Category Archives: Metalwork

Copper Enameling

Posted on 2014-12-28 | Comments Off

These are a few of the enameling projects that I completed in the 70’s and 80’s. Some were given as gifts and have found their way back to me. The intense color, transparency and reflective surface of enamel is unlike any other craft medium. Enamel is basically ground glass that is applied to a metal surface and then melted in a hot kiln. It may be manipulated while hot, fired many times for layers of color and applied in a variety of manners such as painting, dusting or stenciling.

The bowl with flowers is 6″ in diameter, opaque blue enamel with opaque red and yellow stenciled on, then outlined in black. The “maple leaf” bowl, also 6″, uses transparent enamels that let the bright copper color shine through. Thick transparent enamel in the center was manipulated while hot to create the highly textured leaf shape.

The 6″ bowl with dots uses a combination of opaque and transparent enamels. Transparent lump enamels melted in the middle create the dots. The hot dish holder is a 6″ square tile with stenciled design made especially for my husband’s mother who collects blue and white china.
bow-scattered dots trivet

Winter Moon tray (left), Millefiore Tree tray (right), and Raked tray (bottom), all had former lives as ashtrays.

rectangular tray millefiore tree

Dish with Millefiore, and another hot dish holder.

This little picture holder is only 1.5 inches square and is hinged so it folds closed. A combination of opaque and transparent enamels creates a luminous surface. It sat on my Mom’s dresser for over 25 years holding school pictures of my children, who are now adults with their own children.

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Posted in Metalwork

Gold and Silver Smithing

Posted on 2014-12-28 | Comments Off

My introduction to metalsmithing came in the form of a class given by the League of NH Craftsmen in 1971/72. It was a non-stop trip to the present, and there’s no end in sight. Although I’ve officially retired from my 30-year career of designing and producing one of a kind pieces in sterling, gold and gemstones for consignment and on special commission, I still enjoy time in my workshop. Here, I will try to show a representative sample of the kinds of pieces I’ve made through the years. It ranges from baby bracelets to medals of office for college presidents, from boxes and bowls to intricate rings, pins and pendants.

These sterling silver “See Shells” contain magnifying lenses.

Earrings: 14K with pink and green tourmaline, Sterling with amethyst and Sterling with garnet.

Pendants:14K with Topaz, Amethyst and Beryl crystals; 14K with garnet and granulation; Sterling “Bauble.”

14k gold and peridot necklace, forged wire with cable chain, for Sarah and Phil’s wedding, 2.5″ wide

Wedding pic, forged wire scrolly earrings to go with necklace.

Left: 14K Gold ring, fabricated from wire and sheet gold. The understructure of the ring looks like a ladder turned round on itself. The leaves, flowers, scrolls and balls are made individually and soldered onto the framework. LOTS of solder joins! Right: Diamond set for Rona, married to my brother Tom.

Scrollwork sterling bracelet set with garnets

Some sterling pendants – lapis, mabe pearl, and garnet with tourmaline

garnet tourmaline pendant

14k pendant, boulder opal, diamond and tourmaline, center pendant may be worn without the surround.

Some sterling pins, lace agate and garnet.

Sterling covered boxes, 2.5″ tall with domed lid, 4″ tall with garnets, 3″incense burner with lace agate bead feet and knob, 2″ copper and sterling with agate.

Bead Necklace, 24″ long, with antique amber beads from Kenya. This necklace won the Stevens Metal Award in the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Foundation 1986 Annual Juried Exhibit at the Currier Gallery of Art. Each sterling silver bead is individually hand made, as is the clasp.

The Embroiderer’s Giuld of America comissioned this Medal of Office to commemorate past presidents of the organization and to be presented to each new presiddent. Their names and dates are engraved on both sides of the many plates making up the chain. The central badge, an emblem of the Guild, was provided and I mounted it. Sterling Silver and 14K Gold.

EGA medal

Chain of Office for the President of Rivier College, comissioned and presented in 1983.

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Posted in Jewelry, Metalwork

Scrap Metal Sculpture

Posted on 2014-12-28 | Comments Off

A trip to the old Merrimack Scrap Metals junkyard with Steve, who was looking for a particular piece of steel for a project, really stoked my imagination. There were all sorts of industrial scraps in varied sizes and shapes, heaps of old railroad nails, machinery and tools. What a feast for the creative eye! We became regular customers and spent many weekends combing through the heaps looking for great finds, which we bought by the pound. Steve has welding equipment and experience so he taught me to weld and, together, we assembled whimsical metal sculptures. Unfortunately, the scrap yard has closed. We still have materials on hand, though, and our scrap pile grew when we removed two ancient heating systems from our house. On my 50th birthday I was given a bent up, rusted, old crowbar as a gift and was totally pleased to get it! Anything, everything, is a potential art material.

Our favorite pieces are the birds. One is outside at my Dad’s house in Connecticut, the other is just into the edge of the woods by our house. It doesn’t photograph well there, blending into the trees even though it is over 6 feet tall, so we’ll have to wait for spring to haul it out and take a picture. Perhaps I’ll remember the camera on the next trip to see my Dad.

Porch plant stands

Yes, here is Dad’s Bird, but standing in 6 inches of snow so you can’t see its long legs! It looks different from every angle, so is hard to photograph.