Every time I
hold these earrings in my hand, I wonder how is it possible that such small
and, at the first glance, simple pieces involve so much work?
I love these
earrings, but when I am creating them I often ask myself if it’s
really necessary for me to continue making them. Once the porcelain is coloured, the neriage block prepared, the beads formed and fired, it takes me
days to sand them until they are smooth. My fingers are always in pain
afterwards. The thinner ones get broken a lot during the sanding.
Maybe you are
wondering if it’s really necessary to sand them. Well, yes it is. Only when the
outer layer, which gets dirty from forming the beads, is removed (sanded), the
colour and the pattern can shine through. Here is a before and an after.
Last night I
made a new curly pattern for my neriage beads and I was terrified of what lies
ahead - a lot of sanding. And then it struck me out of the blue: I don’t have
to sand them as much if I cut off the outer layer when the beads are leather
hard. This way I will only have to give them the last polish with the very
smooth sandpaper. Why didn’t I think of it before? Well, I love that I am still
learning. Also, this is a great example how one can grow.
Here are the
new curly beads and how they look after the cut.
I won't only
have less work later, but I am saving on material as well. All the waste I cut
from the leather hard beads I can recycle and use again.
