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Jewelry: Steampunk Clay Pendants
29 kudoz

Steampunk Clay Pendants

Is this your project? Can you share instructions or a pattern with the Craftsy community?

Category: Jewelry

Type of item: Accessory

For: Women

Style: Retro / Vintage, Victorian / Steampunk


Materials

Polymer clay, watch parts, some metal charms, and lots of makeshift stamps!

What was your inspiration?

I've been sculpting in polymer clay for a long, long time - before there was much online to help folks out. Recently I've been digging into it again and loving it! I even signed up for the Metal Clay class here at Craftsy just today... can't wait to find some time for it.

When I first got back into clay in terms of jewellery last year, I started sculpting little hearts and nautilus shells. I had all these leftover teeny watch parts that were too small to wrap, so I started jamming them into the clay. I was in love with them! But then my husband said, "That's great Gayle. But how many of those can you make in an hour?" I feebly said, "um, two?"

That was clearly not fast enough for my limited production time, so I took the lid off a watchmaker's case and started cutting out circles. Voila!

It didn't get super fast though until I finally broke down and bought a pasta/clay machine. For the sake of 30 bucks I have no idea what I was waiting for! This thing is genius. It conditions and flattens the clay in literal seconds, with absolutely no hand pain.

The last piece of the puzzle was PearlEx powders. I'd been seeing them around and finally I bought a case... and then another. And now I'm completely addicted! I made two dozen of these last weekend, and another two dozen throughout the evenings this week!

All I need to do now is get 'em all wire-wrapped to make them ready for sale. My next batch, I'm thinking of doing a tutorial for it.

SO pleased. So, so pleased.

Also, am I the only one who just stares at her own work?! Especially photos where you can really see the details!

What are you most proud of?

The way the colours blend on that black piece. I love it so much I took it out of the sale pile and kept it for myself :D

 

4 comments

Add your comment:

Badgersue on craftsy.com
Aug 26, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
These are really beautiful - I'd love to see a class on this.
Gayle Bird on craftsy.com
Aug 26, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
I WAS planning on doing a downloadable pattern this weekend but instead got hit by a nasty head cold. Maybe next weekend!!
Rockland Rocks on craftsy.com
Aug 25, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Even though I'm a one-of-a-kind crafter, I admire your production work. I especially like the way your pieces are wire-wrapped in such a way that the wrapping does not "overcome" the piece. Love them all!
Gayle Bird on craftsy.com
Aug 25, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks!! I LOVE one-of-a-kind stuff but I also love paying the bills :D I try to do a mix of both.