Saturday, May 15, 2010

Stoneware experiments


I have been experimenting with a new clay for me.  Stoneware.  I usually use earthenware which is a low fire clay.  This stoneware has been fired to Cone 5.  I stained it with a teal color stain and fired it.  No glaze.  Then I thumbled the beads and the pendant for about 2 hours.  I put a little beeswax on the tree part of the pendant.  Hard for me to give up that shiny glaze LOL.

These beads have also been fired to Cone5 but have not yet been tumbled.  I tumble them so that there is no chance that the stain will rub off on clothing.  Unlike earthenware, most of the stain has been fired into the clay and does not come off .

I like the old archeological look to these beads.  I will keep experimenting with stains and see what else I can come up with.
I'd love to hear what you think.
 
WATCH FOR MY 100TH FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY EARLY NEXT WEEK.

9 comments:

  1. I do like this finish. Very rustic and mysterious, as if these beads washed up on the shores of the Mediterranean!
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ohhhh, Mary! I love these beads! Yes to mysterious and rustic! xo Cait

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh these are wonderfully earthy! I agree with you, I love that dug up look! Awesome beads Mary!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Erin, I am love your take on these beads. Washed up on the shores of the Mediterranean. Wow!! I could not have put it better. Thanks so much for stopping and commenting.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Cait, How wonderful that you stopped by. So Glad you like the mysterious and rustic. Just the look I like too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Tari, That dug up look. Just what I am aiming for. Thanks so much for your comment. And for all your comments on Beads-of-clay blog. Have a good week.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey Mary! Do you make these beads like buttons? I would love to put them in a neckwarmer piece! Let me know!!
    xo Cait

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Cait, what size do you want? I would love you to have some. Mary

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh Mary, ANY size except tiny, teeny! I'll make a buttonhole to fit whatever!!! Maybe I can come over to your studio one day?? xo

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Raku Bead Video Part III