Sterling Silver Bison Totem Pendant

Kris Kramer's medium is metal clay. Metal clay was invented in the 90s by Mitsubishi as a way to use silver from discarded electronics and more; thus, all of her pieces contain at least 40% silver from industrial waste. All pieces are 99.9% silver or Fine Silver or Sterling Silver at 96.2% silver. All jump rings, wires, and ear wires are either Sterling Silver (92.5%) or Argentium. Nothing contains nickel, to which some people have allergies.

Each piece is made by hand, one-by-one. The process includes building and sculpting the piece in wet clay, drying the clay, sanding and drilling holes, firing the clay piece in a kiln at 1630 degrees for two hours which burns off the binder and water leaving only the silver, brass-brushing the piece, tumbling the piece in steel shot for two hours, oxidizing (a patina) the piece, fine finishing the piece with conventional silver-smithing tools, tumbling the piece in burnishing compound for one or more hours, and assembling with ear wires, O rings, or other findings.

Kris is a certified Precious Metal Clay (PMC) instructor at PMC Connection and Rio-Rewards Certified by RioGrande. She used to teach PMC classes at a community college, at art centers across the country, and out of her studio. Now her teaching presence is solely online at I Love Silver.

Care for her items is as simple as polishing the high points lightly with a polishing cloth. If you polish too hard or for too long, the black patina that gives the scene or piece character will be wiped away.