Saturday, September 26, 2009

Here is some philosophy....buying Hand made

Thru the Kilns Window
I have been concentrating my efforts on enameling these days. After more than a year of making jewelry now I feel that I have finally found myself. I have learned in this time of growth that I LOVE to pound and melt things...Especially metal and glass. It is mesmerizing to watch fine silver fuse. I love the warmth of copper as it patina's. Finding nature with organic design. The simplicity of simple silver hoops! The depth of color in enameling.
A little about enameling: Enameling is fusing teeny weeny glass particles to metal, usually fine silver or copper. It is fired in a kiln at around 1400 or more degrees. They say is takes an hour to learn and a lifetime to master enameling. Being each item I make are entirely handcrafted by my own hands and that enameling is inconsistent even when I take clear notes to develop a color blend. There WILL BE variances between the photographed item and the item you will receive. Plus to take a digital picture of a handcrafted item..and put it on a computer..ECK! There will be differences. I may make the ear wire a bit different. Or a certain bead my change, a shade may vary slightly. But the effect of the piece itself will not. If you are not the go with the flow nature of handcrafted kind of person let me know...I can always explain the current variance or if time permits if do a quick snap shot of what I have. Thank-you so much for your understanding!
A quick note about digital photography....
I personally have been trying to master photography for online buying for over 10 years. You would not believe the amount of equipment I have purchased over this time...thinking maybe if I got those lights...this backdrop..that camera....and all along it was the photographer that was the issue. Well I think I finally have it figured out. I have the set up that give me good results. But that said I still cannot believe how the color shifts from original piece, to camera...to computer screen. Plus my camera sees ALOT better than I do!....these pictures are way enlarged. That is why I like to always take a picture of the item in my hand. So you can see the true scale. The computer screen is like a huge magnifying glass...making a pair of earrings 8" wide and showing everything that the naked eye cannot see. I do try to correct the colors...but it is my computer screen not yours. It really is maddening at times as I want you to see what I see.
Right out of the KilnCooled - Colors Develop

p.s. I went on to ruin this peice by adding a color that did not work! :(

2 comments:

Lisa Crone said...

Oh, I love it! Yes, I've done my fair share of ruining things after they were actually just fine the way they were. The pieces in your etsy shop are wonderful! I love your style!

Teka and Zoe said...

Yes I have a nice little pile of melted distorted oddly colors enamel pieces...along with melted silver items. :(

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