Art Nest in Progress

 I'm working on my art nest.  To see more pictures and read more, please check out this post on my mixed media blog.  I hope to be done painting by the end of the weekend, so maybe more posts to come soon.

Helpful Links for Metal Clay Beginners (BronzClay and CopprClay)

Here are some links that I found helpful while figuring out my kiln and how to use metal clay.  Please keep in mind that I have a Paragon SC2, and I use BronzClay and CopprClay.  I have my own firing schedule that I figure out after doing a bunch of research and some trial and error.  I had to lower the temperature of my kiln much lower than recommended, I think by almost 100 degrees, but my pieces kept blistering.  I am still working out the kinks with CopprClay.  
This really is tough stuff, so if you have taken on the challenge to learn this medium, congrats and best of luck.  If I can help in any way at all, just shoot me an email (nativebloom@outlook.com).  I'll keep adding to this as I go along.

How to Choose a PMC Kiln by Lake Erie Artists

BronzClay Troubleshooting by Cool Tools

Magic Carbon Instructions by Cool Tools

Creating with CopprClay

CopprClay Firing Guide by Wanaree Tanner

Temperature Tweeking by Wanaree Tanner

The Care and Feeding of Your Paragon Kiln by Pam East

PMC Connections Health, Safety, and Copper-Based Metal Clay (Copper I) and Health, Safety, and Copper-Based Metal Clay (Copper II)

Experimenting with White Bronze by Studio 28

Creating Bronze Jewellry - Firing Times by PMC Tips

An Etsy Forum by Metal Clay Heads on Firing Schedules

BronzClay Fail by Studio McManus

Problems in Firing BronzClay by All Things Metal Clay

Enamel Tests on CopprClay by About Art and Other Stuff

Firing and Enameling Art Copper Clay by Pam East

BronzClay and CopprClay Programming for Kilns 703-117 and 703-118

Hattie Sanderson's Top 25 Metal Clay Tips and Tricks

Saturday Sculpt - Sugar Skulls

Here's last week's sculpt, a small, medium, and large sugar skull.  They were sculpted from polymer clay, cured in my oven, and then cast as a mold with Cold Mold.  I use these molds to form bronze and copper clay.  I haven't fired a large one yet, but here's a picture of the small and medium ones in BronzClay straight out of the kiln.  

Keep an eye out for these, they will be in my Native Bloom shop very soon.  I am also working on a charm bracelet to add to the shop that will feature some of my small pieces as charms.  

Out of the Kiln - Out of the House

I love the oxidation on these pieces, they are straight out of the kiln.  I wonder what makes these lovely colors, and whether there was a way to control them and keep them.  These are bronze, and they have been polished up already.  This peace sign is one of my favorite pieces, but the bail was a complete fail.  I'll post about that later.

It is still so strange to me how some have a rainbow patina from oxidation, some are almost black, and some are bright golden.  At first I had a hard time getting the bronze cleaned down to look even, but found that a nice steel brush works best to clean, then a good two hour tumble produces a gorgeous shine.  This cleans the metal well so you can apply an even patina with chemicals if desired.  I'll post some pics of these brushed and tumbled, but for now I am away from my house, and that is where my camera is located.  :(

This wax seal letter was an order for a friend.  It was polished as well.  The peace sign will not be sold because the bail although completely strong came out ugly and messy.  So it is my every day necklace for now.  I have a similar piece at home that I am dying to fire, but we had a bit of snow here and roads are out, they have been out for days.  Amazing how three or four inches of snow can completely cripple us here in the South, where a real snow only happens once every three or four years.  We are quite ill prepared.  Long story short, we came to my sis-in-law's house where we would be sure to have power, heat, and access to food and water.  I am out of my element and feeling quite strange.

CopprClay First Firing

Oddly enough, after braving my first firing with BronzClay, I was still very nervous about firing CopprClay.  Maybe because of the high temperature, or the shorter firing schedules I found...I don't know.  I ran a test today and found out I had nothing to be nervous about.  I used the two part firing schedule suggested by Wanaree Tanner, you can find her PDF with tons of useful information for top load and front load kilns on her bog post HERE.  I did alter it a bit because two of my pieces were rather thick.  I did not want them to warp, so insead of a 1100 degree F ramp, I used a 700 degree rate.  I also fired some test strips, but made them pretty and drilled them just in case they turned out okay (which they did).  

Here's the schedule I used.

Part 1:  On fiber blanket placed on top of ceramic spacers.  Kiln vented on top (cone removed).

Rate: 550 degrees F/hour

Final temp: 550

Hold time: 15 minutes

Part 2:  In steel container on ceramic spacers with coconut carbon.

Rate: 700 degrees F/hour

Final temp: 1750

Hold: 3 hours

Here are the pieces before firing.  The textures are made with plates from Cool Tools, except for the back of the test strips which were carved with a Dockyard V gouge.  I use Cool Slip to keep the clay from sticking to the texture plated. 

I didn't get a picture between the first part and the second, but here are the pieces straight out of the kiln.

They fired mostly just right with little oxidation or blemish, except for a spot in the middle of the back of the medallion and a tiny spot on the back of the rose.  These spots almost blistered a bit and looked a deep rosy color.  There were also some pieces of carbon embedded into the texture of the medallion.  Next time I will place a bit of ceramic fiber to cover the texture and lower the temperature of the kiln a bit.  I plan on ordering some steel mesh to wrap detailed pieces and a ceramic firing pan to regulate the temperature inside the firing container.  That will also allow me to lower the temperature of the kiln a bit.  (All these troubleshooting tips I discovered from the PDF by Wanaree that I referenced above).    

The pieces after a quick brush over with a steel brush and a bit of burnishing.  I also hammered the test strips out a bit, they developed a bit of curve in the container.

You can see the texture on the back of the medallion is improved in the next photo.  I hammered it a bit to make sure the piece had fully sintered (which it had), and found that it evened out the texture a good bit.  The little black pocks from the carbon are still kinda noticeable.

I really enjoyed working with the CopprClay so far, and found the firing process to be pretty simple.  I can't wait to try some patinas out on these shiny little pieces.  I did turn the test pieces into a pair of earrings (with a bit of alcohol ink to enhance the texture), and I will be giving them away tomorrow.  So be on the lookout for a long overdue Native Bloom giveaway.    

Blog Giveaway - Painted Rosette Necklaces - Comments Closed

This giveaway is over, please see THIS POST to find out who won.  :)

Another giveaway, same rules.  But this time I'm going to add something.  If you are a minor, make sure you get permissions from your parents or guardians before entering.  

This necklace was featured in the Autumn 2013 issue of Jewelry Affaire magazine.  If I get 100+ comments on this, I will draw for a second winner and give away the other rosette necklace featured in the article.  

To enter the contest you must comment below.  Each one of the following types of comments counts for a vote.  I will use Random.org to determine the winner, so make sure to make each entry count by listing them INDIVIDUALLY.  International players are more than welcome, this prize is very light weight.  ;)

1.  Comment with an answer to this question - What types of jewelry tutorials would you like to see on this blog?  (Examples: beginner beading, resin and bezels, polymer clay, metal clay, stringing, mixed media jewelry, etc.)

2.  Follow my blog!  I'd love for you to follow me, and I will be offering tutorials and giveaways so it will be beneficial to you too.  Try me out and if you are not happy with my content after a few weeks, just unfollow. Just leave me a comment that says something like "Hey crazy jewelry lady, I am now a Native Bloom follower."  If you have a blog, feel free to include a hyperlink to yours, I will return the favor (and other readers may too).

3.  Tell me, are you interested in blog posts about the process of getting published in magazines?  What do you wish to learn the most about being published? 

4.  Like my Native Bloom page on Facebook.  When I start my jewelry sales the beginning of next year I will use this page to offer deals and discounts.  Leave a comment letting me know you liked my page (along with your FB name).  

5.  Share this post on your Facebook page (include a link to your post in the comment).

6.  Repost this on your blog (make sure to include the link in the comment).

7.  Pin this picture with the headline "Painted Rosettes Giveaway by Native Bloom - ends 11/01/13." Once again, include the link please.

That's seven ways to win!!!!!  Once again, make sure to post each entry individually to give yourself extra chances to win.  I'm going to let the giveaway run until Saturday, November 1st, 2013 at 11:59 PM Central.  A winner will be announced in a separate post on November 2nd, so follow my blog or make sure to check back on that day.  I will give the winner(s) a week to email me their address and claim their prize.  If no one responds after a week, I will pick another winner.

Here's another picture of the prize.

And here is one of the second place prize I will offer if we reach 100+ comments.

Comment away, and know that I am working on getting some tutorials ready for you guys.  I am really trying to find out what you are the most interested in learning.  Thanks for your feedback, I want this to be a place where you can come and learn and get some good inspiration.  Hope to hear from you soon!