First picture of the Blacksmith Ring!

[afmetalsmith]

Here is is! This is just a quick snapshot J took while he was wearing it; we'll get some better shots of the whole thing soon.

Blacksmith Ring #1: Top, on finger Handmade hollow sterling ring, set with a cloisonne glass enamel featuring an anvil on a background of flame.

Comments

[anderale.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's awesome. I love the fiery colours you got! :D

[afmetalsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

The colors were tricky. I had: 2 yellows that aren't lemon-y (one's a bit orangey, and one's a bit gold), a VERY pale orange of Mysterious Origins (which means that when I run out, I'm out- I think it was an old Thompson leaded), and n assortment of reds that all have a pink cast. Not very promising! The pale orange ended up looking almost clear until I really cooked the enamel a couple of times- once I stuck it in the kiln and forgot it for a few minutes, so it went over 1425- and even the least-pink red looked very raspberry-y until I covered it with a ton of yellow AND cooked it. I think mixing the yellow and the red in the powder is what I'll try next time. So, I am pleased and relieved that it came out as much like what I wanted as it did, and feel pretty lucky.

Oranges and orangey-reds are not colors that seem to be very possible within enamel confines, so it's good that mixing worked!

(argh- I kept messing up the reply! sorry!)