al-andalus creations - hand crafted polymer clay jewellery

what is polymer clay?

Polymer clay is a man made material developed in the 1930s and originally used as a modelling compound. It is only called "clay" because its texture and working properties resemble those of mineral clay. Polymer clay is an extremely versatile medium which can produce vibrantly coloured beads and lends itself to innovative and striking jewellery. Polymer clay has only been used for jewellery making in the last few decades but is growing fast in popularity, particularly in the USA. Many of the new cutting edge techniques used by bead makers today originate from old traditions such as “millefiore” which was developed centuries ago by glass makers in Italy. This involves combining complex patterns into a long cane of clay which can then be sliced to reveal the same pattern throughout, much like a stick of rock.

making polymer clay beads

Polymer clay can be mixed to produce both very strong and very subtle colours. I send a lot of time blending and mixing colours to produce the combinations that I want. I often add mica powder, metal leaf, acrylic paint, embossing powder or ink which can provide striking and sometimes unpredictable embellishments. My preferred technique is “millefiore” which produces complex patterns. I also use “mokume gane”, a technique borrowed from the Japanese tradition of blade making. Another method I employ is to extrude clay through shaped die plates to create strands or ropes of clay to cover base beads.

Once I have made a “batch“ of clay with which I am happy, I then make it into bead shapes by hand. The beads are “cured” or baked in an oven and then dropped into ice water straight from the oven. After they have cooled off the beads are sanded by hand with wet and dry sand paper. Then I usually varnish them with three coats of a water based varnish to produce a strong protective covering. Once the beads have been cleanly drilled they are ready to be strung.

caring for your jewellery

Polymer clay is robust and should last a lifetime with proper care. It is stronger than ceramic jewellery but still needs to be treated with care as with any other piece of jewellery. Beads can be dusted and wiped with a damp cloth and this should be enough to keep them looking beautiful. When not being worn, jewellery should be stored out of direct sunlight and extreme heat. Colours may start to fade over a period of time if left out on a window sill for instance. If you wear perfume, deodorant or hairspray, it is best to apply it before you put on your jewellery. Direct contact from aerosols and perfume may discolour the jewellery. Storing your polymer clay jewellery in a plastic bag should keep it in good condition and will also help to prevent tarnishing of any silver components.