I'm on Etsy now!

I posted some of my earring on etsy....still need to work on my photo taking...but hey...i'm trying! Check it out....mommabirdtwice.etsy.com! 

New Earrings

Here are some earring styles I have created with my washers. Enjoy!

Custom Piece

I was asked to make a custom piece! I am very excited and nervous all at the same time. I worry that it won't be perfect or what if they don't like it....but I have to work through it and do my best. This piece is for a gentleman that I frequently work with. I took several ideas to him and he picked out what he wanted.

The pendant will have three layers: the top layer is pierced and cut out, the second layer is silver blackened with liver of sulfer, and the last layer is copper. 

Callenwolde Ring Making Class in Atlanta

Where do I start and what do I say, but, WOW!! Our instructor, Aalia Mujtaba, was amazing! Honestly, amazing doesn't capture it perfectly, but that is all I got right now. My friend Melani and I took a ring making class at Callenwolde Fine Art Center in Atanta. We were supposed to learn metal piercing, texturing, soldering and finishing a one of a kind, designed by me, ring! Boy did we learn that and so much MORE....Aalia took the time to show Melanie and I different techniques, more involved, then was was in the description for the class. I went to this class hoping we would have time to learn other stuff and it was perfect. Aalia is a great instructor, patient, ask all the right questions so she understands what you want...and that isn't a easy task with me...I'm horrible at explaining myself.

We had an awesome classmate, Helen Lester, who is in tv production (free lance if anyone is interested, just ask for her info). She was not a notive to making jewelry, she was so very helpful in answering questions too. She also has great taste in jewelry. She would wear different pieces each day...it was neat to see other jewelry artists work! Really has modivated me to get out into my shop and create!

First photo: Helen Lester

Second photo: Melani Young (left) & Instructor Aalia Mujtaba

Third photo: Completed Ring

Fourth Photo: First day; shank texturized; base is texturized, pierced, jointed with sweat solder

It's been so long!

I can't believe it's been since February since I have posted. Life was getting a bit crazy for awhile. So much to share! I will be doing a post on a birthday present I received from one of my friends. She is incredible! I still have been enameling, but the projects don't seem to be coming together. The individual stuff is great, I have to learn to complete the project.....

My (above mentioned) friend and I have signed up to take a ring making class in Atlanta in July. I can't wait, I have slowly teaching myself, but I learn so much faster by watching. I can't wait to see what we are gonna do! It will be nice just to get away with an adult for a weekend and be creative.

My husband has graduated from Nursing School, awaiting to take the boards in less than two weeks. So much is going on around here, it seems like time is just flying. I am making a promise to myself to maintain this blog, if anything, just for me as my journal.

Even my friends want to do it!

I have been having so much fun cause my friends have been coming over to enamel!

Dana wanted to melt seed beads, so we gave it a shot..boy are they hard to melt! So we tried to enamel and melt at the same time..i think we should have melted the seed beads first..so i gave it a shot..still hard to melt, then i enameled over it..i will post pictures soon.

Erica came over and made a pendant and mini disc for her ear. They both turned out great! She took them home and i forgot to take a picture..but i keep hounding her about it..so i will add one soon.

My kiln died..so i am awaiting for a replacement element...keep your fingers crossed that it will work..it looks the same so i am hoping it will be!! I miss my kiln..it was so old (the box was dated 1958) and since i got it used..you just never know how much it was or was not used...i should be here tomorrow!

I also purchased vintage leaded enamels off ebay...the ones i got with my kiln have such nice color than the non-leaded..so i will be breaking those out soon to show! i'm very excited to see what colors i got!

I have been experimenting!

Upper right corner picture-

1.(farthest left) Undercoat white mixed with purple sifted together, fired once. Clear coat sifted and fired next.

2. (second on left) Undercoat white then purple sifted on top, fired once. clear coat sifted on fired next.

3. (second from right) Undercoat white mixed wiht orential red, fired once.

4. (farthest right) Undercoate white mixed with purple, fired once.

Upper left corner picture-

These are 'leaded' enamels that came with my vintage kiln i purchased. The difference in color from these leaded with my other unleaded enamels is pretty amazing.

Bottom left corner picture-

This picture shows a single sift of brown fired (small disc on right) and the larger disc has been sifted and fired with two layers of enamel to show a darker color.

Botton right corner picture-

This is one of my favorites. It is a green enamel that i fired (or should i saw forgot was in the kiln) for 4 minutes...i love the color that was brought out by the longer firing process.