About Making Ceramic Beads

Posted: March 10th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Jewelry Videos | Tags: , , , | 16 Comments »


This is an informative short video about the art of Making Beads from ceramic clay.

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16 Comments on “About Making Ceramic Beads”

  1. 1 nkpdesigns said at 11:33 pm on March 10th, 2011:

    I replied to this a moment ago but it doesn’t seem to be here. So if this shows up twice, that is why.

    The kind of clay I use requires a kiln which gets up to 2000 + degrees, and yes, if you use polymer or other types of clay, the beads are going to look very different. However, you can use many of the same techniques (measuring, texturing, piercing the holes).

    Have fun!

  2. 2 nkpdesigns said at 11:56 pm on March 10th, 2011:

    Alright! Have fun!

  3. 3 nkpdesigns said at 12:55 am on March 11th, 2011:

    Thank you and I have thought about Raku … I have some raku clay to do beads in the back of my studio closet and it is on my gonna do it eventually list. But you are right, raku is much more fragile than stoneware or porcelain beads, so pendants are the way to go with the raku. Thanks again!

  4. 4 nkpdesigns said at 12:56 am on March 11th, 2011:

    I put each bead on a wood skewer and carefully go around each hole with my brush. Then the glaze usually does not get on the rod at all. I always lose a few beads per batch, though, even if I am careful when glazing.

    Thanks for the comment and hope this helps!

  5. 5 smallsab2 said at 12:58 am on March 11th, 2011:

    hi there thank you for the video
    I really wanted to use this kind of clsy
    you said that I can use polemer or air drying clay but I think these types give different results I used the air drying clay but it dries fast and when I add water it becomes kinda sticky and I used salt clay but I can’t color it before I put it in the oven and ya just one question … I don’t knoe how to make ceramic clay … can you help me thank you so much

  6. 6 akatim456 said at 1:28 am on March 11th, 2011:

    Thanks this was very interesting. Do you have any help with glazing the beads and how to stop the glaze from running into the holes while they are on the rod being fired

  7. 7 Veganboyilicous said at 1:33 am on March 11th, 2011:

    Your very talented keep up the good work!…. Do you ever try rakuing your beads? I bet it would be beautiful, but I’d imagine they might be a bit more breakable. haha, now you have me driven to want to create some beads. I have way to many motivations when it comes to clay. But I guess that’s good.

  8. 8 nkpdesigns said at 2:03 am on March 11th, 2011:

    The kind of clay I use requires a kiln … of course you can take polymer clay and use many of the same techniques and obtain beautiful results.

    Thanks for the compliment! :)

  9. 9 handycrafted said at 2:46 am on March 11th, 2011:

    is the clay you use oven bakeable or do you need a kiln? your work is lovely!

  10. 10 kogomelacaga said at 3:36 am on March 11th, 2011:

    THANK YOU!!! i will be making my own beads for the plant hangers i make, yey!

  11. 11 nkpdesigns said at 4:00 am on March 11th, 2011:

    I put them on stainless steel rods. You can buy them at a welding supply store. Mine are quite tiny. I place them on kiln stilts and then cover them with stilts too. Check out my demos on my website. It’s nkpdesigns dot com slash demos dot html. Sorry I can’t put in the web address. You Tube doesn’t allow it for some reason. The demo on the nugget bead has a photo of the beads on rods placed on kiln stilts. Have fun!

  12. 12 valtango said at 4:50 am on March 11th, 2011:

    Thanks for replying, I do have another question. when you glaze the beads, how do you place them in the kin so they don’t stick to the shelf?

  13. 13 nkpdesigns said at 5:49 am on March 11th, 2011:

    I’m glad to be of help. Thanks for commenting.

  14. 14 nkpdesigns said at 6:40 am on March 11th, 2011:

    It is a lot of fun. Visit our beads of clay group on the web it is beads-of-clay dot org. So many great tips from bead artists who are waaaay beyond me in talent. Thanks for the comment.

  15. 15 TheBlondeInTheBack said at 7:07 am on March 11th, 2011:

    helpful thank you

  16. 16 valtango said at 8:00 am on March 11th, 2011:

    Wow, just watched your video, I am a beginner at working with clay, and have just done some wheel work, but having seen this, I would love to give it a go too. Great video, thanks

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