The Big Reveal or Letting the Cat Out Of the Bag!

Miscellaneous vintage brass beads and two iron bead caps in analogous color scheme - blue through green.

Mastering Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry: The Next Steps in Painting with Fire Paperback – September 24, 2014 (by Barbara Lewis)

Yes, it's happening again!  I'm sure Amazon is THRILLED to have a new book coming out by my friend, mentor, and Painting With Fire Torch-fired Enameling creator and teacher, Barbara Lewis.  I'm so excited about it that I'm BLOGGING the news!  Not being a writer, blogger, or journal-er, this is an event!  Her first book, "Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry: a Workshop in Painting with Fire," was awarded the #1 Best Craft Book of 2011 at Amazon.com.  No doubt, they are delighted to have her back again with a new book to follow up.  "Mastering Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry: The Next Steps in Painting with Fire" is destined to be an even bigger success!  

NEWS FLASH: I have a jewelry piece in the book!  Woo Hoo!  At the end of October, 2013, Barbara emailed me and several other PWF teachers and students and asked if we would submit pieces to be used in the section on color in the new book .  The request was received within days of my leaving for an extended trip that included a show in Houston with daughter, Stevie (also a jewelry designer). I was up to my eyeballs with enamel beads and finished jewelry to sell.  Of course, none of my inventory met the criteria in Barbara's request. There were four enamelists approached in this particular email and Barbara requested that each submission be in a different color scheme "mixing" color, i.e. layering transparents." Barbara requested my scheme be "analogous colors" (colors next to each other on the color wheel).  I chose green through blue with many of the variations in between (teal, turquoise, blue-green, etc.).  My favorite colors!

Oh, I had beads, alright!

Beads for sale at WHAM, Houston, TX, 2014.  Displayed in my own version of the "color wheel."

I call my work style "free burner."  I could not give material  info (enamel color, with or w/o transparents, etc.) for many of my beautiful beads.  With just a few days before I had to leave, I spent 2 intense days burning with gusto. . .choosing the analogous colors of green and blue. . .Weeeeee!  I was in my element of fire and color but challenged to keep records of enamels used.  I kept track of the base colors (mostly opaque) with various transparent secondary layers to give different shades and effects. I packed all 80 + beads (wrapped carefully in little squares of toilet paper) into a divided box along with little scrap labels of the colors used.  

Heading for Houston!  I wouldn't get a chance to design or put the piece together untill after the show. That gave me less than a week to get the piece(s) designed, made, and mailed to Barbara in Florida by the deadline of December 1, 2013.  Can't tell you how wonderful it was to be with my very talented daughter during that time. . .her input and inspiration was invaluable!  The project turned into more fun and much less stressful that I ever imagined!

I didn't know untill a couple of days ago that my piece was accepted into the book!

I'm not going to ruin my surprise by revealing my piece that is in the new book, Mastering Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry: The Next Steps in Painting with Fire, but since I had burned over 80 beads in the green/blue color scheme, I thought I'd share some of the pieces I made with the leftovers!

"leftovers" of PWF Mastering Torch-Fired Enameling book submission by Carol DeeZigns.

Necklace in copper and "leftover" beads.

I wear a lot of blue/green/teal/turquoise.  These pieces look stunning (if I do say so) with that "little black dress!"

Can't wait for the release of the new book!  I'm sure I'll be sharing more as the release date grows near!   I'm so excited to see my jewlery pieces in print and professionally photographed. And so honored to be included in even a tiny part of this upcoming smash hit!  Thank you, Barbara, you deserve all the success!

More leftovers in wrap bracelet and earrings

Sharing my joy and excitement!
Carol Dee Myers
Facebook:  Carol DeeZigns

More info on Painting With Fire Studio on Facebook and for online ordering of supplies at Painting with Fire Studio.  For instruction in the PWF technique in the Frederick, MD, area contact me at BusCarol@aol.com!