Decoration enamel

How to make the "Mushroom

• Enamel the backside with counter enamel.
• Sift the top with cherry red.
• Sift the stem with golden ochre.
• Burn for the first time.
• Sift the cap again with cherry red.
• Lay down some big white granules on the cherry red top.
• Sift the stem very thick with ivory.
• Draw, with the wipe out stick, lines trough the ivory like in the example on the right
• Burn for a short time in the Kiln.

Na het branden zijn de stippen en het parelmoer niet helemaal glad gesmolten, maar zorgen voor een mooi reliëf in de glaslagen.

Mushroom red with with dots

Glass threads.

With very thin threads of glass are a lot of variations possible.
The "Morning sun" artpiece is made with only the sifting technique.
It is difficult to arrange the threads on a wetpack surface.
 

How to make the artpiece "Morning sun".

• Apply the backside with counter enamel.
• Apply a first layer of sun yellow.
• Make a template from paper, like the border between yellow and tobacco brown.
• Hold your template above de artpiece and apply with a sifter tobacco brown.
• Sift with the other side of the template a second layer of sun yellow.
• Lay down a big grain red.
• Arrange some threads like the morning sun beams.
• Now you can burn it in the kin for 2 minutes..

Morning sun

Copper inlays

Another possibility is to use another piece of copper to serve as an inlay on your artpiece.
You can use the copper like it is or you can first enamel it.
If you enamel it first, then you have 2 artpieces and combine it to one.
 

How to make the "Aquarium"

• Apply the basic piece with counter enamel.
• First I sifted a layer with sky blue and burn it in the kiln.
• Then I sifted a second layer of sky blue.
• Now I applied with the sifter a thick layer of oak brown on the sea horses.
• Carefully I picked up with the aid of the hooked tweezers the sea horses and arranged them on the sky blue surface.
• No room for mistakes here, correcting is almost impossible!
• With the tweezers I arranged the green glass threads.
• At last I added the transparent granules.
• Now, very carefully, I shoved the whole into the kiln and burn it for 3 minutes.

Aquarium

Buttons
 

Buttons are specially made pieces of glass.
They are available in different colors
When melting in the kiln they flow into all kinds of flower designs.
You can use them in different ways.
Use them either on blank copper or on top of sifted or wetpack enamel.
 

Construction of the pendant "Marigold".

• Clean the copper and apply counter enamel to the backside.
• Burn on the front a layer of leaf green.
• Sift a second layer of leaf green.
• A fine silver cloisonne wire is arranged on the surface to be a stem.
• Take a  curved piece of glass thread and arrange it like a leaf.
• Below I sprinkled some fine transparent dark green grains to serve as grass.
• Place the orange button on top of the silver wire, this will be the flower.
• Burn the whole piece in the kiln for 6 minutes
• The Button will flow completely.
• Clean the sides and threat them with silver plater.

Wafers

Wafers are smaller then buttons.
They are in different sizes and colors.
The size can varies from 1 to 3 mm.
The way to work with is the same as described above.

Millifiori

Millifiori are round glass bars with all kinds of design.
The bars are cut in smaller sizes.
There are countless variations.
As with enamel powder they are in opaque and transparent.
There are several sizes.

• Mini
• small
• Middle
• Large

On the right an example with millifiori
It are small eardrops

Construction of the "Earrings"

First I drilled a hole in the ovals.
Then I cleaned the copper.
Burned the backside with counter enamel
Sifted the front 1 time with coral red.
Took a piece of millifiori, cut it into 2 pieces with a pliers.
Sift the 2 pieces again with coral red.
Placed the millifiori on top.
Burn it in the kiln for 5 minutes.
Mounted the hangers and this pair is ready to wear!!
 

Millifiori earrings

Lusters

Lusters are shiny metal flakes.
The luster’s have a beautiful glare.
There are colors designed for white or black backgrounds.
The lusters are delivered as powders.
You can mix them with demineralised water or use them as powder.
In both cases it is better to use them sparingly.

Construction of the Rooster.

Enamel an art piece
Burn a last layer with transparent enamel.
Apply with a sable brush a little bit of luster.
Burn the art piece 1 to 3 minutes on a temperature of +- 730 degrees or till the desired glare is reached.

The silver and blue applied with a sable brush.

Silver body and blue tail.

Green body and red tail.