Inspired by Nature. Achieved by Metal Clay.

MCHs October featured metal clay artist is Ali of AliBaliJewellery.

Across the Pond comes metal clay artist Ali Reid. Ali started out as a silversmithing student and achieved her goal as a full time artist creating metal clay jewelry in just a couple of years. Ali signature style is clean, simple lines, with much of her inspiration coming from the flora and fauna of Scotland. The rainbow patina she created on her jewelry is truly amazing! Let's grab a cup of tea and enjoy our interview with Ali.

When did you first become interested in Metal Clay? How long have you been designing jewelry using Metal Clay?
I first became aware of Metal Clay in 2007. I had just started a silver smithing evening class and ventured into the local bead shop to get some beads to adorn my designs. They were running metal clay classes and I decided to sign up for a three hour beginner’s course.

What was your first piece of Metal Clay jewelry?
The first piece I made was a heart shaped textured pendant and matching earrings. I made these at the course and was instantly hooked on metal clay! I attended a few more courses to learn to make rings and hollow objects. I’ve also been lucky enough to attend masterclasses by Sherri Haab and Gordon K Uyehara when they visited Scotland.

What inspires you?
My inspiration comes mainly from the flora and fauna of Scotland. Most of pieces are influenced by or created using natural objects.

Why did you design the giveaway piece? What is special about your giveaway piece?
My giveaway piece is inspired by beautiful coral rock pools which can be found on the Isle of Skye. I was attracted to the many colors in the rock pools and my coral range was designed with these images in mind. The little earrings I’m giving away are by far my best sellers, both online and at craft fairs. Fortunately I never get tired of making them and every pair is absolutely unique!

What do you enjoy most about working in Metal Clay?
I love texture and Metal Clay is just fantastic to work with, textures which would be impossible to produce in sterling silver, can be created with ease using Metal Clay. I carry a little amount of two part molding compound around with me, you never know when you might spot an interesting texture!

What is your greatest ambition as a Metal Clay artist?To continue to be fortunate enough to make my living as a metal clay artist! I started working full time as a metal clay artist in December 2009 and was lucky enough to hit the ground running as the Christmas rush kicked in! I’ve steadily built my business, expanding from just selling online and at craft fairs, to starting to supply shops and galleries. I will be doing my first trade fair in January 2012. That aside, I also want to organise myself sufficiently to create time to spend designing new and more challenging pieces, continuing to play and enjoy metal clay!


Ali is giving away a pair of her beautiful Silver Coral Post Earrings to a lucky reader!. To enter the giveaway, here are the rules:

Every person is eligible to enter the blog giveaway with up to FOUR (4) entries. How can you get an entry? You can do any of the following and then let us know that by leaving a comment under this feature so we can keep track.

1. Follow our blog and post a comment here = 1 entry
2. Check out featured artist and post favorite piece under comment here = 1 entry
3. Heart featured artist’s shop and post a comment here = 1 entry
4. Follow featured artist on Facebook and post a comment here = 1 entry
5. Make a purchase and let us know here = 2 entries
6. Refer a friend and post a comment here = 1 entry
7. Tweet about the giveaway using key word metalclayheads and post a comment here = 1 entry
8. Share the Metal Clay Heads blog giveaway link on FB (Go to http://www.facebook.com/MetalClayHeadTeam and click Share) and post a comment here = 1 entry
9. If you voted and commented on our last challenge = 1 entry

The giveaway will run for two weeks. We will announce the winner on October 28th. Good luck!

September Challenge Results!

Our challenge theme this time is "In The Garden" and the technical requirement is adding colors to the metal clay piece. Here are the results:

By Popular Vote:

1) Down in New Orleans VI -- Stardust with 30 votes
2) Handmade Autumn Silver Dragonfly Necklace -- Envydesignsjewelry with 18 votes
3) Large Spider Earring -- AnnaSiivonen with 9 votes
4) Bronze Flower Necklace -- PrairieCoastArt with 4 votes

By Technical Vote:

1) Handmade Autumn Silver Dragonfly Necklace -- Envydesignsjewelry with 7 votes
2) Down in New Orleans VI -- Stardust with 4 votes
3) Bronze Flower Necklace -- PrairieCoastArt with 2 votes
4) Large Spider Earring -- AnnaSiivonen with 1 vote

Overall (based on percentage recalculation of the two above):

1) Handmade Autumn Silver Dragonfly Necklace -- Envydesignsjewelry (30%/50%)
2) Down in New Orleans VI -- Stardust (49%/29%)
3) Large Spider Earring -- AnnaSiivonen (15%/1%)
3) Bronze Flower Necklace -- PrairieCoastArt (1%/14%)

Jennifer of Envydesignsjewelry is our winner because she won 50% of the technical vote. Alice of Stardust was really close to winning, just 2% behind! We also have a tie on the third place. I can't wait to see what theme Jennifer will pick for our next challenge in November. Thank you for your participation!

September Challenge - In The Garden

Before you even knew it, it's our September challenge time! This time it is more exciting than ever since we've many first timers and new members who has entered a piece of their amazing work! Our September Challenge Theme is "In The Garden". The technical requirement is add colors to your design. Here are the entries:

Down in New Orleans VI from Stardust


I'm not going to lay down in words the lure of this place. Every great writer in the land, from Faulkner to Twain to Rice to Ford, has tried to do it and fallen short. It is impossible to capture the essence, tolerance, and spirit of south Louisiana in words. —Chris Rose More ...

Bronze Flower Necklace from PrairieCoastArt


Beautiful handcrafted bronze flower pendant with patina finish. Antique brass 18" necklace. A striking combination of colors. More ...

Maple Seed & Garnet CZ Pendant from StuckOnSilver


These are nicer in a pendant where they behave themselves than in my garden! This pendant features a faceted garnet cz nestled in a cluster of those intrepid little "helicopters" that twirl from maple trees. The replicas are made from my own molds made from rascally seeds I picked up in my front yard. More ...

Mother Earth's Autumn Gift from Adornyourself


Raw Brass disc, Hadar J's copper leaf, enamels, and gold luster. Torch fired. More ...
Handcrafted Flower Necklace from Lifeartdesigns


A handcrafted flower necklace completed handmade from scracth out of fine silver metal clay and polymer. The focal point of this necklace is the flowers and floral theme. Yellow and purple flowers intermingle into a base of deep pink polymer clay. More ...

Princess Ai Heart Locket from Rainjewelry


I would use fine silver for the locket part (it would not open) and the lock, sterling silver chain wrapped around the locket and the necklace and a red cubic zirconium heart for the stone. I can tarnish the piece a mellow gold color. More ...

Large Spider Earring from AnnaSiivonen


One large spider single earring. Dangles with one leg piercing your ear and he´s hypoallergenic since his legs are made of titanium. Might be the coolest or creepiest earring ever, garanteed to make heads turn. More ...

Fine Silver Enamel Pendant Seed Bead Necklace from DesignsbyHarriet


This pure silver triangular shaped pendant has a raised circle in the center with swirls of aqua/green enamel. The swirl design on the triangle is oxidized to bring out the pattern.
The necklace is made of large green and yellow seed beads separated by small irridescent gold seed beads and clear long beads. More ...

Last Bud Pendant from Seavbeach


These are the last buds of summer. Made with steel clay and enameled buds. More ...

Handmade Autumn Silver Dragonfly Necklace from Envydesignsjewelry


A beautiful fall colored fine silver dragonfly, flitting through the garden...
I started by carving my design into a rubber block, pressed the clay into the design, then refined, set the gemstones and fired the dragonfly. Set into the pendant are 2 each of Yellow sapphire, alexandrite, and amethyst CZ's. I added a swirl and dots the the back of the piece as well. More ...

The public poll on the right is open for two weeks. The technical poll, also open for two weeks, is restricted to MCHs team members only. Enjoy and don't forget to vote! Please cast your vote on the right column; and if you post a comment, you will be automatically entered into our October blog giveaway. Poll will be close on October 2nd.

September Challenge Technical Poll

Restricted to MCHs only.

This is where we turn our creative juice into juicy creations! Part 3

MCHs Bench Roll Call Mini Series Part III

Storage Solutions in the Studio - Janie of Life Art Designs


I recently began reorganizing my studio. I work in different mediums such as silver clay, polymer clay, and sometimes resin. This can lead to a lot of disorganization due to all the different materials involved. I separated my space into three separate work areas. One area for polymer clay, one for metal clay, and a third area for tumbling, buffing and polishing, and assembling jewelry. More ...