Enameling jewelry class

Sunset over the airport

It has been a tough summer for working on jewelry, but we are getting back into the swing with a 7-week class on enameling at the Indianapolis Art Center.

The first thing I learned was I didn't know what enameling was.  I thought it was paint, but it is really finely ground glass "powders".  And you adhere this glass "powder" to metal by heating it with a torch or kiln.




And there are a few safety considerations...you have to wear a mask and goggles when working with the glass so you don't breathe it in or get in your eyes.  You need to use tongs and large forks and leather gloves when working with the box kiln so you don't get burned in the 1500 degree F. heat. And you have to clean up your work surface of glass particles so the next person doesn't get them in their hands and arms.  Think about the feel of fiberglass insulation on your hands and you get the idea...

Opaque green and yellow enamel earrings with fern design. 

We are working with copper metal and first learned about opaque enamels. Basically you sift the enamel powder on the copper and then fire it in the kiln.

I tried my hand at a pattern by placing a small fern leaf on the metal before I applied the powder.  Ok, I need to work more on this technique!

The next thing we learned about is transparent enamels.  One key difference here is that you add water to the transparent enamel and paint it on the copper.  After firing the piece, you can see a very different type of effect:

Transparent orange and yellow enamel copper disk

Anyway, Mike and I LOVE this class.  It is a very new technique for us, and the creative possibilities are endless.  Here are a couple of pieces Mike is working on:

Opaque guitar and transparent green and orange disk.

Friends Pat and Kay (also a Ronald McDonald House volunteer), Mike and me.

This is also the time of year when various organizations hold their annual dinners.

We attended the Ronald McDonald House Volunteer Appreciation dinner at the Children's Museum.  It was a lovely event where volunteers are recognized for their service to the two Ronald McDonald Houses that serve Riley Children's Hospital.







A special treat for me  was meeting Ronald McDonald!

Woohoo it's Ronald!

Last week we attended the annual Indianapolis Zoo Nussbaum dinner for donors.  It's always interesting to learn what the zoo is up to and about their great conservation efforts.  Plus it's a rare occasion to dress up for a fancy dinner.

Yes those are blue toes and a green foot...

And by now you realize I am a klutz!   On the Saturday before Halloween, we were getting ready for our annual Halloween Party, and I sprained my foot coming down the stairs from the attic.

Yes, this is the same foot with a sprained ankle in August.  I am annoyed and ticked and a few other choice words.  It has been quite swollen and green and blue over the past two weeks. And if I stand or walk much, it hurts!

I have been wearing a boot and started physical therapy last week.  Since it's my right foot, I've had to rely on Mike to drive me places.  I have been hobbling about for two weeks now, and this is getting very tiresome...as you might imagine I'm a terrible patient!


And even though I can't get outside and enjoy the great Fall weather, I have been enjoying watching the beautiful leaves in the yard.

Yellow leaves covering the yard and park bench...

I hope you have a great week and can find time to get outside and enjoy this amazing weather.  And don't forget the "huge" moon this week.  Seems close enough to touch it...

Diane

Summer time fun

Feasting on a flower

Despite all the rain, we are enjoying the summer.

Empty Ritter's cup

First there was National Ice Cream Day, and we were forced to eat ice cream!

Does not contain real bacon, hence the "baconesque"

And then I read about the newest junk foods, and we were forced to try bacon flavored popcorn.  It was a little strange at first, but it quickly became addictive!

Summer means festival time, and we spent an afternoon at our church's annual festival.

It seemed strange to have carnival rides next to the church...

Kevin and Mike cooling off

And we finally got to enjoy our friends' pool on a hot summer day. It was hard to drag ourselves away.

Refinished side table

Mike and I have been busy with several small projects around the house.  Mike refinished some vintage stereo speakers and an antique table.

Refinished DCM Time Windows 

Table runner

And I was back in my little studio with sewing and jewelry projects.

Green heart

Ruth, Mike and Don at White River Gardens

My friend Ruth and her husband Don came to Indy for a visit, and we thoroughly enjoyed touring the city with them.

The weather cooperated, and we were able to wrap up each day on the screen porch with wine and great conversation.

Riding the Indianapolis Zoo Train with Don, Mike and Ruth

And cats enjoy summer too!  Blue Belle lazed away the day on the screen porch. And she LOVES the little cat perch that Mike constructed for her last summer!  

I hope you are enjoying a great summer!

Diane

Butterflies, Polar Bears and Barenaked Ladies, oh my!

This polar bear has the right idea!

What can I say?  Just another week in this crazy life we call retirement.  Who ever said retirement would be boring?

Mike and I attended a Barenaked Ladies concert on Wednesday night at White River Gardens, a beautiful outdoor venue.  Of course it would be another rainy night (last year we saw John Fogerty there on a rainy July evening), but fortunately the rain ended before the concerts.

Barenaked Ladies at White River Gardens

The opening acts were Colin Hay and Violent Femmes.

The highlight of the evening was hearing the Barenaked Ladies playing the theme song they wrote for the Big Bang Theory show. Wow!

We enjoyed a lovely evening with friends Brian and Stacy on Thursday evening.  Brian picked up a guitar, and Mike joined on keyboards in our music room.  And Stacy and I spent the evening catching up on the screen porch.

I call this one "Tiger Butts"

Our friend Stan visited us last weekend, and our first outing on Friday was a trip to the Indianapolis Zoo.

Mike arranged a "behind the scenes" tour of the veterinary hospital for Stan who is a veterinarian.

Both of us smiling?

We then wandered around the zoo taking in the orangutans, tigers and bears.  I refused to see the snake exhibit-you have to draw the line somewhere!

Stan and Mike resting at the zoo

Butterfly exhibit

We finished our afternoon with a visit to the butterfly garden which is adjacent to the zoo.  It is a beautiful peaceful space filled with plants and butterflies.  If you are ever in Indianapolis the zoo and butterfly garden are a "must see".

Butterfly made of flowers

Large owl butterfly

Kathy with son-in-law Harley and grandkids Haley and Garrett

On Saturday evening we headed to Illinois for the 40th anniversary party for our friends Kevin and Kathy.  About 40 people yelled "surprise" as they walked into the restaurant, and the look on their faces was "priceless".

We enjoyed a great steak dinner and then spent the evening outside the restaurant listening to a local band.

On Sunday we headed back to Indy to attend the Indiana Wind Symphony Concert at the Marion County Fair.

Indiana Wind Symphony

Our friend John plays percussion with the Indiana Wind Symphony, and we enjoyed a great concert of marches and patriotic songs.

With Stan, John and Mike at the Marion County Fair

Later we wandered around the midway sampling some great fair food.

And of course, fair food does NOT have calories!

ET will never make it home

Gator?

I can personally attest to this goodness!

With Stan and Mike on the Monon Trail

Monday we headed to Broad Ripple to walk on the Monon Trail.  The trail crosses the White River, and it was just a bit scary standing on the bridge over the river...

The city at sunset

And so it was a fun, albeit exhausting, week.  And this week I'm busy catching up on my sleep...

Have a great week!
Diane