Lapidary_Journal_Jewelry_Artist_-_November_-_December_2019

CREATE THE SMALL

HOLLOW FOR THE GEM

There are two hollow components

for the center of this piece, which

represents a fl oral bud: a small cup

to hold the gem, and a larger hollow

or cup to hold that pair.

Start with the smaller bud for

the gem. Make an oblong ball

approximately 1¾" the diameter of

the gem’s width by using two-part

molding compound.

Note: Make the ball mold a bit

smaller than you actually need to

account for the thickness of the clay

you are wrapping around it, making

the overall size bigger.

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Wrap with a sheet of 3-card

thick clay, blending the seams

together with a rubber shaper until

invisible. Roll between the palms of

your hands to smooth the outside.

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Partially dry the metal clay on

a warming plate, remove and

cut down the center with a scalpel

(larger round shown). Do not

remove from the form and return

to the drying plate until completely

dried to avoid distorting the form.

Remove from the form and put

the two halves back together by

rehydrating the seam and adding a

snake of lump clay. Smooth with a

rubber shaper and dry completely.

Sand the surface smooth with pol-

ishing papers. Set aside to fi nish later.

CREATE THE LARGER

HOLLOW OF THE BUD

To create the larger hollow in

which the gem-in-bud will sit,

repeat the directions under

“Create the Small Hollow for the

Bud” above with the following

modifi cations:

• This ball mold should be slightly
  fl attened by pressing gently on
  the top with your fi nger.


• This ball should be twice the size
  as the fi rst ball.
  
  
  • Afterward, this ball is made
    smooth in the palms of your
    hands, and rolled on a texture,
    such as sandpaper used here.
  
  
  • After reattaching the two halves
    to match, texture the seam again.
  
  
  
  

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To retexture this seam, dab at

it with a damp bristle brush.

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Measure to ⅛" from the

top. Use a jewelers saw, or

mini saw supported on a rubber

support or hockey puck, to cut off

the top ⅛".

Thin and even out the top edge

while preserving the outside tex-

ture by sanding the inside edge,

using coarse sandpaper.

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Since the inside will be

visible, clean up any interior

seams. Rehydrate any extra clay

that may have oozed inside and

blend it into the background.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 75