Design Challenge #6 - Ruth Baillie

Ruth shares with us a brief synopsis of the steps she takes to create her Steampunk Stenciled Pendant, I'll Take the High-way!. Ruth adds that "the piece is an example of Steampunk.  It shows an early car but with an alternate historical style, a path not taken, where cars were powered by hot air! Integral parts of the car are findings from recycled watches."

If you are interested in the full step-by-step tutorial please stay tuned. It will be available in April at Whole Lotta Whimsy. They will be in a handy bench format too! This tutorial looks like it will be over 18 pictures with tons of detail! Ruth will teach you, in tutorial #6, these fantastic techniques:

• How to design a composed piece with layers
• How to account for shrinkage from a drawing to include cold connected attachments
• How to pierce and saw out a stencil from your own drawing
• How to apply the Kelly Russell Spackling Technique to create texture
• How to select a wire and then rivet or cold-connect non-fired elements onto a piece
• How to sand after firing, finish the surface and patina your beautiful piece

Select the watch parts you want to use and enlarge them to account for shrinkage on a copier. Draw your design around these enlarged parts to incorporate them into the design.

Using your templates for the outer shape, balloon and car, cut out the clay, with a craft knife.

Draw or photocopy your balloon detail onto a the brass sheet and saw out the shaded areas. Make sure to sand and finish the stencil template.

The slip needed for stenciling needs to be thick. You can either make your own or thicken up commercial slip.

Press the stencil over the balloon and hold firmly in place. Using a palette knife apply the thickened slip on the brass stencil sheet.

To add the balloon strings, roll out thin snakes of clay using a coil roller and apply them to the background area.

Apply the car overlay foreground to the background. Make sure the watch parts fit inside the openings.

After firing the piece for 2 hours in a kiln at 1650°F, patina with liver of sulphur. Place the watch face onto the recessed area. Using a automatic center punch make a dimple and then drill hole to coordinate with the size of the sterling or argentium wire rivet. Finish riveting watch parts.

Ruth's pendant stays true to her whimsical brand of creations at Birdland Creations. Her I’ll Take the High-way is pure enjoyment of classic found objects incorporated into great art. Wouldn’t this piece make you happy to wear! That's what wearable art is all about.

Remember for leaving a comment on any of the blog postings, you'll be entered to win a give-away. The drawing will be held soon. We'd love to hear from you!

We'd love to see you take this new challenge as well to try your hand at making a custom stencil and learn to cold-connect your found object. Time for a little steampunkery? Can't wait to see your pieces. Send them and we'll post pictures in a future Challenge Gallery.

Ruth Baillie started working with metal clay in 2005 after being inspired by a magazine article about it. Her creations begin with a positive emotion, then she adds her love of games, humor, and surprises…. and a bit of nature …to create jewelry that does more than adorn, but lifts your spirits too. Most of her work utilizes the wonderful sculptural capacity of metal clay, creating figures, birds, and animals that have their own individual characters.

Ruth hasn’t pursued the teaching side of metal clay, but instead focuses on creating and selling her work exclusively online through her own website and other artisan sites. Her biggest market is and always has been Germany.

Ruth works from a home studio in Northern California, where she and her husband grow Merlot grapes. They share the vineyard with their parrot, Harold and many other birds. These birds are a great source of inspiration for Ruth’s Birdland Creations. Visit her website at www.BirdlandCreations.com.

Photo credit: final piece Drew Davidson; step-by-step Ruth Baillie

Comments

[cindy holst]

A very whimsical piece for the Whole Lotta Whimsy Master Muse project.

[Maggie Bergman]

What a lovely piece Ruth, very fitting for a Whole lot of Whimsy! :)

[Donna Penoyer]

What a cute piece!

[Nicola Callow]

Loving the sweet wheels & watch face.
Really creates a different look
nicola x

[Ruth]

Thanks for your comments. Glad you came to take a look. Hope you'll give the stenciling a try if you haven't before.

[Sue Urquhart]

Very cute! It's great how Ruth kept true to her own style with this piece.

[Wendy]

I love it Ruth! Great technique that will be fun to try.

[Catherine Witherell]

Harold would be proud! It's really a fun piece.

[Ann]

very whimsical! it was fun looking at the pieces on the website of birds, a passion of mine!

[Angela]

This is charming ! Love how she integrated the wheels and clock face while still keeping with her overall stype of poetic fun typical of her work.

[Kristi]

Fun as always Ruth!!!