... or any Ceramics built by hand.
All the Ceramic Beads [buttons and more] are made by me and are painted with tiny brushes, one-at-a-time in my home studio. Because of my Handmade, Hand Painted process - no moulds or decals/transfers insight - all my beads are slightly different in size and shape giving them that authentic handmade appeal. This guarantees that each bead is a One-of-a-Kind, Unique, little piece of art.
There are many stages to Ceramics, but for ease I will break this lengthy process into 3 parts.
Part 1 - GREENWARE
I start forming the clay into the shape I want either a ball, a flat bead, a twisty etc and either add a hole or pieces of high temperature wire as needed.
After the beads have been slowly air dried, and this drying time can take a minimum of 4-5 days in winter, each bead is cleaned gently with a damp sponge to make sure the surfaces are smooth.
Re-drilling is usually required because with this cleaning process, the holes can be partially lost.
After the beads have been slowly air dried, and this drying time can take a minimum of 4-5 days in winter, each bead is cleaned gently with a damp sponge to make sure the surfaces are smooth.
Re-drilling is usually required because with this cleaning process, the holes can be partially lost.
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| Air drying Beads |
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| Air drying Buttons |
Part 2 - BISQUE
After the clay Beads have been cleaned and are dried, they are placed in the Kiln for their first firing. The beads can touch each other without any drama. I sometimes load them in containers so I'm not chasing them around in the kiln later.
This first firing is known as a Bisque Firing, where the temperature reaches 1101 Celsius. The beads must be completely cooled in the kiln before removing, thus this whole process takes about 24 hours.
After this first firing the beads are ready for underglazing and glazing.
NB At this bisque stage, you may cover the beads in PMC, Art Clay Silver, Bronze Clay, Resin, Enamel, Cloth, Acrylic Paint etc which of course eliminates the final firing
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| Gift Tags and Beads |
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| Buttons |
Part 3 - GLAZED
Once out of the kiln, each bead is painted with tiny brushes. Usually 2-3 coats of specially formulated underglaze colour is applied to each bead and then 2 coats of a clear glaze. After complete drying, the beads are inspected and cleaned as required, glaze left in the holes makes the beads stick to the wires - not good. Now they are placed back in the kiln, for the second 24 firing process. Known as a glaze firing. This time the beads need to be hung on supporting wires. Too many beads per wire can make the wire to sag. This is a bad things because if the beads touch each other, they will permanently fused together - also not good.
Once this second process is complete, I can hardly wait to open the kiln and catch the first glimpse of the small treasures I have created!
I hope you will enjoy my Handmade and Hand Painted Ceramic Beads as much as I do creating them.
In Summary...
Every single Ceramic Bead has been handmade and painted by me. This is a 'one lady' hobby and I really enjoy making my own ceramic beads. It is a lengthy process, but it's very rewarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you make all the Ceramic Beads yourself?
Yes I sure do. This is a 'one lady' hobby and although it is a lengthy process, it's very rewarding.
Do you hold classes?
Yes I have put together several UNIQUE classes so others, who may not have this equipment readily available, can experience the same joys of "making your own creations" as I do. They are a great chance to Escape the Real World for a while, either on your own or with a small group of friends.
Is it possible to just buy the unpainted ceramic beads from you?
Yes you can, I have customers doing just that. My Handmande Ceramic Bisque Beads are perfect for every crafter as my beads can be covered in PMC, acrylic paints, polymer clay, foil, cloth etc. They make an inexpensive creative idea for art teachers, school holidays, gifts, projects and so on.
Do you make custom made beads?
Yes, I have made 'named' beads for christenings, charities, birthdays etc.
Where do I find your Ceramic Beads?
I sell them direct from our Studio at Cherryville in South Australia and I'm happy for people to make an appointment and drop by for a look. From time to time I have my work in Galleries and other outlets but the easiest, is on this site. I am happy to post within Australia.
