Weekend Warrior

Experimenting With Crackle Enamel

 I wanted to replicate the crackle effect I've seen on some gorgeous ceramic beads but of course with enamel! I had bought some crackle base a few years ago but never used it. Time to experiment! Unfortunately, there is not a lot of information on using it. I had the page from the Thompson enamel book but it was pretty technical information. I also was confused because you have to use liquid enamel over the crackle base but in some cases the liquid enamel was also called crackle enamel. I went ahead and cleaned my bead and sifted a coat of clear crackle base on it.

I fired the bead at 1470 degrees for three minutes. It came out looking like this.

The next step is to apply the liquid enamel over the crackle base. I only have white in the liquid enamel. First you have to add water and mix it well (there are good directions on the package) and then dip the bead in it.

The liquid has to dry completely before it is fired.

I fired the bead at 1470 degrees for 3 1/2 minutes. Viola! It crackled!

I wouldn't say this is exactly what I had in mind but it's not bad either. The liquid enamel fires to a less glossy finish than regular enamel. More experimenting to come!! If you are reading this and laughing at my bead, please feel free to comment, I would truly love some advice on using crackle enamel!

 

Weekend Warrior

This has been an especially great summer for me! Not only am I on vacation for the summer, my adult children are living with us or near us and it's been wonderful to spend so much time with them. I get to stick my nose in their business and give them advice on every little thing. They're very grateful I'm sure. Now I am scrambling to make up for lost time at my kiln and fill my etsy shop to the brim. One of my clasps is going to be in the next issue of Stringing magazine in their Beads 2012 section and I'm hoping the exposure will bring me sales!

 These pics are of just some of the clasps (without the toggle bars) that I'm working on. This week will also see some kiln enameled filigree beads like the ones below.

 

Weekend Warrior

I was very grateful to spend the weekend working on custom orders but I did take the opportunity to experiment a bit with this bead. I wanted to add a darker blue to this bead which was already enameled with transparent medium and light blue. 

 I used too much fixative and it caused interesting patterns when I sifted on the dark blue so I added more drops on top of the power and let it dry. I fired the bead a bit longer than usual so the dark blue would be nice and flat and shiny.

 I love the abstract and painterly quality of the enamel. I will definitely try this technique again!