Zara's project

Zara's project had a Japanese inspired theme.  She learned to saw, solder, sand and polish sterling silver as well as making a smaller setting using art clay silver.  She then embedded her original drawings in resin setting them into the pieces she had constructed.  In the second picture she is carefully bringing small bubbles out of the resin.  The pieces in the box are are charm, pendant and brooch taped in so that she could take them home safely.  During the design development process she had also cut out one of the drawings in copper sheet and done some enamelling.  It has been lovely to watch her confidence grow as she has learned.

Sarah enamelling

Sarah finished her college projects yesterday.  She selected an enamel colour by matching one of my samples to glass beads she had already made. This was an enamel colour I had in lump form so, right at the end of her project, she had to learn to grind enamel down from lump.  She applied wires to the surface of her pieces by firstly depletion gilding the silver (to bring fine silver to the surface) and then using the technique developed by my good friend Joy Funnell to add the wires, without using solder.  Sarah then applied two layers of finely ground enamel into the cells she had created.  The finished piece relates very closely to one of the sketches in her book.  She has learned a lot about basic jewellery techniques and I hope she will continue on this journey of discovery.

Students working hard again

It has been another busy day in my studio with Zara, Sarah and Rachel working hard to get their projects done.  I think one more session and they will be finished.  Today there has been a wide variety of things going on including sawing, sanding and polishing, soldering, enamelling and finishing off a couple of pieces in art clay silver.  Here are just a few pictures including my freshly repaired kiln.  My good friend Joy Funnell gave me a replacement door as the handle on my original one had worked loose and I was unable to make it secure.  I am please to say it is now safe and working again!

Flame Off 2010 at Towcester

This weekend I have been at the Flame Off at Towcester Race course.  It is the first time I have been to an event like this.  There was a large marquee attached to the main building and inside it were long metal topped tables with torches.  There were torches of different types in separate areas, here are torches with propane/oxygen mix I think.  Visitors could have a go at glass bead making, under supervision and with a bit of helpful instruction.  Basically it was a tent full of people having fun with flames!  In the main part of the building were stands selling glass, beads, books and everything a glass bead addict could possibly need.  On the first floor were a series of talks and demonstrations by some very highly skilled glass workers including the lovely and very entertaining Sharon Peters.  On the second floor (in what are the very smart private viewing boxes overlooking the racecourse) were a series of classes.   Lesley Messam ran classes introducing art clay silver.

I ran short workshops introducing enamelling to a small group of people on Friday and Saturday.  The workshops were only 2 hours so I had made lots of silver blanks for earrings and charms and pre-ground and washed enamels ready to use.  Most of the participants had not tried enamelling before and the results were impressive.  They were able to choose colours from a selection of 12 that I had tested and new would behave well on the fine silver pieces.  I hope they liked them as much as I did?

A gift and a reminder

How beautiful this box of rice crackers is, thank you Dice.  Everything about it is a beautiful reminder of my short visit to Japan.  I have cut a small section of the wrapping paper and glued it into my sketch book.

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.

Mr Toshihide Ueeda teaching at Enamellers Guild Conference

The Guild of Enamellers were honoured to have Mr Ueeda (Toshi) as a tutor at conference this year.  Here he is with members of his class (and me).  For the first part of the project the group did some spectacular torch firing, Toshi's own rapid firing technique for art clay silver.

  

This picture is my good friend Joy Funnell firing her piece.