My much discussed bead show is a little over a week away now and apart from a small pile of finishing my inventory is almost complete and it's just as well because frankly, I've had enough. I'm tired...bone weary tired with painful hands and probably worse - I'm beginning to get bored.
Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't love what I do or appreciate the opportunity to meet customers face to face, but I usually only make small numbers of any item and I just don't do well with repetitive tasks - never have and never will. But it's easy enough to remedy and this week I've taken a few hours out just to do something a bit different and on a smaller, more joint friendly level.
A few weeks ago I started paying around with some ideas for combining enamel with Bronze Clay and made these flower pendants...
I've been wanting to progress with this idea some more and decided to try the process out with frit - the lovely crushed glass mixes that lampworkers use to decorate their beads. I have tried this once before and the results were a bit muddy so this time I set the frit on the base of white enamel and got a much clearer and brighter result...
I was really pleased with the effects I got here but wanted to do something other than flowers. The pieces need to have enough depth for the frit to pool in and this took me back to something else I've been wanting to develop more - these lovely shell sections.
And I have to say I'm really quite pleased with the results... the shell imprints create a kind of natural Cloisonne framework and I love the vibrancy of the colours within that.
This is definitely something I will be taking further and will be on the look out for interesting objects to create frames from - do let me know if you have any ideas.
So while I have to grit my teeth and return to completing my repetitive show tasks for a few more days, I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and don't overdo it on the eggs.
Lesley
The Gossiping Goddess
Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't love what I do or appreciate the opportunity to meet customers face to face, but I usually only make small numbers of any item and I just don't do well with repetitive tasks - never have and never will. But it's easy enough to remedy and this week I've taken a few hours out just to do something a bit different and on a smaller, more joint friendly level.
A few weeks ago I started paying around with some ideas for combining enamel with Bronze Clay and made these flower pendants...
I've been wanting to progress with this idea some more and decided to try the process out with frit - the lovely crushed glass mixes that lampworkers use to decorate their beads. I have tried this once before and the results were a bit muddy so this time I set the frit on the base of white enamel and got a much clearer and brighter result...
I was really pleased with the effects I got here but wanted to do something other than flowers. The pieces need to have enough depth for the frit to pool in and this took me back to something else I've been wanting to develop more - these lovely shell sections.
And I have to say I'm really quite pleased with the results... the shell imprints create a kind of natural Cloisonne framework and I love the vibrancy of the colours within that.
This is definitely something I will be taking further and will be on the look out for interesting objects to create frames from - do let me know if you have any ideas.
So while I have to grit my teeth and return to completing my repetitive show tasks for a few more days, I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and don't overdo it on the eggs.
Lesley
The Gossiping Goddess
So cool, Lesley!!! The shells were a brilliant idea.
ReplyDeleteWOW! love the shell ones Lesley. :0) xx
ReplyDeleteOh Lesley, those turned out great! So,if I'm understanding you correctly, you create the bronze piece, then you put the frit on it and fire it again? I really like the shape of the 3 on the left, and the deeper blue of the right hand piece. I love where you're going with these!
ReplyDeleteI totally understand what you're saying about repetitive, I rarely make the same pattern twice. You will get through this, and the extra funds will help pay for that gorgeous new space! :)
That's right shirley - I make the bronze piece as normal then put the frit on and put it back in a very hot kiln for just a couple of minutes to fuse. Glad you like them :0)
DeleteOh Lesley I'm loving this! especially those shells! I just LOVE the shells!!
ReplyDeleteDo you think a torch would fuse the frit to the bronze?
ReplyDeleteDee - I did try it with a small hand torch a while ago but it was hard work and I found the frit popped as it cooled down. I Left these in the kiln to cool down to avoid thermal shock.
DeleteMight work ok with you lampworking torch though....
DeleteThank you for your generous share!! I will certainly try this. Nothing has changed - (I don't sell my stuff - I'm obsessed with learning new techniques). Have a great evening.
DeleteLesley those shells are awesome!!
ReplyDeleteI too have difficulty making ANYTHING more than a couple of times...sadly, even when someone requests a piece but just in another color palette, I can't help but change/tweak something!! This new process looks like fun!! Vibrant and beautiful....:-))))
ReplyDeleteLove the intense colors!
ReplyDeleteHow cool! LOVE what you did with the shells! I have some glass frit I've been thinking about firing onto some ceramic pieces! good motivation
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love the look. the shells are great, but I like the others too. Do we see a new line coming from you!!! Let us know so we can be on the look out to purchase them!!!!
ReplyDeleteA great idea to combine with enamel, they all look really good!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWow!! They turned out amazing!!!
ReplyDelete