New: Torch Enameled and Stained Glass Mosaic Cat Suncatchers

These cat suncatchers come with a suction cup to enjoy on your window year-round, but they would also look great as an ornament.

Each one has its own personality!

Sold

My original design silver jewelry is available at:
https://www.mosaicsmith.com/collections/all   or
https://mosaicsmith.etsy.com

More Mixed-Media Mosaics - Playing with Enamels

Catching up the blog with a few pieces not mentioned here already. (But if you follow me on Facebook, these may be old news. And, if you don't, why not?? :D )  Link to my Facebook page is right over there. ==>

I have been continuing to play with the enamels and torch. Really love this process!!

Most recently, I completed several mosaics in my "Interloper" series. These are all based on photos I took this summer on a visit to Tybee Island, Georgia.

"Interlopers", "Morning", "Lost"

Small ones measure 5" x 5" and middle one measures 5" x 17" overall (each section is 3" x 5") Each includes hand-cut copper torch-enameled elements.

The top one, called "Interlopers" has been donated to fundraiser for Arts Council of Hillsborough County. 

The middle compilation is called "Morning" and the bottom is called "Lost". These two are available on my Etsy site currently. (See 'Purchase' tab above.)   Edit: These have sold.

All my available mosaic art:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/MosaicSmith?search_query=mosaic+art

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I also completed a desk clock featuring a couple of my torch enameled pieces, including a whimsical...bird. Definitely a theme with me lately!

"The Early Bird Catches the Worm" - Desk Clock

Clock measures about 5" x 8" and, in addition to the funky bird, features a custom clock minute hand in the shape of a worm. A tiny flying bird and three millifiori flowers denote the 12,3,6&9 hours. I had fun with this piece! 
All my available clocks: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MosaicSmith?search_query=clock 

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While I was playing with the torch to make the clock elements, I also created a few necklace pendants. Yup, these are available in my too! 
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MosaicSmith?search_query=pendant 

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Currently, I am working on several pieces, WIP pictures soon.  I will be part of a three women Mixed-Media Show at our regional library in November and December.  More on that later too.

Cat Silhouette Sun Catchers

Cat Silhouette Suncatchers

 And now I know there is a strong correlation between a love of mosaics and a love of kitties! Half of the 18 kitty silhouette suncatchers I made are on their way to new homes- but the ones above are still waiting for their forever home :)  

Hand-cut 22 gauge copper kitties were torch-enameled in black and added to a glass mosaic 'scene'. Copper foil around edge with hanging loop and suction cup.

These suncatchers, along with a few other suncatcher designs, are available in my Etsy shop.

Meanwhile, I have been working on a new, smallish, wall mosaic. First of at least two planned for this subject. Sneak peek:  

Torch-Fired Enamel Leaves for Mosaics

I've been playing with the copper, enamels and torch again!  

From my silhouette pieces I made recently I had a bag of odd shaped 'scraps' of 22 gauge copper. So I shaped quite a lot of them into leaves using metal shears. Each one has a little 'tab' that I used to hold the shape for torch firing. (Click the photo if you'd like to see it larger.)

I used Barbara Lewis's torch method of heat and dip in enamel, after first cleaning the cut shape well. The beauty of this method is that it also coats the edges of the shape with enamel meaning no fussy filing was necessary. But the difficulty of this method is that the tool you are holding the shape with inevitably also gets a dusting of enamel, which then, of course, will fuse to the tool making removal of the fired shape a problem. To try to solve that issue, I dipped the tweezer points in bead release solution. The kind often used for the mandrels when making lamp-worked beads.

Coating the tool with bead release worked out fairly well. It needed to be reapplied after a handful of leaves and did leave a bit of residue on the tab and back of some leaves. But I'm not concerned with the back, or the tab, since these are intended for placement on top of a mosaic and the tab will be buried in a grout line.

Next up- dreaming up a project to use these leaves in!

A new element in my mosaics - torch-fired enamel pieces

I have been playing with fire lately and learning torch-fired enameling. Very fun way to create elements for adding to my mosaics.

 I've had two main print sources for learning the basics on this process. Barbara Lewis has an excellent book
"Torch-fired Enamel Jewelry.. A Workshop in Painting with Fire"  (as well as a studio in St Petersburg, FL). With her book in hand, I set up my own little space to create.  Some of the first pieces I made were leaves that I incorporated into this bird mosaic. Click image to enlarge.

The second excellent book I bought was by Linda Darty "The Art of Enameling". She covers all techniques, both kiln fired and torch-fired, with great technical details and interesting projects with step by step directions.

Additionally I've found that there are classes locally in enameling. Great hands-on learning! I took a class at The Morean Arts Center in St Petersburg with Jan Wunsch and another at the Arts Center Manatee in Bradenton, FL with Sondra Hirssig.

Check out your local arts centers and see what they offer.

"Curious Rosey" has sold, but prints are available through my page on Fine Art America:
 http://fineartamerica.com/artists/19+linda+smith


I create original design silver jewelry too!! 
https://www.mosaicsmith.com/collections/all   or
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MosaicSmith