Learning new techniques now

Some weeks have passed and some of the basics of working with the clay have become familiar.

Time to try something new. This little pendant is hollow to keep it light and made using a simple mold made from polymer clay. I love to add some little beads and dangles to the silver, this time clear and white and this starts the Purity range of simple designs and simple crystals.

Recycled silver - eco-friendly jewellery

So I'm hooked on silver clay. After my first couple of pieces of jewellery I couldn't stop making beautiful things in silver. I researched more about the origins of the silver product I was using.

There are two main brands - Art Clay Silver (ACS) and Precious Metal Clay (PMC). Both appear to be very much the same although some jewellery makers prefer one brand over another. I

started off with ACS and am happy with it so this is the product I use.

The product was ''invented'' in Japan by Aida Industries, a metals recycling company. The silver is reclaimed from old photographic products and old film. Silver was used in the developing process.

When Art Clay Silver is taken out of the package, it is a slightly moist lump of 'clay. The clay is composed of 1-20 micron sized silver particles, organic binders, and water . The clay is then molded into its desired shape, and dried. Once the clay is completely dry it can then be filed, carved, and sanded; after which it is fired with a butane torch, or kiln.

During the firing process, the organic binders burn away and the resulting silver particles "sinter", becoming denser and stronger. The burning away of binders and sintering of metal causes the piece to shrink 8-10% in overall size while retaining the original form. Once completely fired, the remaining piece is composed of 99.9% pure silver.

I love the eco recycled nature of this product. Taking something that has no longer any use these days and turning it into a product for people to express their artist sides to bring that product right up-to-date and modern again.

I make a pendant to match the earrings

Filled with hope following the successful completion of my first project with the little earrings shown below, I rush to open a second larger packet of silver and attempt a matching pendant.

It's round again, although this time with my confidence growing its slightly larger and uses more silver. I impress a similar rings and dots design, add some pretty yellow 3mm cubic zirconia stones pressed into the silver, and make holes top and bottom.

Then I fire it and watch in horror as it appears to catch on fire and turn brown, but then as the metal sinters and the binders burn away, I am left with almost pure silver. Fine silver in fact, 99.9% solid silver.

My first attempt at silver jewellery making over with, I have a pretty pendant to match my earrings. I'm exhausted!