Tiny stoneware-style plates

One of the most important parts of my work is the plates. These provide both the background for the food and the secure base for the pin.

Miniature spring green plate of biscuits pin badge

I use Fimo polymer clay for all of my work since it's easy to find here in the UK (thanks, Hobbycraft) and, so far, the quality hasn't failed me.

Fimo metallic effect polymer clays

For the stoneware-style plates, I use their metallic effect colours. These have shiny mica powder ditributed throughout the clay, and then I add more mica powder around the rim with a brush for a blurred effect.

Spring green dinner set

I use different sized wooden dowels to form the plate shapes by hand, and metal cocktail sticks with balls on the end to form the cups - the metal leaves a beautifully shiny inner to the cups.

The largest dowel I use to make the large plates.

For my pin badges and earrings, I embed the metal posts within the clay, which means they are super secure and there's no glue involved.

I don't like to use glue, because it weakens over time and degrades the polymer clay, eventually.

Metal pin embedded in the plate.

I'll be making miniature dinner sets and pin badges in a few different colours over the next few months, so please check back here or follow me on Instagram for updates.