Sgraffito Enamel Technique

The word sgraffito means to scratch through. When used in enameling, it can mean to scratch through dry sifted enamel, dried liquid enamel, acrylic enamel, enamel marking crayons, etc. My favorite way to use this technique utilizes both dry sifted enamels and liquid enamel.

I usually apply a base layer of color, like a light blue in the case of the blue and gray earrings that you see below. After that layer is fired, it’s on to applying a layer of liquid enamel. I used black for all four pair below. Before the liquid enamel dries, I sift a layer of dry enamel powder and gently tamp it into the wet enamel with my fingers. Once this is done, it’s time for sgraffito.

With the case of the earrings directly below, I was interested in making something that looked like a lobster buoy - thus the lines and numbers.

Once the sgraffito is done, it’s time for firing. The surface of the earrings above was etched to create a matte surface, but you don’t have to do that. As you see in the images below, it looks equally as nice left shiny.

You can apply opaque or transparent sifted enamels over the liquid enamel with this technique. - In the two images above right, I used a combination of both dry sifted opaque and wet packed transparent enamels. Depending on the thickness of the transparent enamel, there may be pull through (white bubbles). You can see that to a certain extent in the gray earrings. You can also see it with the opaque enamels over the white. I rather like the look.

So, as you can see, there are lots of possibilities that can be achieved using sgraffito. If you are interested in learning more, I have a few sgraffito tutorials available here. I hope you give sgraffito a try. It can really set your work apart.

Caring for Pearls

Pearls need special care. It’s not hard, but it’s important if you want your pearls to stand the test of time. Here are a few key tips…

• Last on first off - put your pearls on after you have applied your makeup, perfume, hairspray, etc. Take them off before you undress.

• Never wear pearls when you are doing strenuous exercise - their delicate makeup can be compromised by the acids in your sweat.

• Never wear pearls when showering, swimming or doing the dishes - chlorine in water, pools and in cleaning supplies, in addition to other chemicals in cleaning products can cause their beautiful luster to wear away.

• Gently wipe your pearls after removing them with a soft cotton cloth that is slightly damp to remove any perspiration, perfume, or lotion they may have come in contact with. You can use a gentle soap if necessary, but most of the time it isn’t warranted.

• Store in a cotton or silk bag where air can circulate around them. They should never be stored in a plastic bag. Pearls can dry out and crack if they don’t have access to moisture.

• Keep pearls away from harsh light and extreme heat.

When you follow the above guidelines, your pearls will last a lifetime. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to comment below or send me an email via the form on my contact page.

My Fascination With Pearls

Just like people, pearls come in many shapes, sizes and different colors too. Some are smooth, and some are ridged. Some are even flat, which isn’t something you typically see.

For years, I’ve been fascinated by pearls. I remember going through my mom’s jewelry box when I was a child. The pearl necklace that my great aunt gave her when she was sixteen was a particular favorite. I often would wear it for dress up.

Pearls are timeless. They never go out of style - whether they are strung on a silk cord or paired with silver or gold. They are perfectly imperfect, and that’s what I love about them.

I am working on a collection right now that features pearls in their many forms. Keep a watch out for it. These beauties are a limited edition. Once they are gone, they are gone.

Why Enamel Steel?

Steel is a very strong and durable material to enamel on in thin gauges. The earrings pictured below were made with 26 gauge enameling iron (a form of low carbon steel). This wouldn’t be possible with copper in that thin of a gauge because it is inherently soft, making it prone to warping and chipping. Making earrings this large and flat in copper would require using 22 gauge at a minimum, and that would make them far too heavy for the average customer.

Only certain types of steel can be successfully enameled. You want to look for low carbon steel, enameling iron or stainless steel. Thompson Enamel sells enameling iron and pre-enameled steel sheets that you can cut with snips or with a jeweler’s saw. If you go this route, please be careful. You are sawing into glass, and it shatters and splinters into the tiniest of pieces. I will typically cover both sides with masking tape, draw the image on the tape and saw. It takes a hot minute and leaves an okay edge. Since you are going to cover it anyway, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Raw steel has to have a ground coat applied to both the front and back before powdered enamels or other colors of liquid enamel can be applied. The ground coat can be found at Thompson Enamel (GC-16), Clay Art Center (RM27 Metal Frit Enamel for Steel by Ferro) or WG Ball (Steel Ground Coat 12559). Kat Cole has been successful in applying colored liquid enamel to raw enameling iron without a ground coat, but she sand blasts it first. This gives the metal a lot of tooth and a varied surface, which makes it much more successful. Since I’m relatively new to this and don’t have a sand blaster, I’m sticking with the ground coat.

If you are interested in learning more about enameling on steel, there are some really great teachers out there, like Kat Cole, Alisa Looney, and Amanda Denison. I have taken classes from all three gals and highly recommend them all. They each offer different techniques for applying enamel and for surface design. Additionally, I found a great article that dives into enameling all different types of steel by Melissa Cameron here. Definitely check it out if you want to pursue enameling steel!

I am very excited to be using steel in my new jewelry. Admittedly, there is a bit of a learning curve, and it’s a bit harder to cut with a jeweler’s saw than copper, but I really love the ability to make things that are thinner and stronger, and consequently more lightweight than their copper counterparts. Please feel free to post your questions or comments. I’m no expert, but I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction.