry after arrangement. This time I combined them with wires and fresh water pearl. I'll show you how it looks after combining them with cord, ribbons, pin, and other supporting materials.

Raw Beads #3

Newest design. These range of beads will be contemporary look after firing and beads arrangement.

Basic Color Clay Application

Experiment with clay is very exiting. Here I share to you the step by step to have fun with clay.

As my previous tutorial is 'how to make color clay', here I show you the easiest technique to get color clay effect. In nature, there are some types of clay, here as example I used brown stoneware clay and white stoneware clay, so you don't have to add stain or pigment into the clay, the natural color gives it's own beauty.

Step 1

Take a little bit brown clay and white clay. Cut into pieces like the picture on the left.










Step 2

Pile up the clay orderly (or as you wish): white clay-brown clay-white clay-brown clay......








Step 3

Press it delicately, so the clay will stick together properly.








Step 4

Lay it down








Step5
Press again, this time a bit harder, until you get the desired thickness. In this example, I made it about 3 mm thick.








Step 6
Here is the result of step 5









Step 7

Cut into neat square as shown in the picture on the left. Arrange them orderly upside down (or as you wish) so you will get the checkered pattern.
In this step, better you layer clay paste into each side of the clay strip (look at the white arrow). The purpose of the clay paste, is to make the clay stick each other properly.




Step 8

Roll it again delicately









Step 9
Ta daaa!!!....you get the pattern....
Create your wild imagination!
You can use this pattern into anything

I'm sure you have wild imagination and creation....
This pattern is an example only.
You are free to create your own patter.




You will find the complete tutorial in my first book about 'working with clay'. The book will be launch soon this August - November by PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama as the publisher.

Ceramic Jewelry using casting slip

http://ceramicartsdaily.org/pottery-making-techniques/handbuilding-techniques/creating-colorful-ceramic-jewelry-using-a-carved-plaster-slab-and-casting-slip/

Raw beads#2

Raw beads, made from stoneware clay, ready to be fired. These raw beads are free from synthetic color, as I want to get the natural color of the brown clay.

Fired Beads#1

Tadaaaa........ Here are series of fired beads. I applied glaze and some color glass to create the interesting look. I'm preparing the tutorial of how to apply the glass into beads. Just wait for my next note.

Making Color Clay#2

When the clay liquid evenly mixed with color, then I put the liquid into a bowl container. They are ready to dry up for several days. It depends on the weather, when the weather is hot, then the drying process will be faster.

After several days, then the clay will be dry a little bit. But this clay is not ready to shape, because it still too wet.

Here they are, these clay are ready to shape. The clay is ready to shape when it damp enough, as damp as you wanna make cookies.
Interesting right?!

To keep the clay not over dry, then you must wrap them with plastic. This process will maintain the dampness of the clay.