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Parent Category: Technical Articles from Journal Back Copies

Category: Technical Articles 2009

Kathleen Kay

30 years of the Guild ..... and I am still wondering what I can do that will successfully show up pearly effects in photographs for the Journal.

Soon it will be 30 years since I started enamelling. In 1980 the magazine Popular Crafts was introduced, full of exciting goodies to try: I bought the first issue and continued buying it for several years. Enamelling caught my eye with Marian Young’s series describing several techniques. The magazine included adverts for W. G. Ball, Craft O’ Hans / the Enamel Shop, London and dates of forthcoming craft materials shows.

I was loaned a kiln and equipment by a teacher friend, and I was hooked. We made a family trip to the British Craft Show at Wembley Conference Centre: John Ball was demonstrating torch-fired enamels; the Enamel Shop team was demonstrating the U5 kiln; Peter Wolfe was demonstrating, probably Flamefast, while the Guild of Craft Enamellers (our Guild’s original title) exhibited examples of several techniques, promoting enamelling as a hobby. WOW, such goodies! Of course I came home clutching a U5 kiln and kit, plus information about the Guild. The boys (who are now well into their thirties) came home with other exciting treasures, including a 'making metal soldiers' kit. It was a lovely visit.

Peter Wolfe had advised me to contact our Region 4 rep., Richard Fox - I wondered at this point if I would come across Paddington Bear on our train journey home. Richard invited us to attend the next Region 4 meeting at his home near Shrewsbury: a talk, a demo, tea and cakes with a group of lovely people. We became Family members and the Guild has been an essential part of my life ever since.

So - 30 years of the Guild, almost 30 of my membership. I really must produce something 'pearly' to fit into my frame of Loch Fyne oyster shells shown in the Autumn Journal.

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