Updates

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  Melinda Johnson: 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: 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
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  Wendy Walsh: I'm glad you found your way here! I knew you'd love it. There is interesting work from all over the world and lots of resources.

  August 31, 2010
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  Trish White: Welcome Melodie,
  
  
  Thank you for joining the web site. As you can see we have a wonderful group of talented artists to share techniques and tips and help you along your learning journey. On the left side of the Main Page, we have a members forum for...  moreWelcome Melodie,
  
  
  Thank you for joining the web site. As you can see we have a wonderful group of talented artists to share techniques and tips and help you along your learning journey. On the left side of the 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.
  
  When you have a finished piece, I encourage you to hang it up in the Gallery as we are a web site for all levels of enameling.
  
  Please feel free to comment, suggest, blog, post to the forum and enjoy our company.
  
  Best regards,
  
  Trish White  less

  August 30, 2010
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  Melodie Moshure → Melinda Johnson: 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
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  Melodie Moshure → Melinda Johnson: 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
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  Melodie Moshure → ruth ball: I adore your work and own your book on Enameling.....These salt dishes are out out this world!!! and the fact that the hole is small, allowing you to only grab a pinch is very clever!...Thanks for the great book!!!!

  September 7, 2010
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  Melodie Moshure → Ej Schaeffer Braida: Thankyou for your nice comment.

  September 7, 2010
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  Melodie Moshure → Wendy Walsh: Thankyou Wendy, for introducing me to this site...It's like entering Ali Baba's cave. Full of beautiful things and information...Enjoyed sitting next to you at the Society for Midwest Metalsmiths this past Saturday, even if I was a bit hyper...too much...  moreThankyou Wendy, for introducing me to this site...It's like entering Ali Baba's cave. Full of beautiful things and information...Enjoyed sitting next to you at the Society for Midwest Metalsmiths this past Saturday, even if I was a bit hyper...too much AM coffee...Melodie  

  August 30, 2010
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  Melodie Moshure → Torch Firing & Tutorials :

  I'm going to try the titanium, tuna can technique!...Thanks for sharing this! I'm already thinking of how to do this to maintain the shiny silver surface...and not melt the cloisons...I'm curious to see how different transparents will react to the

  ...  more

  I'm going to try the titanium, tuna can technique!...Thanks for sharing this! I'm already thinking of how to do this to maintain the shiny silver surface...and not melt the cloisons...I'm curious to see how different transparents will react to the torch...

  
  

   

   

  April 21, 2011
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  Melodie Moshure → Torch Firing & Tutorials :

  Hi Lillian,

  
  

  When I've done torch firing I've kept the surfaces hot suspended by a mandrel through a small hole. then dipped the surfaces  into the powdered enamel. BUT this was with copper...and with opaques...now I'm wondering what would happen with

  ...  more

  Hi Lillian,

  
  

  When I've done torch firing I've kept the surfaces hot suspended by a mandrel through a small hole. then dipped the surfaces  into the powdered enamel. BUT this was with copper...and with opaques...now I'm wondering what would happen with fine silver and clear enamel...and I'm wondering if the fines would need to be eliminated. I look forward to hearing about using titanium sheet. The cloisonne pieces I've done on fine silver I fire in the kiln, washing the fines out of the clear and wet packing the front first to maintain the real shiny surface...

   less

  April 20, 2011
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  Melodie Moshure → Torch Firing & Tutorials : I've just started trying torch firing technique...and I have a picture of my first attempt on my page if you care to look at it...I tried to make it resemble colors in Monet's ponds. I was hooked...It's fun to watch the colors ripen (ha) as they finally...  moreI've just started trying torch firing technique...and I have a picture of my first attempt on my page if you care to look at it...I tried to make it resemble colors in Monet's ponds. I was hooked...It's fun to watch the colors ripen (ha) as they finally cool because I keep adding the colors until I think the piece is where I want it...so I have to have all the colors out and ready to use, placed in order in little ceramic trays, and keeping the metal hot all the time from start to finish...at least thats how I did these....Also I want to thank Tonya for giving me hints on floride free flux used in metalsmithing...(this flux is different from the one used in enameling)... I do use the bad stuff and have been cautious with it, but I think I will be getting her product...and greening up my studio.  less

  September 10, 2010