Mother’s day event (or just regular event if you prefer :-))

Save the date: April 2nd 1:00-4:00pm and 3rd 1:00pm-2:00pm, 2020.

We’ll be folding silver metal clay sheets into origami to be fired into solid silver origami and (optionally) making them into mother’s day gifts! Bring paper for origami boxes if you like. More details to come.

Summary:

• Folding: 4/25/2020 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm
• Polishing and pickup: 4/26/2020 from 1:00-2:00pm
• Cost: $17.10 per sheet of silver origami clay. Price may fluctuate before the event. Everything else you need will be provided (see Supplies, including ordering information).
• Where: Clay Factor Ceramics, 4629 SE 17th Ave Unit 9, Portland, OR

Important info:

• This is a casual get together rather than a class. If you need any help with the origami part of things, please email me at tyler@linkless.org .
• Parking in the lot is fine; there is extra parking on Pardee St.
• The doors will be locked. Please call or text me at 530-515-5498 when you arrive.
• Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

**Sign up at https://www.meetup.com/Portland-Oregon-Paper-Shapers/events/268983041/. If you actively don’t want to create a meetup account, let me know and I’ll add you as a guest :-)

Clay Factor Ceramics

A big thank you to Clay Factor Ceramics for hosting the event!

Clay Factor Ceramics is a ceramics studio located at 4629 SE 17th Ave Unit 9, Portland, OR.

Note the doors will be locked. Please call or text 530-515-5498 when you arrive and someone will come let you in.

Working with metal clay

The crane and lily are two basic models that have worked well in the past, but previous participtants have successfully gone above and beyond. Just keep in mind that metal clay is not paper, so some models work less well than others.

The silver clay sheets we’ll be working with are a bit like folding a very limp, thin leather or vinyl sheets and are 6cm by 6cm, so it’s more difficult than standard origami paper. But if you go slowly and carefully you’ll likely get something nice in the end.

You’ll have 3 hours, so there’s time for several models.

Here are a few tips:

• Don’t get it wet. Someone tried this briefly and the metal clay started to come apart quite immediately.
• Keep vermiculite out of the spaces in your origami when preping it to be fired. Vermiculite is little granuals that support your origami during firing so it keeps it’s shape.
• You’ll be able to shape the origami some post firing. But keep in mind the silver is very thin and can break. Best to do as much shaping ahead of time as possible.

Supplies

All you’ll need is one PMC silver clay sheet per model you want to make. One sheet can be divided into four 3cmx3cm sheets if you’re looking for tiny origami (butterflies have worked well in the past).

Firing dishes, vermiculite, and polishing brushes are communal. Please mention ahead of time how many models you are making so I can make sure we have enough of the other supplies.

PMC silver clay sheets are currently $17.10 and can be ordered from Cool Tools or you can participate in a bulk order and save some on shipping. If you’d like to be part of the bulk order, you can send me an email at tyler@linkless.org .