Piercing & Sawing
Many of my designs are two-dimensional graphic interpretations of the world around me, cut from metal sheet and then hammered. […]
Techniques
JEWELRY MAKING TECHNIQUES
I love to experiment in order to discover new ways of incorporating texture, color and images into my designs. I primarily use three techniques; enamel, wax model making and casting, and saw piercing. I also handcraft chains to accompany my designs. Even with these few techniques, I am continually finding new ways to fall in love with my craft!
Enamel is the main focus of most of my studio time. Enameling is glass fused to metal at high heat. It is characterized by brilliant, non-fading colors, that create a variety of color effects depending on the process used to apply the enamel, the type of enamel glass, the length of firing time, and the angle of light when you view the piece. The enamel I use is finely ground glass, like fine sand, or fine powder mixed with an oil or adhesive. When fired in a kiln it may become opaque or transparent; the colors result from the addition of various minerals and metal oxides. I also paint on enameled copperusing over-glaze china paints.
Sculpting three-dimensional forms in wax to achieve a custom design or exciting new ideas is one of the main techniques I use for the Ossis Collection. Wax is versatile and lets me create very sculptural designs. I carve and build up specialty jewelry waxes to create a wax model prototype. The metal designs are cast directly from the wax model.
Many of my designs are two-dimensional graphic interpretations of the world around me, cut from metal sheet and then hammered and etched. This involves using a saw frame with a very fine blade to cut out intricate shapes, such as the animals and symbols featured in the Ark Collection of necklaces, earrings and bracelets. I also use special dies to cut the metal in a hydraulic press, as well as laser cutting and etching.
Custom chains are the final touch. Each chain starts off as a length of wire, which I then use to create jump ring links, or wind round a pliers to connect gemstones. I like to include small charms saw pierced or die cut out of silver and brass, antique and vintage beads, and gemstones.
To read more about these typical jewelry making techniques and the tools that I use in my studio, please click on the links below.
Thompson Enamel Factory Tour
Wow! What a treat to tour the Thompson Enamel factory in Bellevue, KY. Thompson Enamel has been a manufacturer of
Thompson Enamel Factory Tour Read More »
Enamelist Society Workshop with John Killmaster
Loved meeting John Killmaster at The Enamelist Society 2018 Summer Workshops Series at the Carpenter Foundation earlier this month. A
Enamelist Society Workshop with John Killmaster Read More »
Decals on Enamel
Experimenting with laser printed iron oxide decals on vitreous enameled copper with Anne Dinan at Metalwerx school for jewelry &
Cloisonne Enamel
Cloisonné is the technique of creating designs on metal with a colored granular glass paste placed within enclosures created by
Birthstones & Gemstones ~ Associated with the Month or Astrological Sign of One’s Birth
Gem scholars suggest that the tradition of birthstones arose from ‘The Priestly Breastplate’ which was a sacred breastplate worn by the High
Birthstones & Gemstones ~ Associated with the Month or Astrological Sign of One’s Birth Read More »
Studio Explorations ~ Bronze Sculpture Jewelry
Using my rusty linoleum knives and old kitchen tools, I had so much fun creating molds and textures to experiment with
Studio Explorations ~ Bronze Sculpture Jewelry Read More »