Here’s some advice: When finishing your new metal clay pieces (pre-firing) be really careful. I spent all of yesterday evening sanding and filing all my new work and now, instead of 68 new pairs of earrings I have 64 and two of the new “triptych” necklaces I had planned are now single pendant necklaces. Why? Because while I was sanding and filing several pieces broke. Some of this was while I was re-drilling holes, some of it was while I was just sanding. I tend to make small earrings thin as I know that this makes the earrings light weight and more comfortable to wear, but I shoot myself in the foot sometimes because all it takes is the slightest bit of pressure and the piece, still in its “leather stage”, snaps in two.
Bummer.
Anyway, I got everything fired last night. 200 grams of clay (minus a few pieces – probably about 25 grams worth) in only 3 firings! I was impressed that I was able to fit so much onto one fire brick at one time.
And I got my least favorite part of the process over with (the sanding and filing – which I dislike because it is tedious, but also for the reason stated above).
Tonight? My second least favorite part – brushing. Then? Tumble-a-thon! Yay! I love tumbling my new pieces because when they come out of the tumbler they are so sparkly and beautiful.
Tomorrow? Actually making jewelry out of these new pieces! Whoo hoo!