From My Bench ~ A Little Excitement!

Artisan Jewelry Times magazine featured my orange copper coil enameled earrings in their August issue! How fun is that? 

Thank you so much!

http://artisanjewelrytimes.com/

Experimenting with my Hand Saw

 So, I've been playing with my hand saw experimenting with cutting designs on the interior of metal pieces.  When developing new processes and techniques, I tend to default to some of my reliable faves for other aspects of the designs and for these earrings I've cut whimsical freehand hearts - I love heart shapes! I've also repeated the enameling in gorgeous robin's egg but embellished the color with a sprinkling of orient red, a pretty complementary contrast!

While creating these earrings, I could also see future designs featuring the concave side of my little domed discs, perhaps with some hammering for texture and finishing with oxidization rather than enameling...

 

If you're keen, these are available in the shop today! Just click on the photos for the link.

 

Hope the sun is out where you are ~ xo

An Autumn Wedding...

These pretties are ready to ship today,

on their way to Colorado -

isn't the color perfect for an autumn wedding?

 

There is just something about RED for the Holidays!

I LOVE it!

Simple. Modern. Colorful. Geo.

Introducing my NEW 'Geo Collection'

 

I LOVE enameling metal! I'm even dreaming about it :)



Expanding My Skills - Enameling Metal

 Color on metal...a perfect mix for me! Enameling copper and silver to create earrings and other pieces has been a skill to learn on my list of new things to try for quite a while.  I mean, look at those colors ------------>                  

Who could resist?!
I signed up for a three day course at our local college art college in early July but the class was cancelled. I was so disappointed...but then decided to jump right in and teach myself. Several books and videos later, and here I am - ready to go!

 

I decided to begin with some simple but elegant domed copper disc earrings.  After cutting the discs from a copper sheet, I've domed them with my trusty brass hammer and dapping tool. Next, I drilled holes at the top of each disc for the earwires.

Sanding and polishing the edges and holes finishes the discs. Next, a layer of adhesive to help the glass adhere to the copper is brushed on each disc. The enameling process involves fusing powdered glass to metal using heat.

Several thin layers of enamel are applied and heated one at a time to achieve lovely color and a smooth coat of glass - I LOVE this stage, watching the color build and melt into such a pretty finish!

A final polishing and handmade earwires finish these pretty earrings! I've made several pairs this week and am listing them in the shop over the next couple of days - come on by and have a look!

Happy Weekend!

karon