Guild of Enamellers Conference 2009

Well what an awe inspiring weekend I had in York at the Guild of Enamellers Conference. It was my first time at conference and everyone was just so friendly and happy to share their ideas and tips, it was wonderful. I have always said I am only just touching the surface when it comes to enamelling and despite the fact that there was so much exquisite work being exhibited it was heartwarming to know that those I thought had created fantastic pieces said the same thing of someone else and that they too were only touching the surface. I guess it doesn't really matter at what level you are just as long as you have a passion about doing something you love. Here are a few pictures of the weekend.
This beautiful fountain, with 4 horses in the centre and water cascading around them greeted us.

Thorpe Underwood Estate, York is a residential school but accommodation and function rooms are let during school holidays. It was a beautiful estate and we stayed in dormitories which were excellent, microwaves, dishwashers, televisions to name but a few of the things in the rooms. There was a lot of equestrian facilities behind the accommodation block too.

The accommodation block we stayed in is just behind the fountain on the next picture, the door was just to the left of the tree but we had to walk right to the end of the long corridor for our dorms.
The following pics are of the tutorial we did with Sarah Macrae in Developing Design Techniques. I say we, as I travelled to York with Linda. Linda did a beginners enamelling course with me last year and I was so glad when she said she was going to conference so we travelled up together and really did have a great time. I think the only thing missing was the midnight feasts in the dorm (lol)
This is Linda working on her designs and cutting out a leaf form in silver foil.






This is a pic of my designs and me cutting out heart shapes. The first drawing was a section of a picture, the second was a section enlarged, the third was just the shape of the zigzag bit enlarged. I then looked at this one through a mirror which revealed heart shapes and I drew what I saw. I cut out hearts in silver foil, wrapped them in wire and then stuck them onto card and introduced colour.


This is the picture of the hearts and the finished result. Hopefully I will be able to incorporate this into my enamelling.




Linda and I were shattered by the end of the week but we were totally inspired by some of the work we saw and here is just a small sample. Needless to say I'd like to go back next year. (Pics will follow but it's late now)