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Cloisonné Jewelry by Merry-Lee Rae



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Merry-Lee Rae  
Rae Studios  
P. O. Box 1812  
Freedom, CA 95019  

merrylee@merryleerae.com  




My Thoughts on Sharing
My purpose in creating this section is twofold. First, I would like to describe the process of cloisonné to those of you who have a general interest in how I create my jewelry. In addition, I am honored to offer my technical achievements to the other enamelists of our generation. It is my hope that by sharing my knowledge, someone may be spared the frustration of technical hurdles inherent in the process. Please feel free to go to the "Enamelists Discussion" with your requests for information and I will share what I know. In return, it is my hope that the miles between us will diminish to a click of a button and we will find a new way to encourage and inspire one another. I will add to this section as often as possible and your requests will guide my progress.

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The Design and Blank

I begin each piece by creating a detailed drawing including the plans for any goldsmithing and gemstones. This is followed by the cutting of a base blank the size and shape of the design. The blank is generally 26 gauge fine silver and domed with a Bonny Doon Hydraulic Press or by hand in a wooden dapping block. For most designs, I polish the front surface with white diamond tripoli, clean ultrasonically in non-sudsy ammonia and brass brush with dish soap under running water. I then coat the front of the blank with a clear enamel called flux and kiln fire at 1500 degrees Fahrenheit for 70 seconds. This fuses the glass enamel to the surface of the silver. The blank is then counter-enameled on the back with a transparent blue and fired. I use blue because it holds up well in subsequent firings and transparent so that I can see variations in the thickness of the counter enamel. To apply these basecoats, I mix two parts distilled water to one part Klyrfire and sift. The application is one very thin coat of flux on the front and 2-3 heavy coats on the back with a firing in between each sifting.
  







Never underestimate the power of momentum.

alt.titleHome  |  alt.titleClass Information  |  alt.titleContact Me  |  alt.titleGalleries  |  alt.titleMy Artist Friends  |  alt.titleMy Most Important Work  |  alt.titleThe Cat Collection  |  alt.titleThe Mermaid Collection  |  alt.titleThe Garden Collection  |  alt.titleMy Newest Work  |  alt.titleThe Ocean Creatures  |  alt.titleThe Fish Collection  |  alt.titleIt's a Great Life! Earrings  |  alt.titleEnamelist's Discussion  |  alt.titleWholesale Info

 |  alt.titleTechnical Information  |  alt.titleSupplies




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