I'm a bracelet kind of a gal. I really love making them. Maybe it's because my wrists are the only skinny part of me! LOL These are especially fun because I can add my other passion, "textiles!" I love working with the silk and, of course, the color has great appeal. Many of these ribbons are from Lisa Jurist. What a great etsy shop she has. All I need to do is to add a couple of brightly colored enamel beads and you're home!
I have many of these bracelets that I wear ... not all at once ... but I bet I could! They are a favorite. The bracelet is about 75% metal and 25% other colorful stuff! I've decided to start selling these ... and at the ridiculous price of $22, I might add! If you're interested, just go to www.paintingwithfireartwear.com and click on "jewelry" at the sidebar and you'll be taken right to them.
Horizon
Horizon, detail
Jasmine
Lilac
Lilac, detail
Persnickety, detail
Persnickety
Spring Fling
Spring Fling, detail
Please visit me at my blog for a look at some other bangles I'm making that are enameled. But before you go, let me ask you this: Do you have a special thing you like to make? What is it? Why do you like to make it? Thanks for sharing ... it will help to turn this "monologue" into a "dialogue!"
I'm getting ready to walk out the door on my way to the frozen tundra ... a place called "Maryland" ... but before I leave and Tucson becomes a pleasant memory, I wanted to introduce you to Karen Ovington. I was so excited to learn that she would be my next door neighbor at the show. She is so charming and a truly talented glass artist.
These are photos of two pieces I bought from Karen, which I will treasure. I think James Cameron just excavated them from the ocean depths!
I think Karen might be at Bead Fest Wire. If so, I'll get another chance to purchase more of her outstanding work! Speaking of Bead Fest Wire, I'll be teaching the Painting with Fire Method of torch firing on Sunday, April 10, 2011. You'll learn the technique and leave with over 50 beads and several pendants. We'll work with millefiori, cat whiskers, and lump enamel. I'll demonstrate how to put your flame in reduction to get special effects on enamel. In the world of enamel, it would be equivalent to some of the surfaces of Karen's beads ... crusty, worn and ancient! No, I'm not describing myself, thank you very much! LOL Later gator!
How would you like enamelwork in the shade of a ripe papaya ... or maybe the dusty color of a faded rose ... or how about the green of the Caribbean? It’s possible and so much more.
Everyday I’m grateful for my degree in Fine Arts where my understanding of color theory is crucial to designing new enamel colors. Knowledge acquired while pursuing a concentration in ceramics has led to an understanding of how oxygenated and reduced flames are an enamelist’s best friends. Torch firing can produce remarkable results that are only possible by manipulating the atmosphere of the flame ... making it either reduced or oxygenated.
I love working with transparent enamels to accentuate the details of filigree beads by allowing the enamel to pool in the recesses of the bead. While a color swatch is a good start, it does not tell the whole story ... the depth of color ... its richness. Many of swatches are of colors we have created ... so you won’t find them on the Thompson Enamel color chart. Just know that as beautiful and sensuous as this color chart is, our finished beads are even more beautiful!
This is only part of our color chart ...
Here are a few things coming from our studio that you might like!
For some of you youngsters, this title will make no sense, but for a lot of you, you'll remember this popular refrain from the Laurel and Hardy Show. I'm getting ready for To Bead True Blue and the Tucson Bead Show. My head is swimming with details, even though I've written them down and prioritized them.
These are some of the bead trays. I only have about 4000 beads to check for rough spots before they go into these little compartments. Here's the temporary command center, which is set up at my dining room window that overlooks a frozen ... or freezing ... creek. Flocks of geese just flew by, here comes another one ... it's like this all day with the beautiful muted sound of their honking.
My work station ... if you can call it that!
I have black jewelry trays, but I couldn't resist these. They came to my attention on Lorelei's blog. This is so much fun ... sorting through the beads and determining with color tray is the most suitable for them. Is this enough color for you?!!!
More bead trays to be filled!
This is the Ikea fabric I used to use as panels for the back part of my booth for my craft shows . I love it and can't resist using it for the skirt of my bead table. Andrew Thornton has been guiding me in this endeavor and I've gotten some great ideas from him.
The table skirt.
I'm offering 4 workshops with 6 students each, 22 slots are full ... if you're thinking about joining me, please sign up now. I'd love to meet you. We're going to enamel lots of beads! and, of course, add millefiori, metal shapes, cat whiskers to our work also!
Ornament magazine ad.
Here's the ad I placed in Ornament Magazine. I figured since this was my first time doing this show, a little advertising could go a long way. Of course, they've got two enamelists side by side on the same page of the magazine, but no matter. We are different, though. I do torch-firing ... C-Koop does kiln firing ... a totally different look ... but just as wonderful!
This is really what I want to be doing. Doesn't Annie look comfortable? I can do that ... she's not the only one who knows how to relax, but it will have to wait until I return on February 10.
If you're in Tucson for this big event, please stop by and see me at the To Bead True Blue and the Tucson Bead Show, Grand Ballroom, Booth #G149.
Some of us have what you might consider traditional "traditions" ... others are more unconventional. However, wherever you fall in the spectrum, a tradition is something to be cherished. Traditions are what binds families together. In times of uncertainty, traditions provide comfort. They take on a meaning that transcends another's understanding of the event.
Besides giving thanks to Christ at mass either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning, we have three Christmas traditions ... The first is our love of the California Raisins Christmas music. We have been groovin' to the California Raisins since, I'm guessing here, but I'd have to say 1992. In 2002, we realized we couldn't find our cassette tape. It was a sad day, until an Ebay seller came to the rescue. In two days, we were again happily singing to our favorite Christmas music. We're still enjoying this music with our kids, who are now 25 and 26 ... and they have shared this tradition with their friends, who look at us like, "Huh?"
Our second Christmas tradition is our love of the movie, The Long Kiss Goodnight, with Geena Davis. I know some people love, "It's a Wonderful Life," but our differences are what makes the world go 'round.
The final Lewis Family Tradition is a Christmas morning breakfast of Lox, Cream Cheese, and Bagels ... with sliced tomato and lots of pepper. Yum!
Whatever your tradition, my wish is that you enjoy them fully in the love and grace of the meaning of Christmas! Ho, Ho, Ho!
If you were visiting LMAJ two weeks ago, this is what you saw ...
What follows are photos of how the studio looks today. Tomorrow may be another matter entirely. I'm a little bit of a tool junkie. Many times I'll ask for tools for presents: Christmas, birthday, anniversary. One year I asked for a stationary tub for Mother's Day ... ! So, this studio has been acquired over about 15 years.
The studio is in a detached building a few steps from the house. Here's the view when I walk into the studio.
Work tables. Across the continental divide is another set of tables.
5 lb containers of Thompson Enamel. We're up to over 75 colors!
The packing area ... with the ever-present stereo!
Beads, beads and more beads ... waiting for a little color ... or your color!
3 oz. and 8 oz. jars of enamel waiting to fly off the shelves!
A rolling mill, bench shear, and a hydraulic die press, which I'll use when I get more time!
One of the torch areas with a vent hood! This torch uses propane and oxygen from an oxygen concentrator.
A polishing/grinder gizmo with a filter. To the right are two kilns I've never used to fire enamel!
Soldering area with pickle pot.
Bench for working with metal. I simply turn around and I have dapping blocks at the ready.
Enamels that David, my son, and I use to add color to our beads. Right now they're in alphabetical order but don't check back next week! To the left are plastic bead trays.
What's on my work bench ... some pendants ...
and some hearts waiting for paint and resin!
The studio is very industrial looking. It will never be in "Where Women Create," but it's my little piece of heaven on earth. :-)
If you've been following my personal blog www.paintingwithfireartwear.blogspot.com, you know that I've been preoccupied with finishing a book on torch-fired enamel. Today was the first day in a long, long time that I have been able to make work for myself ... without writing down every step I was taking. It was a real treat ... very relaxing.
Here are some photos of some of what came out of the studio yesterday.
Roman Spice
Triple Delight
Confetti
Toggle
All of the pieces have torch-fired enamel. Hey, have I ever told you how easy it is! :-) Can I bring you to the dark side with me!
Hi, I’m Barbara Lewis and a member of this great group of artists at Love My Art Jewelry. I have a question for you. How does one go from being an Apparel Design college major to earning a degree in Ceramics to being a torch-fired enamel artist with a jewelry book on the way? Who the heck knows … but it’s been one heck of a ride.
Today I’m writing to you from the Hyatt Hotel in Cincinnati, OH, which will be my home base for the next week or so while I go through my photo shoot at North Light Books. Last December I got the crazy idea, with the encouragement of friends, like Mary Jane Dodd, to submit a book concept to North Light on torch-fired enamel jewelry. Lo and behold, on March 5, I got the good news from Tonia Davenport, Acquisitions Editor, that it was accepted! Now what?!!!
Next came several months of fumbling around in the studio, trying to get momentum, writing how-to’s as I made things. How-to’s were sent, projects were sent … and here I am … at a time and place I thought would never arrive. Below are some small close-ups of some of the projects for the book. I hope you see something you like. Please stay tuned to LMAJ for the continuing adventures of an artist in dreamland. I'd also like to invite you to visit my blog: http://www.paintingwithfireartwear.blogspot.com/ or my website: http://www.paintingwithfireartwear.com/. And, you can also join me, and over five hundred of my closest friends, at www.paintingwithfire.ning.com if you want to learn more about torch-fired enamel.
