Sale! Ice Resin Minis and Heart Bezels ...

Before we get into this post, I want to thank Lori Plyler at Waterstone for featuring my studio on her blog.  We cleaned up real good for the pics! LOL  Please stop by for a visit at Waterstone.

We're talking about a sale!  My husband used to tease me, "You're the only one I know who can save money by spending it."  Saving money on something you really use is always a good idea. Ice Resin is half off and we give you five mixing cups free!  For the great price of $6.00 you get this convenient size, ready for use. This quantity can fill 10 large bezel cups.

Now, a cool $6.00 -- 50% off retail

And you can use your Ice Resin to fill these antique silver heart bezels ($4.00).  These would look great in some vintage-inspired jewelry with rhinestones, pearls, antique lace ... I can see it now.

You'll find these at my website, Painting with Fire Artwear.  Some great sari ribbon in gorgeous shades is being loaded online as we speak.  Be sure to check back for some amazing colors ... and prices!

Japan Relief Auction

I'm participating in a auction orchestrated by Mel Poxon of Kookie Designs for Japan relief through Oxfam.  It is a beautiful necklace and earring set.

These are some gorgeous pieces by Mel ... and we all know that Honeysuckle is Pantone's color of the year!  These are beautiful!

Tiara by Clair Wolf

Love this piece by Lori Anderson!

I need this tiara so my family will stop calling me the "Peasant!"  Where did that new nickname come from?!!!  It came from my son ... that's who!

This is my piece, with an enamel starfish, aquamarine, Green Girl flower ... perfect for the summer!







Go take a look and bid!  Your bid on a piece is an personal way that we can all aid the Japan people during their terrible plight ...  Don't wait.  The auction ends on April 4 at 8 p.m. GMT. 

March Madness Sale on Enamel

Do you want to live your life in black and white?  If not, don't miss out on our March Madness Sale on Thompson Enamel.  From March 24 to midnight March 31 you'll save 10% on your order of 3 oz. or 8 oz. Thompson Enamels at my website, Painting with Fire Artwear.  Now might be the time to bring more color to your life!  :-)  Barbara

Just Sayin' ... narrative enamel pieces

Another day in the studio.  Things from the past resurface and are reinterpreted.  Ceramic decals are now enamel decals. Who knew?

Here are the results of my play session.  More play to follow, but in the meantime these can be found here.

Enameling Discs ... the Super Easy Way!

Torch-Fired Enamel Pendant and Saucers

When I was in college I had an art professor who said, "I finally "get" Color Theory after having taught it for five years!" I guess teaching does reinforce your existing knowledge of the subject, which is what I experienced when I had a couple of ladies over on Monday for a Painting with Fire Workshop. I said, "The pwf technique makes enameling teeny tiny discs super easy!  Imagine if you had to torch fire these discs the "other way" ... where you clean the metal, spray it with Klyr-fire, sift the enamel, then carry it to the trivet.  By the time I'd get it there the enamel would be knocked off of the edges!"  For you see, with the pwf method, you put the disc on a mandrel, take it for a whirl in the flame, and in about 40 seconds you're finished!

So enameling the 6mm discs you can punch with the Swanstrom disc cutter is no big deal. I made these in my St. Pete studio.  Unfortunately I realized that I didn't have a way to make a hole ... no two-hole punch or drill bits.  So I used a screw to punch a little hole in the metal and filed the backside of the disc to enlarge it.

These colors remind me of Easter ... and of some of the necklaces draping the displays in Forever 21 ... a favorite shop of my daughter's.  It looks like a trend right now is necklaces of yards of chain and soft pastels.  Are you thinking forward to Spring and to a change in your color palette?  Do you have a favorite color ... is it an old standby or a new one for you?

Lilac Bangle

It seems weird that amidst the devastating loss of life and sorrow the Japanese people are experiencing that I can write about my Lilac bracelet being in a Treasury ... but here it is.  I woke up thinking that at any moment, for reasons out of my control, my life could take a dangerous turn for the worst.  Praise God that today I am alive, well, and with family.

Enamel Bangles

Toil and trouble can lead to success ... sometimes. :-)  I've been struggling with the torch-firing of a bangle bracelet made from wire.  Talk about frustration!@#^  Well, persistence paid off and I want to share the results with you.  Here's "In Flight."   The colors are a gorgeous baby blue opaque with drippy transparent pink enamels on part of the bracelet. There's an enamel swallow charm (hence the title, "In Flight" < :-) > and another charm with a leaf design in a purple called "Iris." 

In Flight

In Flight

In Flight, detail

The charm on "Meadowsweet" was made in a Painting with Fire Workshop.  It's one of the final things we do that leaves students saying, "Wow!  I didn't know you could do all this with torch firing!" To fire the charm, I dangle it from a mandrel and when it glows orange, I dip the piece into enamel.  Repeat two more times.  Then I transfer the mandrel to my nondominant (left) hand. I tilt my hand slightly so the mandrel is in a more parallel position to the ground. Using tweezers in my right hand, I place the flower chips where I want them. The yellow stripe is a cat whisker I added and to the upper right is some larger grain size enamel in the transparent enamel color "Copper."  All of these items are at my website (www.paintingwithfireartwear.com) if you want to try it.

Meadowsweet

Meadowsweet

The colors in "Reef" remind me of all that's good about summer!  Turquoise makes an appearance with abandon! This 14mm ridge bead is topped with etched bead caps. An enameled head pin, some shiny faceted crystals in turquoise and a rhinestone rondelle finish things off.  The color of the bead is something my son, David, developed in the studio.  It was great discovery and is even more beautiful in person.  It's our new favorite! :-)  We call the color blend "Caribbean."

Reef

Reef, detail

I'm glad you were able to visit me today to share in my delight that the problem of enameling wire is solved! I love the wonky, organic nature of the bangle, so my persistence definitely paid off.  Can you think of a challenge in your own work that you've conquered?  I'd love to hear about it!

P.S.  Check out www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com for some other bangles I love to make!

Bright Enameled Pendants ... oh my!

 My latest projects in the studio have included enameling some "not so shy" pendants in shades of orange and pink ... and some teal thrown in for good measure. Perfect for this time of year and really anytime.  These would look great in the winter, too ... but we're forgetting about winter now ... nasty winter ... forget you!

This is called "Sunsplash" and begins with a copper disc that is a little over 1.5" in diameter.  I etched it first and then enameled it with overlapping colors.  I didn't want to get too busy with the colors because I wanted the etching to be appreciated.  It takes a little bit of time to get the effect I want, but who's in a hurry when you're making art.  Take a look at Patty's LMAJ post today about getting into the "flow."  I knew of the phenomenon intimately, but didn't know that anyone wrote scores about it!  Patty's post is definitely worth a read ... but don't jump ship yet ... stay with me ... :-)

Sunsplash

Sunsplash, detail

The next one has a little more going on with the addition of a murrini, which is a little small glass disc that starts life as rods of class that are joined and then stretched.  When cool, the murrini are cut from the rod.  Solar Flare spectacularly juxtaposes the complementary colors of orange and teal.  You'll see a little bit of red and purple in the murrini.  The exposed copper has been dimpled and polished.

Solar Flare

Solar Flare, detail

Solar Flare, detail

To go with either of these pendants are two discs that have been simply enameled, which makes them perfect complements to these bold pendants.

Sunsplash Discs

I've always worn conservative clothes and colors.  When I'd go to my wardrobe, it would be like, "Okay, what shade of beige will I wear today."  But I've found that my interest in enameling has naturally invaded my environment ... including my closet.  

Have you found that as you've pursued your jewelry passion that your interests in color have changed?

Are you now wearing a color or colors that you once said, "I'd never get caught where that color(s)!"? 

Look for these very reasonably price items at my website www.paintingwithfireartwear.com. Just go to the sidebar and look for Enamel Beads, etc.

New York Magazine Loves St. Pete!

By now most of you know that I live in St. Pete about 20 weeks a year.  It is a crazy schedule of two week trips throughout the year ... although we're shooting for more three week trips. We're just not in a position to move there permanently ... yet!  To say that I love St. Pete is an understatement ... and apparently someone at New York Magazine feels the same way.

On page 5 you'll find a reference to my neighborhood, Kenwood.  Because so many artists reside in the neighborhood, Kenwood Board Members and residents are working with the city toward establising a special residential status called an "Artist Enclave".  This would allow artists some limited commercial use of their property for teaching, etc.  Signage also would be permitted.  What page 5 of New York Magazine doesn't mention is that even though the homes tend to be small ... Kenwood has the largest concentration of bungalows in the state of Florida and a good many of them are charming.

Peg's Cantina in neighboring Gulfport

In 2005, Cottage Living magazine named Kenwood one of the five best cottage communities in the country. But it wasn't always like that.  In 1990, a run-down Kenwood began to turn the corner when a group of hard core restorers ... and partiers ... brought the community back to life through hard work and porch parties ... a tradition that continues today.

New Salvador Dali Museum, opened 1/11/11

If any of this appeals to you and you want to live in a warm climate, 12 minutes from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and a mile from some great cultural sites and restaurants, get in touch with me ... I know a dynamite real estate agent who will hook you up!