74. The Joy Of Enamelling for Jewellers with Michelle Leaver

If you’ve ever wanted to add beautiful colour to your jewellery designs with enamel, Michelle Leaver of Michelle Leaver Jewellery can show you a thing or two. A gifted enameler for over 30 years, thriving business owner, and  teacher at the London Jewellery School and Jewellers Academy ,she shares with us her top 10 tips (and more) for getting started with enameling.    EPISODE RECAP How did you get started with jewellery making and enameling? (2:19) What is enameling? (4:33) How did you get started enameling at home? (7:40) Tip #1: Practice on copper (9:10)  Tip #2: Test colors first (11:20)  Tip #3: You don’t need a big kiln, but you do need a kiln shelf (14:11)  Tip #4: Enamels are very fussy (17:37)  Tip #5: When you need to counter enamel (19:35)  Tip #6: If your enamel cracks, troubleshoot (21:45) Tip #7: What to do if your enamel is cloudy (24:11) Tip #8: Keep a color diary (25:57)  Don’t judge a piece by it’s first layer (29:03)  Tip #9: Stay focused when firing (30:22)  Tip #10: How to get rid of specks in your piece (32:37)      RESOURCES Beginners and Intermediate Enameling for Jewellers Michelle Leaver Jewellery Michelle Leaver Jewellery’s Instagram Michelle Leaver Jewellery’s’ Etsy Shop Michelle Leaver Jewellery’s’ Folksy Shop   Find Jewellers Academy on Instagram and Facebook!