One of the cool features of the hotel we stayed at last week was an extensive craft centre, with free tuition in a variety of arts and crafts (just a nominal charge was made for materials).
The one I really wanted to try out was enamelling - since it's not so easy to try out at home - so we booked ourselves into an hour-and-a-half session on Thursday afternoon.
The basic process is simple enough. You use very fine sandpaper to polish the oxides and grease from a little metal shape, you sprinkle on the powdered glass which will make up the enamel finish, and then you fire it in a kiln at about 850°C. You can then add extra glass beads and fire it for a second time to get surface effects.
I made a little flower pendant and some heart shapes that I'll use for earrings, and my husband made a magnet using millefiori beads (glass with patterns through it, which spread out as the glass melts in the furnace).
It was fun to have a play, but I didn't feel like I had enough control of the process to get really good results - most of my favourite enamelled jewellery (such as my flag bracelet) has little metal walls dividing the different colours, which gives for a much more controlled effect.
13 comments:
I've always wanted to do that, and I think your results were great. Where were you that you were at such a cool hotel? What that all hotels had craft classes, I'd be a happy woman.
I've always wanted to do that, and I think your results were great. Where were you that you were at such a cool hotel? What that all hotels had craft classes, I'd be a happy woman.
The technique you are thinking of, I think, is cloisonne. It can be achieved either by removing some of the base metal or by soldering wire to the base shape.
I think you did a great job - both of you - as first attempts sometimes go dreadfully wrong!
I agree with Rachel in that these are lovely for first time efforts. You will have a nice memory forever.
These are exquisite for a beginner!
They're lovely, and I really like the flower:)
Ooh ooh ooh! Me next! I love your pendant. Very cool that could be done in one class.
Also interesting because just this summer I bought an enamel pendant from a NYC vendor. I love mine, too.
My older d has done some enamelling in school, and the swirl of colours is interesting even when there isn't a lot of control.
As another commenter mentioned, the enamel work with fields made from wires to keep colours seperate is called cloisonne. I do like the free-flow effects you got with your attempts though. They will remind you of a lovely break, and you have yet another skill ticked off on your ever more eclectic list.
Good to take advantage of such an opportunity...the kiln, and all. Nice results!
I did that in a high school CDT lesson once, so your description brought back memories!!=)
So pretty!!! Sounds like you stayed in a great hotel :)
Another skill for your collection :)
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