I used the same design and colors as on my previous piece. This time I used a layer of silver foil between the copper and enamels to see if I could avoid the oxidation from the copper. This part did work but I overheated the wires and some sunk into the enamel too much. I have to watch this firing a lot closer so I don’t over fire.
There’s lots of trial and error learning the ins and outs of enamels. I still have much to learn.
Yep, got some more done.
Running out of ideas for character beads. Tried a horse. Came out of the kiln looking more like an alien than a horse.
I have to figure out a way to take pictures of these things. Hanging them isn’t working. They move around and the pictures turn out blurry. And after dropping them twice behind my desk I gave up on getting any good pictures.
I got an order for some mushroom charms….
I fumed the ivory stems to make them look more like mushrooms. Kind of gives it a in the dirt look.
Other more colorful mushrooms. These are fun to make.
I decided to try another cloisonne enamel piece. I’m using copper as the base and on this piece I didn’t use any transparents so I omitted the step where some fine silver foil is added to cover the copper. Thought why waste it when it’s not going to show. Well, while making the piece, I realized there is a good reason to use it.
I got oxidation from the copper coming up to the top. That happens because the copper was fired too long or too high. It’s hard to see in the picture but around the silver wires it shows up the most. Using the silver foil layer helps to keep the oxides from coming to the top. Silver doesn’t created oxides. Or I could be more careful and use low or medium melt enamel colors which is more difficult to figure out.
I’m going to make another piece similar to this design with the silver foil and see how that goes. This was a good learning experience.
I made some charms for e-cigarette device dangles. These are supposed to hang off a o-ring.
Okay, it’s three pairs. That’s all I got done today.
I used some glass beads that I made for these. It’s tough making two beads the same. Tried my best.
I’m kind of liking making earrings. Even though I have to make two the same, it’s not that bad. Would be easier if I drew out the designs prior to making the first one but when I start out, I’m not sure what I’m making until the first earring is done.
Hammered with a simple curl and a pink quartz bead.
These heart earrings will hang slanted. 
Some kind of quartz square beads and some green stone beads that I had laying around.
Another set of hoops with etched glass beads and some brass and nickel spacers.
I decided to take a picture of each pair of earring right after I make them. Trying to hang them and take a picture didn’t work. I think these are better.
I don’t usually make earrings. There’s something about making the exact same thing twice that I just don’t like. I don’t mind similar but most people want earrings to match. I’ve done my best here even though these are the crappiest pictures I’ve taken in a while. 
I had to retake this picture, it was so bad. I love Biwa pearls. Hopefully other people do too.
I bought these mother of pearl buttons a while ago. Never knew what to do with them. A few jump rings and a little round gemstone bead works well with the buttons, don’t you think?
These are hard to see. They are drilled river rocks. I tried to match them up as well as I could. And by this time, I got tired of making the same earring so I did the wires all different on these.
More round pearl – it’s hard to tell those are pearls and another set that I made round earrings and threaded some beads onto it. Easy peasy.
Also, some clip charms that never got posted.
Mewkittie Creations 