Tea Time Clock

Here belatedly are the samples I have done for this new project. They have been somewhat delayed because I have been somewhat poorly. Happily I am back on the studio, although still feeling pretty rough. I think I prefer the sgraffito one at the top left. May possibly include some touches of gold on the actual piece.

Time for Tea!

Spent the morning looking at pictures of tea cups. No, not completely mad, but someone suggested I make a new clock with tea cups for all the numbers. Sounds like a great idea so have the design worked out now and this afternoon am going to do enamelling trials to work out method. Thinking of stencilling them with opaque enamels
And then using over glaze decoration. Spots and stripes I think. Just off to put the kettle on again before I start ........

Summer Show at Lovers Lights Gallery, Twickenham

I will be taking part in a show here from 9 May to 5 August. This is a really lovely gallery and well worth a visit - not just to see my work. It has a wonderful situation overlooking Twickenham Green and the address is 64 The Green, TW2 5AG. It is a short walk or bus journey from Twickenham station. See www.loverslightsgallery.co.uk for more information. Let me know if you visit and tell me what you think.

Celebration and Jubilation!

Yes it has been a good day, but the names refer to two new ranges of jewellery based on the Union flag. The Celebration range is all in sterling silver with Swarovski and glass seed bead dangles. They were made using the etched brass plate shown earlier. Jubilation is enamel on sterling silver, again with the same dangles. They were a nightmare to do but I am really pleased with them. Cutting out the tiny crowns was particularly challenging! Hope you like them.

21st Century - Here I Come!

Busy today setting up a Facebook page
for Linda Connelly Enamels
and Jewellery. I was inspired to do this following a very inspirational
Chat with Elizabeth Norris at yesterday's British Society of Enamellers Meeting. Still
Work in Progress but it's getting there. Please visit and Like me.

Electro Etching

Hurray! I have just successfully rolled a piece of metal with a brass plate that I etched yesterday. It was my second attempt as the first was uneven. However with the aid of an old car battery charger from a car boot sale, an old aquarium pump and a glass lidded storage container I managed a beautifully even etch using a 10% nitric solution. Etching vertically was my husbands suggestion and was much easier and worked brilliantly. (Thanks Peter, our early morning chat was worth while! I did contemplate waking him up in the night to discuss it but thought he might be a bit grumpy!) The design is for some Union flag inspired earrings for a show I have coming up shortly at Lovers Lights Gallery in Twickenham. I did the rough design during last week's Guild of Enamellers AGM last Friday. I wasn't bored honestly, I just can't sit and listen in
a meeting without doodling. All I need now is customers!!!

Guild of Enamellers Conference

Have just got back from a really super weekend at the Guild of Enamellers conference in Nantwich, Cheshire. I was teaching a workshop called Bags and Boxes. We were making forms from copper shim, embossing them, stitching them and then enamelling them. WAtch this space for some photos! It was really hectic as I was away on holiday for Easter with my family so I had packed everything a week earlier. I was really hoping I hadn't forgotten anything important! It all went well though so now I am busy unpacking and putting everything away. I hate that bit!! I'm going to be really busy this week as classes start tomorrow and I am about to start work on a new range for an exhibition starting in May. The range is enamelled in muted, soft colours and based on the Union flag. I thought I would call it Jubilation. I'll post some pics of that too when I have some.