Weekly Feature - Falling Leaf Bead
I have to admit I was probably more chicken about making my first PMC project than I was learning to solder. I have little experience with clay, and since it isnt exactly cheap, I didnt want to make any mistakes. However, after flipping through Tim McCreights book Working with Precious Metal Clay, I found this project on how to make a leaf bead. It looked so easy that my confidence was restored, and I thought this would be a good way to get started.
To make a leaf bead, youll need:
a small ball of PMC (This depends on the size of your leaf.)
a leaf (I used one from a pepper plant.)
a clean surface to work on
8 playing cards
a small rolling pin (I use a piece of pvc pipe.)
olive oil
Exacto ® knife
2 inch piece of plastic straw
kiln
vermiculite
jewelers file or emery board
1. Start by placing a small ball of PMC in the middle of your work surface.
2. Set two stacks of card with 4 cards each on either side of your clay.