How My Ceramic Jewellery Is Made
Hello, my name is Maja.
I’m a ceramic lover, an artist at heart, and the founder of Punk Alchemy — a small world where clay, colour, punk energy, and a bit of personal alchemy come together.
This blog is about how my ceramic jewellery is made — my process, my journey, and why every tiny piece in my shop carries a story.
My Journey Into Ceramics
My love for ceramics began in my teenage years.
I worked in a ceramic studio run by a woman who created only ceramic jewellery. At that time, I had no idea that one day I would return to ceramics through the exact same path.
Later, I worked in several ceramic workshops across Slovakia, where we created larger pieces — bowls, vases, sculptures.
All those years of experience still shape my work today.
Why I Focus Mainly on Jewellery
1. My workspace is small
Large ceramic pieces need space for drying, glazing, and storing.
In my little workspace, that simply wouldn’t be possible.
2. Health limitations
I have a diagnosed Venous Malformation (VM), which causes issues with my veins.
One of these malformations is located in my abdomen, and certain movements are painful for me.
Working on a pottery wheel is beautiful, but it requires leaning forward and pressing your elbows into your thighs to stabilize your hands.
This movement is painful for me.
Jewellery-making is much gentler on my body — and honestly, I absolutely love it, so this path feels natural rather than limiting.
Where My Designs Come From
A huge part of my inspiration comes from my 16-year-old daughter.
She is incredibly talented at drawing and sculpting, and she loves anime, animal skulls, bones, and darker aesthetics.
She sculpted the very first bird skull in clay.
I gently refined it — smoothing the shape, adjusting the proportions, and making it wearable.
Since I know how to work with plaster molds, I created plaster cast molds based on this original shape.
This allows me to produce pieces that are similar in size, while still hand-finishing each one.
So it’s not mass production — every piece is still an original.
From Plaster Mold to Raw Clay Shape
From one mold, I usually press out about 20 pieces at a time.
I let them dry until they reach a “leather-hard” stage — the perfect moment for shaping.
At this stage, I:
* hand-reshape each piece,
* emphasize the eyes, bones, and teeth,
* add tiny cuts, scars, and details.
Then I let them dry overnight. The next day comes the detail work:
* rounding the edges with a knife,
* smoothing the bottom,
* gently sanding the surface,
* finishing everything with a wet sponge.
Once cleaned and refined, they are ready for firing.
Firing in the Ceramic Kiln
I fire my pieces in an electric ceramic kiln at 1050 °C.
The firing cycle takes about 10 hours,
followed by another 15 hours of slow cooling.
It’s a long process, but the moment I open the kiln and see those pale clay shapes in a soft brick color — it feels magical every single time.
The pieces are now ready for painting.
Painting – Where the True Alchemy Begins
I use acrylic paints.
Not many ceramic artists work with acrylics, but I have years of experience with them from studios in Slovakia.
Acrylics can be used on decorative ceramics only, never on functional ware that touches food — but for jewelry, they’re perfect.
The process isn’t easier — just different.
I start by painting each piece completely black, letting the black paint sink into all the carved lines and create depth.
After that, I apply layers of color — white, brown, blue, green…
I blend colors, wash them with a sponge, and sometimes sand specific areas to reveal texture.
This creates a unique effect that’s hard to describe but instantly recognizable in my pieces.
Sealing the Work
Once the paint is fully dry, I seal each piece with a layer of clear acrylic varnish.
This protects the colors and gives the surface its final soft sheen.
Final Touch – Cords and Packaging
When the piece is painted, sealed, and completely dry, the last step is to attach it to a cord.
At this stage of Punk Alchemy, I mainly create necklaces.
I pack each piece by hand — simply, thoughtfully, and with a personal touch,
so the customer feels they’re opening something truly special.
Soon, I will be expanding my collection to include earrings.
I already have hypoallergenic stainless-steel hooks ready.
And since I know how to sew, I’m also planning denim bracelets with hand-stitched ceramic beads or buttons — but that will be a story for another time. 😉
Thank You
Thank you so much for supporting my small creative journey and for being part of the beginning of Punk Alchemy.
Every piece I make carries a bit of my story, my hands, and my heart.
I appreciate everyone who reads about my process, follows my work, or brings one of my creations into their life. 💛