'Smile' Porcelain Tag Charm

Porcelain charm approx: 3cm x1cm x0.4cm

Recycled kraft card: 10cm x 5cm

I recycle my own Parin-body Porcelain at home using a homemade plaster slab and good old buckets of water.

Parin Porcelain is incredibly beautiful- when held up to the light it is translucent- this is particularly effective when I imprint lace detail.

The porcelain clay fires at 1280c and is hard, strong and durable.

Handmade from start to finish; I roll out the clay, imprint my lace, cut out the tag shapes, make a hole and let them dry. Once dried, I smooth the edges with a damp sponge and let them dry again. At this point my hands are white and so is my carpet and sink!

Next is a 1060c biscuit firing, before sanding down with fine sandpaper and glazing. Then the charms have their second firing at 1280c. Finally lettering decals, which I have designed and ordered, are put onto the surface- much like a transfer tattoo is- and made permanent with a 720c firing.

The charms are then attached onto recycled kraft card using 'sticky dots'- these can be removed and leave no trace on eaither surface. The tag backing is tied with a stretch of gardens twine and completed with a beautiful heart cleanly stamped out.

The pieces have undertaken 3 seperate firings and have been lovingly made with care.

The porcelain tags are made in my little studio and imprinted with lace adding a discreet textile quality and subtle pattern. They have a glazed finish to give a smooth, glossy feel with messages fired onto the surface using ceramic transfers. Each tag is unique and is tied with coloured hemp cord.