Experimenting with Enamels...

Seems like I do more experimenting than actually making these days.
Below are a few examples of over firing...

As a  brief description...I over fired various colors of vitreous enamels (golden clear included) over roll printed copper.

I am having a hard time telling if these are pretty or not.  They are different...but I am not sure if "pretty" is the right word for them.  I like them, of course...but then again they are my babies...so I am sort of bias.  I asked my daughter which one she liked, and she said she like the one that I didn't like.  How funny huh...my teenager thinks the opposite of me...who would have thought...!  So I am back to square one.  Should I make more of these???...or are they headed to the dumpster??

Little Houses

So what is it with little houses???...or maybe I should say whimsical houses???...
Why do we like them soooooooooooooooo much???  Inspiration for these cool little houses run the gamet from fairies, to real life architecture.



Arthur Millican is a former Disney artisan who use to build small scale tiny houses for fairies and gnomes.  Now he creates full-sized gorgeous whimsical playhouse for kids of all ages.

This adorable little house is by an amazing artist by the name of Megan Balli

Another one of Megan Balli's illustrations.

There is an awesome tutorial on how to make these cute wooden house over at the electric paperie blog

, click here  ...

 

Here's a calendar on whimsical houses.  It looks amazing!!  

I even found a book on how to paint whimsical houses on rocks...I kid you not!!

There are also little house "house plans" out there that you can purchase...in case you actually want to live in one!!  :-) 

I am not sure why we like looking at these fun houses.  Perhaps we imagine a wonderful, carefree life...?  Whatever the reason, they are all over the internet.  Take a look for yourself...

CLICK HERE for MORE IMAGES!!  :-)

I think part of the reason I love little houses so much is the fact that they are so colorful.  As an enamelist I love working with color.  My son and I made up some little houses of our own this weekend.   It was fun to watch my son think outside of the box and draw a non traditional looking house... 

So the next step is figuring out how to make a necklace out of one of these boogers...
Wish me luck!!

Have a Whimsical Day!

Maryville University had a great metal show and I wanted to share some pictures I took today of the art work displayed.  Please keep in mind that these are my photos, NOT professional photos...

A little background on the show:
The show was curated by SMM member Sherri Jaude.
The name of the show was, Contemporary Metal: Aesthetic and Commerce
On view: October 16 – November 15, 2014
Opening Reception: October 16, (Thursday) 5:00p.m. - 8:00p.m.

The contemporary world embraces a range of expression that includes functionality, the diverse use of materials, along with a balance of aesthetics and commerce. Artists today are challenged in the studio to meet this world and remain true to their voice. Presented in this exhibition is a collection of objects by invited artist’s working in metal.

Maryville University is honored to present works by Haley Bates, John Baltrushunas, Deborah Daher, Marilyn da Silva, Michael Good, Aimee Howard, Sherri Jaudés, Joe Meunch, Paulette Myers, Sarah Perkins, Lanie Kodner, Claude Mette, Rodney Roots, Sun Kyoung Kim, Warren & Diane Sauer and Billie Jean Theide. 

These piece were so well crafted.  It was amazing to see the work up close, of so many well known metalsmiths.  The details and quality were wonderful.

Lanie Kodner created a wonderfully crafted and functional silver interchangable back scratcher...

What a spectacular idea...!!!

Anyone that knows me, knows I love to put flowers or something that is flower related in my work.  I don't always...  I like to make miniature things too...but most of the time I end up making flowers, or leaves or vines or...you get the drift, right?



..

I was shopping with my daughter and one of the stores had these big paper flowers in their display....I whipped out my phone and snapped a pix.

This is pictures of a one of a kind painting on newspaper that I saw at a local furniture store in U-city.  Sorry, I don't know the artist's name...but the painting is very cool in real life.

Picture from my flower garden...

Don't you just LOVE these huge metal flowers in front of the Metal Museum in Memphis Tennessee!!! 

Below are some pictures of my work that were inspired by floral objects...
 

So when my father, a retired machinist, hobby furniture maker and blacksmith, showed me these cute and AWESOME bird houses that he made...I thought...

Wow...those would be sooooooooooooooo cute as earrings!!!!  As soon as I get my studio up and running smoothly I want to make some of these...at least one...maybe a necklace.  Not only will it be something that will remind me of my dad, but it's a flower AND a miniature!!!   Will post a picture as soon as I can. 
So what has inspired you lately???