Weekly challenge- week 7 early

My next class at the botanic gardens is metal clay and enamel- basse taille, specifically. Which is really just fancy words for transparent enamel over textured metal. :) I've made a few samples from simple pretty textures with one color on top to fancier gradients with champleve.

Here are the samples:

Weekly Challenge- Week 6.75

I tried out some new techniques this weekend while i was supposed to be making stock for my upcoming show. i needed the creative boost of trying something new, because while i love making spinner rings, and stacking rings, and antique button pendants and fold formed earrings, i can get a little stagnant with my designs and my execution without a little injection from something different... so i played with some larger scale (wall jewelry size) air chasing and some enameling techniques that i had set aside many years ago and never quite gotten back around to exploring further.

No finished work yet, but here are the preview pics. :)

air chased copper with wood, art glass and paper. still working on the layout.

  

Graphite on enamel. 2 layers of opaque enamel were laid down and fired, then stoned smooth so i could draw on it. Then i doodled :) this is before firing.

 this is after firing. :) 

Weekly jewelry- week 6.5

I'm to be completely out of pocket for a week with out the ability to make jewelry so i am getting a little ahead (I don't want to fall behind like I did last year)

these earrings are textured copper with sterling silver bezel cups and posts with onyx set in the bezels.

Weekly jewelry - week 6

Basse taille enamel on fine silver. For my March class at the Memphis Botanic Gardens.
In class we will construct the base, and it can be super simple like these or more complex, combining champleve with the basse taille. Up to the student's comfort level. Textures will be available or they can create custom textures with scribes, ball burnishers, stamps, botanicals, etc. Pieces fired at lunch, and after lunch enameled using lead free transparent enamels.

Will complete at least one pendant. Some people prefer to make earrings or 2 small charms. 

Weekly jewelry- week 5

Last Saturday I taught a metal clay filigree class- here is my (mostly) cleaned up class sample. It will be filed a bit more and then plique-a-jour enameled.