Japan - Day One

We were collected by our hosts for the week, Aida Chemicals who make Art Clay. Dice was to be our liaison, translator and brilliant “tour guide” for the week. Once at the factory we were given a tour around. Aida Chemicals have been recycling metals for many more years than they have been making silver, gold and now copper clays.

Above -the workshop where the new jewellery ideas are developed

They take waste from all types of industries such as photographic, dental and jewellery and they work with copper, silver, gold, platinum and palladium. One ton of solid photographic waste such as x-rays, slides and negatives yields around 1kg of silver. Huge incinerators burn up the waste and then the silver is extracted from remains, goes through various processes to refine its purity and eventually is melted and poured into 20kg ingots. The fluids from the photographic industry are also recycled by a method of electrolysis. It was fascinating to see all the different methods and to have the complete process explained to us. The quality control and checks are very rigorous all the way through to ensure that the end products meet the exacting standards required.

Below - silver being reclaimed and recycled

We were allowed to hold the 20kg bars of silver and also a 1kg bar of pure gold. A bit too heavy to manage to slip into the pocket as a souvenir! The actual process of turning the reclaimed precious metals into the Art Clay products that we all know and love is a closely guarded secret and in a separate part of the factory away from prying eyes!

Below - Emma Baird the Art Clay Guild UK chairman trying to do a runner with 80kg of silver!

Below - 1kg of gold in my hand - wow!

Above - group photo outside the Aida Chemicals factory

After the tour we headed off the Historic Park just near the factory. This beautiful park has old Japanese buildings and wonderful areas of gardens. The plum blossom was in full bloom and the cherry blossom was just about to start. The Japanese call this Sakura and it is a very celebrated time of year with blossom appearing in drinks, sweets and every type of merchandise you can think of. We had some lunch in the park cafe and our first taste of noodles which we were to have in many different ways during the week. The park also has a very good museum but having been sidetracked by the beauty of the gardens and with limited time I did not go round it.

The Beautiful Historic Park

The next stop was a trip around the Suntory brewery that makes lager style beer. The whole process of how they make the beer was explained and it was interesting to learn that the water for the beer comes from their own borehole under the factory and flows from the area around Mount Fuji. At the end of the tour a welcome glass of beer (or two) was offered and gave us time to have a sit for a while. From the factory we took the brewery bus service to the local station and a train back to Fuchu and the Art Clay Studio there.

The Art Clay studios in Japan are wonderful and made us all quite envious. This one was located on the 12th floor of a tower block and had two large teaching rooms with lovely views out. The central area had every Art Clay product out on display as well as cabinets full of made jewellery examples. There were pieces that we see in the Art Clay books and work by some of the master teachers in Japan. All truly inspiring.

Finally it was back to the hotel for a quick turnaround and then out for eating. Five of us went off to a tiny Tempura Restaurant that Dice had suggested and sampled Tempura prawns and of course some Sake.

Japan - The Journey Out

Bright and early on Sunday 28th February 2010 we all arrived at Heathrow to meet up with Glyn & Maria Mitchell of ZamaUK who had organised the trip. In total we were 11 very excited people and none of us could believe we really were off the Japan. After a delay due to a technical problem we we boarded the plane and were off. Keen to get into the mood of the trip Lynne Glazzard and I went for the Bento box option when dinner was served on the plane. An assortment of items unfamiliar to us and just how should we eat them with chopsticks on a plane? A friendly Japanese couple with no English helpfully demonstrated to us what to do with each bit. Um... a step learning curve coming up we thought! Twelve hours later we had landed in Japan.

At the Railway Station above, Glyn and Maria getting tickets and below the route map!

As we had arrived late we had to wait for a later coach transfer and then a train for the final part of our journey to our hotel in Fuchu so we were all very tired on arrival. A quick wash and brush up in our rooms and we were straight back out following Glyn (who was the only one who had been to Japan before) wide eyed at our first taste of a new country. We ate our first meal in Japan and retired to bed after nearly 30 hours on the go.

The view of the railway line from my sixth floor bedroom window

Fantastic Japan

I'm back and we all had a real great time. I don't think I have ever had such a busy week.

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So here to wet your appetite is me holding a 20kg (yes 20kg!!!) ingot of silver while we were being shown around Aida Chemicals factory who make Art Clay Silver, and below a photo of some of the beautiful blossom we saw.

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Wow!!... plenty more photos to come this week.

Sayonara

Case packed (well almost), fridge stocked up for family, passport in handbag and I'm ready for an early off tomorrow morning. Japan here I come!!

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Ok so the piece above is not a Japanese Maple leaf but it was the nearest I had! I made this as a demo piece on a workshop this past week and I quite like it. Just two ivy leaves made using a leaf veiner/cutter from a kitchen shop, a little rolled out snake of clay and a 4mm peridot set using Art Clay Silver syringe. Simple but pretty.

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I will be updating my blog with lots of photos etc upon my return so check back from 8th March onwards - oh and I shall be having a giveaway later in March as well.

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Watch this space.......

Bling for Me!

It occurred to me that if I am flying half way round the world to see where Art Clay is made I really ought to have some appropriate jewellery to wear made of Art Clay Silver!
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Having checked out my earrings I onlyhad one suitable pair so at the weekend I made myself a few more and a new ring.


I just love this lab grown sapphire. It sparkles beautifully and even has little pink twinkles.

This pair of earrings are pierced so the light shines through some of squares

Pretty little Alexandrite stones in the flowers on these - they match a pendant I made before

and my favourite Rainbow Sparkles.

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Well that is one thing sorted anyway...

Japanese Thoughts

Long time no blogging. Very bad. I have been busy teaching, making (but I can't show you the pieces yet :( ) and getting myself sorted out because.....

It is now ONLY 10 DAYS until the long awaited trip to Japan!! 10 of us are going and we will be seeing how Art Clay Silver is made and will be given some workshops as well as a bit of sightseeing and going to Art Clay HQ. So exciting!! I will be posting all the gen about it all with lots of photos here on my blog.

My eBay shop and website will be closed for a while (hubby and cats who get to stay home did not want to run it!) as when I return I have some other commitments so do stock up now before I go.

So what does the above photo have to do with all that? Not a lot but is is made with Art Clay Silver and enamelled and is a splash of colour on this gloomy wet day :)

Haiti Charity Auction

There is a Charity Auction which started today and goes on all week over at Kookie Designs.

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Loads of fantastic items have been donated and Mel has done a brilliant job organising it all and dividing up the auction lots. I think I shall be bidding on some of the lots myself as there are some super things!

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I have donated the pendant above. You will find it in Lot 8.

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Please do go over and check it all out, and if you have your own blog then please do blog about it if you would like to so as many people as possible visit the auction.

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Happy Bidding :-)