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.

I promised you a preview ...

I promised you a preview of enamel artworks for the To Bead True Blue and Tucson Bead Shows that will be looking for a new home.  I know there's somebody out there who will take them in ... they don't take up much space and eat very little!

This is a decal fired onto an enamel pendant.  It has a clear coat of enamel over the surface which means the imagery is permanent ... which is always a good thing!

"Your House or Mine"

More decals ... I really like this ... the chintz one is a project in the book.  Clear enamel on top protects the decal. 

  These are fun and the colors can be wild and crazy ... only limited by your imagination! 

Fused and reticulated sterling on top of an etched copper pendant.  The white is liquid enamel that has been etched to a soft matte surface.  

"Grunge" is what I should call this series.  I love this organic, natural look.   Adjusting the flame and controlled overfiring is how we get this look. 

"Grunge," detail

Look at the difference a reduced flame makes.  One is bright and clear, the other is muted and soft. 

Little sayings from a 1935 Montgomery Ward catalog. 

This one's for Nancy Schindler, my Bead Soup Blog Party Partner ... that's a lot of words ... if I don't have them in the right order, forgive me!

Love this one ... it's sweet, but not tooo sweet!

Detail of Sweet!

The Queen and Eye

That's it for now ...  I have to get back to work in the studio.  Enough playing on the computer ... for now!  See you later ...

More fun in the studio ...

I love to hand-knot bead strands!  It is so calming and restful.  I'm on my way to Florida and have hand-knotted two pearl necklaces while in the car! It goes pretty fast and is not hard to do.  The drape of the beads is indescribable ... it is almost like liquid. Not only that, but those little knots add a separation between beads ... to set them off.

What follows are some really long necklaces, which I enjoy wearing.  You don't have to worry about necklines, because it's more about waistlines ... which is almost where these necklaces reach!  But, we're not going to talk about waistlines, especially with Thanksgiving on the way! This necklace is called "Big Help!"  I wonder where I got that name?  It's like my Bench Collection necklaces, only quieter.  The necklace features a lot of the different enameling techniques ... millefiori and lump enamel in the center pendant, a decal on "Big Help," Nile Green transparent enamel on sterling silver, and the little piece you can really see in this photo because it's turned is an example of champleve.

Big Help!

Big Help!, detail

"She seams to like it!" has a sewing theme.  The decals are from a 1935 Montgomery Wards catalog.  Imagine dress forms for $10.98?  The advertising is hysterical ... Have lovely lashes like the screen
beauties ... The buttons are held on with waxed linen.

She seams to like it!

She seams to like it!, detail

More to come tomorrow!

A Weird Kinda Day!

I never got out of my pajamas yesterday!  It was raining all day.  I just couldn't get moving ... but I did get my brain in gear!  In the background, the scary movies played I had recorded during the month of October.  I finished writing the last little bit of my manuscript and off to North Light it flew.  Yesterday was my due date, but I had sent 95% of the book already.  My editor has already started placing the text in the book and she says it is all fitting in fine, which is such wonderful news.

Fortunately I didn't have chocolate in the house!  I continued with the paperwork.  We've added so many new enamels to our inventory that I had a lot of labels to make and inventory sheets to change.

Today is a new day.  Although it will be cold, it will be sunny ... I'm fine with that. :-)  I have decals to print and then try on my enamels, the hydraulic press to use ... lots of things in my head swirling around about things I want to create!