Enameling Made Easy Torch-Firing Workshop for Beginners & Beyond

Enameling Made Easy and its companion 60 minute DVD introduces techniques for firing colorful enamel onto metal to craft one-of-a-kind jewelry. Featuring easy-to-understand descriptions, clear photos, and a well-planned supplementary DVD, it helps readers create beautiful enamel jewelry by presenting the basics of setup and techniques along with 18 projects that provide hands-on learning.

Anat Silvera is a jewelry teacher and designer, selling her craft across the US and Canada. She has worked in jewelry stores, owned and operated a bead and yarn store and now uses her knowledge and gifts to teach an array of jewelry making skills in different venues and at various shows. She lives in Berkeley, CA.

Part 1: Fundamentals
Introduction
• What is torch-fired enamel? The differences between various torch techniques and kiln-firing
• Historical information on the art of enameling
• Ways enameling can enhance your jewelry designs

Tools & materials
• Photos and descriptions of the basic tools and equipment necessary to do torch-fired enamel jewelry in a small space at home or in the studio.
• Enameling tools
• Soldering tools
• Other tools for metalwork

Metalwork techniques for use with enameling
• Punching holes
• Wirework
• Working with jump rings
• Drilling
• Dapping
• Sawing and filing
• Polishing
• Soldering basics

Basic concepts of torch-firing enamel
• Materials that can be enameled; what can’t be
• Safety
• Setting up your work area
• Enamels best suited for metals
• Prepping the metal
• Use of opaque, transparent, and opalescent enamels
• Combining soldering and enameling: basic steps
• Polishing after enameling
• BONUS: ideas for making a color sample chart of enamels
• Purchasing enamels and how to buy them

Part 2: Projects (22)

• Multidangle earrings
• Stenciled pendant
• Stamped earrings
• Scraffito bracelet
• Curved forms – tubular fantasy
• Enameled connections
• Tabbed pendant
• Riveted pendant or bracelet
• Cloisonné pendant
• Cloisonné charm
• Cloisonné earrings
• Enameled and soldered lariat
• Butt- or sweat-soldered pendant
• Domed pendant with soldered stem setting and stone or pearl
• Bezel-set enamel cabochon ring
• Cloisonné in soldered frame and sterling ring

Appendix
• Ring blank size chart

Glossary

Resources

Acknowledgments/about the author