Vitreous Enamel Jewelry

Melting and layering ground glass to metal is thrilling to me. My work combines cloisonné, chasing, repoussé and champlevé techniques. 

Cloisonné  Peach Oyster  made of fine silver, set in sterling silver, a fine cultured pearl on a nexklace of Swarovski glass pearls. Matching earrings are available.

Fine silver Blue Moth, set in sterling silver, with amazonite stones and iridescent black pearls, sterling chain and czech beads.Matching earrings available.

Please contact me if you are interested in any piece not listed in the store. It may be available.  

Champlevé and cloisonné Bee in a Pink Flower is features 2 star sapphires and faceted pyrite eyes. Ceramic and glass  bead necklace and matching earrings.

Blue Planet rotates (see video below) from a necklace made with turquoise, stone and crystal beads. Made on copper with silver foil. matching earrings available.

Purple Planet with 3 Orange Moons rotates, and was made to match there exquisite vintage gold foiled beads. Matching earrings and bracelet.

Classic cloisonné  Froggy made on fine silver and set in sterling silver. Faceted amethyst , ceramic and glass bead necklace. Matching earrings available.

Classic cloisonné  Octopus necklace is made in fine silver and set in sterling silver. Colorful glass and pearl bead necklace, matching hoop earrings.

My pieces are made on either fine silver, which is unalloyed pure silver, or on copper. The fine silver does not get black when heated, so it is easier to work on. Thin wires are attached to the silver, making "cells" which are then filled with finely powdered  glass. I mostly use transparent glass, because the metal shines through  from beneath. I also make paint from really fine glass powder, and paint it on the metal. The piece is then fired many times (around 10-20) at high temperature (between 1325 F and 1450 F), using a kiln or a torch. Before each firing, I add another layer of color.
I just realized how similar this technique is to doing mosaics on mirror, where the light shines through. No wonder I love enameling!

Part of a sexy carrot series.

Playful copper cloissoné necklaces with matching earrings

Purple, Blue and Orange rotating planet, and matching earrings made with Swarovski glass pearl  and bead earrings.

Iris cloisonné  and painted enamel necklace with matching earrings.

Leaf enamel barrette created on copper.

I've been obsessed for the last year with vitreous enameling!  Below is a video of a finished bracelet, Spring Flowers. It has a daffodil, poppy, iris and tulip, and is made primarily using opalescent enamels. Enamels are not particularly practical for bracelets. Bracelets can't be bent at all or the enamel will crack. When I made the Spring Flowers bracelet, I left two areas un-enameled so the bracelet can bend to fit my wrist. Working on bracelets is challenging, as they must be counter-enameled. (All enamels must be enameled on the back side to even out the  pressure on  the metal, or the piece will warp.) Additionally it is hard to enamel on a vertical surface, as the powdered glass needs to stick.  I was drawn to making bracelets as both a technical and an artistic challenge. I wear the Spring Flowers bracelet all the time because taking it on and off would  compromise the metal.
Below is a video of the Blue Planet pendant. The planet rotates and can be worn in any position, or spun as a stress reducer.

Plumeria with pure gold foil on copper with vintage beads, fine silver otter/man of war? set in sterling with citrine  and Czech beads. Iris on fine silver  and  sterling setting with faceted amethyst and vintage beads and Buggy on copper with vintage beads.

Below are some process pictures and other work. The bee pendant was a technical exercise. The design is based on the divine work of enameling goddess Sandra McEwen. She sells her work on ETSY and produces tutorials on enameling technique.  I did design the adorable bee earrings! Other enamel artists that helped me virtually are Merry-Lee Rae and Ricky Frank.