Linda Connelly Enamels

Tag: cloisonne

  • Wolf Tools Belt Sander

    Wolf Tools Belt Sander

    Welcome to the latest in a series of articles to do with enamelling and making jewellery. I hope you find them useful. I am writing about issues and problems I have experienced (and hopefully overcome), and tips and shortcuts concerning enamelling and making jewellery that I have come across in the course of the past twenty years or so.

    Wolf Tools Belt Sander

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    This was delivered by Father Christmas and is proving to be a wonderful addition to my tools. it connects to my Foredom Pendant Motor. It comes with a selection of belts and I am currently using it to sand the bottoms of silver bezels I am making prior to soldering them to a base plate. It is much quicker than sanding them be hand, and they seem to stay in shape much better. It will also be invaluable when I want to solder press-formed shapes together. I always found sanding their bottoms very tedious and I think this will really speed things up. Sutton Tools are the stockist for the UK. What is really interesting is that you can purchase Diamond Belts which I think will be ideal for finishing enamels on a small scale. With the foot control you have a lot of control over speed and of course the necessary water would be well away from the motor. Unfortunately they are not available in the UK, but RioGrande in the States do stock them and a friend who is on holiday there is going to bring some back for me. Can’t wait to have a go. If you have any experience of using this tool, I would love to hear from you.

  • Mermaid Necklet

    Mermaid Necklet

    Mermaid Necklet

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    I have just entered my Mermaid Necklet in a Facebook competition for ‘Gifts from the Sea’. It is cloisonné enamel on fine silver. It is in a fine silver bezel with sterling silver fronds of seaweed which were cast from a wax model that I made. A single pearl hangs from a loop and it is suspended on a sterling silver chain. The cloisonné uses fine gold and fine silver wires. I have engraved a texture beneath the enamel and around the outside is written in wire the following words: ‘They dwelt in halls of seaweed and shells’. This is inspired by the words of an Enya song. The whole idea came to me when I was swimming off the coast of Crete. We were told that beneath us was the remains of a Roman city. As I swam, I wondered how they knew it was Roman and perhaps it was the Kingdom of the Merfolk.

    ‘Gifts from the Sea’ for me encompasses the myriad of colours and patterns found in fish; the sinuous, sensuous lines of fronds of sea weed; the intricate, exquisite detail of shells and the luscious bounty of the oyster. However, for me the greatest gift is to our imagination in the guise of Merfolk.  I believe that this necklet truly does represent ‘Gifts from the Sea’ in all it’s forms and I hope you like it.

  • Guardian Angels On Folksy

    Guardian Angels On Folksy

    I have just listed my Guardian Angel Brooches and Pendants in my Folksy Shop. The idea for this range came to me during a visit to one of my favourite cities, York. I was there with my husband whilst my young son was away on a school trip aboad. Wandering around the cathedral, I could see angels at every turn. At the time I was reading a book by Rachael Hore called ‘The Glass Painter’s Daughter’ and a central part of the story concerns the restoration of an angel stained glass window. As I walked around this beautiful city, the idea came to me of developing a range of jewellery that would embody the love and thoughts of the giver, even whilst the wearer was far away. Regrettably my son would never wear one, but I hope that other children, spouses and parents will love and appreciate the concept. I think they make a perfect gift for a loved one who is going away. They are enamel on silver with cloisonne and fine gold detail.  They are 45 mm long and each one is hallmarked.