The Enamelist Society Conference - "Alchemy 4"

The conference was held at Arrowmont in Gatlinburg, TN.  Four thumbs up to the hard working board and members of The Enamelist Society.  Arrowmont is an artist's dream of awesome studios - well equipped and lots of space.

AND what a wonderful, inspiring group of artists!  Great exhibits, talented and giving instructors and lectures! I was able to attend a pre-conference workshop with Andrew Kuebeck and a post-conference workshop with Ruth Ball from England.  Both extremely knowledgeable and talented artists.  They were also great instructors.  One does not always follow the other but both these artists are able to explain their processes in an organized and easy to create manner.

There were also "break out" sessions during the conference.  Ideas and methods of creating were making the air sing!  Such talent!  So looking forward to attending the biannual conference again.

I wanted to show and tell a little about one process creating a bowl I worked  in Ruth Ball's workshop
using multiple layers and firing of one color of enamel.

Started with a clean copper bowl shape.  The picture shows one layer of white enamel fired on the copper bowl with paper  "masks" blocking out some of the copper.

Saucer fired with another layer of enamel added.

More masking, add another layer and fired.

Lines and marks added with  acrylic enamel and a very fine paint brush and dense sponge.  This medium allows me to add those handmade marks like I was painting in my journal.  Love mark making!

The saucer is on a trivet drying to be ready for the next firing.

Another layer of enamel added (clear enamel) and ready for the last firing.  Well, may be its last firing.  I will decide after it reveals itself from the kiln!

Well, it was two more firings before this piece was finished.  I am very happy with the result!

All of these color effects were accomplished with white, clear enamel and black acrylic enamel.

I hope this little sequence gives you some idea of the many steps to achieve a simple finished enamel piece.

"Spacescape"

"Spacescape"  Enamel on copper- liquid enamel with sgraffito, graphite and acrylic enamels.  Setting is all sterling silver.

"Organic' Enameled Necklaces

Here are two examples of our latest in the "Organic Enamel" series.  Created on textured copper with liquid enamels, sgraffito and organic elements burned into the enamels.  

Open Studio and Sale

 Two new pairs of enameled earrings.  Having a lot of creative fun with enameling lately.  Look for many more creations to come.  You may see these and many more at our latest studio open house May 4, 2016 from 4 pm to 8 pm.  Please feel free to bring a friend with you!

Studio Open House

We had another wonderful studio open house!  Lots of friends, family and clients enjoyed yummy food and shopping.  Thanks again for all the support.  Look for e-vite to the spring open house sometime in May 2016.

Open House and Visitors

Open Studio

We had a very successful studio open house May 23rd.  Thank you to everyone who came out to visit and support us!  The new studio is working out so well for us.  We all enjoyed the wonderful and very tasty appetizers prepared and served by our talented and hardworking cooking friend, Patty B. and our eldest daughter, Sarah.  All our jewelry and artwork was displayed beautifully with the artful eye of our youngest daughter Molly.  She never ceases to be our cheerleader and behind the scenes supporter.  Anyone who purchased a piece got to meet Molly and her husband Joe - they were our check out crew for the evening.  If you missed this one please watch your email for the the fall open house invitation and join us for fun, food and conversation!

Heralding Spring
The wrens have been singing their little hearts and souls out for a month or more.  Can't believe they can keep singing from sun up to sun down!

We have had lots of other visitors to our spring yard including a wild turkey.  It may not be unusual for some of you to see such  sight, but we live in a very busy, house after house area.  From our new covered summer porch we have been watching all kinds of birds visiting our yard.  Curt caught a picture of the red bellied woodpecker working up and down on one of our maples.  Now our yard is coming alive with all of the roses.  Hope everyone is enjoying this great Michigan spring!

red bellied woodpecker

spring hellebore in my garden

Sew Crazy!

Two of the latest pieced table runners I can't stop making!  Just having too much fun with color and pattern while learning to sew again.  Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful spring day.....