If you're reading this, you are either just beginning your clay journey or are considering starting to play around with clay and jewelry-making. Congrats! Clay is a wonderful medium, and working with your hands is incredibly rewarding. I wanted to put together a couple of my favorite work pieces to help give you a short "shopping list" as you get going.
Let's get this party started!
#1 - A Glass or Marble Tile
This glass tile is absolutely perfect for clay work. It is easy to clean and the surface is very stable, a must when cutting out your earring shapes. I used this glass one for a long time and loved it!
I now use a slab of marble, which has a silky surface that is less sticky than glass, so clay is even less likely to get left behind on it. Pro tip: a marble cheese board or serving tray is often easier to find than a true piece of tile (and it already has a backing to protect your work station).
I found my marble tile at Bed. Bath & Beyond but you can find them at places like TJ Maxx and Marshall's/
These are lifesavers! I do not do a ton of work cutting metal chains but these are have sharp chain-cutters close to the handle. It makes assembly so much easier!
Pro tip: You can also use your marble tile as a photo prop!
The days of using two pairs of pliers to open a jump ring - or even worse, using a fingernail *shudder* - are over! The jump ring openers are a life AND time-saver for the maker on the go.
This light box is how I take photos on dreary, cloudy days! It helps make all your photos consistent when you are working with limited daylight.
Acrylic rollers are awesome, but after using a stainless steel roller, I can't go back! The stainless steel roller helps to eliminate the lines left behind on the clay from your pasta machine, too.