Pillow Bead Clay and Macrame Bracelet

Materials:

pasta machine
Kato Polyclay, black, one 3 oz. bar
imitation gold leaf
kitchen sponge pieces
paint palette
Pearlescent liquid acrylic: white pearl, Genesis green
Dr. PH Martin iridescent calligraphy colors: iridescent jade
needle tool
clay-dedicated oven
Future floor shine or clear sealer of your choice
paint brush
Conso cord
assorted beads
scissors
5/8" square Kemper shape cutter
tissue blade
rods to bake beads on
scrap clay for holding rods (stands)
Speedy wax tool or lighter
masking tape
tape measure

1. Condition the black clay and cut a 3-inch square that is a #1 thickness. (Note: All thicknesses are for an Atlas Machine.)

2. Cover the clay with gold leaf (figure A).

3. Roll the clay out to a #6 thickness, turning a quarter turn each time you put it through the pasta machine (figure B). Cut this piece in half, and reserve one half.

4. Using the cut-up sponges, paint one half with the pearlescent paints. Allow the paint to dry (figure C).

5. Use the reserved half of the gold leafed clay to tear strips. Space them about 1/2 inch apart on the painted piece of clay (figure D).

6. Back this newly created piece with a #1 thickness of black clay. Roll this down to a #3 thickness and cut shapes out for beads (figures E and F).

7. Form the beads around the needle tool. Put on rods that are held up with bead-baking stands (figure G) and bake for 30 minutes.

8. When cool, paint each bead with one or two coats of clear sealer.

9. To make the bracelet: Measure your wrist and add about 1 inch. Cut a piece of Conso cord about 12 inches long if your wrist is between 6 and 7 inches--longer if your wrist is more than 7 inches.

10. String on the beads you made with assorted beads as spacers to measure about (your wrist plus 1 inch). Lay the assembly on a table with the ends of the cords running parallel to each other. Tape each end down with masking tape (figure H).

11. Cut a 12-inch piece of Conso cord and, following the macramé instructions below, tie enough knots to equal about 1/2 inch in length.

Macrame Instructions: The basic macrame knot is a square knot with two core cords running through the middle of the knot. You have already taped down your two center cords, which are the "core" cords.

1. Place the 12-inch piece of Conso cord behind the two core cords. Bring the cord on the right side OVER the two core cords and UNDER the left-hand cord, leaving a loop on the right side (figure I).

2. Bring the end of the left-hand cord UNDER the core cords and UP THROUGH the loop. Pull the left and right cords to tighten the knot (figure J).

3. Bring the cord on the right UNDER the core cords and OVER the cord on the left, leaving a loop (figure K).

4. Bring the end of the cord on the left OVER the core cords and DOWN THROUGH the loop on the right (figure L).

5. Pull the left and right cords to tighten the knot. This is one complete knot (figure M).

6. Repeat until you have about 1/2 inch in length of knots. Pull the cords so the bracelet is closed (figure N), add some beads to the dangling cords, and tie some knots to secure the beads on the end (figure O). These dangles should be about 2 inches long each. Cut and burn the ends.