Torch-Fired Enamel ... it can be more than you think!

I'm preparing for bead shows in Tucson (To Bead True Blue and Tucson Bead Show) in February by torch firing some copper beads with some simple white enamel ... but, oh, it's not what you think. Adjustments to the torch during the firing bring copper oxides in the form of green speckles to the surface.  Cutting back on the oxygen creates darkened areas and flashes of pink.  Murrini slices and dots made by a glass stringer help to create beads that look a heck of a lot like lampwork beads but are lightweight because they are hollow.

If you're going to be in the Tucson area and want to learn how to make these, I'd love to have you in a workshop.  There are a few spots left.  You can sign up at my website.  But if you don't have time for a workshop, please stop by and say hello.

Here are some of the gifts from the torch ...

These wonderful murrini are from Hayley Tsang of EnVision (http://envisionsf.com). 

This little piggy went to market ....

And, that's where these babies are going ... to market ... as soon as I have the time to list them ... hopefully tonight.

I couldn't help but think of Lily Pulitzer when I saw these beads together. All of these beads are gorgeous, but if you could see the electric teal bead in the back left ... you'd drool! It's a new color combination ... I sure hope I can remember what it is! :-)

Having fun with the etched and enameled pendants and the filigree flowers. They all came out as I had hoped ... which doesn't always happen. In school I used to joke with the painters, I'd say, "You paint a painting, it doesn't change when you walk away! We put a pot in the kiln, it's your guess how it comes out!" Such is the life of an artist fixated on fire!

All of my babies together!

A Book ... When a Dream Becomes a Reality!

When I saw Tonia Davenport's email with a subject line of "Happy Friday!" I knew it had happened ... that North Light had accepted my book proposal.  Tonia, an Editor for North Light Books, and I had been communicating since mid-December on a proposal for a book on torch-fired enamel.  There are nods to torch-firing in outstanding enameling books, such as that by Linda Darty, but nothing comes close to exploring the technique as fully as it could be.

It started quite simply with a statement from Maire Dodd, who is definitely getting a t-shirt and matching cheerleading skirt, that went like this, "You should write a book."  The next statement, from me, was equally surprising, "You think so?"  And, then, I remembered a blog post from jewelry/mixed media artist, June Roman.  I am a follower of June's blog and I adore her work ... some of the finest out there.  She had written on her blog that her book proposal had been accepted.  In fact, June's book will be released in June.

June and I both had work featured in the Winter 2010 Issue of BAJ and we were breaking our arms patting ourselves on the back ... silly girls!  So, I told June that I wanted to write a book and was being encouraged by blogging friends to do it.  I said that any information she would care to share with me would be very much appreciated.  June was so forthcoming and the essence of the conversation went like this:  you should do it!   your work is great!  and not only should you do it, you need to get in touch with my editor, Tonia Davenport!  Tonia is great to work with!  When you're ready, let me know so I can put in a good word for you with Tonia."  

A week later I'm contacting June saying, "You remember when you said .....   Well, I'm ready."  There you have it in a nutshell.  There were many more emails between Tonia and me ... but now I'm ready to get started.  

The book will focus exclusively on torch-fired enamel .... and all of its virtues.  Each chapter will introduce a new technique.  Jewelry will be made from the items that I enamel. 

I'll be busy, but I welcome it.  If you've never tried torch-firing, I hope to be able to do some hand-holding through this book.  If you've tried torch firing and have questions or want a little more, I hope you'll find it in the book.  And when all is said and done, I hope you'll find inspiration in Painting with Fire!

Let the Weighing Begin!

Thompson Enamels

No, I'm not at Weight Watchers! but I am getting ready for my workshop in Reston.  I am so looking forward to meeting a lot of blogging buddies and to teaching others have to have fun playing with fire ... in a good way!

The whole business process has been so educational but what's been great about it is the students are pointing me in the right direction ... I'm just following their lead. Students said they wanted torches and equipment ... so I got equipment.  They wanted beads  ... I got beads.  You're getting the idea ... Point me in the right direction and I'll go.  Then they said, "You should really have enamels that we can buy after the workshop."  So that was my next step.  And that is where I was yesterday morning, weighing out these sherbet colors ... which will become much more intense with the addition of heat.

The workshop is very organized ... it needs to be because we enamel at least 60 objects during the 6 hours. It's filled with demos throughout the day ... a show 'n tell ... and let's not forget lunch!  So, I'm still packing and packing and packing ... but it's all worth it when the day arrives and there are so many bright faces!

Drum Roll, Please!

Okay, I couldn't stop at three, I had to add another winner because things just got to be too much fun.  Actually, you don't know how much I wish I could send everyone something ... but we'll just have to do this again in the future!  You've given me so many moments of entertainment reading your comments that I just wanted to give back.  We've got some incredibly funny people out there!  

So, the winners are:

Creative ArtyFacts

Zaftig Delights

Carol Bradley

Mel P.

I want to thank everyone for playing along and for joining my blog.   I hope you'll check in regularly to see what's going on in the Ring of Fire... !  Oh, and I decided that the winners should have their choice of color.  So please email me and tell me your color preference:   Dusty Rose, Dusty Blue, or Mandarin Orange!   Thanks for making this an incredibly wonderful 10 days!

Two more days 'til the drawing!

I am anxiously awaiting the final countdown of my first bead giveaway!  I have been wanting to do this for a long time ... to share the "beady goodness," as I've heard it described on the web ... which is so accurate.  So, I've done some checking and at random.org there is a number generator that will make everything fair and square. Bead groupings are being made for the winners as we speak ... well not exactly as we speak ... but the minute I hang up!

Say "Hello" to the New Me!

Some of you will remember that after I had seen my first video by K.C. Willis at her Marketing Mindset online workshop, I wrote on my blog that I had plans to "change my look."  A topic of the first video was creating a "Signature Style."  This really struck home with me because of my two etsy shops ... one for torch-fired enamel and the other for jewelry.  I wanted to establish a cohesive, unified look that would reflect aspects of both businesses. Designer and artist, Sandra Busta, took my words and created these visual representations.  Click on the banners to see them in action!

and 

So, the next challenge will be to get the word out so that followers of my jewelryofdistinction blog will jump ship and join me here. As a way to get the word out, I am offering three spectacular bead giveaways of my torch-fired beads! The giveaways will be for medium bead groupings in the colors of Dusty Rose, Dusty Blue, and Mandarin Orange.  

                                      

                                                                   Dusty Blue

                                  

                                                           Dusty Rose      

                                  

                                                              Mandarin Orange

Each grouping will consist of:

4 - Head pins 
2 - Pierced Bell Bead Caps, 17 x 11 mm
3 - Pierced Temple Beads, 14 mm
1 - Arabesque Bead, 20 mm
3 - Ridged Beads, 12 mm
2 - Daisy Bead Caps, 16 mm
3 - Ridged Beads, 6 mm

All you have to do is to post the bead giveaway on your blog.  In order to qualify, you and your readers would need to become followers.  In ten days, three lucky followers will become winners of these beautiful beads ... I know, I need to be more modest!