Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Enameling Beads with Barbara Lewis

This weekend I took another Painting With Fire class with Barbara Lewis.  I'd taken the class previously, but as with most classes, I usually  have to take it twice to really GET it and let it sink in.  


One of the things I love about taking classes is getting to meet fellow jewelry makers and bloggers.  It's so much fun to put a face to the words, you know?  Sometimes my world is so small over here on the Eastern Shore, sitting at my work bench and computer, so it's wonderful to get out.


Anyway -- this time, I really feel like I GOT it.  I hit the bead in the right part of the flame, covered it well in enamel, and actually ended up with usable beads at the end of the day.



I'm pretty darned pleased with these!  They aren't perfect, but they'll absolutely serve my purpose of making a necklace for myself.  I was also sufficiently inspired enough to buy a bunch of enamels and start dreaming up some ideas.

I also learned some new techniques in this class, such as making tricolor beads....


And how to make bi-color beads.


Hard to tell the colors on the bi-color beads, because believe it or not, those were harder for me than the tricolor, but you get the idea.

And then I went to town on covering regular color with transparent colors to get some really pretty vintage-esque colors.


All in all, a very productive class, and a day well spent!


Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and also writes the blog Pretty Things.  She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene.

30 comments:

  1. These are lovely! Are they torch fired or kiln fired? How did you get the cutouts in the underlayer? Are they leaded or unleaded enamels?

    I have worked in enamels and hadn't had great luck with the colors.

    Do I have enough questions? HA!

    OK I'll stop now.

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  2. Wow! I love the beads! I really like the bi-color and tri-colored beads! You done good girl. I can't wait to see what you make for yourself. Maybe one day I will be able to get over to your part of the country to take one of Barbara's classes!
    Have a great day.
    Beth

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  3. I am wearing an orange Barbara bead today. I love them. They are yum. You should be right pleased with yourself. I am rediscovering etching for the THIRD time. This time on my own. I think I will love it. Time will tell.
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  4. Love, love, love the bi-colored one. Those colors are adorable.

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  5. These are all absolutely gorgeous...I don't remember her showing us how to do tri and bicolor ones in our 1st session!

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  6. OMG! I want to learn this, too. So beautiful. Do you actually make the beads, too, or just color them w/ enamel? They are really lovely, Lori. I can't wait to see what you make with them. --SallyA

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  7. Hey Lori, you definitely got it! When it clicks, it just clicks. Have fun putting them together and creating a beautiful piece.

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  8. These are so beautiful Lori! I absolutely love the colours you have used - just lovely.

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  9. It was a really fun day, and I'm glad I got the chance to meet you in person too! Can't wait to see what you create with your beads.

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  10. It was a really fun class and it was great to meet you in person too! I can't wait to see what you make with all of these!

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  11. Those are beautiful! I'm glad the second time was the charm for you!

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  12. Oh how I wish I could have been there for the second time around too! I bet it would be just the push I need. Your beads are beautiful..I especially love the "vintage-esque" colors and bicolored beads! And it was icing on the cake to spend time meeting Barbara and the ladies!

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  13. Beautiful beads Lori! Love the bi-color ones =)

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  14. Wow! Lori, you did really well! Congratulations!

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  15. Lori, thank you for the kind mention. Your work is beautiful ... I feel like I just gave birth ... to a bunch of beads ... indirectly! They are beautiful and I can only imagine them in some of your beautiful "artsy" creations!

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  16. DROoool(now I have to clean my keyboard lol!

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  17. Absolutely fantastic! Can't wait to see what you do with these.

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  18. Well done, these are brilliant - the colours are so vibrant! I look forward to seeing your necklace.

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  19. I also adore the vintage-esque colored beads... the colors are so uniquely fabulous! Great, great job. I guess practice makes perfect, when it comes to taking classes!

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  20. GREAT JOB! (yes i meant to put that in caps) I'm so envious of your class. I saw the technique in the new Handcrafted magazine and wowie-zowie, I want to try this! Can't wait to see what you come up with.
    Bead Happy!
    Michelle

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  21. They are sooo pretty, Lori! I really want to learn how to do dat, too!

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  22. These are great Lori! I love the bi-color as well. Can't wait to see some of these in your designs.

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  23. wow... these are such pretty beads, I'm impressed! :)

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  24. Wow, Lori. Just, WOW! What an amazing day that must have been! Love the hot chili pepper color in the photo with the tri-colors. And my muse is on overload, thinking of fun things to do with the "vintage" finish pretties. Thanks for sharing the eye-candy!!!

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  25. Wow, Lori I am sorry I didn't see these sooner. Quite a productive day and I love all the colors and the "holiness" of those beads. Nice work!!

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  26. Love the enamel beads--looking forward to seeing these in your fab designs!

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  27. How wonderful! I can hardly believe your "year off" is almost at an end!

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  28. These beads are amazing.... thanks for sharing.

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Thanks so much for commenting!