Linda Crawford Designs
Cloisonné Enamel Jewelry with Spirit

lindacrawforddesigns.com

I am the sole creator of my cloisonné (French term meaning cell) enamel jewelry. When I create jewelry, it is an unconscious process, much like breathing. Sometimes an inspiration comes to me in a flash and I can see the final, complete piece evolving in my mind; I scramble for my notebook, a napkin, a receipt, anything that I can draw upon. I have folders of drawings waiting for their creation.

I use French and Japanese enamels, a crushed powder (think granulated sugar) of leaded glass. Using fine silver or 24 karat gold ribbons of wire, I create my design, which I place on a fine silver base that is enameled with a clear thin layer of enamel. I then fire in a kiln at 1475 to 1600 degrees Fahrenheit. Thin layers of colored enamel are wet packed, using distilled water as a medium to distribute the enamel, into each cell using a fine sable brush or special tools and then fired again in a kiln. The amazing color and depth that I achieve comes from the blending and adding more and more layers of the fine ground enamel. At least five, and as many as 30 layers and firings go into each piece. Once the enameling process is complete, the enameled piece is ground and polished and then I prepare the setting of silver, gold, gemstones, fossils or found objects.

I currently have nine specific bodies of work, which are as follows:

Amulets
Angels
Ode to Bandon by the Sea
Beads
Goddess Series
Earth Walk
Icons
In Search of Prayer
Baubelleum Gem Series

All of my work is hand fabricated and encompasses nearly all of the time-honored metal craftsmanship techniques of forging, reticulation, granulation, roller texturing, soldering, enameling, etching and metal coloring, using precious gemstones, sterling, fine silver and 14kt to 24kt gold. My influences and inspiration come from Mother Nature, Celtic Art, the Spiritual, Van Gough, the blending of cultures, my travels and Byzantine Art.

Earthwalk

Angel Icons