Kalaya Steede

I've been working on a few things for you but first things first.  Aren't you wondering how Fire Spirit turned out? Below is the enameling process. I sifted with a 100 mesh sifter. All enamels are  Thompson Enamels  and firing was done in Wall-E, kiln's name, at 1500 degrees F for about 1 minute and 15 seconds. All kiln's are different. Wall-E likes to get things done fast and furious. I'm only going to enamel the top piece. The bottom piece will be left alone to allow fire scale to form at will. I removed excess enamel from the bottom piece after each sift with a paint brush. 1. Sifted 1996-Black and 1850-Pumpkin. Fire. Rinse 2. Sifted 1870-Orient Red. Fired once more and thought to myself...why are you doing it this way?  I should of been layering the enamels. Ohhhh how I forgets how to do things.  Rinse. 3. Sifted some 1820-yellow, 1870-Orient Red on top of that. Then I removed some of the enamel here and there with a paint brush, letting the F...

I've been meaning to talk to you about. I failed to mention this in one of my previous posts about what I like to call, "technical difficulties." The whole purpose of this blog is to share my experiences with all of you on my journey in metalsmith. There are no secrets and I encourage any questions you might have.   So don't be shy. :-p As you can see both parts are patinated prior to connecting. This is how I've been taught.  I connected the two using rivets.  While I was hammering the back side to secure the pieces the patina came off where I was hammering.  Sorry, no pictures of the back.  Remember...the backside has a secret message.   Okay...so the patina came off.  Which means I had to remove the patina, clean, and patina again.  I must of done this at least 2x.  Moral of the story... I'm thinking I should rivet BEFORE applying the patina. I'll tell you how that goes later.  It just goes to show you that there is al...

Happy Friday everyone! Tada... Introducing my latest commissioned piece... Ooh La La The dimensions of this piece is...I think 1 1/2" in height and maybe...Ohhhh I don't know.  I didn't measure it!  Bad Kalaya! Anyway,   I started with 22 gauge copper and silver.  Both pieces were textured and the silver was used to cut out an African symbol, Gye Nyame   (jeh N-yah-mee), except God.  Translation:  No one lives who saw its beginning and no one will live to see it's end, except God . Go here to read more about it. After doming both pieces for depth, the custom bail and jump rings were soldered to the copper piece, cleaned up, patinated, and then joined by brass rivets.  It hangs on a 2 mm leather cord 19" in length. The back carries a special message but only the wearer knows.  I bet you want to know what it says! Hehe. Well...have a great weekend but FIRST have a fantabulous Friday!  Namaste Kalaya

Something I've been working on.  I was wearing my boots when this happened... Note the sharp points at each end.  This is the way it landed when it fell from my bench.  Last week a small, but still heavy, anvil fell on my foot.  In both cases my boots saved me.  Merci Boots!  Hmmm...I think Studio Turquesa is trying to get my attention.  Anyway...   Have a great Monday! Namaste Kalaya

I have been commissioned to make a pendant.  Yay!  The only requirement was to use an Ankh in my design.   Some of you have asked to see the progress. So just for you, a sneak preview of the pendant in process. First the design.  The pendant will measure a little less than 1" in diameter.  I'm using the second drawing down on the left side. Second, piercing the metal and attaching the bail.  I added just a little too much solder on the bail so I'll have to clean that up. When will I ever learn?  The Ankh will sit on top of the copper piece. The back side. All that is left for me to do is put it all together.  I have already filed and patinated and sealed.  Although I don't know how I feel about the sealing part.  It's some sort of polymer that keeps the metal from oxidizing.  I kind of like how the metal ages with time but not everyone likes that.   I think the hardest part is figuring out what chain or cord wou...

I have BIG plans for this weekend.   It's going to be three days of studio time!  Well...at least that's the plan.  Someone might convince me to go shopping or something.  In the meantime let me share the newest things that I have made. A friend of mine wanted to venture out and get herself some dangle earrings but they couldn't be over 1 inch long.  While I was making the set my muse came in the room!  She told me to put some notches in the hoops.  So I obeyed and left the two other pairs alone.  You never know when she is going to pop her head in the studio.   Notched hoop earrings.  SOLD Shinny Dangles.  BTW...that's not me. The silver hoops are 3/4 of an inch in diameter and were made using 16 gauge round wire.  I made three pairs.  Notches were created in one pair and patinated with liver of sulfur.  The other two pair were left alone and tumbled for that shinny look.   I feel like the other ...

I'm so excited!!!  I received this great Totem from Becky Burt last Sunday.  I have worn it everyday since then!    The piece is a great example of cold connections.   Materials are textured silver and copper, patinated copper, turquoise, and magnesite.   Magnesite's mystical properties is its ability to awaken the mind to communicate with the heart.   To see more of Becky's work click here .  Her pieces are so much fun with a touch of whimsy.  She is a local artist and friend AND will be making her debut at Jazz Fest this year!  Way to go Becky!   So if your in town stop by her booth and say, "Bonjour".   Merci Beaucoup, Becky!  I'm such a lucky girl. Namaste Kalaya