Enamelling

There's a number of topics I could've blogged about today!!  But I chose this Grains of Glass

I saw a link to this site on Joy Funnell's blog yesterday and went over and joined the group.  It seems like a great place to hang out - lots of information on enamelling and some GORGEOUS pictures to drool over!

I'm hoping to really advance my enamelling techniques this year so this is going to be a valuable resource for me I'm sure!

Just one of the lovely pieces in Trish White's photo album on Grains of Glass, a gorgeous copper bowl:

A couple of piccies

I've managed a couple of hours here at the studio today. I didn't want to waste the time taking lots of pictures, so I've just taken a couple of quick pics for now.

This bead is made from Bronze clay. It is a solid bead so is lovely and weighty. I decorated it by rippling the surface - sort of like fondant icing!!

I think I'll polish it a bit more so that the high spots are really shiny.

This silver pendant has a hidden bail at the back and is domed. I've in-filled the flower with a gorgeous lilac enamel. This colours fires really well and I love the colour.

There are more of these waiting to be fired and they will definitely become part of my standard range of components.


I've been looking a lot at the Karen Hill Tribe ranges and they seem to stock pendants that designers are then adding their own touch to. This design lends itself really well to being strung in some way. My component range will definitely need to compete with the KHT Silver, so am keeping that in mind both in terms of how the pieces I design will be used, and also cost.

Any feedback on this pendant in particular would be appreicated!

That's it for now, off to make more jewellery.

I've been rubbish at this blogging lark lately haven't I!! My personal life is VERY hectic at the moment!! Some of you who know me a bit better, know that I currently live in a rented house and have my own house which is a building site!! Well, things are moving ahead with turning the building site into a house again, so it's keeping me busy along with normal everyday life stuff!

Although I'm not finding much creative time at the moment, there are still things going on in the background here. I've finally settled on a banner design for my Tiny Charms business. All I need now is samples made so that pictures can be added to it. I wonder what job number that is on my long list!

I have been making some pieces of jewellery and have a collection growing for my hubby to photograph. I will show you these though

They are the top halves of 2 magnetic clasps. I decided that I wanted to add colour, so enamelled these and was really pleased with them. Then I realised that I've completely forgotten to add any loops to the side of them so that they can be attached to the piece of jewellery - this is what happens when there are too many distractions!

I have got some more being made now to replace these. And I definitely won't forget loops again!

Frit Happens Challenge Piece

Well, I managed to finally get this piece finished. It's not the best photograph, but I'm so pleased with the finished piece, I couldn't wait to show it!! The challenge topic was Autumn. I also thought it would be interesting to take stage by stage photos so, here's a few of the piece in progress

This pendant is totally different to what I usually make, but I quite enjoyed if for a change, and that's what challenges are about isn't it!! What it did do for me, is make me realise how much I like enamelling work. I don't do it as often as I would like and having a play yesterday was great fun.

Must get on with "proper" jobs today though!