I’m working on very special design for custom order right now! I just finished drawing & it’s a go!! I’m so excited to start to make them. This is going to be a one gorgeous necklace!! I’ll post when I finish it so be sure to check back here:)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
夢~Dream
When I’m happy I create.
When I’m sad, I create.
I create in the morning, day and the night.
Spring, summer, fall, winter, I create.
I created when I was little.
I’ll be creating when I get old.
作る人。
それだけが子供のころからの夢だった。
I create in my dreams.
I dream to create.
夏子~Natsuko
here is little poem from me! I made this while I was worlikng. what a joy!!
When I’m sad, I create.
I create in the morning, day and the night.
Spring, summer, fall, winter, I create.
I created when I was little.
I’ll be creating when I get old.
作る人。
それだけが子供のころからの夢だった。
I create in my dreams.
I dream to create.
夏子~Natsuko
here is little poem from me! I made this while I was worlikng. what a joy!!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
August giveaway
I’m hosting a giveaway in my facebook page! Became a fan of page http://www.facebook.com/natsuko3#/pages/Jewelry-by-Natsuko/135087897424 & go to “discussions” tab, click on “August giveaway” tread & enter your favorite color poppy! You can be winner of “poppies hook earrings” in your favorite color!!Please visit my Etsy shop for all available colors!
http://www.jewelrybynatsuko.etsy.com/
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Lily pads with enamel gem
I post these pictures on my Flickr page and got many lovely feedbacks! And here, I would like to share some excitement of how I made these. It’s new pendant design of “lily pads with enamel gem” and pictures are taking to look like lily pads in the pond. I love these end result of it too but I mu
st say, I love love love making these! I got “2001 Opal jewel effect” from Thompson Enamel out of curiosity. (hey, if I see something interesting I have to try it!) They look like rough rocks before firing. Then when you fire, it would look like real opal cabochons! I made bezel with fine silver wire and fused on to “pad” part. Kind of like when you do cloisonné. Cloisonné usually requires so many firing to build up enamel but because I put the “Opal gem” in the bezel doesn’t have to fire so many times! And you can see the beautiful milky opals glow through the color! 
Maybe it wasn’t so much of brilliant new idea but it was so exciting to me! The enamels in the bezel look like “real gem” and that’s what I love most about enameling and reminds me why they are call “七宝” (seven gems) in Japan.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Copper enameling with torch-fire
So you like to try your hands in enameling but don’t have a kiln? Lets start torch enameling!
Easy to setup, fairly inexpensive and so much fun!
Before I got my own kiln, my only access to kiln was when I go to my enameling class. It’s only once a week and as I start to get more orders, I start to needing to work more than once (three hours) a week. But kiln is large investment & very intimidating… so I start to enamel with torch.
But I must say, if you want to work with large pieces, torch enameling probably wouldn’t work. Maybe you can do special setup but in my experience 1’ and under works the best.
Setup
I put Cement backer board on kitchen counter. On the cement backer board, I put tripod, square mesh firing screen.
Torch
I use “MAP GASS”. I was told that “MAP GASS” gets hot and burn cleaner. Others would work too but I never tried before.
I’ll skip preparing metal and shift enamel, as they are already excellent tuto out there.
Firing
I always fire form underneath. Light the torch and open the nozzle all the way to get highest heat. Then move the flame underneath of the piece and heat metal’s edge in circular motion. You’ll see the metal slowly heats up. When they get red the enamel start to melt. Most nice thing about torch enameling is you can see the process of how enamel melts, flow and fuse. So you can stop when they get to your desire stage. How long to fire the piece is depending on the color.
Here is my tip for firing different colors
For opaque colors, never put direct heat! It will turn gray. There for you’ll always counter first with selecting dark color as your counter enamel. Reds are easy to burn. So don’t fire too long not less you want “burnt” look.
For transparent colors, I usually fire golden clear as base. Golden clear gets clearer as you fire longer. So when I see the enamel melts, I start counting 25 or so. About this time golden clear will become nice and clear. If you fire too long it gets greenish. Then fire counter enamel with golden clear side facing down. After golden clear and counter, you can fire any colors you wish on the golden clear.
Opaque colors on the golden clear would get you interesting result too. Play around and see what comes up!
*Fire in the open & well ventilated area*
*Wear protective eve glasses*
*Be careful handling the pieces & trivets, they are HOT!*
ok, I can’t think of anything else right now. If you have any question please leave a comment!
Happy enameling:)
Easy to setup, fairly inexpensive and so much fun!
Before I got my own kiln, my only access to kiln was when I go to my enameling class. It’s only once a week and as I start to get more orders, I start to needing to work more than once (three hours) a week. But kiln is large investment & very intimidating… so I start to enamel with torch.
But I must say, if you want to work with large pieces, torch enameling probably wouldn’t work. Maybe you can do special setup but in my experience 1’ and under works the best.
SetupI put Cement backer board on kitchen counter. On the cement backer board, I put tripod, square mesh firing screen.
Torch
I use “MAP GASS”. I was told that “MAP GASS” gets hot and burn cleaner. Others would work too but I never tried before.
I’ll skip preparing metal and shift enamel, as they are already excellent tuto out there.
Firing
I always fire form underneath. Light the torch and open the nozzle all the way to get highest heat. Then move the flame underneath of the piece and heat metal’s edge in circular motion. You’ll see the metal slowly heats up. When they get red the enamel start to melt. Most nice thing about torch enameling is you can see the process of how enamel melts, flow and fuse. So you can stop when they get to your desire stage. How long to fire the piece is depending on the color.
Here is my tip for firing different colors
For opaque colors, never put direct heat! It will turn gray. There for you’ll always counter first with selecting dark color as your counter enamel. Reds are easy to burn. So don’t fire too long not less you want “burnt” look.
For transparent colors, I usually fire golden clear as base. Golden clear gets clearer as you fire longer. So when I see the enamel melts, I start counting 25 or so. About this time golden clear will become nice and clear. If you fire too long it gets greenish. Then fire counter enamel with golden clear side facing down. After golden clear and counter, you can fire any colors you wish on the golden clear.Opaque colors on the golden clear would get you interesting result too. Play around and see what comes up!
*Fire in the open & well ventilated area*
*Wear protective eve glasses*
*Be careful handling the pieces & trivets, they are HOT!*
ok, I can’t think of anything else right now. If you have any question please leave a comment!
Happy enameling:)
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