“Yet Another Quilt” Follow-up – Introducing Hadar’s Molds
What the textures on the quilt and in the photos above have in common is that they are all hand-crafted and part of the first series of Hadar’s molds, which is are now available on my online store.
Creating texturing and forming molds is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. These are molds that I created for my own work. They are not copied from natural or found objects nor computer generated. All masters are hand-made through an elaborate, labor intensive process.
Before getting into this venture I asked myself whether, being a teacher, I should teach how to make these mold rather that make them for sale. Indeed, my books include projects for making a few of these molds. However, they take a long time and much effort to make. Most of them also involve the loss of substantial amounts of clay, and have to be done over and over to reach the desired result.
The first collection includes 33 molds. They are all flexible, made from high-grade silicone putty which picks up fine details. They are all reversed: when you press the clay into the mold you will get the positive, the original pattern that the master displays. There is no need to make a mold from the mold.
In the next few weeks I will be posting projects and suggestion for using these molds, on my blog. Here are some options for using the set of molds called “Holey Rectangles”.
This is a set of three textured rectangles with slightly different size and pattern. They can be made into earrings, bracelets and necklaces.
Earrings
1. Rub the mold with an oiled toothbrush. Press the clay into the mold and pull it out.
2. Stick a wire eyelet or embeddable at the top of the rectangle.
3. Repeat step 1 and 2 for the second earring. Sand, fire and finish.
Bracelet
1. For a bracelet you may want the links to be 2-sided. In this case, make two pieces for each link.
2. Dry the pieces, and attach them back to back with wet clay.
3. Dry again, then seal the joint with wet clay.
4. Dry again, then drill two side holes in each link.
5. Sand smooth, fire, finish and assemble. The bracelet in the photo bellow was assembled with flexible cord and black pearls as spacers.
Suggestion: Make a mixed metal Holey Link Bracelet:
Necklace
The process is the same as that of the bracelet. The links don’t need to be two sided, though, and require only one side hole.
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:11 pm
It’s beautiful!
I really like these molds!
Quite a short cut from the whole procedure of mokume gane, that I’m still trying to practice!
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:29 pm
Congrats Hadar! This Is very exciting 🙂
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Great stuff! I love that first piece. Margaret
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:48 am
So it is made with just one material! A stamped impression did come to mind – stamp . . . mold – close!
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:49 am
Really nice molds tho, can appreciate the amount of time you have put into them.
September 23rd, 2013 at 3:50 am
Hadar – these are really lovely. Thank you for being generous with your creativity and knowlegde
September 23rd, 2013 at 7:09 am
Caroline, It is not a shortcut for mokume gane in general; just for those patterns which are made with empty spaces.
September 23rd, 2013 at 8:04 am
Hadar – these are great…what a great compliment to your clays
September 23rd, 2013 at 8:56 am
Hadar thank you so much. Can’t wait to try them out!
September 23rd, 2013 at 4:39 pm
The molds are wonderful thanks for sharing!
September 23rd, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Do you sleep? Really?! Super cool…I’m still in the 60’s, so it’s COOL. LOVE IT!
September 24th, 2013 at 11:30 am
Very generous for a working artist to not only share your techniques (I have all 4 books and am looking forward to the 5th in Oc.), but also take the time to make some molds to help others become more adept while they are practicing making these from scratch! I agree with Ro Germaine … you MUST not sleep! Pat