Afternoon Delight!

Results from an afternoon in the studio:

Tube riveted copper

Detail

Millefiore

Graphite

Blog Bead Give-Away

Denise Yezbak Moore is giving away these amazing beads on July 2!  Hurry to her blog and register!

Ceramics and Enamel ... From the Fire!

Thanks to everyone to wrote with such positive comments about the Bench Collection Necklace.  I did hear from the customer and she loves it!  Whew!

I wanted to share some etsy listings where I combine ceramic pendants and beads with torch-fired enamel.  Both were made by me in the studio.  These are jewelry components and not finished work and are strung on wire for photography purposes.  I make the components ... you make the jewelry!

The ceramic pieces are made from stoneware.  A huge slab of clay is rolled out, at least four layers of ceramic underglazes are painted onto the raw clay and carved through, then the shapes are cut out.  Finally, the pendant/charm is studied and additional carved patterns are added to finish the design.  

Ceramic Sahara Connector and enamel beads.  The connector is the perfect size for a wrist piece (1.25" diameter).  Ridge beads are 12 mm in Nut (medium ivory) and Pumpkin.

Ceramic Daybreak Heart Pendant or Charm (1.25" x 1.25") and Nut Ridge Beads (12 mm) 

Ceramic Heather Mist Heart Pendant or Charm (1.25" x 1.25") and Lichen Ridge Beads (12 mm)

                                      

Thanks for visiting me.  It's always great to hear your comments. 

Bench Collection Necklace

I had a custom order for a Bench Collection Necklace and the customer used one of my other necklaces as an example of what she wanted ... but she used the word "recreate."  I struggled with this for a week and finally realized that I just needed to get started.  The nature of the necklace is that it is inspired by the things around me ... the challenge of creating a piece from things within sight.  I know that this customer likes blue and from there it was anybody's guess.

I love this piece.  I think it is the best one I've done.  I hope my customer likes it.  I want to share it with you.

Thompson Enamel Collections

You probably remember I mentioned that during a drive from Maryland to Florida we were having fun in the car with designing enamel collections with names like: Rumrunner, Margaritaville, Flow Blue ....  Well, here they are and they're available at my etsy shop.

Each collection consists of 5 - 1 oz. packets of Thompson Enamel, 80 mesh, medium temperature/medium expansion enamels.  Some are transparent, most are opaque.  Prices for each collection vary from approximately $19.00 to $23.00.  Some of the enamels have gold in their formulation which accounts for their higher in price.  On the listings I have tried to show different pieces of jewelry or beads that have been made with some of the enamels for your reference.  But believe me ... there is so much more you can do by overlapping, layering, etc.

Sea Grasses ... Nut, Lichen, Robin's Egg, Nile Green Transparent, Moca

Summer Breezes ... Turquoise Transparent, White, Cascade Blue Transparent, Horizon Blue, Lichen

English Garden ... Foxglove, Goldenrod, Orchid, White, Heron Blue Transparent

Hot 'n Spicy ... Goldenrod, Mandarin Orange Transparent, Orient Red, Nut, Orchid

Rumrunner ... Lichen, White, Mandarin Orange Transparent, Horizon Blue, Orient Red

Cafe Au Lait ... White, Nut, Moca, Black, Orchid

Margaritaville ... Bitter, Goldenrod, Lichen, White Mandarin Orange Transparent

Flow Blue ... White, Cobalt, Horizon Blue, Nut, Orchid

Persimmon Delight ... Pumpkin, Heron Blue Transparent, Moca, Cobalt, Nut

There are a few more coming ... so please check back!

Busy Bee!

This photo goes with a story that appeared in the local county paper today.  If you want to read the story, just click on the picture.  

And finally I saw my article that appeared in Belle Armoire Jewelry, Summer 2010 Issue.  If you want to get a heads up on how to enamel those persnickety head pins, twisty tendrils and ribbons, get the issue and look for page 68 and, of course, Maire's work ...  Christine's work ...  Nancy's work ... Diane's work ... Riki's work ... oh, hell, look at 'em all!  

 

Have a great weekend.  I am again trying to organize a studio, this time it's in Maryland.  Why are my organizational skills so terrible.  I feel like a dog looking for a place to squat ... I go round and round and round in an ever-decreasing spiral until "X" marks the spot ... which I have yet to do.  I need my "X", please come to me Madam X, I need you!   

The Adoption Papers Have Been Finalized!

We've found a good home for Matilda with some loving parents.  Ray and Darlene will take good care of her, but I know Ray will probably work her pretty hard.  After all, she is a 27 cu. ft. downdraft kiln!

My faithful companion, Matilda!

I remember when I first met Matilda in 1992, she was unnamed.  However, I didn't want to tempt the fate of bad kiln firings, so she became Matilda. Matilda has been moved twice ... once from her home in Annapolis to our home in La Plata and then in 2005 from our home in La Plata to our home in Bushwood.  I learned a lot from Matilda, most predominantly how the quality of the flame creates color reactions.  These principles are still in use with me today as I torch fire enamel beads and pendants.  

Susan Craton, the editor of the community section for our local newspaper, The Enterprise, came for a studio visit and interview on Friday.  The photographer, Reed, came later.  I felt sorry for him, actually.  I am not very photogenic.  I freeze up in front of a camera.  Laura chides me about my "fake smiles." But I was actually able to come up with an authentic smile as I was thinking of the ribbing I take from my family.

A comment made by Susan during the interview got us both thinking.  She said, "Isn't it amazing how fast things have happened?"  All I could say was, "Yes."  But, as I was explaining the results of a particular firing technique on a bracelet for the book she said, "It's obvious your ceramics background and understanding of glazes play a large part in what you do ... so I guess you've been building on that knowledge."  And, in fact, what she says is true.  One thing leads to another and while they may appear to be incongruous activities, in fact, the transition can be pretty smooth.  It feels comfortable and "meant to be."  

There were some slight feelings of melancholy today, but also a sense of relief that I won't have to move Matilda again.  The last move left Jim with a serious bout of tendonitis in his elbow and we certainly haven't gotten any younger since 2005.  But it's time to let go of that interest to allow space for the new one.  Ray also took a bunch of glazes home with him, which relieved the pressure on the seams of the studio.

                                         

And, finally, some gifts from Matilda.

 

Sushi Platter

Sea Form Bowl

Vase

Teapot with Reed Handle

A Different Approach!

When I was in Florida I bought these hand-dyed rayon fibers, which I love.  These fiber strands look so wonderful with these "Gumball" Bracelets.  The ridged bead is my favorite bead to enamel and they have a large hole, which allows for corded and fabric necklaces.  I decided to share the love and make some bracelet kits with some of the variegated rayon fibers, five enameled beads, copper chain, a unique clasp and jump rings.  The only tools you need for the project are your fingers and a pair of pliers to open and close the jump ring.  The kit also comes with a tutorial that walks you through the process of making the bracelet ... but the jewelry kit certainly can be used to make projects other than the bracelet.  Please take a look at the etsy listing for this bracelet kit.

A finished Gumball Bracelet

The Persimmon Delight Bracelet Kit 

(the finished bracelet in the back is not included)

A Close-Up of the Fibers

The Beads ... Up Close and Personal

The Persimmon Delight Enamel Collection

There is also an etsy listing for the five enamels used for the beads.  The Enamel Collection is called Persimmon Delight and consists of five 1 oz packets in the colors:  Moca, Peacock Blue, Cobalt, Nut, and Pumpkin.  If you to enamel your own beads but would like the fiber and other jewelry components from the kit, just get in touch with me.  

I swear to God, sometimes I feel like Elaine Bennis working on a J. Peterman Catalog!