Using SILVER CLAY for the very first time! Start making silver clay jewelry

[@JonesLeFae]

The great thing about metal clay is that once it is fired it is nearly 100% silver, which means if you mess up, you can melt it and reuse it!

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

oh, that's so true! ❤ it is reassuring, that it doesn't go to waste completely, it can be reused

[@katrinavaluyeva5005]

Copper or bronze clay is a great way to learn metal clay; it is significantly more affordable. I personally like the Prometheus brands. In general firing any metal clay in kiln is more reliable- you control the temperature so you know it won’t exceed the max….and by prolonging heating…the metal ends up being stronger. I gave up torch firing simply because of melting issues as well as finding that although the surface looked ready…inside it was not fully sintered and broke with enough force. The other thing is if you hate something and the clay is too dry….just crumble it and make it into a paste; paste is critical to making connections for more 3d/sculptural efforts in metal clay. So there is never any real need to buy paste clay… you can make your own because inevitably not everything always works out. You can also use liquid metal paste to draw or even write on a fresh piece for interesting effects. Plus having a kiln opens opportunities to enamel; and then you can fire metal clays….and enamel them too, hehe. Anyway, these look great for a first projects-don’t be hard on yourself.

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Amazing, thank you so much for this comment and tips! I appreciate it a lot ❤️❤️❤️

[@tracyp69]

Try a coffee cup warmer! They work great to dry your clay!! Looks great!!

[@victoriaharrison-sewell6717]

Hi Basia..I have just been watching your 'Where to live & work ' dilema..lots of pro's & cons..i have been in that situation, it is a hard choice.. My brother & I are retired, & both artists & crafters. We share a house for company (both our families have long since fledged..) we have had other working spaces/units in the past, but like you we find having our home environment with our work space a better option than paying for space elsewhere, where there can be too much noise & distraction..very best wishes❤😊xxx

[@Stanley-xd1gf]

Dear Basia, I'm always following the news from Europe and I'm especially worried about Poland, as you have some "crazy" neighbors. We here in Brazil have enormous affection for our country, and we have a large population of Polish origin (around 1.2 million descendants). I leave here the affection of our family, and if (I hope never) you ever need it, know that there is a safe corner for you here in Brazil. In difficult times like the ones we are living in, it is extremely important to talk about issues that we don't always have the courage to address, and to create a network of people we can trust. You have much more than followers, you have people who care about you as if you were family. Hugs from your second home.

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

That's so kind and thoughtful, thank you so much! I really appreciate it and know that it really warms my heart ❤ Hopefully the situation never becomes so grim and we can all live in peace. The world is truly crazy right now, with so much war and violence, it's hard to grasp... We are perfectly safe here, so don't worry. We're lucky, as our situation is stable and safe, compared to those in the Middle East. And hopefully our neighbours won't escalate further. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and for your kindness ❤

[@ETLGypsy]

Love! ❤️❤️❤️ You are such a a ray of joy and it's always a pleasure seeing what you create Basia! Thank you for continuing to share your journey 🙏❤️

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

oh wow, Alicia, Thank you so much sweetheart! ❤ You made my day so much brighter and I'm super happy that you enjoyed this video ❤ I was very excited to finally share my experience with silver clay and I'm looking forward to the next project!

[@victoriaharrison-sewell6717]

Hi Basia..always loved your Polymer clay vids, & great to see you are enjoying learning how to use the Silver clay.. It's a bit of a learning curve isn't it! I've only recently started using it, & found the short time available before the clay starts to dry scarey! It's a good thing we can make paste, & re-do things, as i made a few errors😂..I've also been using a kiln, which I've still got to get the hang of!😂 ..so you are doing really well Basia, thank you for sharing, xxx

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

I'm a bit confused, as I've never used polymer clay before, let alone in videos haha 😂 I think it may have been someone else :) But other than that, yes! So happy to finally be working with silver clay, it's so much fun :) And I agree - it dries off so fast, which makes it a bit tricky and scary, but hopefully soon we'll get better at shaping it efficiently. Thank you so much for tuning in today, I appreciate it a lot ❤

[@PhoenixCreationsKaTyJs]

I just saw a program on U.K. tv with Susan calman and one of the carry on films female actresss think it’s called a grand day out was on U.K. channel 5 at 8pm 1 aug 2024 a segment of the show was the carry on actress visiting a lady who made jewellery using the silver clay,and she used beach found fossils, she either used them as is, or filled the imprint with something then used that to then imprint into the clay, the effect was amazing, and I immediately thought of you! 😊😊😊

[@LilliSkog]

You're 100% right! You're not wasting it if you're learning 🥰 I love all 3 - and they're all wonderful references as you progress and keep using clay (if you continue using it). I think it's more on the pricy side because it's pure silver - 999! Which is pretty nice and luxurious 😍

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Ahh, thank you! That's very sweet and I'm happy you like them ❤ Oh yes, it's 999 silver, so it makes it much more special

[@VanessaBasora]

Thank you for this video Basia! You’re right, it was not a waste. It was a great learning experience for you and us watching.😊 I ALWAYS enjoy learning from you! ☺️ You should keep it as a memento of where you started from. It will serve as a reminder of your progression when you get better with creating silver clay jewelry. 😁

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

That's so kind, Vanessa, I appreciate you saying this ❤ Thank you! I'm very happy with how these turned out and I can already see where I can improve. So excited for the next projects!

[@flyingcheff]

Basia, great video! I recently tried PMC. My piece ahrank a LOT. I've since found out that different brands/kinds of silver Precious Metal Clay shrinks at different percentages. The shrinkage was a problem for my custom piece, I ended up having to forge it into the correct size. It was good to see that other metalworking techniques are usable with PMC. Congratulations on PMC fun. I'm trying several other clays. Also, there is powdered gold for fusing onto fine silver. That is fun.

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

ooh, that's interesting! And worth knowing and remembering. Thank you for mentioning it, I'll keep that in mind. And powdered gold sounds interesting! I reckon it's quite pricey, but I'm sure it offers great possibilities and fun projects

[@hosannaliving]

I love all of the actually. They look more organic so it works well with the leaf pattern. The green turquoise will be beautiful!

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

ohh, thank you!!

[@robinsmith9734]

Fantastic to see you again Basia, whatever you try new, always turns out another product of beauty. I think seeing your setup is just as inspiring for potential starters, along the way. Much Love........

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

oh my, thank you!! ❤ That's so sweet, you made my day :) I really appreciate your encouragement and it motivates me to keep trying new things, despite being scared of them haha

[@amandataylor1573]

beautiful as always 😍please keep the third one its so pretty they are organic i love unperfect sometimes thank you for sharing iv had silver and copper clay for over i year now you are inspiring me to finally open them ❤

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

alright, I'll keep it! :)) I like it too and I think that patina may help it look much better. Thank you so much for your sweet comment ❤ Oh, and you should totally get that clay out and play with it! Have fun crafting ❤

[@NicolaAllan-dq4fo]

To create the bails did you use fine silver or sterling? Love that your trying out the silver clay, I wld like to, but not sure of attaching wire to it. TIA for your advice of the bail wire!.😍

[@jewelrescue]

I love them all and adding the green turquoise is just perfection!! I always thought you needed to fire these in an oven, thanks for educating us ❤❤

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

I thought so too! But turns out that smaller pieces can be fired with a torch - and a hand torch at that :) I'm happy you like them too, thank you so much ❤

[@NightStarLeaf_Craft]

Basia, this is amazing - never tried clay but the finished product is amazing.

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

I'm so happy you think so! :) After trying it out myself, I can confirm what others said to me before - it's so fun and creative, you should totally try it! :)

[@minniemouse7803]

Lol about the toddler comment. Your wore the cinnamon bun so confidently. ❤ Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Haha, true! Let's never be ashamed of the cinnamon roll crumbs on our faces 😁 Thank you so much for watching, I'm so happy you enjoyed it :)

[@dawndeluca]

Hi Basia. After the clay dries and before you fire it, you can tidy it up, smooth out the edges with sandpaper or even an emery board for nails to smooth out the edges. Precious metal clay is fun to work with, you can do so much with it.

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

That's a great tip! I actually completely forgot about it 😁 Next time I'll remember to clean the surface with the emery sticks or sandpaper :) And you're absolutely right, it was so fun to work with this clay! I can't wait to try more projects and experiment a bit more :)

[@nice2nettles]

Thank you for a video showing the learning process! It's always encouraging when artists show the things that they aren't perfectly happy with. I'm interested in learning about metal clay too, later down the line (when I can afford it!). Looking forward to the next video! x

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

so happy you enjoyed this video, thank you so much for watching! ❤ I hope this will encourage you to give it a go in the future. I'm already working on another video, in which I'll show more of the process when working with silver slay :)

[@dthomp06]

Welcome to the world of metal clay. I prefer it to any other metal work. Good job.

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Thank you very much! ❤️

[@arielmay827]

Yay! I'm excited to see what you make next 🙌 I love how these turned out 💚🌿

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Yay! So happy you do! ❤ I'm working on more pendants with plant imprints, I also got some silicone to make molds, very excited to try it out and show you the effect

[@Moongirl68]

I think they look beautiful! I made one pendant so far with silver metal clay. It does get dry fast! I purchased a hydrater jar from Cool Tools and that helped. You inspired me to work with my metal clay again!

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

I'm so happy to hear that! You should totally give it a go :)) And that is a great tip, I'll check if this jar is available here. Would be very helpful, as this clay indeed dries so fast!

[@melevonne]

Interesting seeing you sharing this because I just started researching silver clay last week because I want to start working with it.

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

oh nice!! 😁 I'm going to make another video soon, with more tips and advice on how to get started with clay. I hope this and next video will be helpful for you :)

[@siangibson5646]

Absolutely love these and can’t wait to see the green stones attached, beautiful idea. Well done for just going for it too, we have to start somewhere. Can I ask what patina you use and how you store it? I am really wanting to try it on my jewellery, been playing with some granulation and think it would complement it. Thank you & as always for sharing your journey with us ❤x

[@gefiondesigns]

To resuscitate, clean an old pickle jar, take some water (I use condensation water from the dryer to avoid calcium) soak it into a sponge, put the sponge on the lid, place the clay on some tinfoil plastic, place that on the sponge, put the jar over and seal, leave for 1-2 days. Clay is now good to use again. Also save your trimmings and dust, and blend with water to make paste 😊

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

another awesome tip, thank you! ❤ Both actually, they will be very useful

[@mmd9976]

Always wanted to know about silver clay. Thanks for creating the video. Love your apron, also!

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Thank you so much! ❤ Another silver clay video is coming soon, so I'm hoping it'll be interesting and useful too :)

[@PhoenixCreationsKaTyJs]

I’d never come across silver clay, but the result was a pleasant surprise, once you added the patina the detail really popped especially with the slightly smaller one, for a first try that is really good, once you have had a few more gos I look forward to seeing what you can create, if the first go is anything to go by it’s going to be amazing. I wonder can you shape the clay like “viola” petals, or “Grape Hyacinths” flower heads, almost a 3D effect for nature. Imaging your koi fish in 3D! ❤❤❤

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Thank you lovely! ❤ I'm very happy you enjoyed this video. I agree, the patina really did a great job here and added depth and details. I'm excited to keep experimenting and learning, there are so many possibilities! Including the 3D effect you mentioned. I believe it can be shaped as we like, but the only thing is that it dries off quickly, so that;s something I'll need to master - working fast before the clay dries off in my hands haha :)

[@hannabosley5175]

Ive found, you can use distilled water to rehydrate your clay if it gets too dry :) stick it on a tray under a bowl with a sponge saturated in water (dont let the clay touch the sponge though! i made that mistake and it melted into the sponge) , and leave it 30 mins or so and it will be softer to work with :D you can also spritz the clay while your working with distilled water and it stops it drying out while you work. super video as always, awesome to see you experimenting with silver clay :)

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

What a great tip! Thank you so much, I'll try doing that - need to get some distilled water. This clay dries off so quickly, so this will be a lifesaver. Experimenting with clay really helped me get out of the rut and reignite that creative fire, I've been working with it some more and I can't wait to show you results in the upcoming videos :)) ❤

[@akgoldbear7669]

1:11 The best moment of the whole video. I watched this moment probably ten times 🙃

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

hahaha :P

[@JustME-ft4di]

Thanks again for your wonderful videos. Can I ask what it is you are using to keep the bail in place for soldering please.

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Thank you! :) That was a moldable soldering clay, called Hold-It! It's super useful, one of the best gadgets you can get :)

[@JustME-ft4di]

@@TheArtOfMetalsmithing Thank you! It is very expensive. Can it be reused?

[@pkgoldopalhunting]

great stuff , can you heat it up and melt the filings or left overs and pour it out to roll into a pice of thin plate silver

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

oh, that could be a good idea actually - nothing goes to waste :)

[@yomaroh]

May I ask what the little "clay" is called that you use to keep the loop in place as you solder it on to the piece? :)

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

It's a soldering clay, called HoldIt! Great item, totally recommend it :)

[@warsorizkianto2949]

very beautiful artistic spirit, very amazing

[@lb8822]

Basia thanks for sharing your experience with clay. I like them all. I,am a bit concernée for your longs. The blue mask is not a propre particulate mask. You need better protection. N95. And fitted.

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Don't worry, I normally use a proper mask with filters ❤ this was just a quick set up as I was filming

[@gabrielfloresderega7014]

How much time did you have to fire it in order to get the result?

[@jeannettesalazar6442]

Basia I miss you too dead. Nice to see you again. ❤😊

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

missed you too! So happy to see you here again, thank you for watching ❤❤❤

[@katrinalodge6055]

I prefer the 2nd one, esp just as it is.

[@LlandereJewelry]

Nice to see you again. I really would like to try silver clay.

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Happy to see you too! :) After my first try I can assure you that it's a really cool thing to do, and you don't need a massive amount to make little things. Even 5 grams was enough, I've used 2/3 to make these three pendants and I still have some left.

[@LlandereJewelry]

Wow that is not very much clay.

[@olam.1172]

Świetna próba! A o prokrastynacji to ja wiem wszystko... Pozdrawiam serdecznie. Świetna praca. I oczywiście, że chcę więcej. 😊

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Dziękuję serdecznie! ❤ Bardzo się cieszę, że pierwsza próba wyszła naprawdę nieźle, nie zraziło mnie to, a wręcz przeciwnie, zachęciło do dalszych prób 😁 Które, mam nadzieję, pójdą równie dobrze! :)

[@olam.1172]

@@TheArtOfMetalsmithing czekam niecierpliwie :)

[@sarkisdegirmentas750]

Hi Basia I'm 52 year experienced jeweler, and today first time I heard silver clay, it's very interesting, you did very very good job on your first try, but I only giving you an advise please don't un necessary laugh, not funny you are doing real art, thank you showing this to me first time🙏

[@Siebijoux]

Omg this is amazing! Your channel is 👍

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Thank you! ❤

[@najathanha]

What wire do you use to make the rings?

[@MeerkatHandcrafted]

May I say that you look so pretty! And an interesting video. ❤

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

That's so kind, thank you so much ❤

[@χταποδακι]

🎉🎉🎉well done

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Thank you!! 😊

[@cherylburkitt9722]

I love them..I thought you did a great job..I'd wear them ❤😊

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

That's amazing! Thank you so much ❤❤❤

[@katarzynagazdowicz5560]

Actually, all look good, even melted one. It gives more raw, natural vibe :) Waste of material is always the greatest fear for me but luckily, we can always recycle! Uff! 😄

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

oh, that's awesome! Thank you so much, I'm glad you see it that way ❤ Oh yeas, I hate wasting materials! I even had to get over that fact that some of the clay naturally stays on you fingers while you mold it haha 😄

[@katrinavaluyeva5005]

Resuscitate 😂😂😂 that’s it….I’m using that term now for metal clay ❤

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

Hahaha 😁 It really does feel like this sometimes 😆

[@WambraCeramics]

What solder do you use for the ring when firing it ?

[@TheArtOfMetalsmithing]

I use silver solder, hard, medium or easy depending on the type of joint

[@Boom-1-d]

I live in the UK 😊...sorry about the texting..love and light.

[@habtamuyirgalem-r7v]

100%🎉🎉🎉

[@pirazyoko]