Friday fragments

The current regalia project is completed - a Laurel medallion pendant with an overall engraved diapered pattern with stamped bees, referring to my clients personal heraldry.

This setting is the most simple in my repertoire, just a fine silver serrated bezel with a plain back and no borders. With how elaborate the enamel is, the narrow border makes a good frame. The back of the piece has both a loop bail for wearing as a pendant, and brooch findings so it can either be worn as a pin, or pinned in place while being worn as a pendant.


And... just to give a better idea of the scale, here is the finished piece in the palm of my hand...

:::

March SMART goals

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	bee Laurel enamel	L linen gown extended	yard waste bin
2	-	-	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	-	-	-
7	-	-	-
8	-	-	-
9	-	-	-
10	-	-	-
11	-	-	-
12	-	-	-

Bizzy buzz buzz...

On Monday our plucky heroine started on this Laurel medallion commission, and completed the initial base layers of engraving the diapering pattern, stamping the bees, and applying the pale violet transparent enamel...

Today it was time for step number next: to carefully shape painted* lines for the stems of the Laurel wreath, then fire at 1500F. When cool, begin adding laurel leaves...

Tiny, less than 1/8", leaves are painted in suitable locations along the stems. Then the edges of the leaves are carefully shaped (using tiny brushes) to have crisp edges. Once the oil evaporates, the piece will be fired again...

2nd layer of enamel on the leaves, lighter green highlights... I'm thinking that one more round of darker green to finish detailing the leaves and the enamel will be ready to have a setting built for it

Finally the enamel portion of the medallion is completed... at the bottom edge of the photo is a fragment of transparent ruler, showing how the actual enamel is just about an inch across. I particularly love how the painted enamel has an almost dimensional effect, being just a little bit raised from the surface of the transparent background.

*painting enamel (Limoges technique) is done with powdered glass of approximately talcum powder fineness, which I use mixed with lavender oil as a medium. Once applied to the surface, I then use a damp 10/0 paintbrush to refine the edges and details of the line

Tuesday tidbits, or simple pleasures for simple people.

... in which our plucky heroine proves that you can teach an old dog new tricks...

A fair amount of eggs get eaten here at Acorn Cottage, courtesy of Nanny Og and Boneclaw Mother. However, their eggs are usually either scrambled, or omelet-ed, or turned into part of something else, and not boiled. Despite a reliable eggspell from my sister, which guarantees a perfectly cooked yolk with no green ring, my fresh from the hens eggs invariably stick to the shells when I try and peel them after cooking.

While perusing Cook's Illustrated while waiting in the checkout line, an article promised "Easy-Peel Hard-Cooked Eggs" - using a technique of steaming them for about 13 mintues and then chilling them immediately in iced water for 15 minutes. Apparently putting the eggs directly into the hot steam, rather than in a cold pan of water which is then brought to a boil has an effect on the interface between the egg and the eggshell. While initially dubious, I must say that it worked like a charm, yielding eggs that are not only perfectly cooked, but indeed, perfectly easy to peel!