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Showing posts with label enamel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label enamel. Show all posts

Sunday, November 9, 2014

More enameling fun and a giveaway!

Hi friends, I'm sitting in my room at the Hilton Hotel near the airport waiting for our departure flight to Florida ... and reminiscing over the past week.  It started with two days in Austin.  My husband is a avid fan of Diners, Drive-Inns and Dives so dinner on our first night in Austin was at the Monument Cafe, Georgetown, TX.  The food was great, but we also enjoyed the surrounding sights and smells at the vegetable/herb gardens and market of the Monument Cafe.
Monument Cafe, Georgetown, TX
Traveling for me always includes scouting out craft galleries where I can breathe in the creative energy of local artists.   This happened during a stop at Oxidize Metal Art Gallery.  Oxidize Gallery is a tiny space! But don't be fooled.  It is filled with lots and lots of spectacular jewelry! I had an opportunity to meet the lovely jewelry artist, Elizabeth Boswell.  Guess what we talked about ... enameling!  She's currently adding color to her jewelry with the technique of powder coating. Elizabeth explained that powder coated metal would not chip, even when flexed.  She's very interested in enameling, though, especially after I told her how easy it was!  While in Austin I saw her book order come through the website!  


photo: Elizabeth Boswell

From there we headed to Guero's, a highly-recommended Mexican restaurant on South Congress Street, which is alive with craft vendors, food trucks, and people merrily buzzing throughout the unique indie shops.



Adjacent to the restaurant was a small, but bustling craft show.  Who would I run into there but Carol Bradley, an online friend and registrant in two of my upcoming classes.  Carol's enamel work is gorgeous and we had fun talking about colors and techniques. 

Two hours later would find me at an evening of "performance art" at a creative hot spot for jewelry ... Creative Side Jewelry Academy, where lots of happy campers were finishing up a fantastic metal casting workshop with Kate Wolf.  Jim and I absolutely were enthralled with Kate's hour and a half demo of wax carving.  Like all professionals, she made it look way toooo easy.  I mean, 40 years in the business has a way of doing that!  

photo: Creative Side Jewelry Academy

The following day we fled the traffic congestion of Austin and headed for Texas Hill Country and Rachel Ashwell's The Prairie.  The countryside reminded me so much of my former surroundings in  Maryland, with rolling hills and pastures sprinkled with lush green trees.  Art Retreat at The Prairie was where we would teach our students, learn from our students, and mix and mingle with other students and teachers.  What a beautiful setting to relax and learn something new! 


Carol Myers, Barb Solem, Julie Panusis, Barb Solem, Deryn Mentock, Diane Cook
Results of the Shield of Faith project, which emphasizes overfired white enamel, gives the enamel artist two necklaces in one!  Each side of the pendant is so different, you'll be able to wear it on one side one day and then reverse it for a whole different look!  A necklace for each of your personalities!  



From left to right:  Cynthia Hill, Shonna Estep, Leslie Todd, Carol Bradley, Mary Word, and Gracie Albright

Barb Solem through Vivi Magoo Presents! hosts a well-planned event at a great location, with wonderful food.  Her dedication and planning of the event gives her students and teachers the ability to relax and do what they love to do most ... create beautiful jewelry!  I would definitely do this retreat again in a heartbeat! 

Vivi Magoo Presents will be hosting Art Retreat in the Desert in Tucson,  but don't forget that Painting with Fire will be there, too!  Somehow I think Tucson is big enough for the both of us ... plus a million other people either selling or teaching!  

Now on to the Craftsy class giveaway!  All you have to do is to leave a comment at Stacey Merrill's blog, Artsnark Artifacts.  


Thank you, Stacey, for hosting this giveaway.  I've been getting great reviews from students and I particularly like how students can ask questions at any point in the video.  Their question indicates the lesson and the time in the video when the question was generated.  How genius is that?  Those guys at Craftsy have it goin' on! 

Have you been wanting to learn torch-fired enameling?  Now's the time!  

So let me ask you ... when you travel, are there particular types of places you look forward to visiting?   Have you been to an interesting place lately that just fed your soul?  I'd love to hear about it!  

Friday, October 31, 2014

So what's in the Craftsy class, you ask?

"A lot!" would be the answer!  Take a look at what we'll cover ... 

photo:  Craftsy


Lesson 1: 
We're going to start with learning all about the different types of enamels (transparent and opaques, 6/20 enamels, threads, etc.), the types of metal you can use, including how to shop for brass, the setting up of your workstation, assembling the torch & safety tips, lighting and using your torch. 

photo: Craftsy



Lesson 2:
I'll introduce you to enameling iron beads,  how to troubleshoot your results, how to blend transparent enamels to create new and exciting colors, how to create a tri-colored bead. 

photo: Craftsy


Lesson 3:
We'll work with steel wire to create a gorgeous link: form it, how to fire a larger piece, and the importance of flame annealing.

photo: Craftsy


Lesson 4: 
Now we'll use some of the decorative enamel supplements,  like 6/20 and enamel threads,  on copper and also create round head pins and flower head pins. 

photo: Craftsy


Lesson 5:
We're on to enameling brass and how to achieve clear, juicy, and luscious transparent enamels.    We'll shape and enamel free-form brass flowers, explore the blending of transparent enamels and finally we'll enamel a large brass angel wing. 

photo: Craftsy


Lesson 6: 
In this lesson we'll be working with liquid enamel and learn how to create a design using the sgraffito technique.  I'll also teach you how to refire a piece.  Remember, with enameling, you get do-overs! 

photo: Craftsy


Lesson 7:
I'll introduce you to the different types of decals, how to apply them and how to fire them. 


photo: Craftsy


Plus, the great part is that, even though I won't actually be in the room with you, it's almost as if I am.  You'll be able to ask questions at any point in the video.  I'll check the site daily and get back to you with the answer to YOUR question.  Not only that, but you'll be able to view questions asked by others.  

Craftsy is a very COOL platform developed by some techie guys.  They're the tech behind the gorgeous work being created by all kinds of artists.  You'll find classes in photography, painting, drawing, quilting, crocheting, knitting, jewelry-making, cake decorating, woodworking, gardening ... sorry, I need to take a breath ... but that's only the beginning!  

Tomorrow we talk more about the workings of Craftsy and how it benefits you! 

photo: Craftsy 












Thursday, October 30, 2014

Craftsy launch Tuesday, November 4!

How would you like to work in a place like this?

photo: Craftsy

Yes, there are people who actually have jobs like this ... over 200 of them!  It's in a place called, "Denver," which has the distinction of being a "mile high" up in the sky and to being home of Craftsy where you can ...

photo: Craftsy 

I learned of Craftsy in July when an email appeared in my inbox announcing a class. What caught my eye was their great graphic artwork!  I went to the site and thought, "Hey, what's this?"  The wheels started turning and before long I was sending a email saying, "Wouldn't you like to offer an enameling class?"   A few days later came a response, "Of course we would!"

The detail to which Craftsy produces a class is like nothing I've ever experienced before.  I had two lengthy conversations with Grace, their acquisitions editor, where we discussed the content of the class.  I submitted a formal class proposal backed-up with photographs. A contract was signed and I was passed off to my producer, Amana.  

Over the few weeks, Amana and I talked on the phone for 4 hours, going over the class outline.  Because I was teaching in Denver in late August and the filming was scheduled for mid-September, Amana came and spent several hours observing the workshop and reading my first book.  Her intent, before filming, was to know as much about my topic as a student leaving a workshop.  She sure accomplished her goal.

What I guess I'm trying to say is that Craftsy's preparation through all phases of the class development, starting with their interactions with the instructor,  insures that you have a great learning experience.  


photo: Craftsy

The launch of the class is Tuesday, November 4.  Please visit my blog every day until then because I'll be posting more information about my experience, what you can expect to learn in my class, and information about the learning powerhouse known as "Craftsy!"  And, guess what?  We'll be having a class giveaway!  So, come back for the next episode ... "Craftsy: How it All Began."

Thursday, December 5, 2013

The studio is alive with workshops!

I just experienced my first full year of business in Florida!  Painting with Fire has been open for a little over 18 months and during that time we've expanded the space, I've written another book, and we're deep into the PWF Teacher's Certification Program!

I've also experienced something else very noteworthy ... the seasonal nature of doing business in St. Petersburg!  It's as if someone "turns the faucet off" at the end of April and everyone caravans out of the town.  

Of course, I don't blame those lovely people who come to the land of sunshine where it's 75F from November through April.  I also love it here during those gorgeous days!  However, during the summer, I'm convinced we're living on the sun.  Don't get me wrong, the D. C. Area (which I used to call home) can be pretty miserable in the summer and much hotter than St. Pete, but the "summer" isn't as long! So, I've decided to "get out of Dodge" and travel teach in the summer.  One of my stops will be at the Rocky Mountain Bead Society in August.  Denver in August has to be a lot cooler than Florida.  Right? 

If you're interested in hosting a summer workshop and you live in a place cooler than Florida, please get in touch with me! But this post was supposed to introduce our winter line-up of classes, so let's get started!

Here's what we've got going on  ...

We've got openings in Linda's Sea Glass Jewelry Class on December 14.   If you can find a free hour and a half, we've got the talent and authentic sea glass waiting for you to create gifts or stocking stuffers for the special people in your life.

There's still a chance to get in on Carrie Boucher's jeweler's saw class Saturdays from 1 pm to 4 pm.  You can join Carrie for one of the remaining classes or both. I really couldn't believe how great her students did after the first lesson!  Looking at some of Carrie's work might help you decide!  It's not only gorgeous, but she's knows how to teach it, too!




I've just submitted a great line up to the Morean Arts Center.  I've had a wonderful partnership with them since 2009, except now the classes are held at our studio because we have that great ventilation system. There are new classes and some old favorites with new twists.  For instance, the Floral Cascade Workshop will incorporate enameling juicy transparent enamels on brass, even though we'll still be "cannibalizing" those iron beads! It's just too much fun to tear into them!   In the Susan's Sunset Earrings Class, we'll be etching and otherwise texturing metal to create our own special bead caps. 

But I have some other tricks up my sleeve ...




You can sign up online at the Morean Arts Center or sign up at our store.  Either way, we're glad to have you!  




Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Yelp's Event at PWF!


Oh, what a night! It all started when Jim and Laura met Brett Nehls, Community Manager of Yelp, at an event sponsored by the Tampa Bay Concierge Association.  A few days later Brett visited the studio, where we talked about activities we could offer his Elite group of Yelp members ... members who are the most active by leaving the most reviews of their experiences at shops, restaurants, events, etc.  Throughout the whole planning process, Brett was on top of it, which is a major reason the event was so successful. 
With Caroline Calcote's permission, I hijacked her blog post.  You should really visit her blog, "My Fascinating Life," where she shares details of her incredibly rich life, including her journey of losing 100 lbs! I know this is a long blog post, but you have to read to the end.  You find yourself laughing, I promise!  Caroline is a really funny lady!  
Thank you, Caroline for capturing the event so beautifully.  On to Caroline ... 
"Last night was my fourth event as part of Yelp Tampa Bay’s amazing eight day PASSPORT to downtown St. Pete extravaganza.
Yelp Plays with Fire
I have been excited for all of these back to back downtown St. Pete events, but I thought this one was going to be really special because we were going to get to create jewelry! My friend Kelly agreed to be my date for the event and we met up with my friend Charlotte (of Charlotte Smiled) just as we were arriving. (Editorial comment: Charlotte is our amazing dental hygienist!)
My Fascinating Life Caroline Calcote-66(Charlotte & Kelly…dang I have pretty friends!)
Painting with Fire Studio is located in the Grand Central district amidst an enclave of creative businesses.
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They rolled out the welcome mat, or put up the welcome sandwich board, for us Yelpers!
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One of my favorite things about Yelp events is getting to see lots of friends. It is my wish that all of my BFFs would become active Yelpers and attend events so that every event would just be like a private party for my friends and me. Sounds good, right? Well, I’ve gotten to know quite a few of the regular Yelpers already, so it kind of already is like that. But I’m on a mission to get all of my friends to a Yelp event with me at some point!
My friends Joe and Crystal:
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When we first arrived I met Jim Lewis, one of the owners of Painting with Fire. He is a foodie and a talented chef…he made all of the amazing food for this event!
My Fascinating Life Caroline Calcote-6
It was beautiful and there were so many options that I could eat (NSNG…no sugar, no grains). Jim also told me that all of the produce and food items came from Keep St. Pete Local business members. I love how KSPL businesses support each other.
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My Fascinating Life Caroline Calcote-2(Cream cheese, marinara/cocktail sauce, shrimp)
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The cocktail sauce did have some sugar as it contained ketchup, so that was my splurge. Otherwise, this was a fabulous NSNG dinner for me. Thank you Jim!
Later in the evening dessert appeared…
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but I was so happy and satisfied with the copious hors d’oeuvres that I was not tempted…much. Yelp provided craft beer and red and white wine at the event, but I just stuck with water since I’ve had several NorCal margaritas lately.
As we ate and drank and mingled I wandered around the store taking in the eclectic and cool mixture of jewelry, pottery, and art.
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All of the workspaces and jewelry/art supplies on display were inspiring me to get my guest room/craft room in order and play with my stuff!
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But soon enough we were directed to the FIRE room where we were going to get to play!
Painting with Fire is a family business started by Barbara Lewis. She enlisted her husband, son, and daughter into the business and you can tell that it is a passion project for all of them.
Barbara also wrote the first book ever to focus on torch-fired enamel. “Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry: a Workshop in Painting with Fire” was named the Best Craft Book of 2011 at Amazon. It has a five star rating on Amazon with over 240 reviews!
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Barbara was so welcoming to all of us and she explained about the unique work station/ventilation system and the bead pulling system that she created (patent pending).
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Her son David gave us all a tutorial on how to use the torch and create the enameled beads.
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Charlotte creating her masterpieces:
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Joe and Crystal in deep fire-play concentration:
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David explaining to me how to light a match:
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Me torching the entire studio:
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Just kidding.
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My Fascinating Life Caroline Calcote-34(What’s with my claw hand?)
You roll the bead in the apex of the torch flame until it is glowing red then roll it into the ground glass and then torch it again to melt it.
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Then you slide it off into the cooling tray lined with gravel (the stuff that they use in auto mechanic places to absorb oil on the floor, so it is heat proof).
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Then you have to fire up the stainless rod to “clean” it and then dip it into water to cool it before you use it again.
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Kelly getting crafty:
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My beads and Charlotte’s beads (ok, David actually made two of the blue ones in my tray):
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We really were all proud of our creations.
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There were quite a few pieces on display to give me inspiration for how I can use my beads to make something beautiful:
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After playing with fire we went into the other workshop room to create sea glass pendants.
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All of this sea glass was actually collected by Painting with Fire employees (no Shell Factory sea glass here).
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This was our inspiration piece:
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Crafting is fun, ya’ll.
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When it was my turn I picked out three small pieces of sea glass from the tray.
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I used a little E6000 glue to hold the glass together while I wrapped it with silver wire.
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I’m quite happy with my pendant.
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This was a really fabulous Yelp event. I had so much fun. Good friends, good food, good entertainment. What else could you ask for?
Thank you to Barbara and her family at Painting with Fire for hosting us! And thank you to Yelp Tampa Bay (especially Brett, our Yelp Tampa Bay Community Manager) for another great event.
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I am FOR SURE going to attend a workshop at Painting with Fire.
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Who wants to go with me? Let’s plan it!
Be sure to check out the Painting with Fire Studio Facebook page to see what they are up to!