This is project was featured on PBS's Beads, Baubles & Jewels series! Tune in to your local PBS station to catch new episodes or, if it's not available in your area, call PBS and request it be added to your programming.
Supplies |
Order # | Quantity |
| PMC+®, 28g lump | 100-880 | 1 pkg |
| Rio PMC® work surface | 111-567 | 1 |
| Rio PMC® kiln | 703-117 | 1 |
| Rio metal clay tool kit | 111-411 | 1 |
| Stainless steel tweezers | 115-100 | 1 |
| Klay Kutter, oval | 111-409 | 1 |
| ClayMate hand cream | 111-427 | 1 |
| Texture sheets, set D | 111-455 | 1 |
| Needle file set | 114-843 | 1 |
| MIDAS® Liver of sulfur | 331-030 | 1/4" piece |
| Argentium® sterling French ear wire | 696-947 | 1 pair |
| Cocktail straw | — | 1 tsp |
| Emery board | — | 1 tbsp |
| Table salt | — | 2 cups |
| Household ammonia | — | 8 |
| Hot water | — |
1 |
| Playing cards | — | 1 |
|
| Steps: |
| 1. Rub a small amount of ClayMate hand cream onto the acrylic roller (from the metal clay tool kit), the PMC® work surface and your fingertips. Roll out a small lump of PMC+® to a four-card thickness. |
| 2. Choose a texture sheet and press it into the rolled out clay. Use the Klay Kutter to cut out two oval earring shapes. Poke a hole near the top of each piece using a cocktail straw. Set the pieces aside to dry. |
| 3. Once dry, smooth the edges and the backs of the pieces with an emery board and clear out the two holes with the round needle file. |
| 4. Fire the pieces in the kiln according to the appropriate firing schedule. |
| 5. After firing, remove the white residue with a brass brush (from the metal clay tool kit). Bring out silver highlights by firmly scraping with the burnisher from the metal clay tool kit. |
| 6. Add a 1/4"-dia. nugget of liver of sulfur to one cup of hot water and mix. To create an iridescent patina, add one tablespoon of household ammonia and one teaspoon of salt. Use the stainless steel tweezers to dip the piece first into a separate cup of hot water, then into the patina mixture; continue to alternate between the two until the piece reaches the desired patina finish. |
| 7. Burnish again to bring out more silver highlights. |
| 8. Attach the Argentium® Sterling French ear wires. |
