Gan
Domed Hinged Message Pendant               
by Deirdre Gan

gan1 gan2

TOOLS and EQUIPMENT

Badger Balm               Roller              Textures          Cutters             25 gram PMC3
Playing Cards              Plastic Measuring Teaspoon   8 mm CZ         Silicone sheets Sanding tools              Plastic coffee stir straws         PMC3 paste    CD cover                                  Straight edge clay cutter                    Paint Brush  16-gauge Sterling Silver Wire

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
16-gauge fine silver wire         Ball Peen hammer       Bench Block    Round nose pliers           Needle nose pliers              

gan3                     gan8

  1. Always start by using Badger Balm on hands, tools, straws, rollers, textures, and cutters you will be using.
  2. DOME HINGED PIECE
  3. Using 16 grams PMC3 roll out clay 4 playing cards thick (1mm).  Roll out the clay on a texture plate or press into a texture remove and place on a silicone sheet or non-stick surface.  Cut a 1 ¼ “ circle, then cut a smaller circle in the center just smaller than the diameter of the CZ (8mm), you are using approx. 5/16”. (A large OILED straw or small round cutter will work.)  Place over a round plastic measuring teaspoon to form the dome. Figure (A)
  4. Let dry completely
  5. Sand around the outside of the domed edge and carefully around the center hole. CAUTION: TOO MUCH FILEING CENTER HOLE WILL CAUSE THE CZ TO FALL THROUGH.
  6. Place the dry Dome on 4 playing cards with the edge of dome at edge of cards.     (This allows the Dome to rest flush on top of the bottom-hinged 4 cards thick piece when completed.)
  7. Paint a little PMC3 paste around center hole and set the CZ on top of dome. (This will hold the CZ in place while preparing the coil to set the stone.)
  8. PMC3 Bale piece - Using a CD cover roll out your PMC3 into a round 1/8” graduated to 1/4’’ roll in diameter, cut to approx. 4” in length.  Leave the narrow end round for about 1’’ and flatten the rest 3 cards thick for bale. (Trim flatten part to ¼” width).  Apply damp brush with a very little water then PMC3 paste around the edge around the CZ and then center of Dome toward edge of dome where the playing cards end.  Carefully wrap the narrow round end of the bale PMC3 piece ¾ of the way around the CZ between the PMC3 dome and CZ to form open bezel.  Then wrap the flattened part toward edge of dome, cut the flatten piece ¾” past the edge of dome and roll under around an OILED straw for bale.  Figure (B) Let dry completely.
  9. Apply PMC3 around bale piece edges to secure and finish the Dome piece nicely.
  10. OPTIONAL: Dome underside embellishment – ¾ “ 16-gauge fine silver wire coiled and flattened with ball peen hammer on bench block.  Dip open outside edge of wire coil, in PMC3 paste attach to center back of dome.  Let dry and add more PMC3 paste around inside edge of coil where it has contact with PMC3 inside Dome.
  11. MESSAGE HINGED PIECE
  12. Trace around Domed hinged piece’s outside shape on a piece of paper to use as a pattern for placement for the message design. (I used a altered star design for my message piece so you can see it, with the round domed piece hinged together on top, a circle piece hidden under the dome would also work.  Use your imagination.
  13. Roll out PMC3 clay 4 cards thick (1mm) on a texture plate or smooth surface.  Cut out your design shape freeform or with cutter and then place on silicone working surface.
  14. While the shape is wet, use lettering tools to write your message; I used the cool tools Alpha disc. Figure (C) I RECOMMEND WRITING OUT YOUR MESSAGE FIRST TO MAKE SURE YOU SPELL IT CORRECTLY.  SET YOUR SPELLING REFERENCE BY YOUR PIECE WHILE WRITING ON YOU PMC3 DESIGN.  CHECK YOUR SPELLING, REDO IF YOU MAKE AN ERROR, I DID!
  15. Roll out another piece of PMC3 clay 4 cards thick (1mm) so you can cut two strips 1/4 “ wide by 1 1/2” long.  Place your paper template of Domed piece carefully on message piece. Set the strips next to the top edge of the wet shape one to the left of center paper bale template and one strip right of bale.  Attach to message shape with PMC3 paste.  Cut length of strip approx. 5/8” passed the message shape edge and wrap the strip forward around the same size OILED coffee straw used for Dome bale.  Check for lifting and seal with more PMC3 paste. Let dry.
  16. Add any additional details, I added dented balls to the tips of my message design.  I rolled out PMC3 clay into a 1/8” roll then cut the roll into 3 similar sized cut pieces.  Rolled them each into small balls.  Applied PMC3 paste to tips of message design.  Then attached the balls to the tips, embossing the dent into the balls with a round tip tool. Figures (D) (E)
  17. FILE AND FINISH BOTH PIECES.  Check that the hinged sections fit together nicely with dome piece on top of message piece, with a slight space between the hinges.
  18. Prepare Dome and Message pieces for firing, place a wooden toothpick in hinge of Dome and Message pieces then place parchment paper between top and bottom piece. Figure (F)
  19. Fire in Kiln on PMC3 setting.
  20. Polish in tumbler. (The longer the stronger)
  21. Finish with Silver Black as desired.
  22. Use 16-gauge Sterling silver wire to join the Dome and message hinges.  I finished the Domed Message pendant with 10 mm Hematite beads wire wrapped with 20-gauge wire and a Sterling Silver clasp.

SO MUCH FOR A SIMPLE HINGED PROJECT, GO WITH YOUR CREATIVITY AND SEE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH!!!

Deirdre Gan