22
With tweezers or a fi ne-
tipped brush, pick up each
of these 5 tiny balls and place half
on the gem, half on the top of the
hydrated area. Press gently with
a shaper. Dot each ball with water
to smooth any imperfections, and
make self slip fl ow with gravity
around the edge of the ball.
Tip: Check that the balls are
secure. They are not only decorative
but also help to hold the gem in place.23
Use a very narrowly pointed
needle to carefully remove
clay on all surfaces of the gem.
Just before fi ring in the fi nal step,
clean the stone with denatured
alcohol.
FOCAL AND
EMBELLISHMENTS
Wet all contact areas. Roll a 2 mm
thick snake and add it to the edge
of the circle in the center. Seat the
centerpiece so it is level and the
gem is upright.
Use your shaper to blend in the
snake under the petals and on the
reverse side. Once dry, fi ll in gaps
with lump clay and create a smooth
transition to the rest of the piece.You may add a texture on the
reverse to match the outside of the
center using the same technique (see
Photo 13).24
Add embellishments as
desired, remembering to
follow your stylized theme. Here
balls were added strategically for
aesthetics and additional strength.25
All is assembled. I also chose
to add a pinch of red felt
fi bers in the center, placing them in
the cup around the stone without
glue or other attachment.TUBE PIN MOUNT AND
LATCH
Roll a snake of clay 3⁄16" thick by ½"
long. When dry, cut in half: one half
for the pin mount, the other for the
latch.26
Use a pin vise and drill bit to
open a hole in both tubes.
Allow a healthy amount of room
for your 18g wire to fi t, considering
shrinkage when fi red.232624272225On Reflection
I hope you’ve enjoyed making your
own floral project. Here are some
questions to consider as you think
about your next design.- What set of rules did you set for
yourself in creating your stylized
piece? - Embossing copper creates a
certain quality of line. Can you
describe the line quality and name
ways you would use it in other
embossed projects? - Creating a recipe is a great way to
come up with your own repeatable
design. Make a drawing of your
own and record each step (see
Texture on Demand, p.tk), and see
what new designs you can create. - Copper sheet is one material to
use in creating stylized designs.
What other materials or methods
might you use? - Be creative. How else might you
use the embossed copper sheet
itself in a mixed media piece? How
about a torch patina or enamel? - Setting gems in unique ways adds
pop to a focal point. Take time to
notice interesting gem settings
and come up with your own new
designs.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 77