Gold Leaf Folded Vessel
Carol Duvall Show : Episode CDS-548 -- More Projects »
At the 1998 National Art Material Trade Association show in Las Vegas, Accent Import/Export representative Barbara McGuire demonstrated how to make a wonderful desktop pencil cup using polymer clay with mesh wire embedded in it for strength. Having been inspired by an origami box, Barbara covered the cup with patterned gold leaf for a great one-of-a-kind design, which she calls a "folded vessel." Materials:
Fimo polymer clay
Wire Form woven metal mesh
Magic Leaf patterned gold leaf
waxed paper
brayer
clay knife
craft knife
scissors
ruler
optional mini-chopper or pasta machine to condition the clay
Steps:
Hand conditioning the clay
- Condition clay by hand by kneading, rolling and doubling snakes of clay until soft.
- On a piece of waxed paper, use a brayer to roll the clay flat. The clay is now conditioned for use.
Machine conditioning the clay - Condition the clay by slicing it into 1/2-inch square chunks. Be certain to use small chunks because big chunks tend to jam the chopper motor.
- Place the chunks into a mini-chopper (for clay use only).
- Chop the clay into small bits until the friction and heat begin to 'glob' them together again. The clay should now be warm and pliable.
- Use a brayer to spread the clay unto a sheet of waxed paper and roll it into a flat, rectangular shape.
- Remove the clay from the waxed paper and run it through the pasta machine. Starting on setting #1 (thick) and decreasing to setting #5 (thin), double the clay onto itself and pass it through the pasta machine over and over again until the texture is smooth and the clay is supple. The clay is now conditioned for use.
Making the box - Place the flattened clay onto a smooth surface. Cut the clay into two, 7-3/4" x 3-3/4" rectangular shapes.
TIP: For a larger or smaller size vessel, increase or decrease dimensions throughout these directions.
- Using scissors, cut mesh wire into a 7-1/4" x 3-1/4" rectangle.
- Center the wire rectangle on one of the clay rectangles and roll with the brayer to embed the wire into clay.
- Place the second rectangle of clay over the first piece, sandwiching the wire between the two clay rectangles.
- Using a craft knife, trim the clay rectangle so the dimensions are 7-1/2" x 3-1/2".
- Cover the top surface of the clay with patterned gold leaf and trim away excess leaf.
- To determine where to fold the clay rectangle, trace the pattern onto an 8-1/4" x 3-1/2" rectangle of waxed paper.
TIP: Use a copy machine to enlarge or reduce pattern if a larger or smaller size vessel is desired.
Place the pattern on top of clay/wire rectangle and fold the rectangle according to pattern lines to form the walls of the folded vessel. Seam the straight-edged ends together to form a solid vessel shape that has a square opening on one end and a rectangular opening on the other. Bake in a 265-degree oven for 20 minutes. Remove vessel from oven (it will feel a bit rubbery). Reshape the vessel. As the piece cools, it will harden completely. To construct a base for the vessel, set the square, open end of the vessel onto a 1/4-inch thick piece of conditioned, rolled-out clay. Cut the clay base using the vessel bottom as a guideline. Flip the vessel upside-down and use the clay knife to trim the sharp edges from the bottom of the base. Cover vessel bottom with gold-leaf and bake in a 265-degree oven for 20 minutes.
Resources National Art Materials Trade Association (NAMTA)
NAMTA cannot provide information on products or artists featured on HGTV shows.
National Art Materials Trade Association (NAMTA)
10115 Kincey Ave., Suite 260
Huntersvillle, NC 28078
USA
Phone: 704-948-5554
E-mail:
info@namta.org
Website:
www.namta.org Guests Barbara McGuire
Art-Forward
Website:
www.barbaramcguire.com
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