About Diane

Hi - I'm Diane Echnoz Almeyda. I'm an enamelist, jeweler, and metalsmith - and I love plique-a-jour enameling, the art of making miniature stained glass. I make vessels, jewelry, objets d'art, buttons, and miniature stained glass windows and lamps for dollhouses and architectural models in various scales (1:12, 1:24, 1:48) using real glass and metal. I work only with glass (vitreous) enamels and metals - usually silver and gold. I don't use resins, plastics, or paints. Actually, this is my favorite topic of conversation - so I'm glad you're here!

Why Plique-à-Jour?

It was love at first sight when I first saw a miniature box incorporating plique-a-jour enameling in the lid. The brilliant colors of the enamels added so much to the metal structure; it simply amazed me.

I knew I had to add color to the silver and gold metalwork I was creating - and this little box convinced me that enameling was the way to do it. There was a delicacy in the glass yet the colors were so brilliant. It was the perfect addition to the metalwork.

Life sometimes has a way of leading us where we need to go - and so it was for me when I saw that my state goldsmiths' group was offering a class in plique-a-jour enameling to be given by a master jeweler from Russia. Well, that was the beginning.....