Into the kiln

May 18, 2013 1 Comment

At last my pendant is ready for firing. I began this at Anna Mazon’s workshop last weekend although I realised I wouldn’t really be able to do much work on a piece while I was hosting a masterclass in silver clay. It was a wonderful workshop and Anna’s instructions were very clear and easy to follow so I have slowly continued to work on my herbaria pendant inspired by Anna’s work. Now it has finally made it into the kiln, only a week behind the rest of the group!

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I am delighted that, after a bit of practice, I have finally got the hang of those teeny tiny flowers! This one is very much based on Anna’s instructions and the next thing I need to do is practice the technique and make it my own. Thanks again to Anna and everyone who took part.

There are still a couple of places left on Joy Funnell’s workshop making Colourful Carnival Masks 29th and 30th June.

20130518-180135.jpg Here is one of Joy’s latest masks ‘Primavera’. For more information go to my website or leave me a message in the comments section of this blog.

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Guest tutors, Inspiration, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Master classes, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North York Moors, North Yorkshire, Silver clay classes, Sterling silver clay, workshops, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Something to do on a rainy day on the North York Moors

March 19, 2013 Leave a comment

Yesterday I went to an interesting meeting run by the North York Moors National Park and looking at web marketing and networking. I came away inspired to write a bit more often about my wonderful location here in Glaisdale. I am based about 12 miles inland from Whitby and surrounded by spectacular countryside, with the dramatic landscape of the North York Moors right on my doorstep.

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This is one of my photos taken just along the road from my studio, with the low winter sun shining over the snow

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This photo is taken looking across the dale and one of the things I love is that, as the light changes throughout the day, then the view changes quite dramatically. I have always used the landscape patterns as inspiration for my work.
Glaisdale is surrounded by beautiful countryside and the route of the Coast to Coast walk follows the northern edge of the dale. There are a wide range of places to stay from B&Bs such as Beggars Bridge B&B and Red House Farm which has a choice of B&B and holiday cottages and, just along the dale from me Nab End Farm Cottages. Along the dale in the opposite direction and for those looking for something a bit different, to accomodate and certainly very special is Bank House Farm Hostel

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My studio is well equipped with all kinds of specialised equipment for jewellery making and enamelling. I am happy to organise a workshop at short notice if you are staying in the area and looking for something to do on a rainy day. I can accommodate up to eight people and you can make a pretty piece of silver jewellery either using traditional methods and techniques, such as the fidget ring you could make something in silver clay (sometimes called precious metal clay) or you could have a go at enamelling and create a small enamelled panel inspired by this beautiful landscape.

Email me if you would like more information or just give me a call on 01947 897788. You will find more information about the classes I run on my website but if you have something else in mind then please just get in touch – I look forward to helping you create your own special and unique memento of the area.

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Moorland landscape

    Enamel on copper by Lynne Glazzard

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More Mokume Gane

March 8, 2013 Leave a comment

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Here is today’s piece of mokume gane technique in copper and silver clay. It is a little whistle and I have created patina to chemically darken the copper to make a greater contrast with the silver. I am very pleased with the outcome of this and think it will make a great new class project.

Thanks again to Lesley Messam & Katie Baum for sharing so much information on techniques and inspiring me!

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A little more experimentation and a new Mokume Gane masterclass

March 7, 2013 1 Comment

I have been doing a little more experimentation after a short break staying with my good friend Lesley Messam and with the encouragement and inspiration of Katie Baum.

With Katie we made either perfume pendants or pens and I chose to make the perfume pendant. It is made in art clay silver. Since I returned home I have made an attempt at making a pen using the combination to silver and copper to make new mokume gane. I think I need to do more work on this idea to perfect it but am having fun experimenting.

I am planning to teach the Art Clay New Mokume Gane class later in the year so please email if you would like to learn this technique.

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A work in progress

October 19, 2012 Leave a comment

Here is a little update on one of the pieces I have been working on. This began with silver clay rolled out over a photopolymer texture sheet (see earlier post) and then had an edge constructed before being fired in my electric kiln for 2 hours at 800 degrees centigrade. This gives the maximum sintering so ensures that the piece is as dense as possible, perfect for enamelling onto.
Once fired I give the piece a wire brushing and a preliminary polish. I then attach shaped fine silver wires to the surface and fire the piece again to fix the wires in place.

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The photo shows two pieces that have had the wires fixed into place. I then prepare a number of enamel colours by grinding and washing them and apply a thin layer to the surface using water to control the placement of the grains of enamel. I dry the piece before firing it again at around 800 degrees centigrade until the enamel has melted and fused to the silver surface. I apply more layers of enamel thinly, firing each layer in turn, until the enamel is level with the tops of the wires.

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This photo shows the third layer of wet enamel, prior to drying and firing. Once I have fired the final layer the piece has its surface ground back so that it is level and smooth before being fired again quickly to get the gloss back on the enamel surface. I can then fully polish the piece to finish it. I used to use the tiny heart and spiral motifs in my work all the time and have enjoyed bringing this fun element back into the current pieces.

I did get to the final firing of this one of the pendants but it was a bit late in the day and the light wasn’t really good enough to take a photograph. I hope you enjoy this insight into some of the working process. I am happy to teach enamelling classes either for small groups or on a one to one basis so please contact me if you would like to arrange something or buy a piece of my work.

Filed under art clay silver, Enamel jewellery, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling, Enamelling classes, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Learn to enamel, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, photopolymer plates, PMC, Silver and enamel jewellery, Silver clay classes, Tools and tips Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Into the kiln

July 24, 2012 Leave a comment

The kiln is on again!

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I have been working on a few new ideas and here are some of my pieces being fired in my Evenheat kiln. It is running at 800 Centigrade and I love that I can just leave this kiln and it will switch itself off at the end of its firing schedule. To the back right hand side you can see the two little moth pieces that I began a few days ago. There are also a couple of different tops for pairs of cuff links.

The patterns for these were made using ‘Scratchofoam’ ™ a technique suggested by Wanaree Tanner in her blog a few months ago. This is a kind of thin styrofoam sheet, I think mainly used for teaching children print making, but it is easy to create patterns and textures in it using a small ball tool and, because I enjoy creating my own unique textures it provides a quick and easy way of making them. I still like to make photopolymer plates for designs I think I will use repeatedly as they are much more durable.

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These are some of patterns I made for cuff links using the scratchfoam.

I am working on a larger pendant inspired by a segment of plant growing just in front of my studio.

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Here is the scratchfoam texture I made – it does require ‘reverse thinking’ so that printing course I took at the beginning of year is beginning to pay off. I used this to create the basic framework for the stems and outline structure. Having rolled out a slab of clay I then laid it over a former and began to cut into it, to create the gaps between the stems. After I had let it dry thoroughly I then added lots of small balls of clay to create the flower or seed heads. I added a bail and a tiny loop and di lots of pre-finshing and refining. You can see the reverse side of this piece to the back left hand side of the picture of things in the kiln.

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I also remembered to photograph my sanding block. I talked about this in a previous post and thought it would be helpful to show my attempts to contain my sanding a filing dust, at the same time keeping it clean so that I can safely reconstitute it later.

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Anyway, I hope you are all enjoying seeing something of my working process. I am just going back to the studio to empty the kiln as it should have reached the end of its programme now.

There are plenty of places available on classes coming up here in North Yorkshire so why not begin your own metal clay adventure? Email me if you would like to book. I look forward to seeing you….

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Jewellery making Classes in Yorkshire, dates still available

June 15, 2012 Leave a comment

*Saturday and Sunday 7th and 8th July 2012 Special Two Day Enamelling workshop with Guest Tutor Tilly Wilkinson, teaching Images into Enamel £150 per person for the weekend course – See separate post for more information. This is the first weekend of the Guild of Enamellers Exhibition at the Pannett Art Gallery in Whitby – see website for more information
**Limited places available – advanced booking essential**

Saturday 21st July 2012 Embellish silver beads with enamel £170
Learn how to add wire patterns to the surface of silver beads and then add enamel, firing them in the electric kiln – to make your own special focal beads. (Handmade lamp-work glass beads will be available to purchase on the day to complete your own special necklace).

Plique a jour enamel in art clay silver with Lynne Glazzard £340
Saturday 28th July and Sunday 29th July 2012, a two day workshop. On the first day you will design and make silver earrings, learning the basic principles of design for plique a jour enamel and firing and finishing them ready for the second day. On day two you will learn to prepare the enamel and to apply it, firing and gradually building up the cells until they are filled. You will then give the pieces a final finish and add the findings ready to wear. The course includes small amounts of three enamel colours, enough to complete the project.

These two introductory courses are great value – perfect opportunity to try out enamelling!

Tuesday 7th August Introduction to cloisonné enamelling at Pannett Art Gallery, Whitby -
£55 per person

Saturday 11th August 2012 Introduction to enamelling on copper at Pannett Art Gallery with Tilly Wilkinson – £55 per person

Saturday 18th August 2012 Introduction to Art Clay Silver £145

Saturday 8th September 2012 Introduction to Art Clay Silver £145
Saturday 22nd September 2012 Introduction to Art Clay Silver £145

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Cloisonné enamel on art clay silver with Lynne Glazzard £350
Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st October 2012, a two day workshop. On the first day you will design and make a silver pendant, learning about design for enamel.
On the second day you will prepare and apply wire patterns followed by thin layers of enamel, firing each layer in turn. You will then learn methods for finishing the piece to a high standard. The course includes small amounts of enamel, enough to complete the project.

Glass and art clay silver combination beads with Lynne Glazzard £360
Thursday 8th and Friday 9th November 2012 – two day workshop. On the first day you will learn to apply a variety of art clay silver products to the surface of glass beads before firing and annealing them in the kiln. On day two you will make some art clay silver beads to complement the glass beads before finishing them all to a high standard. Some glass beads are included in the course fee but not the art clay silver. A detailed materials list will be supplied in advance but you will need approximately 20g Art Clay 650; 10g Syringe type, Art Clay Silver Overlay paste

Terms and conditions 50% deposit required to confirm a place, balance payable by cheque or cash 7 days prior to the first day of the class.

7 days notice of cancellation of a booking is required so that we can resell the workshop place.
In the event of cancellation more than 7 days before the class the deposit can be carried over to another mutually convenient date.
Cancellation by the student less than 7 days prior to a workshop will result in forfeit of your deposit and course fee
Each class has a maximum number of places available and a minimum number before it can run. If we have to cancel a workshop we will give as much notice as possible and a place will be offered for an alternative workshop at a future date. Refunds will be given in the event of tutor illness or insufficient numbers booked for a workshop.
We reserve the rights to vary these terms and conditions at any time.

The studio is based in the beautiful village of Glaisdale approximately 12 miles from Whitby on the North Yorkshire Moor

Filed under Art clay certification courses, art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Charm beads, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling classes, Hollow beads in metal clay, jewellery making class, Learn to enamel, Making rings in silver, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, PMC, Silver and enamel jewellery, Silver clay classes, silver clay rings, Sterling silver clay, Tools and tips, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with , , , , , ,

North Yorkshire Open Studios

June 10, 2012 Leave a comment

I am just about to go into the studio and open ready for today’s event. I will also be open on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June 2012 and open during the week 11th to 14th June by appointment. During Open Studios I will be demonstrating a variety of techniques during the day, starting at 11am – including making unique silver jewellery using art clay silver.

The road from Egton to Glaisdale is going to be closed near Beggars Bridge for three weeks during the period of Open Studios. To get to Glaisdale you will have to approach via Lealholm or Rosedale. This affects anyone intending to visit – but it will be worth the trip to see my wonderful new studio, watch demos and buy something from my new ranges of work.

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Yesterday I did a few demonstrations of lamp work bead making, creating some tiny bumpy beads for a necklace I have planned. Today I will be doing a bit of work on a large pendant using art clay silver. I love working in and teaching metal clay. It is great for creating interesting three dimensional pieces with unique textures. I am currently working on is a little architectural piece, part of my new range of work inspired by some of the many buildings I visited and studied while I taught history of architecture and design (a few years ago now). For the past few years I have created work inspired mainly by my local environment – plants and flowers and the patterns of the landscape and it has taken me a while to come around to the idea of using my architectural studies and love of historical places as a theme for work.

Yesterday was lovely, a nice mix of regular visitors and new faces and I am hoping for more visitors again today.

Filed under art clay silver, Charm beads, Enamel jewellery, Enamel silver jewellery, Enamelling classes, Glass bead jewellery, Hollow beads in metal clay, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Keum boo, Lampwork beads, Learn to enamel, Making rings in silver, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire Tagged with , , , , , ,

Bats and more bats

March 23, 2012 3 Comments

I have finished a little collection of four bat inspired pieces of jewellery.

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These are made using a bit of styrene foam to make quick texture plates and then rolling out the silver clay over them before cutting around with a fine pin tool and shaping the pieces. They were then dried and joined. The pendant and tiny bead are two bats fixed backed to back. The pendant could also be worn as a bead on a charm style bracelet and would lie nicely against the wrist. The other pieces are a ring and a bracelet toggle and clasp. I have made the bracelet with a removable toggle so that some of my large holed glass beads can be threaded onto it.

They are all made using the PMC sterling silver clay, but would be just as easily made using art clay silver, which would have much quicker firing process as the PMC sterling has a two stage firing schedule. After firing I gave them all a polish before oxidising them using a tiny amount liver of sulphur gel, diluted in hot water. Then they were all rubbed back to expose silver highlights.

If you would like to learn to create your own unique pieces of jewellery in metal clay then please contact. I run classes in metal clay, silver clay, jewellery making and enamelling in my beautiful and well equipped studio in Yorkshire throughout the year and you can either book a scheduled class or I am happy to discuss your requirements and teach on a one-to-one basis.

Have a lovely weekend!

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Hollow beads in metal clay, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Metal clay, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, PMC, Silver beads, Silver clay classes, Sterling silver clay, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with , , , , ,

Bats – work in progress

March 19, 2012 Leave a comment

I have been doing a bit more work using the new PMC sterling silver clay, to try it out. Here is a piece of ‘work in progress’ a little bat toggle clasp for a bracelet.

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It still needs polishing and finishing, but will have to wait until a bit later in the week when I have a bit more free time.

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I made the little bat using ‘Scratch-foam’ as suggested by Wanaree Tanner in her blog a few weeks ago.
This is a technique quite closely related to the way in which I use watercolour paper to make my own unique texture plates, so was something I knew I would enjoy. It was a very quick process to make the simple little bat texture, traced from a design I had roughed out in my sketch book some time ago, although I will have to play around with it for a bit longer to work out how I can best use it in my work. Because it is quite a soft material it will be easily damaged so I will probably still make photopolymer plates for more durable patterns. It will be good for students to very quickly produce their own bit of texture in class – and as I am always keen to encourage my students to seek ‘uniqueness’ think I will use it quite often for that.

I am taking a print making class at the moment so am aiming to do more experiments with relief printing surfaces, exploring ideas I can translate to use in metal clay.

Filed under art clay silver, Art Clay Silver Courses, Jewellery, jewellery making class, Metal clay classes in Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Silver clay classes, Sterling silver clay, Tools and tips, Workshops in North Yorkshire Tagged with , , , , ,

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