Agate Quartz

 

Agate quartz crystal 

The other side of the Agate Quartz

On yesterday's date (22/08/2023), I was assigned tutor duty for the second-year Jewellery Design students. They were assigned in a gemmology assignment when a particular crystal caught my attention. It was shaped like a lotus leaf, and the crystals on the inner side of the agate lent the gemstone an even more intriguing appearance. The gemstone's earthy colors invoked a strong sense of connection to the beauty derived from nature.

Lotus Pendant

 

Lotus Pendant

This was just a layout of how the silver lotus pendant will be soldered together and seen as a single piece. The petals of the lotus are paisley pattern designs, the middle petal consists of spirals and balls whereas the other lotus petals just consist of spirals. 

Cut out plate Design

 Wednesday(26/04/2023)

Enameled plate with pierced lotus

This is an enameled plate with a pierced out lotus design that has been inserted into the kiln which fused the lotus onto the enameled plate and has been cleaned in sulphuric acid before inserting enamel into the specific parts of the lotus design. 

Amethyst enamel powder added 

This is the outcome of the amethyst enamel cooled down from the kiln.

 Green Enamel added to design

This is what the enamel powder looks when it is applied onto the piece. The powder has been mixed with a small amount of water. 

The final look of the design

Enameling :colour Powder

Tuesday(25/04/2023)

Enamel powder

Enamel powder is powdered glass and comes in varieties of colour.

Enamel powder and sift

The enameled powder comes in different ranges, Opaque and transparent as well as the different temperatures needed for the enameling fusing process. 

Before adding the enameled powder onto the other side you should put the copper plate once again into the acid as the oxide that has formed after the backing enamel process as the enamel will not fuse if there is oxide visible on the plate. 

Enameled plate

This is how the final outcome looks once it has cooled from the kiln.

Lotus designed with copper wire

Enamel powder with slight water added

Paint brush to add enamel in specific parts of the design.

Once the enamel is added, dab a small piece of tissue onto the wet enamel to drain abit of the water and keep the plate near the kiln to dry the enamel before adding into the kiln as it could evaporate and the enamel would not catch onto the design. 

Final look