I Love You, Crystal Clay!

I am having an affair.

My torch doesn't know. Neither does my jeweler's saw, my chasing hammer or my bench block. I think that my pliers suspect something as they are looking askance and not really speaking to me.

Who is this home wrecker, you might ask? It's that saucy minx, Crystal Clay.

The clay and I have been flirting for some time. I first heard of it from Debra Saucier at BeadFest Philly a couple of years ago. I was intrigued. She gave me a little kit to try out, but I let it languish in my sample box.

Fast forward to this past weekend. I taught a class at Baubles and Beads in Berkeley, CA and they had a display of Crystal Clay and some components. I couldn't help it. I grabbed some clay and crystals to add to my ever-growing pile of stuff that I had to have. (Great online shopping at Baubles, if you are not local.)

This morning I couldn't help it... I jumped in...

I watched Debra's video on how to work with the clay and then got to work.

Such pretty crystals!

I set the pieces into the clay with the wax-tipped toothpick that came with the clay. I added a vintage metal flower component. It is held in place with a crystal rivet that pokes down into the clay. Then I wanted to add pearls, so I string each on a headpin, cut the excess wire away and poked each one into the clay. The headpin will help to hold them in place after the clay cures.

I also secured the ring into a little cup full of rice so I could easily work on it.

Here are the final rings...

I can't wait for them to cure so I can show them off on my fingers! Crystal clay, I don't think I can quit you. I can't wait to introduce you to my metalwork...I know we can make this relationship work.