Before I begin making pendants or beads, I first dig through this container of stamps. I have found most of these in (of all places) the 99 cent stores. This leaf pattern that I am using for this demonstration I found in the 99 cent store a few months back.

I can use any type of of clay, but lately I seem to be addicted to the Taos red clay. It vitrifies at a lower temperature than porcelain and is extremely plastic (meaning it doesn't crack easily when bent or shaped).

I roll the clay into a ball and then simply roll that ball onto the stamp. Usually I begin at one diagonal corner and roll to the other. This gives a randomness to each bead I couldn't have achieved otherwise.

The next step is to put a hole in the bead. I use an aluminum knitting needle for hole piercing. I try to center the hole exactly in the middle so that when the bead is on the necklace that each bead will hang nicely.

Here are a few beads, different sizes, that have finished drying. At this point I can bisque fire them just as they are or I can underglaze them and bisque fire them, then later put a clear glossy coat on top and refire at a higher temperature. Firing at higher temperatures keeps the beads from chipping so easily.

Here are some after being glazed and fired. Note the translucence of the glaze which allows the leaf pattern to show through. I like how this particular glaze (Celery Green) allows the pattern to pop out from the bead. The darkness of the clay gives the appearance of a light white-pink.