Great post by Tracy Matthews on why handmade jewelry is so special:

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Handmade Jewelry

 http://blog.uncommongoods.com/2014/7-didnt-handmade-jewelry

More Alchemy...

This is a fold-formed copper bowl that I kiln-enameled.  I originally made the bowl last summer and then finished the enameling today.

I used several colours of blue enamel on top of a clear base.

The underside is counter-enameled in clear.

Alchemical Magic at Work...

Torch-fired enameling:

These will become pendants and earrings when I add the findings.  They are all reversable.

I did those last weekend and these next ones today:

Again, reversible:

I like to layer and mix the glass enamel in a way that is similar to how I paint: whimsically.

Tortured Metal

To me, I think that metal that has been fold-formed and textured often looks like fabric.

It is a process that is both torturous and sensuous...

Getting Ready to Enamel

Lots of sample colour packs of enamel.

Enamel Prep

Making copper blanks that will be enameled and then made into earrings and pendants.

I sawed a piece of 24gage copper into half inch sections of different heights.  

Once I drilled holes and cleaned each piece using 3M rotary bristles on the flex shaft I tied the match pairs with thread to keep them together.

Here are the larger pieces I plan to enamel during class this afternoon.

The bowl needs to be re-enameled.  I made it last summer but didn't get a chance to do enough enamel layers.  Time to finish it!

Catching up on Little Things

I've had a number of projects in progress that just need one or two little things soldiered, filed, joined, or to have findings constructed.

Here's some of the projects needing some finishing:

Today I drilled holes in the copper spiculum in preparation for making a pin back after I enamel it.

I also made ear wires to finish off a pair of enamel earrings I made in the summer when I was at Penland.

I also fabricated these ear wires for these reversible enameled forged fan earrings (also made at Penland).

For the 3rd pair of enamel earrings I balled silver wire and then made the ear wires to join two enameled pieces.