Cheerful Sprouting Clay Necklace

white ceramic clay
canvas board*
rolling pin
2, 3/8" x 2' wood spacers
clay tools:
- wood stick
- pin tool
- knife
cup of water
electric kiln
glaze
paintbrush
silver enamel paint
heavy medium cable sterling silver chain
2" wide cable chain
lobster clasp
jump rings
2" head pins
20-gauge sterling silver wire
top drilled Peruvian opal stones
Swarovski crystals
round nose pliers
flat nose pliers
wire cutters
paper pattern
*Staple canvas over a piece of plywood to make a canvas board.

1. Draw desired design and make a paper pattern.

2. Roll out a piece of clay between 3/8-inch spacers with a rolling pin on the canvas board. The spacers serve as a guide for thickness.

3. Let slab dry to soft leather hard stage and then place paper pattern on clay and cut out pattern using the pin tool (figure A). Smooth out the edges with your fingers.

4. Make three holes at the bottom of the clay piece with the pin tool. This is where the chain and stones will hang. Make a hole through the top of the piece to insert the wire to connect the chain to the pendant (figure B).

5. Form impressions into the clay piece with a wood stick (figure C).

6. Soften the edges by dipping finger into water and smoothing out the edges. Do not cover up holes made by pin tool.

7. Let dry completely to bone dry stage. Fire in kiln to the bisque stage (figure D).

8. Paint sides and front of pendant with a commercial glaze and fire again in the kiln (figure E).