Saturday, December 19, 2009

Torch fired enamel...

My first foray into torch-fired enamels. Yeah!  How much fun I had, and how much more fun I will have when I find more types of copper blanks and beads, and more enamel colors!  I especially love the cobalt blue.  It had a tendency to overpower the gentler colors.  I was a bit nervous about using a torch, but I had a clamp that securely attached the cannister to the table, and all I had to do was to turn on the gas and "whoosh" off we went on the enameling adventure. I can think of many ways to use the beads.  The long beads are refrigerator copper tubing that I cut with a pipe cutter and smoothed with a rasp.  I spent an hour and a half at the hardware store and now I know how men feel when they meander around a women's clothing store looking for something in particular, or any other store for that matter--EXCEPT for the hardware store.  They might not have any qualms about lawnmower or gun stores either... 
Anyway, there were lots of cute guys in there... ;) 
Thanks to Barbara Lewis at Jewelry of Distinction I got more than enough instruction to get myself going.  Thanks Barbara!  Check it out, you might get addicted! :-D


5 comments:

Narrative jewelry said...

Your first attempts at torch fired enamel are just gorgeous Maria ! And it seems you took some fun doing them.
I never done that, but i would like to begin lampworking, do you believe this kit is really the one i need to begin ?

xox

Véronique

Anonymous said...

Beautiful beads Maria - that cobalt blue is gorgeous.

Cindy said...

wow!!! Your new beads are great! Just had to stop by and say so - I saw them on Barbara's blog. You must be thrilled with the results - I know I would be!
Cindy
www.sweetbeadstudio.com

Joei Lau said...

stunning works!!! Maria.

Maria said...

Thank you for your kind comments, ladies!
Veronique, please contact Barbara Lewis at Jewelry of Distinction for the info on lampworking. I have her blog link on my sidebar.