The Empress Collection

Happy New Year!

Today is the day that many of us will begin to work on our New Year’s resolutions. I know that I start every January with renewed optimism and a fresh plan. One of my 2011 resolutions is to complete the 300 piece Exalted Beauty Empress Medallion Collection that I started way back in October. Ideally I would like to complete it before March; therefore I have challenged myself to finish one set of 10 Empress Medallions every two days.

What takes so long? The Finish! The finish consists of a 16 layer paint process; a triple base coat of antique copper, three layers of color in each compartment, another layer of antique copper to reestablish the compartment borders, two coats of a translucent metallic wash, a bright copper highlight, an antique gold highlight, an Aztec gold highlight and then four coats of industrial strength varnish.

Here is a look at The Exalted Beauty Empress Medallion Collection in progress:

New Medallions
Medallions In Progress
Empress: Antique Copper
Empress: Color Chart

My goal was to create a Champlevé collection never before imagined, with spellbinding enamel shades in Regal Reds, Prestigious Purples, Opulent Oranges, Magnificent Pinks, Courtly Yellows, Gracious Greens, Royal Blues, Glorious Whites, Stunning Silvers, and Majestic Blacks, all contained and complimented within a luxuriously detailed antique copper setting that has been further enhanced with bright copper and gold highlights. The result: Unique, handcrafted jewels that look as if they came from antiquity, straight out of an Empress’s treasure chest. I feel like the Empress Collection exudes a sense of regality and class; that these Old World style pieces translate a sense of ancient grace and glamour to the modern woman.

Each set of 10 Empress Medallions will be categorized under its dominant color name. The 30 sets of 10 will be photographed and presented here on the blog as they are completed over the next two months.

Stay Tuned! I will post the first finished Empress set next!