Updates

• 
  Joanne Conant is now friends with Melinda Johnson.

  July 26, 2015
• 
  Melinda Johnson → surender singh:

  Hello Surender, your panels are vibrant and beautiful.  How big is "ENAMELING-XII"?  I would love to see your jewelry, too, if you have pictures.  ---Melinda

  June 9, 2013
• 
  Melinda Johnson → Sofi Etsadashvili:

  Hi Sofi,

  
  

  Welcome to Grains of Glass.  You have such a wide range and your work is gorgeous!  I especially love the tiny furniture and "Klimt".  Thank you for posting your photos.  They're beautiful.        

  September 1, 2011
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  Melinda Johnson → Kristin Anderson: Kristin, your work is beautiful! I love the dolphins with diamonds and moonstones.

  December 5, 2010
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  Melinda Johnson → Erin Brown: Well, I was unsure what effect you wanted when you asked about adding texture to the background, but it helps to understand that the part of your image that you want to appear the deepest or furthest away (ie the water in an underwater scene) should be...  moreWell, I was unsure what effect you wanted when you asked about adding texture to the background, but it helps to understand that the part of your image that you want to appear the deepest or furthest away (ie the water in an underwater scene) should be done with transparents. You can bring items into the foreground (fish, etc.) by using opaques or foils, building up shading on those items with opalescents and/or transparents.  

  October 17, 2010
• 
  Melinda Johnson → Erin Brown: Hi Erin,
  It's great to see your new work...nice job! Are these the pieces you were torch-firing, or did you fire these in a kiln?

  October 16, 2010
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  Melinda Johnson → Melodie Moshure: Well, Melodie, if you're a newbie to enameling, you're a very talented one! I'm guessing you were already an experienced metalsmith when you started enameling? I look forward to seeing more of your work when you get a chance to post photos.

  September 3, 2010
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  Melinda Johnson → Melodie Moshure: Thank you Melodie! Welcome to Grains of Glass! PMC is such a wonderful tool for getting really interesting textures in metal. It's too bad that it's not always a respected medium, but I think that's changing. I like your snake photo. Is it enamel on PMC?

  September 1, 2010
• 
  Sofi Etsadashvili: Hi Melinda.i really liked your work,thank you

  September 2, 2011
• 
  Kristin Anderson: Hi Melinda, Thank you for your compliment. Wow! Your works are beautiful, too.
  Kristin

  December 5, 2010
• 
  Erin Brown: Melinda,
  Thank you for your comment about adding texture to undercoat. Also, I am glad you like the pieces I posted. They are all torch fired. It means a lot to me to receive a compliment from someone who has been enameling as long as you have. I am very...  moreMelinda,
  Thank you for your comment about adding texture to undercoat. Also, I am glad you like the pieces I posted. They are all torch fired. It means a lot to me to receive a compliment from someone who has been enameling as long as you have. I am very much new to enameling but am enjoying it very much and hope to get better.
  Thank you again for you helpful comments.
  Warmly,
  Erin Brown  

  October 16, 2010
• 
  Debbie Sheezel: Hi Melinda,
  
  I'm glad you like my work. It looks to me that you've also been enamelling for al long time too. Lovely work. The "Swan Box" had a single bezel which continued up from the outside of the box. There was a table on the inside for the enamel to...  moreHi Melinda,
  
  I'm glad you like my work. It looks to me that you've also been enamelling for al long time too. Lovely work. The "Swan Box" had a single bezel which continued up from the outside of the box. There was a table on the inside for the enamel to rest on. How do you your boxes? Mine are quite large so they are difficult and time consuming. I might have to stop making boxes!
  Regards,
  Debbie.  

  September 12, 2010
• 
  Melodie Moshure: Thank you, Melinda, for your comments on my pieces...I love all the show and tell on this site created by Trish. So much wonderful inspiration and information!

  September 7, 2010
• 
  Melodie Moshure: Hi Melinda, I do use PMC when ever I want a special texture or molded creature. I have seen a growing respect for PMC from traditional metalsmiths over the past few years. I'm sure this is due to the art work created by people such as yourself. My snake...  moreHi Melinda, I do use PMC when ever I want a special texture or molded creature. I have seen a growing respect for PMC from traditional metalsmiths over the past few years. I'm sure this is due to the art work created by people such as yourself. My snake is cloisonne on copper and silver. I cut the leaves out of sheet sterling, and made the viking knit necklace out of sterling... I named it "Finders Keepers". I'll post more of my work before long...I'm still a newbie to enameling...  

  September 3, 2010
• 
  Michelle Mahler: I just use Klyr Fire 50/50 with water and let them dry hanging before I put them in the kiln. Thnx for you kind words.
  Michelle Teka and Zoe

  August 14, 2010
• 
  Trish White: Welcome Melinda,
  
  Thank you for joining the web site. You have come to the right site for sharing tips and techniques with wonderful artists from all over the globe. On the left side of our Main Page we have a Members Forum for questions and answers and...  moreWelcome Melinda,
  
  Thank you for joining the web site. You have come to the right site for sharing tips and techniques with wonderful artists from all over the globe. On the left side of our Main Page we have a Members Forum for questions and answers and our Notebook Tab is gaining momentum with notes left by the experienced artists as a resource for others. I hope you will add some of your knowledge.
  
  Please feel free to comment, suggest, blog, post to the forum, ask questions and enjoy our company.
  
  Best regards,
  
  Trish White  less

  July 25, 2010
• 
  Melinda Johnson → Marla Anderson: Thanks, Marla. Your Mardi Gras mask is great...what a fun idea!

  August 8, 2010
• 
  Melinda Johnson → Debbie Sheezel: Hi Debbie,
  Thanks for your reply. Your single-bezel silver boxes do have a refined elegance. My boxes are pewter because it solders at a low temperature, so the bezels can be soldered with the enamel in place. The outer bezel keeps the enamel from moving...  moreHi Debbie,
  Thanks for your reply. Your single-bezel silver boxes do have a refined elegance. My boxes are pewter because it solders at a low temperature, so the bezels can be soldered with the enamel in place. The outer bezel keeps the enamel from moving side-to-side. The inner bezel is fitted flush to the inside of the outer bezel and sits on top of the enamel, holding the enamel down against the box lid. The two bezels are soldered together and filed to look like a single bezel.  

  September 12, 2010
• 
  Melinda Johnson → Debbie Sheezel: Debbie, I joined the site after you did, so I just now discovered your work...it's absolutely stunning! Do you mind commenting on the setting for the enamel on your Swan Box? Is it a single bezel or double bezel? Is it a sterling silver bezel? I'm so...  moreDebbie, I joined the site after you did, so I just now discovered your work...it's absolutely stunning! Do you mind commenting on the setting for the enamel on your Swan Box? Is it a single bezel or double bezel? Is it a sterling silver bezel? I'm so glad you're here; your work is an inspiration.  

  September 9, 2010
• 
  Melinda Johnson → prudy smith: Thanks, Prudy!

  December 6, 2010
• 
  Melinda Johnson → Michelle Mahler: Thanks, Michelle! It was a 2-year project, because I'd never made a pewter box and I was new to PMC so Joanne Conant was teaching me in her classes. She's an excellent teacher; you can see her work on this site.

  August 14, 2010
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  Melinda Johnson → Michelle Mahler: Thanks for your comment, Michelle. I love your 3-dimensional plant enamels on copper and your very successful use of fire scale as part of the design. Beautiful! What do you use to keep the enamel from falling off the 3D surface before firing?

  August 14, 2010
• 
  Melinda Johnson → Metalsmith Techniques:

  Thanks for your comments, Chris.  I'm glad you mentioned the sponges; I'll probably try them at some point.  

  
  

  I like the Wall Piece you posted recently; how big is it?  

  April 6, 2012
• 
  Melinda Johnson → Metalsmith Techniques:

  I've been using the 3M diamond files with the color-coded plastic handles.  Does anyone know how those compare with the sponges?  Are the diamond files better on flatter surfaces and the sponges better for enamels that are more 3-dimensional?

  April 6, 2012
• 
  Melinda Johnson → Fauré Technique- Tutorial : Yes, it's so important that we don't lose techniques like this one, and it's my understanding that Mauricette is the only person from the Faure studio who can still teach it.  Did you see Joanne Conant's article "Workshop with Mauricette Pinoteau" that...  moreYes, it's so important that we don't lose techniques like this one, and it's my understanding that Mauricette is the only person from the Faure studio who can still teach it.  Did you see Joanne Conant's article "Workshop with Mauricette Pinoteau" that she wrote for the Enamelist Society?  Mauricette visited Joanne in Connecticut to teach Faure enameling; I took Joanne's Faure workshop and of course I bought the book.  This was before I knew about Grains of Glass.  

  April 11, 2011
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  Melinda Johnson → Fauré Technique- Tutorial : Trish, this really is a fascinating technique.  Enamelists are so often taught that the enamel can only be applied in very thin layers, so I was thrilled to find out enamel can be applied sculpturally.  I tried it on my Choux Paste Box, but I hope to...  moreTrish, this really is a fascinating technique.  Enamelists are so often taught that the enamel can only be applied in very thin layers, so I was thrilled to find out enamel can be applied sculpturally.  I tried it on my Choux Paste Box, but I hope to take it one step further in the future.  

  April 10, 2011