So it is blustery and cold outside and I am warm and toasty inside, working on some new jewelry ideas. I have finished a prototype and here it is...
I am now in an ongoing jewelry studio workshop that meets once a week on Tuesdays for three hours. I have access to an amazing studio space, the tools and materials it contains and help from an experienced metalsmith/jeweler. I am bouncing-in-my-seat excited about this opportunity! I spent Tuesday cutting out and soldering small copper houses with the big girl torch and nothing turned into slag!
I wanted to modify this piece that I made in Stephanie Lee's workshop where we used base metals and a hand-held torch...
I enameled the copper house and etched it so it has a matte finish. I attached a gem tintype (this piece only measures about 1 1/4" in height by a little over 3/4" in width) and vintage metal flowers with miniature nuts and bolts. It will be suspended from a sterling jump ring so you can wear it on a neck wire or chain.
So, here is the skinny on how to win: Leave a comment on this post by midnight, January 22 and you will be entered into the highly sophisticated 5 year-old drawing machine. But wait, there is more! If you post about this give-away on your blog (email me to let me know!), you will be entered TWICE more! If you take a few minutes to do the complicated math, that means you can have your name put in the kitty THREE times! Disclaimer: Before you decide to enter, please realize that this is a piece, the first of its kind, where I am still working out the fabrication kinks. There are spots were the enamel stuck to the kiln trivet, I tightened the bolts too much so that the emulsion on the tintype might flake off, etc. If you can suck it up and get past these imperfections, then by all means put your name in!
Here is another piece I have started working on. If you remember, I was enameling some house-shaped frames...I have modified that design and am liking it so far...
Here it is after enameling and etching. I wrote on it with a pencil and will experiment with how to keep the markings and a matte finish. Through trial and error I found that after firing to set the graphite, etching can still remove it. Sigh. And I switched out the image...
Oh, and I found these nifty copper numbers and tried enameling them. Success! This three looks really stellar on a neck wire or pretty cool on a longer chain. I drew asterisks with a pencil. I photographed it next to a gem tintype so you can get an idea of the scale...and because her rosy cheeks looked so pretty up next to the robin's egg blue!
And in my spare time (hah!) I am taking DJ Pettitt's Memories and Manipulations online digital workshop. Here is my first exercise...I call it "The @#$@% Bird Exercise" as I banged my head against my computer quite a bit as I worked on it...it looks deceptively simple, doesn't it?
Off to eat lunch before meeting with a retail store owner here in town who is interested in carrying my work. I will let you know how it goes!
The new enamel work looks lovely!
Posted by: Marie | January 22, 2010 at 09:04 PM
omg! love this piece! i'm so into enameling right now i hope i win! the screws are such a wonderful contrast :)
Posted by: Teri C | January 22, 2010 at 09:04 PM
I love this enameled work! I taught enameling 25 years ago, and you've inspired me to look into trying again! I'm also taking DJs online class -- and have had many bleepin' bad moments. Steep learning curve and still at the bottom of that curve going up -- good luck!!!!
Posted by: martha brown | January 22, 2010 at 08:57 PM
Blue kitty! Got the link from Deryn Mentock's blog and the first thing that made me smile was your lovely blue cat. I love your piece! I'd have to get very lucky indeed, but please count me in for the draw! I'll definitely be coming back to look at more of your work too.
Posted by: Shuku | January 22, 2010 at 08:04 PM
In last night's jewelry class the teacher mentioned trying enameling, something I have been wanting to do, & then today I see this great piece! (I am curious about the solder you use, I'm not having the best of luck?) I'm excited to see all the progress you've made.
Posted by: Boot C | January 22, 2010 at 08:03 PM
I'm such a fan! And I'm kicking myself because I just threw away BOXES of enameling stuff when helping my dad de-clutter. Where were you in November??? I'll check with you first before throwing anything away!
Susan
Posted by: Susan M | January 22, 2010 at 07:57 PM
Oh, no! There are way too many people commenting here. I'll have to get REALLY lucky! Here's my link, Steph:
http://somethingsublime.typepad.com/something_sublime_from_th/2010/01/stephanie-rubiano-so-i-gathered.html
Thank you!
Posted by: Deryn Mentock | January 22, 2010 at 07:28 PM
i think it worked...3rd time's a charm!
beth
Posted by: beth billups | January 22, 2010 at 05:41 PM
count me in (please)!
beth
Posted by: beth billups | January 22, 2010 at 05:40 PM
I love the house motif in jewerly, and these pieces are great! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!
Posted by: Lisa | January 21, 2010 at 07:20 PM
Oh my gosh! You've done it again! Something gorgeous! Hope you'll eventually teach a class, and I can take it! Please, please Fiona pick me!!! I love your blue kitty.
Posted by: Deb Plapp | January 20, 2010 at 06:05 PM
I love your blog and your jewelry. :)
Posted by: kinetic angel | January 20, 2010 at 04:52 PM
yikes! i can't believe i almost missed my chance to own this beauty (thought i entered the other day but must have missed a button....that happens way too often i'm afraid).
Posted by: beth billups | January 19, 2010 at 08:52 PM
Beautiful piece! Love what you did with the enamel. Oh yes, please enter me! Thanks. Riki
Posted by: Riki Schumacher | January 18, 2010 at 10:35 PM
Awesome! My daughter called me from Austin where she was visiting and said, Wow, Mom, look at her work. Just lovely jewelry. Would love to gift her with a piece of your jewelry.
Posted by: Glenda Bailey-TwoCoolTexans | January 18, 2010 at 08:30 PM
Love your work! Enter me please...
Posted by: Marie Withrow | January 18, 2010 at 05:35 PM
Hello from France!!
So so so beautiful creations... I love little flowers and the word "fleur".. in french of course ;-))
Have a good day!
Posted by: Véro/bermick | January 17, 2010 at 11:44 PM
Wow please count me in !! I speak about you here :
http://bullesdorees.blogspot.com/2010/01/publication-et-quelques-giveaways.html
Posted by: Anne | January 17, 2010 at 02:18 PM
your enameling is top notch!! i lLOVE that #3, my lucky number...
and i am loving your blog banner, very cool!
~kim
Posted by: kim | January 17, 2010 at 10:52 AM
These must be vintage/found tintypes? Great reappropriation/repurposing...
Posted by: Shin Yu Pai | January 16, 2010 at 08:13 PM
.. absolutely amazing Steph... as usual. Your work is fabulous!
Jennifer
will post on my blog if I can remember how to do that...ack!
Posted by: Jennifer Rowland | January 16, 2010 at 03:50 PM
I just want to tell you how much I love your enamel pieces!!!!!!! They are incredible! Of course I love and covet all of your other wonderful pieces too!
Linda
Posted by: Linda Greiss | January 16, 2010 at 02:33 PM
These are gorgeous!! Me too! Me too!
Rebecca
Posted by: Rebecca Loudon | January 16, 2010 at 12:56 PM
The new designs are lovely. Count me in.
Posted by: Mona Moore | January 15, 2010 at 08:15 PM
Love your enameling trials...looks like fun. Your giveaway piece looks exquisite. Thanks!
Posted by: Christine Edwards | January 15, 2010 at 01:31 PM