Enameling Metal Jewelry

I've been taking metalsmithing classes for the last year. I started with metal about 15 years ago and then stopped when I started working full time. This last year I haven't been working as much which has been a gift in many ways; one if those ways is more time to work on my art.

The current class I'm taking is an Enameling Class. Enameling is basically ground glass and it fuses to copper or silver when heated at high temperatures (1500 degrees). You can heat the metal in a kiln or through a process called torch firing where you apply the flame from a torch underneath the metal until the glass melts and fuses to the the copper or silver.

I am in love with enameling! I love color and experimenting with transparent and opaque enamels is so much fun. I'm never quite sure what I'm going to get because the powdered enamel colors look very different than the heated and cooled enamel. Here are a few recent samples I made.

20 things you can do to kickstart your creativity

http://fluxplay.blogspot.com/2010/03/20-things-you-can-do-to-kickstart-your.html

This post comes from the website of Maria Whetman. She is a jeweler in the UK who works with silver and recycled tin. Her website is here:
http://www.fluxplay.co.uk/

Maria has some great ideas and I already do some of them like looking through old journals from years ago to get inspiration. I also like her idea of taking the train someplace I've never been or a class in something that's out of my usual realm...like foraging for edible mushrooms!

Her work is delightful and inspiring.

My kitty Delilah is inspired by Peonies

Doodling

I've discovered Doodler's Anonymous which is a good 12 step program for me since I've discovered Zentangles and Zendoodling. It's always good to spend more time in my sketchbook than in front of a computer screen and I love the look of black ink on good paper. Here are a few recent entries from my sketchbook:

KCRW logo - pen & ink with watercolor crayon
copyright diane tchakirides 2013

Heart Mandala
copyright diane tchakirides 2013

The world isn't such a sweet place today

News of the bombings at the Boston Marathon bring sadness at the state of a world where people plan to kill other innocent people. Prayers go out to the families of the dead and to the victims of yet another senseless tragedy.

Ship Canal blossoms: Seattle Spring

I was lucky enough to take a walk in the sun today.

Zentangle aka advanced doodling

My new discovery is Zentangle or Zendoodling as some call it. It was invented by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and it's really easy to pick up. You create cool patterns by using repetition and line. It is also really easy to get addicted too! But sort of a healthier addiction because it's art. My problem is once I start I don't want to stop...or go to bed. If you want to learn more the website is here: http://www.zentangle.com/

Here are a few of my zentangles....

In Praise of Idleness

I love this article printed in the New York Times. Read it!

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/the-busy-trap/

Life is too short to be busy.

Freestyle embroidery

I took some cotton fabric, needles and embroidery floss with me to Mexico to practice handwork. I didn't use a pattern, just played with colors and shapes. I started with the palm tree, then waves and sun. I was inspired by the colors I was seeing and also the shapes of fruit in the market so I began stitching some freeform circles and oval shapes. I call it "doodling with thread".  This was a great project for airplanes and the beach. It doesn't take up much room and the whole deal fits easily in a purse or beach bag. So fun! I want to continue now that I'm home.