As a beader, I often find myself bored with the basic concept of stringing beads on wire.  While there are nearly limitless possibilities when it comes to arranging said beads, sometimes my creative ambitions lead me to wonder about all the amazing creations waiting to be had with other jewelry making styles.  One area I always shy away from is anything to do with torching or firing.  I would love to do clays and enamels, but I’m a little nervous about the mechanical side of it.

Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry aims to temper those fears with a dose of excitement about beginning a new project.  The author, Barbara Lewis, exhibits such a passion and enthusiasm for her craft that it is impossible not to want to rush right out and build my own enameling studio.Barbara shows us how, with an investment of just $100, we can have everything we need to create our own beautiful and unique enameled jewelry pieces.  She tells us about how much faster the process is now, with beads able to be enameled in under a minute, as opposed to nearly an hour with previous methods.  Her method, immersion firing with a torch, is quicker and less expensive than traditional kiln firing methods.  You can also implement other designs right into the enamel process.

If you, like me, are a beader in need of a new addiction, enameled jewelry is a unique and cool way to enhance your designs.  If you sell your jewelry, this is an uncommon method of making jewelry and would probably be a great success at local craft shows or online venues.