I found a place to buy metal! I am so happy! It is even cheaper than in the states! They don’t sell discs, but that is good because I should cut my own and only my own. Anyway, it took 3 years to find a place. I had been buying from the states and it was such a pain in the ass. It was so expensive too! The shipping killed the whole deal everytime. Being we don’t have much money, well it wasn’t easy either. I really need copper. So this is just a wonderful thing! They sell Bronze, Brass, Nickle Silver, Black Bronze, and Copper. So here are pictures of what it looks like. It is a hole in the wall joint, tiny, dark and pretty ugly. But I see the beauty behind all the dirt! hehe.
My Little Metal Shop
January 12th, 2010
Neat site with good Enameling Examples to check out!
December 15th, 2008Since I have no hope of going to a school to learn to enamel I search the internet continually for things that inspire me and make me try or at least understand new things in Enameling. This site has a nice selection of work that this student has been doing. These are very nice.
http://www.every-seven.com/search/label/Enamel
I hope you enjoy them! Like I did!
enamel workshop
December 14th, 2008
So this is what we are all supposed to do as Enamelist. I wonder how many actually do this? I haven’t. I admit it. I prefer to tell the truth than to lie. I want to do this, but I am strapped for funds to buy sheets of copper. I know, everyone says copper is cheap. Well where I am it is not. At least not any that I have found. I really do want to make my samples. I figure I will learn alot. Do you people who have samples actually use them, or are they just there? I have mixed feelings. Anyway, this picture is exactly what we are supposed to do. It is supposed to be handy and if you have the samples I have been told you will use them alot.
candied apple
November 26th, 2008
I find these very cool as well! I like the holes on the side, plus knowing these are torch fired, hummm, I have a torch for lampworking, I guess I will have to give it a go and see what happens! Thank you for the inspiration!
just blue
November 26th, 2008
Lovely earrings, tiny tini, 1/4″ and she says no counter enamel needed since they are so small. She has some pretty enamels on her flickr photostream.
Copper Domes CLEAN!
November 26th, 2008
What a great picture of what copper has to look like before you can enamel it….I have been watching Orange Peel Enamel on both Etsy and Flickr for a while, but these pictures really a fantastic. I love how well these are domed, I wish she would expand on her process though!
Copper Discs Galore!
November 26th, 2008
Oh my gosh! Just look at these discs….am I having disc envy or what? Oh my god…..heheh, I can’t stand it, I am jealous!
enamel domes
November 26th, 2008
Aren’t these just the bomb! I am always admiring the work of others and I think these are just it! I love what she is doing and they are so much fun! I know she will do fantastic with these. I am really curious about the process that she uses, and what exactly she does to hold things together. But this is really neat and fun to see! Lovely picture besides!
What is new with me! Got a package from the states!
November 12th, 2008Well, I have been having alot of issues, mostly financial. But I was finally able to order some copper! It is at my Mom’s house in the states and she sent me a small “test” package with 82 pieces of copper. It got here just fine! about 900 more pieces to go! hehe, also I have a Kiln, some used Enameling books from ebay, and other items that she needs to send me soon (hint hint)
Metalliferious is the joint I ordered from. I also ordered a roll of tinned copper wire. But I didn’t know exactly “tinned” meant. Yikes. hehe, maybe what I got is something I cannot use. I want it for the tiny little “domed” pieces of copper for buttons, I plan on making rings and soldering them on with hard solder. I am hoping this copper wire will work. the size is perfect, 16 gauge. I hope my plans are doable and I believe that I have to use hard solder or else the soldering will fall apart once I apply the enamel. I don’t dare ask anyone in the yahoo enameling group. I have been told not to ask questions. So I won’t be doing that over there. So if someone wants to comment to help me with this idea I would appreciate it!
I had to have the copper shipped to my Mom because they only use UPS and the shipping would have been approx. $300 US to here in Mexico. I wish more companies would do US Mail because there is a flat rate box for $29.99 that can hold up to 20lbs in it. So I am going to get it little by little. I bought 1 gross each of 7 different sizes and types. I have 2″, 1 1/2″, 1 1/4″, 1″, 7/8″ round discs and 5/8 & 3/4″ domed circles. It was like $700 dollars for this order! whew. I hope they have the best prices, but it is a done deal now, so maybe next time I can find something better? Comments anyone?
So now that I have a supply I can start doing more and am so very excited. I do have a kiln here, but I can only use it in the evenings and on Sundays, the other days it is being used full time for lampworking glass.
Another good Enameling Blog – Broken Branches
July 23rd, 2008This site has alot of good info too. I especially like the post on Fold Forming. Something that could and probably would go well with Enameling. I have already done something along those lines with some thin copper that I have here, my first attempts showed me how the stress of enamel will bend the metal, I counter enameled and it straighten out. But I need to figure out a better trivet to keep the piece supported better. Anyway I am getting off track here. Check this out, alot of neat stuff too!
http://www.brokenbranches.com/blog/2008/07/metal-clay-basics-and-enameling/