Silver Clay - anyone used it?

[milomade]

hey all

a friend of mine did a workshop recently and has been enthusing about Silver Clay ever since. Has anyone used the stuff - what's it like? I'm thinking of giving it a go and have just bought a book about it...

E

[Twinkleberry]

I bought some ages ago and just haven't got around to trying it - probably should have bought a book first! I have seen some really gorgeous things made with it - I met this girl at an exhibition and her items were by far the most beautiful. She was very enthusiastic about it - her site is: jewellerybysallyjane

I'm interested to know how you get on, please let me know?

[milomade]

I haven't really had the time to read the book I ordered - just looked at the pictures, but I think December is going to pretty quiet with work and so I think I'll order some clay and have a play with it. I've got a Butane Gas Blow Torch, but think I need to find some sort of non-flammable surface for me to work on so I don't burn my studio down. I live by the sea and so constantly pick up pieces of eroded pottery and glass and I'm interested in using the silver clay to sculpt around these objects and create pendants and earrings.

[Twinkleberry]

Sounds lovely. A mat of some kind would be a good idea - you could probably get something that would do the trick at a hardware shop. I could be wrong here but the clay is fairly expensive and I'm hesitant to just kind of try it out........I want to make sure I know what I'm meant to do with it before I get stuck in, but from what I have heard and read, it's really easy to work with and very adaptable. Send me some pics when you get something done.

[milomade]

I'm not sure of prices as I haven't looked into that side of things. The workshopmy friend did cost around £50 I think and that's why I decided to buy a book and try and teach myself instead. I got this book from amazon...and hoping to get stuck into it in a couple of weeks. I've got two craft sales coming up at the beginning of December and don't want to get distracted with 'new things and ideas' until those are over to be honest as I've got to get a lot of stuff made before the 5th December.

Can't wait to have a play.

[Twinkleberry]

When I bought mine it cost just over £1.00 per gram - but that was ages ago, don't know what it is now. So, quite costly if you muck it up! Hopefully you will do brilliantly with your December ventures and will be able to splurge!

[Twinkleberry]

The book looks great, nice fun things to make. I borrowed this one from the library, it had some nice ideas in it as well.

[milomade]

Yes I'm hoping to sell lots and lots and make lots of money, but as the craft fairs are in small very remote villages I think it's best to be realistic and understand that I'll probably only sell a few items. I'm hoping to do lots of craft fairs next year though...

[The Bunny Maker]

yup - I use it alot. I didn't go on a course - just bought the kiln, clay and a book! its dead easy to use - just like moulding out of fimo - then you fire it! the hard bit is getting a nice smooth finish.
I've done loads of people's kids finger prints into pendants and key rings. I do them if people ask me to not as a business.

A master of silver clay is Ruth at Birdlandcreations she makes amazing things out of it.

One thing - a blow torch is useless - you need a mini kiln. the amount of clay I wasted trying to fire with the torch I could have bought bigger kiln! Pointless it was. My mini kiln was just under £400 and is fantastic. You can also use if for enamelling and for ceramics - small ceramics obviously! like buttons! The finger print stuff has paid for the kiln so now i just use it as a hobby - making bits and pieces when I fancy it.

[milomade]

Not sure i can splash out £400 on a kiln!
I managed to get onto a 5 hour workshop on the 21st and so can't wait to go and find out what it's all about. Got tons of questions and one of the most prominent ones is about using a blow torch as getting a kiln is just out of the question.

[Surf Jewels]

I'd like to try it out 2 and was thinkin about gettin hold of some. I'm not so sure now as it does seem that it could end up costing a lot. the main problem is firing it. I have worked with fimo a lot before and thats fine as it goes in the normal oven, but with the silver clay r there any easy ways 2 fire it? It does sound like something fun 2 play with tho.

Hannah.

Handmade jewellery:
http://surfjewels.webhosting-for-free.com

[milomade]

my class in december got cancelled and so I'm waiting for the next one to come up...

[Sue]

I have used this and will definatley be getting more. Its easy to use just like clay and if you get the right kind you fire it with a blow torch so idle for people who dont have access to a kiln. I can't get my head around the science of how it works but it like magic for grownups. there is lots of tutorials and how to's on the internet. I hope to use it to make silver toggles for my jewellery, would like the gold as well but its a bit too expensive at the moment. I understand there is also a copper version available. Let me know how you get on should you have a go.