Kiln Enameling for Beginners...that's me!

I love enameling!  I am pretty proficient in Barbara Lewis's immersion technique, and I love it!  No pre-cleaning the metal or counter enameling!  I think it is wonderful way to enamel countless types of components without worrying about fire-scale, counter enameling, hefty price of a kiln, etc.

As I shared in earlier posts, I bought a kiln a few months ago...a Paragon Caldera. My original intent with that purchase was to become proficient in base metal clay. At the time, the retailer offered an enameling collar (a kiln segment with a small door to attach to the basic kiln) but I didn't get it due to lack of funds. Fast forward...my sweet hubby asked me what I wanted for my birthday!

Well, I decided I would break it in by enameling some copper shapes I had already been playing with...I've been working on a pin, a sugar skull, and just had a round copper disc...

I cleaned the pieces (or at least I thought I did) and got them ready to go...right in the middle of my firing, the power on the kiln stopped! Yeah, these things use a bunch of electricity! I finally got going again. Here is what I came up with.

They all still have fire scale and need to be pickled. They needed to be cleaner...the enamel didn't stick in some places and I may have overfired!

It is all a learning process, though! Keep following my journey as I work on this and more with my kiln!