valerie bealle

I have spent most of my life in a love affair with craft. My journey started when, as a child, I learned to crochet. After many doilies and two children, I graduated to creating wearable art in free form crochet. Along the way I learned to spin yarn, weave cloth, and to dye anything in sight. I started a business, “North Shore Weavers” that supplied the interior design industry with hand woven custom sofa throws, wall hangings and pillows. A serious shoulder injury ended my weaving days but my hands would not be denied. I had always liked to include beads in my crochet and weaving, so there was a natural progression to jewelry design.

It was at this point that I discovered a relatively new product called “metal clay”. It seemed like magic. I could take a lump of this clay-like substance, form it, dry it and fire it in a kiln and come away with a piece of jewelry made of pure silver. As soon as possible, I got my certification as a metal clay instructor from PMC Connection and have been teaching ever since. I love the freedom that this material offers. I can create jewelry in fine (pure) silver, sterling (92.5%) silver, copper, bronze and various other metals.

I am especially influenced by the beautiful stones that nature provides, textile designs from the bronze age, the world of high fashion and, of course, nature.

Have fun looking through my web site at my one- of- a- kind jewelry designs. See my news area for information on upcoming shows and class schedules.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT METAL CLAY

step 01

roll out clay

step 02

roll clay into texture

step 03

remove texture sheet from clay

step 04

trim away unwanted clay

step 05

roll out and trim strip for bail

step 06

form bail around straw

step 07

dry all elements on hotplate

step 08

attach bail to piece with slip

step 09

place dry piece into kiln

step 10

fire piece in kiln

step 11

place fired piece in tumbler to polish

step 12

add a bead and a chain

Metal clay was invented in 1990 by the Mitsubishi Corporation. It is a finely powdered metal mixed with water and a glue- like organic binder. Once formed and dried the water is gone. When fired in a kiln the binder burns off, the metal particles sinter (pull together) to form a solid piece of metal. The gallery to the right shows the entire process.