Kalaya Steede

Curiosity guides my heart stronger then ever these days. Pivoting once again and shedding my old skin for new.  I'm still exploring with my enamel mandalas but am now incorporating my photography. The most difficult part is allowing the decal to dry overnight but since I don't do that it's not so hard.  LOL!!! The base is white and I fire at 1450 Fahrenheit. Same as above but this has more of a burned negative effect.  One can get some fabulous effects by being impatient.  The cracks is probably due to the coefficient of expansion in the enamel.  Still have lots to learn about this dark magic of vitreous enamel! I also have a new studio mate. Pema (Lotus in Tibetan) is a rescue and is fighting off some serious heart worms.  Regardless of her past and not feeling well, she still manages to give lots of love to whomever she encounters.  Pema really knows how to be at ease in muddy water just like the lotus and ...

the lotus flower blooms  most beautifully from the deepest and thickest mud. Lotus Pod Pendant - Vitreous Enamel and Silver Namaste Kalaya

~Thich Nhat Hanh I have always been atracted to the lotus flower and its symbolic meaning.  However, not until recently has it sprung up in my designs.   It has been my source on inspiration. The one below is my new lotus rings.  I made 5 of them.   It's really good meditation and soldering practice. When I look at it, it just makes me smile. The individual cells in the pod was my inspiration. Lotus pod picture can be found here:  http://www.pse4.biz/?p=391 This next piece was also inspired by the lotus pod.  The picture of the lotus pod was (still is) hanging in my studio probably for a couple of years.  The design had always been inside my head but my skill wasn't seasoned enough back then to execute.  When I sat down to make this piece it only took me a day. Inside I riveted an actual lotus seed.  Can you see it? Let me be like the lotus... Backside The lotus inprint was made by using a rolling mi...