Design Challenge #2 - Barbara Becker Simon

Barbara shares with us a brief synopsis of the steps she takes to create her beautiful clasp. If you are interested in the full step-by-step tutorial please stay tuned. It will be available early March at Whole Lotta Whimsy. They will be in a handy bench format too!  This tutorial looks like it will be over 60 pictures with tons of detail! 

Condition the CopprClay, if needed. Roll out clay about 1/4" thick, enough to cut out the pattern.

Remove and store the excess clay. Grease the mold and lay the spiral on the round surface to give the clay a slight dome. Dry completely. When dry, fill in any cracks by caulking in clay, not slip. Let dry.

Roll a ball of clay about 1/2" in diameter. Using clay, secure the grooved end of the wire into the CopprClay ball.

Make a small cone shaped form. You can also use Linda Kaye-Moses cone doming plates to use as a shape for forming the cone shape. Let dry. When dry, drill a hole in the small end of the cone with the drill that coordinates with the wire. Place the cone on the other end of the wire. Carve the ball and the cone in a design to correspond with the spiral.

Decide on a pattern to carve into the front of the spiral. You can make drawings or do it free-style. Always support the piece from the back with your non-carving hand so as not to cause breakage, especially on the "tail" of the spiral.

Place in kiln and fire using an open shelf firing and a second carbon container firing.  Finish and patina as desired.

Barbara shows us that the clasp can be the focal too!  It's comfortable to wear (shhhh...yes, I wore it) and it's an eye-catching design.  The weight of the focal allows it to lay very nicely too!  

We'd love to see you take the challenge as well to make an incredible clasp. Can't wait to see your pieces. Send them and we'll post pictures in a future Challenge Gallery. No toggle or c-clasps. Challenge yourself!

Barbara Becker Simon earned a BS in Art Education and an MFA in Metalwork and Jewelry. She has been a goldsmith for over 40 years and taught at the University of Wisconsin-Menomonie and Iowa State University. Barbara travels the US teaching lampwork & metal clay workshops as Senior Instructor for Rio Grande. Her work appears in Creative Metal Clay Jewelry: Techniques, Projects, and Inspiration New Directions in Metal Clay, (Wire), The Art of Metal Clay, (Haab), and PMC Decade and PMC Technic, (McCreight), among others. In April 2009, Lark Books published her book, Metal Clay Beads. Barbara is known internationally for her lampworked glass beads & jewelry. Contemporary Lampworking by Bandhu Dunham features Barbara’s work on the cover. Formed of Fire (Dunham), Beads of Glass (Jenkins), and 1000 Glass Beads, (Lark) also features her beads. Barbara work is on display in Washington DC, Glendale, AZ, & Japan.

Check out Barbara's work at www.bbsimon.com.  You can purchase her beads and work online or at Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee, WI, June 10th -13th.

Photo credit: final piece Drew Davidson; step-by-step Barbara Becker Simon

Comments

[Kenji Von Achen]

Beautiful clasp Barbara. You never seem to amaze me...

[Wendy T]

Wow, as always, Wow! You never fail to inspire and surprise me! As always a professional!

[Ann]

Barbara, I am such a fan! Your carving is so outstanding, and the piece is beautiful!

[Jessica Clay]

Love the design and can't believe the hand-carving. And the patina is lovely. I can't wait for the full tutorial.

[Ellie Silk]

Barbara

Your design of the clasp is fantastic-as usual. Keep on rollin'

Ellie Silk

[Catherine Witherell]

My goodness, she can carve!

[Petra Cameron Wennberg]

Wow. Carved to perfection. Stunning. And I LOVE the function of the clasp! Superb!

[Vickie Hallmark]

Can't wait to get the full tutorial and see all the details of how to achieve such an accomplished look! Kudos, Barbara!

[Marilyn cook]

I am so inspired! Clever and beautiful piece

[Jessica Kimelman]

beautiful!! & very inspirational!

[Pam Annesley]

Thank you Barbara for such a lovely clasp and thank you Tonya for sharing it.
Pam Annesley

[carol gregory]

Stunning Barbara, looks like the ocean!

[Zoe Nelson]

I really like clasps that are also focal pieces. This one is a stunner!

[Donna Penoyer]

I love it, love it, love it! The carving and overall shape are so wonderful. The border Barbara left around the perimeter (uncarved) adds so much to the finish of the piece. This one's got tremendously good vibes!

[Lora Hart]

Barbara never ceases to amaze me with her creativity and construction mastery. The carving is stupendous. Great project!

[Shana Capozza]

This is such a great new program!! Can't wait to follow it. Thanks to everyone for sharing so much invaluable information with us!

[Carol Hamilton]

You rock Barbara, beautiful piece.......

[Claire]

Stunning design and flawless execution. Can't wait to purchase the full tutorial, esp. to see how Barbara did all that precision carving. Amazing!

[Jan Durkin]

I love the carving! It's so precise. And I appreciate how the mechanics of the piece lend to the visual design. Wonderful!

[Carol Radley]

Really graceful and lovely!!

[Margaret Schindel]

Wow, this is a stunner, Barbara!!!

[Emma Beane]

wow.oh wow. fabulous design and that carving.....wow....

[Tonya Davidson]

All the information on supplies and tools used will be in the tutorials available soon at Whole Lotta Whimsy! Hope everyone will support these artists by getting one when they are available. The work they put into the tutorials is phenomenal! No stone left unturned ;-)

[Colleen J. Stella]

Just lovely, Barbara!

[Catherine Davies Paetz]

Absolutely fabulous! Wonderful design and beautifully crafted.