I am looking forward to the Guild of Enamellers annual conference which begins tomorrow at Reaseheath College near Nantwich. There is a fantastic programme of events organised by the current Chair of the Guild, Tilly Wilkinson (who will herself be teaching in my studio here in Glaisdale in July). I was going to be in a workshop run by Dale Devereux Barker but, due to unforeseen circumstances, will probably run a small class in art clay silver for enamel. I had offered to be a ‘reserve’ so wasn’t too worried about having to pull my kit together at the last minute but a bit concerned about examples so have had to get my self into gear and finish off a couple of things that have been on my workbench for ages.
I finished off the enamelling on some of these bobbin style beads and gave them a quick polish. They needed finishing as they are samples for a class I am running later in the year. The toggle and clasp on this bracelet are also art clay silver and are constructed hollow forms.
Then I enamelled this bead. It has two different sized koi carp on it and is also constructed in silver clay. The ripples in the watery background were carved into the cylinder of the bead and the fish were then made in low relief using art clay silver paste type. Fine silver wires were added after the first firing using a technique developed by my good friend Joy Funnell and the bead was fired again. I will probably wear this myself as it is the first focal bead I have made like this (although I am not sure about the yellow)!
Anyway, samples are packed, tools and class kits, clothes, all crammed into my suitcase, a slightly larger one than I anticipated taking. I am looking forward to relaxing on the train and to meeting everyone tomorrow around 4pm and seeing all the exciting pieces of work that I have produced for the members and themed exhibitions. I am also looking forward to meeting David Bainbridge of Milton Bridge Ceramic Colours Ltd who is giving a talk on Friday evening. I had a lot of telephone conversations and correspondence with him last year on behalf of the Guild, as part of an EU consultation on the restriction of lead in jewellery. He did a huge amount of work answering questions raised by the EU relating to enamels, so it will be good to be able to meet up at last.
Here is the stuff I am taking for the class, although I eventually decided to leave the hairdryer out!
It packed up quite neatly but I guess I probably won’t get it all back into the box again at the end of class.
