shimmering peacock mokume gane necklace

Protect your work surface with a disposable cover, such as wax paper (or disposable foil). Uncured clay may damage unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Be sure to cover your crafting area appropriately.

Start with clean hands, unwrap, and knead clay until soft and smooth, or condition by running clay through a conditioning machine.
TIP: You can also condition by running clay through a pasta machine. Use a designated machine for clay purposes only. Clean hands with soap and water (or baby wipes) before switching clays. Shape clay, pressing pieces firmly together. Wash hands after use.

On the #4 setting, create a sheet from about 1/3 of Peacock Pearl, Galaxy Glitter and Robin’s Egg and Canary conditioned clays.

Then use the 1" [2.5 cm] square cutter to cut out a square of each shade of clay.

Next stack the squares on top of each other like a block in the following order of shades: Galaxy Glitter, Robins Egg, Peacock Pearl and Canary.

Run the block through the clay conditioning machine on the same #4 setting to get a long, thin sheet of clay. Then cut the sheet of clay in half as shown.

Restack the clay pieces in the same order.

Line up the edges neatly and run the stack through the clay conditioning machine again on the #4 setting, then cut and restack.

Run the stack through one more time and position it on your acrylic roller, Canary side down.

Using your clay blade, carefully make slices against the curve of the roller and expose the layers inside the stack.
TIP: If you slice too far and hit the roller, do not worry! Carefully remove the blade, lightly press the clay into place and turn the roller so that you are slicing from the opposite side now.

Lay the pieces you slice off on a clean sheet of paper to use later.
TIP: Make these slices over the entire length and almost the whole width of the piece of clay on the roller.

Carefully remove your final thin piece of clay from the acrylic roller and place on your work surface.

Check the depth of the bezel.
TIP: You can make a paper template of the bezel that you can trim around.

Fit your clay to the bezel and place the filled bezel on your baking sheet.

Preheat your oven to 275 °F [130 °C] and bake the clay pieces for 30 minutes per ¼" [.6 cm] thickness according to package directions. Allow to cool completely before handling.
TIP: For best results:

• Bake clay on an oven-proof surface such as metal or aluminum foil. Oven safe glass or ceramic surfaces are also acceptable for baking; however please note that the baking times may take longer as the glass or ceramic surfaces take longer to heat up.
• Use an oven thermometer.
• Do not use a microwave oven.
• Do not exceed the above temperature or recommended baking time.

Once the clay has cooled, use a thin blade to pop the clay out of the bezel and glue it back into place, and add a chain.

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