Table of Contents
AcknowledgmentsIntroduction 8
Equipment
Clay 18
Bead Glazing Equipment 22
Bead Firing Equipment 23
Bead Reduction Equipment 24
Jewelry Creation Equipment 25
The Kiln 25
The Bead Frame 31
Safety 39
Making Beads
Making a Basic Bead 41
Appliqué 45
Assembled 48
Carved 52
Cutouts 54
Embellished 58
Extruded 59
Hand-shaped 63
Molded 67
Roll-ups 71
Textured 74
Glazing
Glazes 81
Glazing Beads 83
Glaze Problems 86
Firing
Before Bisqueing 93
Drying 93
Raku Bisque Firing 94
Preparing Beads for Firing 97
Loading the Bead Frame 98
Firing in a Kiln 99
Record Keeping 113
WireWork
Stringing the Beads 114
Securing the String 115
Connecting the String to the Clasp 115
Clasps 120
Adding Tassels and Danglers 124
Multiple Strings on a Necklace 126
Projects
Brain Bead Necklace 127
Raku Tea Bowls & Oriental Knots Necklace 132
Textured Raku Beads- Wash-Off Technique 136
Raku Waves Necklace 141
Using Plaster Molds to Make Cast Clay Beads 146
Geometric Carved Beads 151
Cookie Cutter Beads 158
Pit-Fired Necklace 165
Design & Inspiration
Design Concepts 169
Traditional Necklace Lengths 170
Applique 171
Assembled 172
Carved 174
Cutouts 175
Embellished 178
Extruded 180
Hand-shaped 182
Molded 187
Roll-ups 188
Textured 190
Pit-Fired 201
Appendix A: Synonyms, Etc. 204
Appendix B: Glazes 205
Appendix C: Clay 222
Appendix D: 4 Clay Jewelry Artists 230
Appendix E: Raku Ho’olaule’a 242
Appendix F: References 247
Beyond Raku 250
Index 253