Mr Ueeda's masterclass

On the last day of the Guild of Enamellers annual conference Toshi did a masterclass, demonstrating some of his wonderful techniques with art clay silver and enamel for everyone to see.  In the first photo you can see Jock Miller videoing the demonstration.  This will be edited over the coming year and eventually published by the Guild in its 'Masterclass' DVD series, offered for sale to Guild members.  In the third photo you can see the Guild's new Chair, Ruby Tomes looking on nervously while Toshi made her a ring.  This was a fantastic masterclass, both informative and entertaining and I am looking forward to seeing the DVD later in the year.

Packing

I have spent much of the day sorting out tools and equipment for an enamelling workshop I am running next Saturday at 20-21 Visual Arts in Scunthorpe.  I have updated my file of enamelling samples and checked through and printed the handouts.  Although I do like to be organised this is a bit early, even for me.  The reason is that at the beginning of the week I will be going down to Kent to look at a few potential venues for the Guild of Enamellers annual conference in 2011 together with The Guild's Vice Chair and Conference Secretary.  The 2010 conference will take place in Nottingham from the 9th to 11th April.  I am in the process of finalising the details for that but am just lending a hand with the planning for the following year.  I have been a member of the Guild since I began enamelling in 1998 and have enjoyed all the conferences I have been to in the past.  I hadn't really appreciated just how much went into the organisation though until I was elected Vice Chair and had to help with the planning for next year.  I am of course Chair now, which is a great honour and it will be brilliant to be able to put a bit back into an organisation that has given me so much over the years.

Enamelling

I have spent a couple of days enamelling, seems like ages since I last did any.  On Thursday my friend Margaret and I had a full day experimenting.  I love working with Margaret she is so enthusiastic and always willing to try out new ideas.  We did attempt riso screening but found some of my new screens didn't work so had to resort to using the old ones.  We then went on to try screen printing using enamel ink on pre-enamelled steel from W G Ball; grinding crayons down and painting with them and then Margaret threw in some sand and fine copper wire mesh.  I followed this yesterday with enamelling very carefully onto some of the beads I made a couple of weeks ago.  I also enamelled this pendant that I had made ages ago but wasn't very happy with.  I have combined two shades of lilac enamel with dyed cultered pearls I bought a year ago.  I will be wearing this one at the forthcoming Guild of Enamellers annual conference.  It is the 30th (pearl) anniversary of the Guild and after the conference I will take on the role of Chairman for the forthcoming year.