I am really excited to announce that I won a silver award at this year’s Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards for my necklace, “All I want is to be beside the sea”.
“All I want is to be beside the sea” – silver and gold cloisonné necklace with freshwater pearls and double sided enamel beads
The necklace features a central drop which is fine silver and gold cloisonne on engraved silver in a silver setting. The side beads are double sided with different designs on each side, interspersed with fresh water pearls.
Close up of “All I want is to be beside the sea” necklace and showing the reverse side of the double sided enamel beads.
The reverse of the necklace has a embossed wave design and will also carry the hallmark of the London Assay Office together with the special mark for the Coronation of King Charles.
Reverse of “All I want is to be beside the sea” necklaceWork in progress pictures showing some of the stages.Presentation of my certificate at the Awards ceremony at Goldsmiths’ Hall
As part of the process of developing the design I made a number of smaller pieces which are now earrings and pendants. These will go into my online shop and will be available at Shows this year.
I also made another version of the large necklace but this time with a custom silver fish link chain. It is similar in design to the winning necklace but has some subtle differences. With pieces like these I always aim to make everyone of them unique.
All I want is to be beside the sea necklace with custom silver fishy links chain.
I made a short film showing this in detail. here is the link.
I have recently spent some time developing a new range of enamel designs that I have been planning for than a year. The title ‘Evolution’ originates from a exhibition I was asked to produce work for but it also perfectly describes the development of my new range. It is the culmination of the past thirty five years or more that I have been learning and developing my designs. Many of them incorporate fine gold cloisonné, 18ch gold bezels and moissanites which I have flush set in 18ct gold.
Gold Cloisonne enamel ammonite on engraved silver with African Blue Opal Jasper Beads
Sustainability and the environment is very important to me and all the silver and gold that I buy is recycled. Moissanites have a similar appearance to diamonds but are a more ethical choice because millions of tons of earth don’t have to be moved to uncover them, and they don’t end up as currency in human conflict. Both of which are major issues in the diamond industry.
Rings – Gold cloisonné enamel on silver with moissanites and 18ct gold settings. Available in different sizes to order.Silver and gold cloisonné enamel on silver cuff braceletsPurple and blue gold cloisonné on engraved silver Fossil Pendant
Like most of us I have been horrified and deeply saddened by the ongoing conflict and the resultant humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. I wanted to do something to help. I decided to make a special silver and enamel pendant with Sunflower which has long been a symbol of peace for Ukraine.
Sunflower Pendant for Ukraine
The pendant is cloisonné enamel on silver in a hallmarked silver setting on an 18” silver chain. It measures approximately 32 mm in diameter. The silver is engraved behind the enamel and the silver setting has a hammered finish to add sparkle.
The pictures show some of the stages of making the enamel. The enamel is laid in very thin layers and each is fired for 1-2 minutes in a kiln at around 850 degrees C.
I am selling this piece for a donation of at least £200 to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/UkraineSupportPledge. I will cover UK postage but if you want to buy from elsewhere I will invoice you for the additional postage. You will be responsible for any import duties or taxes. Please email me at Lindacenamels@gmail.com to see if it is still available and for instructions on how to buy it.
Last night I was absolutely delighted and so excited to receive a Silver Award in the Enamel and Enamel Painters 3-D craft category of this year’s awards. It was a huge honour to have my achievement recognised amongst such illustrious company and very special to be able to attend the ceremony at Goldsmiths’ Hall after last years online event.
The piece that I entered was called the Merking’s Palace Garden. Here it is.
Merking’s Palace Garden necklace with fresh water pearls and Aussie Sapphire set in 18ct.
The piece is cloisonné enamel on silver with fine silver and fine gold wires. It is set in a silver mount with an Aussie Sapphire set in 18ct gold. The central piece can be detached from the two side panels and fresh water pearls in order to wear on a chain. I like the idea of making jewellery versatile in order to increase its sustainability.
I was all the more delighted because I had to work so very hard to finish it in time and to the level that I wanted. A number of attempts finished in failure when the piece went wrong or didn’t have the flawless finish that I wanted. To enter one has to make a piece that you feel is better than any you have made before and inevitably this often results in failure and frustration. I actually completed it at 7pm the evening before the final deadline and with enamels a piece can always fail right up until it is actually finished! I owe my poor long suffering husband a huge thank you for all his patience and encouragement. He pointed out that if didn’t matter whether I actually submitted a piece because the act of trying had already resulted in improvements to the quality of my work. This observation really helped me.
This piece and all the other winning entries are on show at Goldsmiths’ Hall, Foster Lane, London until 4 March. Here are the details of opening times. https://www.craftanddesigncouncil.org.uk
My necklace will also be included with a selection of the winning pieces in an exhibition at Birmingham Assay Office which is on show 21-30 March 2022.
Here are some pictures taken during the making. Many hours of sweat and tears but thankfully not too much blood!
Under the sea there lives the Kingdom of the Merfolk with the fabulous Merking’s Palace and gardens. I adapted the idea from an original illustration by J.R.R.Tolkien. We need to conserve our oceans and take care of all that live within them so when we do discover this hidden kingdom we don’t find that we have already destroyed it with plastic waste, overfishing and pollution.
Merking’s Garden Pendant with freshwater pearls and hidden surprise on the reverse
‘Merking’s Palace Garden’ pendant in progress
These are other pieces that I have made on this theme. Like the one above, they are all cloisonné enamel on silver in silver settings.
Merking’s Palace Pendant
Merking’s Palace Pendants
Merking’s Garden Earrings
This work can be seen at the Sussex Guild Gallery, Southover Grange, Lewes as part of Artwave. The exhibition can be seen 10 – 5pm each day and the exhibition closes on Sunday 26 September although the shop is open daily.
I haven’t finished with this theme yet and have many more ideas for more work. I have even some up with a new character which may feature in a future piece. Meet the Sea Rabbit – beloved pet of Princess Samphira, daughter of the Merking. What do you think?
Sea Rabbit
I am really excited to be planning new work on this theme. I can’t wait to show you.
In 1994 I went with my husband on what was then the holiday of a lifetime. We went to Rajasthan, and toured all around, visiting Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur and then down to Agra to see the Taj Mahal before returning to Delhi for our flight home. We stayed in Maharaja’s Forts and Palaces which were their former homes. It was a life changing experience and one that has had a lasting effect on my work. I returned to India two years later and toured around Kerala which was also amazing but it was this first trip that really blew my mind and from where I draw much of my inspiration.
Photo Memories of a trip to Rajasthan
From the photos above you can see how I became fascinated with the colour, the architecture and of course, we can’t forget the elephants! You can never forget them!
The colours of the ladies saris; the patterns in carpets and on stone work all feed into my designs. I particularly love the idea of the old fabrics that are handed down through the family, have been handled many times and are slightly worn. I imagine them to be filled with stories and memories of people and places.
I like experimenting with layering patterns and colours in enamel, overlaying one with another to represent these layers of memories. It is a theme I have returned to many times over the years. My latest ones here use hand made decals combined with a final firing of gold lustre through a screen I made with a design from a Moghul ceiling, to add a subtle hint of pattern and sparkle on top.
‘Indian Memories’ Enamels on silver waiting to be set.
I like to combine different colours with each other to really try to capture the spirit of what I saw and loved. India is full of colour!
Here are the finished necklaces. The enamels measure 30 mm in diameter and the silver settings are slightly larger. They are in my sterling silver ‘silver moon’ settings that are hallmarked by the London Assay Office. Some of the batch have already been spoken for but the remainder will all be with me at my next show with the Sussex Guild at Mickleham Priory 30 July, 1,2 August 2021. See here for more details.
‘Indian Memories’ enamel pendants
They cost £75 which will include UK postage. I can post elsewhere just ask for a postage quote. Contact me if you are interested. I will put those that are left in my shop after the show.
Remember my Blue Vase Necklace? I was very excited to win a Bronze Award at this years’ Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship and Design Awards. You can see the other winners here and watch the virtual Awards Ceremony. It felt like a huge honour to have my work recognised amongst such illustrious company and I was really pleased to be included.
Here is a sneak preview of some of my new work which I will be taking to the Living Crafts Festival June 17-20 2021 at Hatfield Park. These are two of my new slightly smaller ‘large’ pendants and ‘Bubbles’ which seeks to reclaim the joy and magic of bubbles from the meaning associated with Covid.
It is so lovely to be taking part in a real ‘in person’ show after so long only being able to show my work online. I am an invited guest in the Masterclass Pavilion where I will be demonstrating and talking about my work, as well as running informal workshops where you can make a colourful enamelled keyring or pendant to take home. It is best to book tickets in advance as numbers are limited so as to make the event Covid safe. If you sign up to my newsletter on my website I will offer 10% discount on purchases of my work if you tell me you are a ‘Newsletter Friend’. If you already own a piece of my work and wear it, as well as making my day I will let you make a keyring or pendant for no charge, subject of course to availability of places. See here for the link to book tickets for the show and for full details.
Hope to see you there, have a wonderful day and I hope you find a moment to do something that brings you joy.
Silver and Enamel Tea Strainer – Damascene Flowers
I made this for an exhibition with the Guild of Enamellers. The subject was Friendship and Continuity. A tea strainer seemed a perfect choice because what is more friendly than sharing a cup of tea? This piece owes much to the inestimable Rachael Gogerly and Phil Barnes who were both so generous in sharing their knowledge and whose amazing work was so inspirational. Seeing their work has been a constant inspiration to strive to do better and to constantly work to develop my skills and expertise. This piece was a huge challenge for me. I have learnt a huge amount from it and look forward to being able to share what I have learnt. I hope it will act as inspiration to others. The tea strainer is made in two parts and riveted together with tube rivets after polishing. It is champlevé enamel with cloisonné flowers which are inspired by William De Morgan ceramics. It was partially etched to begin and then engraved by hand to form the recess and the texture behind. It measures 81 mm across and stands 12 mm high. The enamel has been polished and the silver rim given a brushed finish to contrast with the shiny rivets and strainer.
I have been doing some online Art Classes with Leighton House Museum, London. It was the former home and studio of the leading Victorian artist, Frederic, Lord Leighton. It grew into a ‘private palace of art’ and for me the highlight is the amazing Arab Hall with beautiful intricate mosaics and Islamic Tiles from Isnik, Damascus and Persia. William De Morgan who is one of my art heroes, undertook the challenge of replicating tile fragments to repair some of the historic panels and doubtless this work influenced much of his own work as part of the British Arts and Crafts Movement. See their website to access recordings of the classes.
The classes with Laurelie Rae that I took before Christmas were a revelation to me when I realised the link between these Islamic Tiles and the British Arts and Crafts Movement and particularly how I could use this as inspiration for a new line of work. The next images show part of the development of a new Vase necklace with is inspired by Damascene Tiles at the museum.
First I cut out and shaped each of the silver panels so they would have a domed profile. Then the silver was engraved by hand. This engraving will show under the finished enamel. The wires were each formed following my final drawing which is a painstaking task. The silver had a layer of clear flux fired together with counter enamel on the reverse. Then each individual wire was transferred individually and formed to follow the curve. It is essential to get the first ones in the correct place! In this case all the wires were fired into place in one firing. They are on wooden stirrers because they have unfired enamel in place so the front and back can be fired at the same time.
Blue Vase necklace and some of the enamelling stages
Here you can see a few of the layers of enamel before they were fired. There were about six layers of colour in all as enamel needs to be built up in very thin layers. Each time it is fired for around 90 seconds at around 830 degrees C. Before the final firings the surface is rubbed down with diamond pads so all the wires and enamel are at the same level. Then enamel is placed only in the resulting recesses to bring it all up to the same level. Any imperfections or bubbles are corrected at this point. Finally when all is level it will have the final firing before more diamond polishing to bring it to a perfect flat, shiny surface.
This is the completed necklace. It has fine gold and fine silver dots which add sparkle to the final piece and each piece is set in a silver bezel setting I have made for it. If you want to know more about finishing enamel or the setting process then you may like to see some of the videos I have made that can be accessed from my website.
For the Love of an Elephant cloisonné enamel necklace
I made this necklace for the Cookson Gold February Design of the Month competition. The theme was Love and I immediately thought of this title and wanted to make a piece for it.
The piece is cloisonné enamel on a hand engraved silver base in a silver setting. He is joyful and colourful and I wanted to make something uplifting for these challenging times. He is all dressed up for a festival or a party. He carries a heart in his upturned trunk. In the Hindu tradition an upward pointed trunk dispenses energy, luck and kindness. Elephants do this to greet friends and to express happiness. I hope he will bring happiness to the wearer and spread joy wherever he ends up!
I was very excited when I heard he was the winning piece. They said ‘The judges chose this piece because they felt the piece was beautifully done and finished to perfection. They also liked the way the theme of love was shown in an non conventional way’. I won £100 to spend which should be quite easy He has just gone to be hallmarked and then he will be available to purchase. He will cost £230 plus postage. Let me know if you want to reserve him to bring some happiness and joy to your life.
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