Zelda Zog Blog

Check out the other blog...

2010-11-08T21:57:00.001Z

Not a lot of updating going on here I am afraid!

I do seem to update the Dawn Turner Designs blog more often these days, so feel free to follow me on there.... I think there's a few more pretty pictures on there right now.

I've set up a Facebook fan page for Dawn Turner Designs. We've got the Shed 2 Studios Open Event on Saturday13th November. Then I am busy with craft fairs for three weeks, hence why not a lot of blogging going on here. I've also been networking, visiting a couple of schools, and soon hope to be spending a week shadowing an artist in residence, which should be a great experience. Somewhere I have to fit in a bit of Christmas shopping!

Talking of craft fairs, if you've ever had a stand at one, this blog post will sound all too familiar:

http://blue-box-studio.blogspot.com/2010/11/bedtime-story-for-craft-stall-holders.html

Have a read, it's great fun (and rather true!)

Wow, where does the time go...

2010-09-25T13:28:00.000+01:00

....when you're having fun?

I have been quite busy.... moved in to Shed 2 Studios a couple of weeks ago - well, started moving stuff a while back, got the kiln moved two weeks ago, but it was a few more days before my space was sorted and my endless bags unpacked....

And I finally got a chance to play again!

This was one of the items that came out of the second "shed 2" firing...

And I am rather pleased with the results, so I will play some more.

Oh, and we're having an open day soon!

And a couple of craft fairs provisionally booked.... and a fusing taster day at Long Eaton Art Room... huh, when did I suddenly get so busy??

All Excited - Off to the IFG This weekend!!

2010-08-27T12:23:00.003+01:00

A WHOLE WEEKEND of glass! Can't wait! - Click HERE for a couple of photos of last time we went

Is this what they call lampworking?

2010-08-21T11:25:00.024+01:00

A cuple of weeks ago, with a little group of three 12 year olds, we made some garden lanterns (or lamps??) - a little bit of Blue Peter with tissue, pva, glass paints and peel-offs.

A friend is having a birthday party today, so we made them for her. Well, I say we. I did a quick demo and left them to it, whilst I sat in the garden and drank coffee.

Here's a few pics of their haul...

And some close ups...

I've got the key to the door....

2010-08-20T21:34:00.004+01:00

.... Never been twenty one before! Well, not for a little while.

The keys to what?? Click here

New Studio, New Start!

2010-08-10T16:43:00.000+01:00

Over on Dawn Turner Designs, news about my new studio opportunity, and a round of congratulations for my course colleagues....

Dawn Turner Blog

blue frit pendant cropped

2010-08-10T15:50:00.001+01:00

blue frit pendant cropped
Originally uploaded by zeldazog2001

This is an old photograph, but the picture is hosted on Flickr, and they've done some changes to the way pictures are grabbed for sharing - this was easy!

To Slump or Not to Slump....

2010-08-06T00:31:00.006+01:00

... that is the question! Actually, having had a glass piece standing on the window sill for a couple of weeks now, I think I have made up my mind...

But I will rewind slightly, because I don't think I ever posted this anyway.

A few months ago, when we did the fundraising at Uni for New Designers, I made a fused and slumped glass dish to go in the auction - this is the one.

Was quite popular this, a friend of mine won it, which pleased me, and I also made another one which apparently has made it over to sunny Spain (lucky dish!)

Anyway, the ones I made so far were just plain, clear glass. I was asked if I could do them in colours too, which I had been thinking about, but of course Uni just got in the way of all that creativity!!

I had cut this glass months ago, but didn't actually put it into the kiln until a few weeks back - I had chosen a blue irridised glass - I have had some great results with Bullseye irridised on small pendants; I love the way that if you cap it with clear it goes all sparkly, but if you fire irridised side up, it takes on a metallic sheen. What I wasn't expecting, because I had only used small sections from a sheet of glass, was the variance across one sheet:

I have to say I love the effect! The intention was to slump this in to a bowl too - but before I did, I stood it in some of the metal feet that I keep going back to (thank you Bro!) just to see how it looked upright.... and it's, well, a bit temperamental... in a good way!

Sometimes, like right now, at night, with the house lights on, it shines metallic and appears opague... but in the day, when the light shines through from the back, the lovely richness of the blue simply shines through.

So, I think this one may just have to stay as a panel. Got a lot of positive feedback on it already, so now I just have to learn to let it go...

(it sits in my lounge window, the room being very tame shades of browns and golds, and shouts it's bright blue at me... perhaps it needs it's own windowsill to show off in?)

Must make some more!

What is Craft?

2010-08-02T18:02:00.000+01:00

Part of our three years doing a degree in Crafts was to discuss, in Context studies, the definition of craft, how it has changed, etc.

I follow Robin Wood, who's a traditional pole lathe turner that I saw working about three years back at Bolsover show... and a champion of heritage crafts (he's also the chair of the Heritage Crafts Association) - Robin often blogs about other makers, but I thought his latest post today, was an interesting read:

Robin Wood - What is Craftsmanship?

It's just a pity that I wasn't following Robin's blog when we were doing context studies, I am sure that including his comments in essays and discussions might have earned a few brownie points!

Anyway - it's an interesting read. I shan't harp on about definitions of 'Craft' although I still find myself feeling the need to explain, when people ask what my degree was about, that no, I wasn't card making, or quilting....

The funny thing is, since finishing (and actually finally taking a well earned rest) the two things I have done that are vaguely creative? Making a set of invitations for a friend (yes, the dreaded card-making!) and erm, a glass painting session... (and I don't mean with traditional methods, or enamels, I mean good old hobby paints). Oh the irony....

A Few Pictures from Rufford...

2010-07-21T14:33:00.000+01:00

Over on my ~~Uni blog~~ (I call it my uni blog, I don't know why, I am no longer at uni!) - okay, over on Dawn Turner Designs, I have posted a few photographs of the stand we had at Rufford Earth & Fire at the end of June.

Time On My Hands

2010-07-19T11:52:00.001+01:00

Just a quick post... thought it was about time I wrote something!

Playing about with layouts and things at the moment, and still deciding the actual purpose of this blog vs t'other one... well, the Dawn Turner Designs blog is really for updates to the main website, and for my ceramics and glass wall art...

When I first started this blog, it was a bit of a mixture of personal stuff, classes, uni work, whatever I felt like writing about.

I don't even know if many people follow this at the moment!

Over the coming weeks, I have to:

Update my Handmade by Dawn website - new photos, updates, and maybe even some work to sell!
Update Dawn Turner Designs to reflect anything that's happening (and there is some news there, about studio space and stuff!)
Decide what blog is for which, and whether I am in fact going to keep both running (although now I am not snowed under with Uni work, it might be quite manageable!)
Get Tweeting a bit more (when I have work to tweet about that is)
Make more "TO DO" lists, in case I run out of the ones I have...

Huh, holiday time, eh? What's that then?

I think it's all over....

2010-07-11T11:37:00.000+01:00

Latest post and a couple of photographs over at Dawn Turner Designs...

Blog Tired...

2010-06-25T00:19:00.000+01:00

Yawn yawn, too tired to post two things, here's a link to the other blog post...

Dawn Turner Designs Blog

I will sort this out - at the moment, every blog seems related to Uni or what's happening afterwards... so might need a rethink of blogs as this one was supposed to be an all sorts, chatter, musings... I haven't had time for any of that frivolity though!

So for now, apologies for being lazy, but follow the link for a rather boring post!

... and breathe!

2010-06-06T21:51:00.000+01:00

Sorry folks, being awfully lazy and simply linking to my Uni blog at the moment for updates:

Click here to read Uni Blog

A picture of the work in place at the degree show....

Bag O'Nerves

2010-05-27T19:24:00.002+01:00

Just a repost from the other blog

I'm forever blowing bubbles....

2010-05-21T08:46:00.001+01:00

Trouble is, I didn't want to:

One is fine. Three is a pain in the wotsit.

Need to resolve this issue, and fast. Oh the joys of getting ready for the degree show!

Read more about this on Dawn Turner Designs blog

All I can say is.... GGRRRRR!

I made feet!

2010-05-12T21:42:00.000+01:00

Ok, so I didn't. I used something else that I have lots of. Big, thick, chunky tiles. But they helped me stand this glass panel up for photography, and I think I could use the technique to make feet for other panels.

Go over to my university blog for a full read:

My other blog (cos I haven't got enough to do!)

The Man from KHCTSC - he say yes!!

2010-05-06T08:36:00.001+01:00

Just a quick note, as I have already written this out once! I had to go to school yesterday to present my design ideas to the sub committee, for the commission/final degree piece I am working on.I am thrilled to bits with the response I got.

CLICK ON HERE TO READ A BIT MORE

And a quick pic

What we made at Flame Off!

2010-04-21T09:02:00.000+01:00

Just a little post, thought I would show you what we made at the Flame Off on Friday (although for those of you on Frit Happens, or who are friends on Facebook, apologies for the repeats!).

For anybody who hasn't got a clue what Flame Off! is - it's a once yearly "get together" for mainly lamp-workers and jewellery makers and general fans of glass. Organised by Tuffnells Glass, it has stands selling glass, torches, equipment, jewellery trims and findings, as well as makers selling their lampworked beads and jewellery, . A favourite part of the day for a lot of visitors are the demonstrations by some of the finest bead makers around, and Tuffnells organise a range of torches for people to try out. Mainly for me, it was simply a chance to meet and catch up with all the lovely people that I chat to on Frit Happens, who are helpful, supportive and well, simply lovely!

This green bead is the first one I made - not my first ever, I have done it before under expert guidance of experienced bead-makers... this one I made all by myself, I even lit the torch!

And it was my first time on a Hothead - which is a cooler, slower torch than I had used before, but that's not necessarily a bad thing to a learner!

Here's Ashley's first bead of the day, and again his first on a Hothead and without any guidance (well, apart from me, and that really is like the blind leading the blind as he is actually better at it than I am! I mean, look at that dimpled end of this bead....mine all have killer spikes!)

After he made this, he was challenged to make a second bead to match it, which he did, and I have promised to make them into earrings which I will proudly wear!

After a wander round, a bit of spending, eating lunch and heading back to the torching area, this was my second bead of the day, this time made on a big dual fuel torch, not sure what it was, but I think it was a Minor.

Not a fabulous shape, but I simply love the colours. I like making organics!

Ashley struggled a bit this time with the big torches, although its all he'd used before - but always had guidance, so perhaps he didn't feel comfortable with the hotter torch, and wanted to go back to the Hothead.

He made his third bead, the one on front left, intending it to match his first two, but used a transparent turquoise this time, and got a totally different result. So challenge time again, make me a pair, and I made the bigger bead at the back to "match", and I have another jewellery set!

Finally, when I was photographing everything, I thought that the pair that Ashley made and the long bead I made acually matched, so I think I will make these up into a set too, when I have time. Now I just need to learn jewellery making techniques.

Everybody Blogs!

2010-04-17T10:52:00.000+01:00

I started blogging a couple of years ago, when I met Maz from Amari Gems, who told me she blogged as an easy way to let her customers know when she'd made new jewellery - blogs are a much easier to update than websites, even when you know what you're doing and can speak HTML!

I still often don't quite know what to talk about, as this is more of a personal blog than a work related one. The one I started intending to follow my final few months of uni is woefully neglected at the moment... probably because I am busy doing my uni work!

A friend of mine, Paul Cummins, who graduated from Derby last year (I am on the same course as he was), has an installation coming up at Chatsworth in April/May it looks really interesting, hope I can squeeze a day to go.

What I shouldn't have been surprised at, but was, is that Chatsworth House has it's own blog! I've added it to my follow list, as I think it could be quite interesting....

I've had a busy few days, even though not much uni work as been going on, I was determined to have some proper time with my son, knowing that the next six weeks is going to be intense, and I might not see much of him, we went to London on Wednesday (and were in the Science Museum when it got evacuated - took about 25 minutes, wouldn't like to be there in a real emergency). And yesterday, we went to Flame Off! - an excuse for mainly lamp-workers, but generally anybody with a passion for glass, jewellery and big hot torches to melt glass with, to get together and gas about glass.... we both made a few beads, and it was fab day.

Getting Married....

2010-03-27T13:21:00.006Z

No, no, no, not me!! Heavens above, did you think I'd gone mad?? You know I keep shouting about this auction that we're having for our New Designers fund at Uni...well, some of the items up for grabs would be perfect for a bride.

This necklace and earrings set by Sandra Jones is just stunning.... it's made from freshwater pearls, swarovski crystals and silver.

I've already re-photographed it, because the original pic didn't do it justice, and I still don't think it looks as stunning as it does in real life.

It might not be my usual thing, but if I were getting married, I would love to wear this. You can visit the auction page here

This could be for a wedding, or perhaps a prom, as tis coming up to the season where young teenagers celebrate this age old tradition (er, yeah, okay) after all.

Jo, of Jo Bailey Designs, offers to custom make a tiara - the one here is just an example of her work - what a fabulous idea, to have one made to your designs.

Visit the auction page here

There are so many other items up for offer in the auction too - special thank you earrings for your maid of honour, something girly pink for your chief bridesmaid, something special for the new mum-in-law, even a gift for the best man.

There's so many things! Take a look at the gallery here... and DON'T forget to bid! You never know.....

Auction Shout Outs...

2010-03-21T10:06:00.003Z

As if I haven't shouted about it enough already (tweeted, face-booked, now blogged!), I just wanted to highlight some of the lovely items available in our Auction, just in case anybody missed it! (You'll have to excuse me, not only do I want us to raise as much money as possible to help us get to New Designers 2010, I am also rather proud of actually building a functioning website!)

So, a few pretties to feast your eyes on:

Glen Godden of Steam Punk Glass donated this lovely wine bottle stopper. The top is made of borosilicate glass, (you might know this better as Pyrex!) and Glenn makes these most intricate marbles that are like mini galaxies. I treated my son to one or two at Christmas (marbles that is, not stoppers, he's a bit young for wine), not the sort of marble to play with, but to simply sit and stare at and lose yourself in for a while...

London Taxi by Rachel Elliott Glassworks

This is part of a limited edition set that Rachel made for an installation in London St Pancras Crypt to celebrate 50 years of the London Taxi. So there's only 50 of them... like many other things in this auction, I'd really like this myself....

Debbie Bryan is specialised in creating design led craft based pieces, committed to a handmade local ethos that ensures quality and unique character in each scarf, brooch and pair of cuff links.

She recently opened a shop in the heart of the Nottingham Lace Market area.

These are only three of over fifty items we have up for auction. Have a drool through the gallery and see if you can find yourself something special!

I have Website Blindness

2010-03-15T23:22:00.000Z

.... I have been building the auction section of our Derby Crafts website ... and the blind auction is now live.

I've been looking at it that long, I can't see straight.... but hopefully it looks a bit better to everybody else!

Take a look (and place a bid!!)

Derby Crafts Auction

I love seahorses!

2010-03-08T09:55:00.001Z

Sadly, the class didn't run yesterday - I enjoy it when I run these classes, but numbers were low - so we've postponed now til the summer.

I have plenty to do for Uni anyways. I have just started (another) new blog, this one following my progress through the final project. Not sure yet if it's a good idea or not.... I sometimes have enough difficulty in maintaining this blog!

The idea though, is that by updating the blog, I can consolidate my thoughts, check on my own progress... and perhaps having to publish my ideas in some sort of coherent manner will force me think more clearly, focus me a little. Or, of course, it could simply overwhelm me with extra work! So, I hope to keep it short, but frequent. Ha.

Meanwhile, I was having a bit of a play last week with glass blobs, here's my latest:

Also, when tidying up (or, more likely!) searching for something the other week, I came across these that I had done at summer school a few years ago - batik silk painting (or though the seahorse isn't on silk)

Sorry the photos aren't good, I might edit them later and upload better ones.

Glass Fusing Taster Day

2010-02-24T16:22:00.020Z

Fancy a go at glass fusing? I am running a workshop at the Long Eaton Art Room on Sunday, 7th March.

I will show you the basics of glass fusing and tell you about some of the techniques you can use. I'll show you how to cut and assemble glass which will go into the kiln to be turned into lovely pendants, coasters, etc.

It's a relaxed, informal day, where you can work at your own pace and explore creative ideas. We don't usually work to a specific project, so you might find it helpful to bring along a
sketchbook, photographs or anything else inspirational. If there is anything specific you'd like to try, please contact me before the day and I will see what I can do.

The cost is £45, which includes your glass, the firing, and refreshments throughout the day - but you do need to bring your own lunch (or there's a pub nearby - although I don't advocate cutting glass after a pint or two!). A £10 deposit secures your place, which you can pay to the art room (contact them on 0115 9461661) - the balance is payable on the day.

(Just so you know, the work isn't ready on the day - we have to arrange a time to collect that, as the glass takes a few hours in the kiln to work its magic!)

Please feel free to contact me if you'd like to know more: CLICK HERE TO SEND AN E-MAIL

Warm Glass Competition 2010

2010-02-08T21:55:00.003Z

Warm Glass, a supplier of lots of (mainly) Bullseye glass, accessories, tools and equipment, holds an annual competition for kiln-formed glass.

This year, its broken down into three categories, and I have entered this piece in the student section (whilst I still can!)

It's open to public vote for three weeks, and the top five in each section go through to selection panel - if you like my piece, and would like me to have a chance to be seen by the judging panel, click here: VOTE FOR ME!

Thank you, and wish me luck!

Dragonflies of Ilkeston

2010-02-08T01:04:00.003Z

There's a lovely treasure of a shop in Ilkeston, on Station Road.

Andrea makes beautiful handmade cards and wedding stationery, as well as selling card making supplies, gifts, candles, oh all sorts. Oh, and yeah, she has a bit of my glass in there too!

They've recently created a website where you'll be able to buy many goodies online, if you can't make it into the town. Click here to go through: Dragonflies of Ilkeston

I wish her well; so many shops have struggled in this difficult financial climate and card-making and craft supplies are always up against the big guns who (just like with fruit and veg) can force down the prices to compete, but then when they've quashed the competition, they stop stocking, or they don't know anything about the products they're selling.

You'll not find that at Dragonflies. Andrea, Christine and the rest of the staff - sorry I don't know all your names! - are knowledgeable and extremely helpful, and will do their very best to find what you need (even if that sometimes means telling you to go the shop down the road!). You'll get good old fashioned proper customer service. And you might get a nice cuppa too!

Jeremy James Masterclass

2010-02-04T20:40:00.002Z

For any ceramics enthusiasts out there, Jeremy James, Ceramic Sculptor, will be holding a lecture and demonstration day at the University of Derby in March.

Click here for details - hurry, though, places are going fast!

The class is being run to help raise funds for our year group to go to New Designers in London in July, after we all graduate.

Call for Help - I Need A Commission!

2010-02-03T09:20:00.004Z

As the title says. Why? Well, it's time to start the final project - the biggie, the important one, the graduate show!

So, why am I looking for a commission?

Over the last few years, I have found that I enjoy working to set parameters - as is often the case with site specific work, public art, commission or themed competition (last year I floundered until I entered the Biocity competition, which was themed, and where the location inspired the imagery).

I like my work to be informed by it's location - whether it's the history of the site, about the community, or what the location is used for - that's the kind of thing that inspires me.

In my infinite wisdom, I have decided to make my final degree show piece, something that would be made to commission, or site specifically.

It doesn't have to be a real commission (I know that getting approval and funding for such things can take a long time) - it doesn't even have to be anywhere that is even looking for a piece of work. Just somewhere that it might go.

Hospitals are one potential place, and as we have two hospitals/treatment centres in the region that have been built recently, I will certainly be contacting the arts coordinators there. But equally, it could be any other healthcare environment, a school, a community hall, shopping centre, new business....

I plan to work with handmade ceramic and glass tiles, and its almost certainly going to be wall art. Ideally, I need somewhere that I can get access to, as I'd need to see the site and take photographs (so I can photoshop the finished piece in situ later), and not too far to travel - East Midlands area.

If you can think of anywhere that might be suitable, which could benefit from a piece of artwork, please let me know.

Tweet Tweet

2010-01-27T12:45:00.004Z

Hi

I don't seem to blog much do I? Well, you can expect a little flurry of action for a little while at least, spurred on by where I went last night - to a seminar at Derby Quad, hosted by Derby CIN, and the guest speaker was Rob Wilmot (founder of Freeserve) - who waxed lyrical about the benefits of using "social networking" for business.

It was supposed to be in plain English, but clearly some of the attendees came from marketing in larger businesses and talk did devolve into what, for me, was gobbledegook a couple of times.

That said, there was a lot of valuable as well as interesting information, and things to follow up on. Can't remember it all, but things such as the statistics of the fastest growing user group demographics on Twitter and Facebook, and how one company, Moonfruit, managed to increase their Twitter following from 2,000 to 23,000 in seven days.

And did you know, Facebook got even more hits than Google on Xmas Eve and Xmas Day?

Now, you might not be a Facebooker, or a Twitterer, but Rob made several references to Rage Against the Machine beating X-Factor to the Christmas No. 1. Personally, I thought that was all a bit silly, but it certainly gives an insight into the power of social networking.

As yet, I am not sure about how much value it will add compared to time spent. But, like many things, but I think particularly in the creative sector, networking (of any kind) is very important - sometimes it really is about WHO you know, and being in the right place at the right time.

Like Rob, I was one of these people who got all excited about the t'internet in the late nineties, before every home had one (read that as computer or connection). I can remember people asking me what the fuss was about "if I want to read the news, I'll put Ceefax on...", "What use is a computer, I have a typewriter..."

Obviously,(!) if you're reading this, you already use the internet, but do you know many people who don't now? Now I hear people asking the point of Facebook (other than to stalk old school friends), why do a blog, and that they don't get Twitter - but, guess how I actually found out about this seminar last night?

Who knows if it will help me when I am ready to step out properly into making and selling work? But surely, contacts, followers, retweets, cannot do me any harm, right?

Tweet tweet!

Some Recent Uni Work

2010-01-21T16:38:00.004Z

These are a few of the items made for assessment this week - I am trying out some new gallery stuff, to see how it looks. Hover over the notes in right hand corner to see any comments.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

... And a Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T12:56:00.003Z

A (hopefully) funny post to end the year on.

Santa was kind to me, and I got lots of lovely, useful, tasty and pretty things. Hope you did too (well, you might not all have wanted pretty stuff, but the others are fairly safe...)

One of the things on my list was a pop up light tent, so that I can photograph the glass jewellery. Someone had kindly lent me one to try out before I went out and bought one of my own, to see how I got on - I liked it and put one on my list, but I got lots of other things instead, so Boxing Day I ordered one of my own. As it was only a couple of quid more than the one I have on loan, I went for a bigger one.

Well, it arrived yesterday, I unzipped the bag, and nearly got knocked out by it when it popped open... I think maybe I went for slightly too big a size....

Apparently, I am not the only one on the Frit Happens! Forum to have gone OTT and ordered a beach shelter instead of a light tent - we might have our very own GLASStonbury festival with them....

Happy New Year to you all!

Hoping Santa will still be kind....

2009-12-20T10:21:00.003Z

Cos I have been a BAAAAAD blogger again, haven't I? 22nd November was my last post. Tut tut.

I do have an excuse, strike that, a *reason*. The dissertation was due in on Friday, so on top of trying to get shopping for Christmas, falling off loft ladders, still practical work at Uni, and attending various concerts and events - and for same strange reason, unbeknown to man, I thought it would be great idea to make my own cards this year!! Not like I haven't it before, and got lots of the stuff, but why did I think I might have time to do it!

Oh well, the dissertation got handed in a whole FOUR hours before the deadline. For me, this is unheard of. There is hope for me yet. And I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful it felt to get rid of that 35 sheet file.... (picture me with an inane grin on my face....)

Happy Christmas!

Craft Fair Comin' Up!!

2009-11-22T12:57:00.007Z

Hi All

Yes, I am finally going to sell something (at least I hope!).

I have a stand next weekend at the Long Eaton Art Room on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November, 10 - 4 pm both days.

Unfortunately, I have been so busy with Uni work, and you know, life occasionally gets in the way (what?? I hear you ask, you actually have a life? That's not allowed, oh no! And, no, I don't have much of one at the moment!).

So, unless I get a chance this week, ha ha, its going to be mainly pendants, but I have a few lovely new designs, such as this one:

This a a real Frit Happens! collaboration of my fusing, hand-dyed silk ribbons by Diane at SowerZe Designs, dichroic element from Denise at Chameleon Designs and finished with a bead by the lovely Julie at Lush Lampwork.

It's the first craft fair I have done in over a year, and I will be sitting there with one of my study books for those (hopefully not too often!) quiet times. Wish me luck!

Something lovely happened in the Print Room....

2009-11-11T00:12:00.004Z

We're currently working on a "Negotiated Research" module at Uni. Basically, it means not necessarily towards a final aim, but exploring and refining working methods that we will be using in the Independent Study and final show next year.

I am carrying on with the tile theme (for now at least) and have been exploring different methods of making the casting moulds for ceramic and/or glass tiles.

To give my work some context, I am envisioning that a final piece might be a large scale public work in a healthcare environment (yes, the science bit is still there!)

So I have been working on different types of moulds but also different methods of surface decoration. One of those includes laser cut lino (the block printing type).

Before I took at cast of it, I wanted to run the lino through the printing press, but I was using the blind embossing method, where you don't use ink, you just get the texture in paper.

This image doesn't really show it's full loveliness, but the pressure of the press picked up some of the stained/burnt lino and transferred some colour onto the paper. This image has not been manipulated in any way, just scanned.

Thrilling!

2009-10-24T10:36:00.003+01:00

Okay, so its not glass related, Uni related, or anything to do with Art or Craft.... but dear son went to school Halloween Disco on Thursday, the theme was Thriller.

He won first prize for fancy dress, and apparently he can dance, too!

Craft Matters - the Craft Council

2009-10-14T18:58:00.000+01:00

The Crafts Council, who do a great job of promoting Craft in the UK

If you value Craft, please help by signing their petition here. to show your support.

DIY Disaster?

2009-10-11T13:30:00.000+01:00

Well, not quite.

Last night, I was very proud of myself, as I put together a table I bought from Ikea a few months ago, that's just been sitting in a box for ages.

Did it all by myself, it was tough work I can tell you. It's a good, solid table, so I am quite pleased with it, there's only one problem....

It's so heavy, that I cannot actually pick it up by myself and turn it over. And I really don't know if we're going to get it out of the living room without removing a leg or two (built it in the comfort of the living room, so the top was protected and so were my knees!).

See, I am fine with glass, but perhaps I really shouldn't be let loose with a screwdriver....

I am a BAD Blogger.....

2009-10-11T13:26:00.000+01:00

Honestly, I don't know where the time goes.....

So,we've got started, this is it, final and most important year. Hard to picture that in only EIGHT months time, we will have opened the graduate show (gulp!)

We've squeezed into our ~~matchboxes~~ spaces at Uni now, so just got to get on with some actual work.

Hit the ground running with dissertation information, meetings and deadlines..... if it wasn't for this module, I would be fine and dandy and a happy little third year. Hey ho, not got much choice in the matter. Actually, I was very good recently, and I wrote a piece of work that doesn't have to be submitted until tomorrow morning! Well, its still got a few tweaks, but those who know me well, will also know that my usual style would be Monday morning deadline = Sunday start. Yes, I probably won't actually finish it off completely til later this evening, but I am not sure I have ever been his far ahead....

Was given the go ahead to start my Negotiated Research Project, so I will try and update the blog with how things are going, but don't hold your breath! At the moment, I will be working on more tiles, but trying out different methods of surface decoration, whether it be print, colour and or texture. Doing some lino cutting this week, I will try my best not to cut my hand. Printing with these, and then casting them....

Mary Johnson Ceramics.

2009-09-27T10:08:00.001+01:00

Mary was a year above me at University, so she completed her BA (Hons) Crafts degree this summer.

I went over to her house last week (With its beautiful garden), where she has as set up a ceramics studio at home - I wasn't at all jealous, really I wasn't!

We'd talked about blogs at Uni and how I thought they were useful. In the third year, we have to set up a website, but as a lot of you will already know, they are not so easy to update at times, and I think using a blog is much easier, especially if its main purpose is for information and updated pictures, as opposed for selling. So I'd offered to help her set one up.

Mary was at Wirksworth Festival and asked me if I would still go and help, which I did, last week, and here is Mary's new blog,

Mary does lovely pottery - slip decorated, wheel thrown earthenware. To be honest, it's not the type I am normally into, but Mary's is fun and interesting, and often very tactile too. This is one of Mary's rhubarb forcers, which I love.

It was enrolment on Thursday, well confirmation of attendance. The hard work starts on Monday, our first session being context, and the dreaded dissertation.....

Good Time at Wirksworth Festival

2009-09-17T14:15:00.004+01:00

There's currently an Arts Festival in the village Wirksworth in Derbyshire.

We've (me and Ashley) never been before, weather was against us one year, time another. Last year we made it to the one in Melbourne (Derbyshire, not Oz!) and thoroughly enjoyed it, and I resolved we'd do both this year. Well that was the plan, until I realised that the Arts Trail of each were on the same weekend.

For anybody who's never been along to this kind of thing, over a weekend, the people of said festival village, open up their houses and gardens - but not so we can nosy at their interiors, it is so artists and makers can display and sell their work. Churches, school halls, and of course shops are open too.

As I said, we enjoyed Melbourne, but seeing as we'd not done Wirksworth before, and they are about the same distance away from home, we opted for the latter.

Not sure if we went in less houses this time, but there seemed to be less work - perhaps its more spread out. But what they did seem to have, which we didn't come across last year, is far more other things going on. Music - lots of, different types. Jazz band on one corner, guitar bands, even a bagpipe player, beer festivals, lots of foodie places and a makers market - and we only really did half. There just seemed to be a whole lot more "going on" - as Ashley said, there was a buzz - "let's get back to the lively bit".

As always, lots of lovely work, variety of homes and some gorgeous gardens. My favourite find though, was Bruce Aitken, Clockmaker.

Lovingly crafted, wooden clocks, with exposed mechanisms. Obviously a lot of work goes into these time-pieces, which not only are functional but are beautiful pieces of art in their own right.

Bruce clearly not only makes these with lots of care and attention, but was a lovely chap to talk to, who tirelessly explained to us how they work.

He's going to Origin in London later this year - and I wish him well. One day I would love to give one of these lovely clocks a home.

The kiln faeries were kind last night....

2009-08-26T23:27:00.005+01:00

Like my blog posting, doing some glass work seems to be a bit of rare thing at the moment. I've done a couple of firings over the last few weeks, and the last one especially disappointed me.

But not one to give up, I spent last Saturday afternoon in the garden, with my flat lap grinder, working on those disappointments until, quite frankly, I was soaking wet and I'd had enough of the noise - I thought my ears were going to drop off!!

So, last night, some re-shaped pieces went back in my kiln, along with some that I have added glass bails to, and a few with dichroic additions. I don't tend to buy dichroic glass very often, its not really my *thing* - but I couldn't resist a posting a few months back on Frit Happens, where someone was selling "100 Horrors" - this lady does lots with dichroic, but had a batch of ready fired cabs the weren't up to her liking. They were a good price, and it meant I got a good variety without buying loads of glass - because I really, really, really don't need any more....

So, in the slide show below (too lazy to post individual links, sorry!), you'll see some with blobs that look as though they are sitting on top. They were "tack fused" on, which means where the glass is actually fused together, but doesn't melt all into one blob.

I've put some lovely hand-dyed silk ribbons on a couple, which have a bead at the other end, which acts as a slider - so the pendant can be adjusted from about 30" long, to as short as you like, and then worn long again at a later occasion (I often find that I might want a different length pendant, depending on what top I am wearing, so how useful is that??)

As usual, the colour of glass is often difficult to capture, especially dichroic, as you really can't see all the different reflecting colours. Oh, and I did this in a pop-up light tent which has been lent to me to see if I like it - I do, and one will definitely be in my letter to Santa. It was great to be able to take the picture without worrying about what was reflected in the glass.

I used my new dSLR, a tripod (something else I need new, this one is 27 years old and a bit lightweight), I was outside; it was cloudy, and late evening, which didn't help with colours, so they did go through photoshop, but not a huge amount. I am still getting used to all the settings on the new camera (might help if I read the instructions!), and it was threatening to rain, so they're not the best photos, but I will get there.

Anyway, here's the pics:

Sculpture in the Sanctuary

2009-08-20T15:21:00.003+01:00

On Tuesday, me and Ashley, and several of my lovely friends from University, went along to the above, which a sculpture trail in the Swan Sanctuary at Roger Taylor's Garden Centre at Southwell, in Nottingham.

It's only a temporary exhibition, so if you get the chance to go, before it finishes at the end of August, then DO! It's free entry, but in all honesty, I would have been happy to pay anyway.

There's no particular theme, just an interesting and eclectic assortment of sculpture of all sizes, shapes and prices.

Rather than post individual pictures, I have just provided my Photobucket slideshow. Beware, over a hundred images to browse through! I might come back in a bit and post a link to the album, so you can just look which you fancy, or I might post a few of my favourite images from the day.

The swan sanctuary is lovely in itself, a pleasant stroll round, even without the lovely art. And it looks like a lovely garden centre, and like most of these, has a lovely tea rooms/restaurant, which we can highly recommend! (well, it would have been rude not to!)

It's that time again.....

2009-08-07T21:35:00.005+01:00

Let's go back to this time last year.

I'd been doing my blog a few weeks, and a year ago, one sunny evening (remember them?), a Friday, we saw a balloon pass very low over the back garden, and land in a field nearby. Click here for the original blog entry.

I was fetching in the washing (yes, it was actually dry enough to leave it out there for a few hours), when my mobile started ringing, it was my friend Jo asking if I was at home. I thought she was going to pop round for a cuppa, but she asked if I had seen a hot air balloon, to which I replied that I hadn't.

I took another look out the back door, and spotted it. How I could have missed it, I do not know. Well, actually it was probably too low to see when I'd been getting the washing, because if I thought last year's was close, this one was even closer.

It was a few houses away, but had it been nearer my back garden, it wouldn't have made it over the trees. It looked as though it might struggle to make it over the roof tops, I shouted my son and we realised that it was heading over the front of the house - we thought it might be heading for the same field as the one did last year.

I told him to grab the camera (I was still yacking to Jo at this point, giving her a running commentary) and we went out the front - I am very lucky to have school fields at the back, and large open green at the front - and I think the balloon was rather lucky too, as it clearly wouldn't have made it over the next lot of houses to that next field!

Quite frankly, I have never seen so many people on the green at one time.

Here's some photos - they're not brilliant, as it was my 11 year old who grabbed the camera, and neither of us checked the settings, the exposure compensation was turned up, so they're a bit bleached out, and he got a wee bit excited, so there's a bit of camera shake.

Firstly, these two though, I thought Ashley did a good job with the framing, they've not been edited in any way, I think they make great pictures:

And here's the rest of them:
Coming in to land....

Oops, bumpy ride!

HOW close to the houses?

Mind the cars mate!

Feeling a bit deflated....

I think we might have damaged your lawn....

Fire her up, lets get out of here....

Here we go.....

Nope, its not gonna work....

Strange giant snail spotted on village green....

What a pretty tent.....

How do you get inside of it?

Ooooh, look, that's why we crashed, its got a hole in it.....

I wish I could fold up my sleeping bag that effectively!

I have a new toy!

2009-07-15T19:58:00.003+01:00

I actually have something about me to blog about today!

(although, please don't forget my friend Shelley's fundraising!)

When I won the art competition back in May, I decided that I would use my winnings to buy a new camera.

As is the norm, I have been dithering about what to get for ages. Having used film SLR for years, and love it, but also loving the speed and convenience of digital, I was divided: start on a digital SLR (unfortunately I could not get one that would take my original film camera lenses, it is an old Fuji screw mount, rather outdated, even if it is still good!) - with the disadvantages of the higher costs of building up a range of lenses - or buy a "bridge" camera - you know, one of those chunky cameras that look like an SLR but have a fixed on lens. They're good in lots of ways, particularly some models that have a macro focussing right down to 1cm, and up to 18X zoom. I figured that a decent one of these would cover all eventualities.

So today, on a trip to Nottingham to buy a new iron, I went into John Lewis just to see what they'd got. I looked at a couple of bridge cameras, but the salesman took me to the SLR range, and put a Canon EOS 1000D in my hand. It felt so *right* - and it seemed really easy to use. Its a refurb, and over £100 less than anywhere else I have seen (not that I had even considered this model before 1pm today!)

Well, I bought it. Without research. How rash am I? But I figured that my compact Canon A540, which most of the images I have shown on here were taken on is ok. Actually, I've taken some cracking photos with it, as good as some bridge cameras can do - its just that I don't have the super macro or super zoom capabilities.

When I got it home, I got it out of the box, and took a few pics, and no, I haven't read the instructions at all, so I don't know how much better I could get. I have to say I am rather pleased with the result though (and it is with the standard lens, who needs macro?).

What do you think?

Friends are fundraising....

2009-07-14T00:15:00.003+01:00

Back in 2007, I did a bit of teaching at Castle College at Stapleford, doing NOCN in Glass Fusing.

I met two lovely, lovely ladies there, Shelley and Sandra, both members of Frit Happens, and we still sometimes meet up for a bit of "ladies what lunch". (In fact, we're due for another meet, must arrange it).

Anyways, Shelley has been a busy bee, making some jewellery for fundraising. She has two lovely items of jewellery on Ebay, and all proceeds from the sales are going to two charities:

This bracelet for the Breast Cancer Campaign

And

This pendant for Tommy's baby charity

I follow Shelley's blog, so a link should be in the side bar, under good monkey chatter, but she'll drop down the list as others blog, so here is the link to the blog post about it:

Good Monkey Chatter (Shelley's blog)

I always aim to do something myself for charity, but honestly I am terrible at getting myself sorted into actually doing it. At least I can tell you about others who do get their asses into gear and raise money for charity though!

Out of the Ordinary....

2009-06-30T22:51:00.004+01:00

It's a hard life being an artist/maker/craftsperson....

It's the summer break from Uni, and whilst we don't get an official summer project (other than dissertation research, yuk).

But what a few of us decided to do was make sure we still made regular visits to galleries and shows. I know just how easy it is to let the time slip away and before you know it, its time to go back to Uni and have been out of touch with what's going on.

A couple of years ago, there was an exhibition at the V&A that I wanted to get to, but never did. I found out last week that it's at Sheffield this summer, at the Millennium Galleries, so four of us went up today, and I have had a great day (thank you Debs, Nic and Sarah).

It's called "Out of The Ordinary: Spectacular Craft" - and their words "brings together the work of eight contemporary artists who place craft at the heart of their practice".

As we're on a Crafts course, this was a really relevant exhibition for us to see. And I was not disappointed. And I hope to get back again over the summer.

In Context studies, we have discussed the changing definitions and roles of "Craft" over the years, as well as looking at museums and exhibition methods and display, labelling, etc.

Aside from some really interesting work, I was intrigued at the method of display they have used in the exhibition. I would definitely say that it was shown as "art" and not "craft" (some rather subtle lighting for example, and all very minimalistic).

I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition, but I also very liked the Millennium Galleries, the Ruskin Gallery has a lovely piece by Keiko Mukaide, a glass artist who's work I love. I can't seem to get a picture to upload, but this link might work: Nature Water.

Go take a look.

In fact, I liked Sheffield on the whole - I didn't realise just how much work has been done in the city centre, it's still a work in progress, but felt much more like a cosmopolitan, European city than that steel city up north. Mind you, today's blistering heat might have had something to do with that "Holiday" feel....

We also had a walk through the Winter Gardens, where we had lunch, and saw the Hepworth/Moore/Nicholson exhibition at the Graves Gallery above the Central Library.

There's so much more to see. I'll certainly be going back to Sheffield.

Nasa Image for the Day....

2009-06-26T00:23:00.000+01:00

Scroll down to the bottom of my blog screen, and you should see a new addition, as titled above.

Thought I would add it and see what interesting and fascinating images appear - should provide some inspiration...!

First, last.... but definitely not least.

2009-06-19T13:34:00.003+01:00

collection of today's bumpies
Originally uploaded by Flame Born Beads

Titled that as its the last post I have written, but will appear top of the list....

It was Les, of Flame Born Beads, who kindly threw open the doors of her studio on a very very wet Sunday recently, let us play with her glass and torch, and that was where I met some lovely new friends from the Frit Happens! Forum. Many of which I already felt I knew after two years and couple of thousand posts! And it was lovely to see Shelley and Sandra again, and to meet Fabienne.

I wanted to show you some of the lovely work that these talented peeps from the forum produce. I've picked images at random, cos I like 'em - you'll just have to visit their websites if you want to find out if they're for sale! A lot of people have Etsy shops as well, but there's only so many links a person can post in one day!

Again, a big thank you to Les for arranging this day, now take a look at some lovely glass...

Pixie Willow Designs

2009-06-19T13:20:00.003+01:00

Pixie Willow Designs
Originally uploaded by pixiewillowdesigns

Whilst I had either met, or messaged other people off the forum, I hadn't "spoken" to Lorna before. I had been admiring her work though, as I had been following a show and tell thread in which Lorna had been rather prolific. And rightly so! Lorna's fine stringer work is fantastic, and you really don't appreciate it until you see her beads in the flesh.

Lorna generously shared some of her methods with us on the open studio day. It was way above my head, having struggled to get a glob of glass to even stay on a mandrel, but a joy to watch all the same.

Here is Lorna's website.

Cheekey Cherub Designs

2009-06-19T13:14:00.002+01:00

IMG_3017
Originally uploaded by Kaz ~ CheekyCherubDesigns

I first met Kaz last year at the International Festival of Glass at Stourbridge. She and Diane (Dilunah) had a stand on the saturday glass market (oh, now that WAS a feast for the eyes!).

The stall was full of glass goodies, too many to choose from!

Not only is Kaz a very talented bead maker, she is also a lovely patient lady who showed me how to make my first beads, and was kind enough to take the time to show Ashley too - I think its a brave decision to agree to teach an 11 year old boy how to play with hot glass in a flame! Here's Kaz's website for you to drool over.

Dilunah Glass Designs

2009-06-19T13:02:00.002+01:00

I love Raku
Originally uploaded by dilunah

I also met Diane, who will tell you she only took a lesson in lamp-working to "get it out of her system".

She was, and still is a glass fuser like myself, with a bit of a penchant for blue and bubbles!

You can see more of Diane's on her website.

We've already said this, Diane doesn't show her work often enough on the forum, I couldn't decide which photo to show of her work there were so many yummy ones!

Lush Lampwork

2009-06-19T12:49:00.004+01:00

New Rolling Stones
Originally uploaded by LushLampwork

When I went to the recent open studio day, where me and Ashley got a chance to have a play at a torch, I met some very lovely and extremely talented bead makers and glass artists.

I wanted to post some pictures of some of the work they do.

This is from Lush Lampwork,take a look at her website here to see some more fabulous work

Julie's work is exquisite, I am proud to own two pieces of jewellery from her, and I love them both. As well as a talented bead maker, Julie puts together some really lovely work.

We popped our bead cherries!

2009-06-09T21:00:00.002+01:00

first beads
Originally uploaded by Flame Born Beads

As mentioned, myself and Ashley went to an open studio on Sunday, thanks to Les of Flame Born Beads.

Here's our first attempts - Ashley's is the top left bead with the mad red bumps, and mine are the other two.

We haven't seen them yet in the flesh, as they were still annealing in the kiln when we left, but they don't look too bad for first ever try.

Especially Ashley's, very promising for an 11 year old who's never done any glass work before!

O-oh, another TWO bite the dust....

2009-06-08T09:39:00.004+01:00

Most of you know that I love all things glass. You will also know that I joined the FRIT HAPPENS forum because of it, and I regularly drool over the lovely lamp worked beads that are shown on there by some very talented people.

I fuse glass, which involves cutting it up whilst it's cold, sticking it in a kiln, letting it do its "thing" then getting it back out 12 hours or so later with either an "oooh-aaahhh, haven't the kiln faeries been kind today" or "damn, that didn't work".

Lamp-working involves working with molten glass in a flame (they used to use oil lamps with bellows back in the olden days), so much more instant, although often still at the mercy of those pesky kiln faeries. I'd never done this, but a lot off the forum will know that I have wanted to have a go for a long time. They also tell me that once I start, that will be it, no turning back (one fuser started it as a way of making additions for her fused pieces, now hooked!)

Yesterday, one of the ladies from the glass forum had an open studio day, and it was a fabulous opportunity to meet some of the members that I have spoken to online for around two years.

And I got an opportunity to play with glass in the torch. And yes, I liked it!

However, not only did *I* like it, Ashley had a go too.... oooops, he's hooked! In fact, I think he's probably more excited about having another go than I am! (well, that probably isn't strictly true, it is just that I know that I have to hold off for a bit until Uni is out the way, I haven't got space for a torch right now, so it's something I have to put on the back burner for a while.... if I can!)

From what I saw, Ashley made a fab first bead, we have to wait til they're annealed and sent over to us to see how they turned out.

I will post pics as soon as I can!

They say we all have a few minutes of fame....

2009-06-02T23:12:00.003+01:00

.... in our lifetime. Am I about to get mine?

Derby Evening Telegraph

This was in yesterday's paper.

And they have suggested that, because the award is being presented by Dr Stewart Adams, famously credited with the discovery and development of Ibuprofen, they'll be taking photos of us with him. Because my work was particularly relevant to Dr Adam's work, it's likely that the local press will want those pictures.

The PR people also advise that there is interest from several other magazines, so I'll update when I know more.

Oh, and I forgot to say.... they told us that for the presentation, which is tomorrow (Wednesday), they'd like us to give a "little talk". On stage. Might be 50 people. I don't like presentations to my small class group of 15...... YIKES!

Isn't Photoshop great?

2009-05-29T17:12:00.002+01:00

As part of my sketchbook work for assessment at Uni, I wanted to show that I had considered scale, and multiples, etc, as ways of displaying my tiles.

Having no time to actually DO the piece for real, I had a play in Photoshop to show what it could look like:

Now, all I have to do is persuade Derby University to commission me to produce it!

A few more Uni pieces

2009-05-19T21:40:00.004+01:00

Phew, I think its all over.

2009-05-19T19:16:00.004+01:00

We had assessment yesterday. As usual, I had a rather late night on Sunday.... although not as bad as the previous year's assessment when I was still up working when the birds woke up. This time, I actually got to bed early, by 3am...

To be honest, I probably WAS more organised this time, although it might not seem it! However, this year, I still managed to take my son swimming on Saturday, and still go out for Sunday dinner and spend two hours in the pub, so I can't have been THAT far behind.

So I feel good about that. I feel even better about the grade and feedback that I got for my Studio Practice module. Basically, the tutors like where my work is going, and they also thought that the most successful part of my visual studies work was my "alternative sources" for generating work - that'll be my photograms, lino prints, monoprints, and photography and photoshop work then! So I am rather happy with that, as I love printing!

So, over the next few posts, you can expect to see some actual pretty pictures....

I'll start with a few closeups of tiles, just cos I like 'em!

I won, I won!!!

2009-04-29T17:48:00.007+01:00

Just a quick post to say..... I won!

- the Bioscience Competition - well, I was one of the three selected winners, but I don't know out of how many just that it was open to students of:

De Montfort University – Leicester
Lincoln School of Art and Design
Nottingham Trent University
Loughborough University
University of Derby
University of Leicester
University of Northampton
University of Nottingham

- so not lightweight competition!

(Quick link to original blog post: click here)

That silly grin hasn't gone away yet!

Feeling proud!!

2009-04-25T11:14:00.001+01:00

Just a quick post, my son has come back from his music lesson this morning with the wonderful news that he passed his GRADE 3 music exam!

I am SO proud of him!

Phew, I finally did it!

2009-04-19T10:45:00.006+01:00

The last couple of pots I have mentioned a competition I am entering. The competition itself is being sponsored by local (East Midlands) healthcare and bioscience organisations, and the winning entries will be displayed in Biocity in Nottingham (a bioscience incubation centre). Oh, and a cash prize and plaque ;-)

It was for a piece of 2D art work relating to the theme of innovations in healthcare and bioscience.

So, here's what I have entered - I am not sure it translates so well in to photographs,

The week extension did nothing for me in the end, apart from allowing me to enjoy the Easter break a bit more - I was still faffing on Friday morning - didn't help when my son noticed the cat paw prints when I was photographing the piece - about half an hour before we were due to take it to Nottingham! Darned cats - understatement.....

Nearly there......

2009-04-16T15:13:00.003+01:00

Last week I posted how I was entering a competition, and that the deadline had been extended by a week - questioning whether that would be a good thing or a bad thing.

Well, the deadline is tomorrow, and guess what? Yup, still not finished. Yes, my brother WAS right, he scoffed that I would still be working on it the day before... am I THAT predictable?

I am nearly there - I have spent probably far too long painting the frame, I have to remind myself that sometimes, perfect isn't, well, the perfect choice. And trying to save time, I attempted to cover the back board with black card, rather than painting it several times - a good idea in theory, except I forget what a disaster I can be with glue, and managed to mark my beautiful smooth base. So, cleverly (or so I thought) I devised a way of recovering it; by this time, it has nine little wooden blocks glued to it to make the tiles stand off, so I could not just paste a new piece of card on, it was more fiddly. And what did I do? Managed to get something on my NEW piece of clean card...... I better not write what my reaction was, but suffice to say my son has now forgiven me and said it was quite understandable after all my work.

With 24 hours to go, and tiles still to be glued on, and the back fixed to the frame, I got the paint out. Why, oh why, didn't I just do that in the first place? Would have been so much simpler (And, if I manage to cock up even more when I place the tiles on, I can just touch it up).

Wow, what a wordy post - I usually like to include a picture, but I don't think I have anything new to show.

Meanwhile, aside from working a little each day on my frame, I have also been following more people on twitter, and following more blogs. Honestly, I don't really know where I think I will find the time to keep up to date with all the blogs I now follow, I don't have time to keep up with my own!!

Mind you, Frit Happens is going to be really REALLY quiet this weekend - it seems almost every member of the forum is going to Flame Off! - I am not going, partly time, partly money, partly because its mainly a lampworking event - I don't lampwork (not yet, just watch me) - but I would almost certainly come back with a torch and kit, and a car full of glass if I did go - and I haven't got time for fusing, never mind a new hobby right now!

Anyway, I still need to go buy some foam board, and to finish writing my description of the piece. And it still hasn't got a title, other than.......Untitled.

Competition Time

2009-04-08T00:10:00.009+01:00

I'm still working on the main, double module at Uni, "Studio Practice" - the glass bubble I posted a few weeks ago was an early part of that, the project has been about applying the same surface decoration and techniques to both ceramics and glass - this has taken the form of test tiles, and I have decided to stick with that as a theme.

I have been concentrating on the ceramics side of this for a couple of weeks as I am entering a competition. Here's a sneak preview of one of the tiles:

Click for larger image.

It doesn't show so well, but this has a real metallic look (and feel and sound) to it - that's probably because it contains manganese and copper.... It was a thick black sludge when it went in the kiln, and came out looking bronze like - alchemy!

I have probably made and fired around 200 tiles in different designs and surface treatments, some glazed, some in a standard electric kiln, and some in gas reduction (now that has produced interesting results!).

I have worked my "socks" off to get these done, and the reason for making so many is that I didn't have time to do testing before making the final pieces - I had to make multiples of everything so I could apply the different techniques and still have enough of each to assemble a piece of work. It is going to be wall art, I have been (attempting) to make frames too; woodwork probably isn't my strong point, and I now have much admiration for, and an appreciation of the prices charged by, a frame maker!

So, all this hard work was because the deadline was supposed to be Good Friday, but they e-mailed out this morning have extended it by a week -

Wooop woop I thought!! Closely followed by; actually I am not sure if that is a good or a bad thing. Because of the nature of how the tiles are made, they are not meant to be perfect, or uniform - they are, after all, tests. But a part of me now wants to re-make enough tiles, just a bit neater, because I have this extra week..... although it is, of course, the Easter break, my son is off school and I do actually have a mountain of other work to do (which has been neglected in favour of this competition).

When it is finally assembled, I will take a photo of the piece and you can keep your fingers crossed for me.

Oh, and I also have to supply description, for presentation. The work and/or the description has to demonstrate a clear link to the theme (which is innovations in healthcare and bioscience) - I might need that extra week to come up with that!

More fun than sand castles!

2009-03-30T01:23:00.003+01:00

On Saturday, I went to a glass blowing studio for a one day workshop in sand-casting. I did it about a year ago, and have been itching to have another go since.

Sand casting is where you use "green" sand (even though its sort of orange colour!), which is a special sand that holds its form, used for casting metals, and in this case glass (it would make pretty impressive sand castles too).

By pressing objects into a box of this sand, the impressions then create molds for pouring molten glass into. We used lead crystal, usually used for glass blowing, which is heated to 1200 C, so its glowing yellow.

The lead crystal gives beautiful clarity, you can add colour, but I decided to work will all clear this time.

The piece on the right relates to the work I am doing at University at the moment - I am looking at patterns that repeat in the inner body and the outer world, the microcosm and the macrocosm.

As part of the developing visual studies work, these cell-like patterns have emerged, and the pieces I have been working on connect to testing methods - so this was an idea to make a giant "petri dish".

Its about 8 inches across and 1 inch thick - the pattern and texture you can see are on the back of the piece, and the lead crystal is so clear that it shines through - it doesn't show up properly as I was too impatient to wait until morning to photograph it in daylight! I made four other pieces too, but I think this one is the best (some of the others have a lot of bubbles, and surface trails, which on their own are lovely, but not quite the effect I wanted for my project).

Missing link.....

2009-03-23T18:58:00.003Z

Something I do quite often, actually, forgetting something - you know the sort of thing "please find attached document" (on a lone e-mail), pleased find enclosed..... (with an empty envelope)

So, here's that link I said I was putting in my last post about the Derby Crafts Auction

Derby Crafts

That way you can actually go look at the work!

Arts/Crafts Auction

2009-03-15T23:25:00.003Z

The third year students on my BA (Crafts) course at Derby University are trying to raise money for New Designers, an important show for graduates held in London in June and it's an expensive do.

They have been doing a variety of things - quiz night (our team won!), and each week they have a home made cake sale - yummy!

They have begged, badgered, and sometimes asked very nicely, for people to donate items for a silent auction they are holding.

There is a mixture of work by current second and third year students, as well as work donated from University lecturers as well as visiting ones - if you're interested in Ceramics, you may already know the work of Jeremy James or Josie Walter - two of our regular lecturers, and work has been donated by well established visiting specialists, evening class students and lecturers from other courses.

So, here's a link to their web page, which has a gallery of all the work - have a browse (you might even want to bid for a bargain! Only proviso is that you can collect from Derby or be willing to pay carriage).

So, apart from being nice and helping them to promote their auction, I wanted to show you the piece that I put in. We did a batch project before Christmas, which I didn't really enjoy, but did end up with several slip cast earthenware vessels - one of which I have glazed, and then this piece which was smoke fired and waxed.

I can't imagine for a moment that anybody will actually bid on it - and I don't mind if they don't as I do rather like this one myself!

Apparently I can blow glass too....

2009-03-11T16:02:00.003Z

As part of my current project at Uni, I have been experimenting with applying the same surface treatment to ceramics as to glass.

I have been casting and carving in to plaster, then I have been press moulding or slip casting with white earthenware into that, and then doing bas relief "kiln carving" with float glass.

This plaster tile was a simple design of a trace of dots, which I thought would work quite well as t texture.

I really didn't expect this reaction though!

I don't know if there was something in the plaster, or something on the surface of the glass that as it burnt off created gasses that couldn't escape - but something created this wonderful bubble!

The glass is about 10 cm square, and the bubble stands about 8 cm high, and at the very top, it was so thin it was flexible (so much so that it didn't take much of a poke to put a hole in it!)

I don't know what to do with it, and I doubt I could do it again - I wish I could. But I certainly didn't know that I could blow glass in my electric fusing kiln!

Budding Poet

2009-02-13T15:56:00.003Z

Hi All

It was parent's evening this week, and I got chance to look through some of my son's work as I had a little wait. I came away proud as punch of the progress he is making with nothing but praise from his teacher.

I came across this poem that he wrote a while back. He turned 11 a month ago, but apparently wrote this at the start of year six.

THE MOUNTAIN

The mountain stands
Strong and tall,
Abominable and alone.
It's face is stern,
slippery and rocky
At the same time.
Gigantic, it looks down
At the puny people below.
It's freezing up there,
So how does it cope
With the awful weather?

I think it's rather good. But then again, I may be biased...... :o)

Happy New Year??!!!

2009-02-08T12:08:00.003Z

Blimey, is it that long since I posted? What have I been messing around at....

Well, let's see - I didn't do a lot over the New Year - dreaded cough that seemed to take forever to get rid of...

I did go up to Bradford to the National Media Museum (old Museum of Photography, Film and Television) the first weekend of the new year - for a bit of research for an essay (in context studies, we had been doing about museums and exhibitions, and labelling, and it was an extension of some research I had done on my Mum's old Brownie 127 camera - interesting history of the Kodak story).

I can highly recommend the place for all ages - Mum (who's a "senior citizen" and I hope she doesn't read my blog!) loved it, my son, who's now 11, also did. As well as an amazing array of cameras charting the history of photography, there is film and television - kids (and adults if you like) can have a go at being on television, there's a brilliant room all about light, as well as puppets from some of our favourite telly shows.

It really was interesting, and best of all, its FREE. Well, unless you want to go to into the iMax cinema (although you can go see the projection booth which is worth a look) or use the simulator.

I'm sure we'll be going back some time.

That was for an essay that had to be submitted in the New Year, which I didn't think I would do especially well on, as I wasn't sure I had answered the question. But I got a decent grade, a B, which is better than I expected, so I feel rather pleased about that.

We also had our first assessment for two other modules - however, due to "supply problems" I haven't been able to finish my restoration project yet, so I only had "Craftwork" to be assessed. Again, a B, which I was rather pleased with as I thought one of my sections, batch, really wasn't very good at all. I might post a pic.....

Here's the two pieces that we had to put into an exhibition - the square block is combined red and white earthenware, impregnated with glass frit and ground back on a linisher to reveal and reshape.

The grey bowl in unfired stoneware clay with white and coloured chalk chunks - because this piece is so thick, I was to get things dry in time for firing - so this really is just a sample of how something might turn out. It's ideal, but I really liked the chunky form and the contrast between the curve of the bowl and the thick, clean lines of the top.

We were also asked to get involved with submission of ideas for a playground - I know, not really craft, per se, but it was an exercise in working to commission - we had three groups, and we had to present all our ideas to some councillors from Staffordshire. It went down very well, and they'd actually like to take ideas from all three groups to submit for funding to build a "real" playground....

Watch this space!

A bit of Christmas Cheer

2008-12-28T12:10:00.004Z

Okay, so its slightly late this one - but I was REALLY busy before Christmas (like I am not now??)

My son, who's ten (okay, nearly 11) plays clarinet and he performed a solo in the Christmas Carol concert at school.

I think he was incredibly brave to do it, I know it's something I couldn't do - heck, I can't even get a decent note out of the clarinet or read music, never mind stand up in front of an audience and play it all by myself.

I am so very proud of him, so I wanted to share the moment:

Getting A Reaction

2008-11-26T22:41:00.003Z

A few weekends ago, I ran glass fusing taster day at the Long Eaton Art Room.

It was a lovely day, and everybody seemed to have a great time. And they were a very productive bunch!

I went over to the Art room to see the work when it first came out of the kiln (I do wonder if that excitement will ever wear off, the feeling I get when I open a kiln to see the results!) - there was some fabulous work, but I was particularly intrigued by a couple of pieces that looked as though one colour had been outlined against another,

I'm sure lamp-workers will already know about these things, but I only really knew about striking and reducing, so off I went to do a bit of research.

Apparently it all depends on what is the glass - but if a glass containing say, copper added, is next to a colour with sulphur added, a reaction will occur and that reaction causes a colour change. Here's a piece I tried, using different colours that I knew should react:

The bottom piece was light cyan, the middle is vanilla and the frit on top is turquoise, all opal Bullseye glass.

I am pleased that the reaction occurred with both colour borders and it is something I would like to investigate a lot further (ha ha, when I have time!) - in combining more colours that should react to see what effects I can achieve.

Playing with Millie......

2008-11-26T21:21:00.004Z

Fiori.

As part of one of out university projects, we're doing Restoration and Reconstruction - and in my infinite wisdom, I chose a Roman glass mosaic plate that is in the British Museum, so the last few weeks have been research into the techniques.

I have to get some cane pulled, but meanwhile, I have been playing with ready bought murrini that I got off a certain auction site....

Here's a couple of examples:

The one on the left was made with "Tronchini" which are the large ends of pulled cane that are usually waste. It is about 2.5 inches in diameter. The one on the right is made from the murrini, and is only about 1 inch.

Now, for my project, all I have to do is sort out the correct coloured cane and then I can make a nice Roman plate!

This one's for my brother!

2008-11-15T18:35:00.002Z

My son likes to draw, and he did this one yesterday, from nothing - as in, he had neither a picture, photograph OR a real bird in front of him - all out of his imagination (apart from the eye, which he couldn't get right at first, so I suggested he get a book to draw from for that).

I think its ace and I am very proud - he'll be eleven in January.

Sorry about the lines though, I could photo-shop each one out, but I just wanted to post it.

Not long til Christmas.....

2008-11-03T19:42:00.003Z

I know, I have been terrible at updating the blog again - sooo much happening at Uni at the moment, and right now, this moment, I should be doing a label and essay - so I will have to make this short!

Last week we set up the exhibition, I really didn't think I would get a piece into it, I had proper fell out with my work by the time came to submit. But viewed with fresh eyes, and getting feedback, and especially seeing it displayed in a proper cabinet like "real" work, it didn't seem half so bad. I still don't think its my best work by half, but it's okay.

Moving on!! We're now on a batch production project (as well as R & R) not sure what I will be doing for it yet, but have a few ideas milling round in my head. No promises here, but I will try and keep you updated!

Yesterday I did a glass fusing taster day at the Long Eaton Art Room, and I think everybody enjoyed it - so I must be doing something right!

I like people to relax, enjoy the class, and be creative, so I try to give ideas of what's possible rather than be too prescribed. I wanted to suggest a few ideas for Christmas, and whilst not all of it came out of the kiln okay, I was quite pleased with this, which was made from ordinary window glass, wasn't planned or thought out - rather it was thrown together at last minute.

Sorry for the rather naff photo, but it's all I have right now!

Busy, Busy, Busy

2008-10-19T10:21:00.003+01:00

I thought I better post a quick note, so that you know I am still here!

It's been a difficult couple of weeks - last year, I was SO looking forward to returning for my second year at Uni - but since I have been back, I can't say I have been "feeling it". I think yesterday was the first time I spoke with any excitement, and anybody who actually knows me will know that I can babble for England about what I am doing usually.

I'm hoping it will settle down a bit when we have got this exhibition piece sorted, its got to be finished by 27th October, and seeing as its my birthday next weekend, I really want to get mine done for next Friday as understandably I don't want to be in all weekend (when I should be recovering from a hangover....)

Now for some reason unbeknown to man, I have chosen to do this exhibition piece in ceramics. Why would I want to go and work in yet another medium that relies on the kiln gods? I must be mad, I tell ya. I'm doing combining stuff, when I have a chance I will post up some pictures, but the work involves broken bottles and different clay pots, and mixing these into a clay body. Not sure what the outcome is going to be yet!

Otherwise, we have an R&R project, which involves either restoring something (and I can't find anything to restore) or reconstructing something, using traditional or comparable techniques. I'm divided. Roman glass plate or turned lace bobbins??

On the glass front, well, my poor kiln is sitting lonely and dejected in the corner of the kitchen - I haven't had time to even think about that yet.

I am in need of a glassy fix (see, I keep sneaking glass into wherever I can at Uni, just so I can at least get a bit of it!)

Ho hum, I better go get some housework done. Or research. Or something.

Back to School Blues....

2008-10-03T16:41:00.002+01:00

Thought I had better update the blog, in case anybody thought I had given up on writing it.

I started back at University on Monday - and I feel as though I have been hit by a big pile of bricks (perhaps I should save them and submit them for the Turner Art Prize - oh, wait, somebody has done that already, haven't they? Although, this would be metaphorical bricks, so that's new. Hang on, I am doing Crafts, not Fine Art, remember??).

First year seemed like hard work - second year is on a whole new level. We have an exhibition to be ready for in three and a half weeks (so exactly what am I doing on here, I should be making/sketching/researching/panicking/all of the above). We're off to London next week for the Origin show, and we have rather full diaries already. Let's hope I get back into the swing of things sooner rather than later.

On a better note, I had the kiln on last week (you know, we had a few days sunshine - that usually happens when the kiln is on, my kitchen gets warm, and so does the weather). I finally got everything needed for the commission order I took a while back. I decided to make eight coasters in case any didn't turn out, the order was for six. Typically, it looks as though all eight have worked really well! Just need to get them finished off, and they'll be good to go. Pics to follow!

The kiln fairies have chosen to be kind

2008-09-18T16:42:00.003+01:00

A couple of weeks ago, when I did the Beau Show, I think I must have upset the kiln fairies.

I'd made some coasters, and just wanted to add a couple of plates/dishes to offer a bit more choice - but first I managed to get a bubble the size of half a golf ball in one plate (and the plate looked like it had cellulite too with dimples) - and the second one, well that had a small air bubble problem, and despite several re-visits to the kiln, it decided it wasn't going to play - so that was two big pieces of Bulls-eye that are probably wasted - a lovely sparkly green and gorgeous rich red.

So, it was with some trepidation that I fired the kiln up again yesterday. Having told a friend that in some beading circles (okay, some mad people on Frit Happens!) reckon that you have to dance around naked at midnight to appease the kiln fairies, he very kindly offered the use of his garden for me and my friends - isn't that kind of him??

Well, I digress. No, I didn't practice some strange kiln fairy pleasing ritual, but the first fuse went okay, and it went back in last night to be slumped.

I am rather pleased to say, it has come out, not just fine, better than fine - I think it's lovely. And my son wants to keep it!

I haven't take a photograph yet, its not long come out and to be perfectly honest, I am not sure I will be able to capture it's beauty too well - it is aventurine green, which is a rich, deep, sparkly glass , so I am going to have to wait for some special lighting conditions if I am to show it to you - watch this space.

I am pleased, and now I want to fire lots more things (which is probably just as well, seeing as I have a Christmas craft fair which will be upon me before I know it!).

Another piece is in the kiln as I write, so again, I am hoping the kiln fairies are still in a good mood......

Something borrowed, something blue (ish)

2008-09-16T16:13:00.010+01:00

A while back I posted a couple of older pics and I am at it again (well, I haven't made anything new to show yet, that's the next on the "to do" list....

As you may have read, I was rather excited to receive my first commission order - and it was at that craft fair that it occurred to me that I don't have an album of sold work, or to show what other sort of things I can do.

At Christmas, I made my brother and sister-in-law a set of four coasters. They are squirrel made (nuts??), so I played with the theme. This is a technique called kiln carving, and explores the effects of different thicknesses of tranpsparent coloured glass, and how different edges can affect the light (boy would I like to photogram one of these!)

I never got chance to take a pic of them when they were being made, as they didn't actually come out of the kiln until Christmas Day morning - but they recently brought me a coaster back over to try and photograph.

I am not sure whether you can appreciate the full effect here or not. But do take a look, let me know what you think. I am now going away to scratch my head and see what other designs I can come up with.....

Front view

And the reverse side

What a grey day.....

2008-09-05T16:18:00.002+01:00

I just got back from a week in Majorca - boy, it was hot! We had clear blue skies almost all week, one or two days were a bit overcast, but it was a blessed relief when it was, I can tell you.

No pictures today, hopefully I will catch up soon.

Over the August Bank holiday weekend, I did the BEAUshow at Long Eaton Art Room - I didn't do too bad, sales-wise, considering the weekend that it was, but I got some great feedback, some lovely contacts, a couple of people signing up for the next fusing taster day already, and my first ever "proper" commission (not counting special requests by my sister-in-law!) - so I am looking forward to doing that order now I am back in wet, grey England.

I have also been asked to have a go at something for a lady who does sculptures - as someone on Frit Happens pointed out, if somebody asks me what I do now, how cool will it be to say "I make minotaur eyes"!

On top of these, I plan to do the Christmas Craft Fair at the Art Room which we are holding in November, so people can place commission orders in time for Christmas - so, I have to get my finger out and make some stock for that, and I am back at Uni in 3 weeks....

Experimental - and it's not glass!

2008-08-20T13:20:00.005+01:00

These are following on from a project I was working on at the end of term before we finished Uni for the summer - I promised myself I would use the summer break to experiment loads but to be honest, it hasn't happened much.

These are made from a combination of two different types of porcelain - a plain white body, and a black "grogged" porcelain - after a biscuit firing, the black clay was a sort of burgundy/purple colour. After a subsequent firing at stoneware temperatures, it has indeed gone darker, but isn't a true black - a few of the pieces are darker in areas than others, probably depending on the ratio of black to white, but generally they are dark brown.

There are a few more pieces still a Uni waiting to be fired to even higher porcelain temperatures, so when these are done, I wonder if the dark clay will then go fully black?

Of course, I will let you know!

Sunny Side Up?

2008-08-20T13:09:00.007+01:00

I've the the kiln on overnight, so these aren't finished yet, but thought I would post a picture for you.

The first one, I've called "fried eggs" (gosh I am imaginative!)- I don't know whether to make these into cuff-links or earrings yet - but I think they're funky and fun, and I like them!

The pendant on the right is a favourite method of mine, for forcing bubbles - I think this a lovely sunny pendant, let's hope we get some good weather to match it soon!

Craft Fair News

2008-08-19T03:23:00.004+01:00

Hi

I don't seem to be very good at updating this blog! Actually, I have been quite busy, making for a craft fair this weekend.

Its being held at the Long Eaton Art Room (link on the right) and its called the BEAU Show (Borough of Erewash Arts Unlimited) - it will be showcasing local artists and designer/makers, as well as recent graduates from local universities (including some people who have just completed the course I am studying on, I do believe)

As well as an opportunity to purchase individual gifts, there will be craft activities for children so you can have a browse at your leisure.

I will have a range of glass pendants, and hopefully some new ceramics jewellery pieces that I have been working on (I will post some pics as soon as I have taken them!) There might be a couple of bowls and coaster sets available too.

It's actually going to be a rather busy weekend for me - as well as preparing for this show, I will be going to the Stourbridge International Festival of Glass on Friday and Saturday, which I am REALLY looking forward to - all that eye candy! Better take a very fat chequebook methinks......

She flies like a bird.....

2008-08-08T22:59:00.002+01:00

in the sky-ay-ay-ay..... wasn't that the song from the Nimble advert? Gosh, I am showing my age I guess.

This evening, about 8.00pm, just out the back door, we saw a hot air balloon over the school. So what, you ask? Well, the school field runs along the bottom of my garden, so it was rather close! It really looked as though it wasn't going to clear the trees.

The tree you can see in the picture is at the bottom of next door, so about 60 feet from where I was standing.

I also took a video, and whilst they were flying over right over us, we were able to actually talk to them, well, shout I suppose - could quite clearly make out faces and so on.

My son was fascinated - so was my cat! After the initial shock of the noise of the burner, when they both (cats that is) scarpered, the boy, Thistle, who's just plain daft, came back and jumped over the left side fence to follow the balloon on its way... nut.

My son followed it to the local field, only a couple of minutes walk away to see it land.

It's the most exciting thing to have happened round here for a while!

Bright Lights!!

2008-07-30T21:43:00.009+01:00

I was sorting out some pendants today to send up to Bluebird Beads in Lancaster - the lovely Georgia is trying out a few more of my pendants in her shop.

Last time I sent some up I forgot to photograph them (I know, silly me) so I made sure I did so today.

It can be quite difficult to photograph glass sometimes. You cannot always capture the depth of colour, and of course, by nature it's often highly reflective - the last thing you want to see when you're looking at my pendants is me and my camera looking back at you!

Most of the items I selected today are made from one of my favourite types of glass, irridised - it shines and sparkles beautiful colours, which show subtle changes depending on the angles. I love its surprises.

It was early evening when I was taking the photographs - the sun was low enough that my gigantic sized parasol had no effect whatsover, so I took refuge in the shade from the fence - however that meant that my glass was picking up reflections from the house.

I really must get myself a light tent (I am sure I can make one actually if I put my mind to it!)

Anyway, I've put this first one in as I loved the group composition - unfortunately, the white pendant got completely bleached out as the camera couldn't cope with getting the light right for every pendant - not even Photoshop can tweak the white blob back into something resembing a pendant in anything other than shape.

Just to prove that I haven't managed to make a pendant that would light up Wembley Stadium, I'll finish up with some individual pics of some of the seven pendants I will be sending to sunny Lancaster.

Hot Stuff!

2008-07-26T20:59:00.002+01:00

Well, the day has been - not the glass (a few weeks ago I had a mass making week, kiln was on almost constantly for four or five days, and my house was SO warm - I should do all my fusing in winter, reduce my heating bills!

I do need to do some more fusing, but it has been far to warm for that. So, instead I was going to sort out my pieces, get everything photographed and post a few more on here (and update my website).

But in the end, I have not done a lot today - took my son swimming, him and his friend were in the pool for THREE hours (mind you, I was tempted to jump in myself!) - and because we (they) were in the pool for so long, the cafeteria had closed. So we took a walk to the local chip shop and then spent the rest of the afternoon at the park - it was lovely, but boy it was hot!

So not been a particularly productive day at all - hey ho!

Something old, something new....

2008-07-25T09:54:00.006+01:00

Well, people who know me from Frit Happens might have seen some of my stuff, but I am noticing visitors from other places now (I am loving that Live Feed!).

So, over the next few days I will publish a few photographs of some of the work I have done in the past - to some, it will be "old", but some visitors to the blog (or my website) they will be new pieces.

This was my first pair of coasters that I made a few weeks ago - not sure the photo shows their true beauty, they are irridescent and reflect beautiful colours. I just love Bullseye glass!

This plate took some doing, and kinda developed as it went along - I had a problem with the underside not coming out totally clear, so I ended up sandblasting the whole of the reverse - but I love the effect. The plate is really shiny on the surface, and frosted underneath, but because of the thickness of the glass, the pattern on the top looks like its floating - now I know how to get this effect, I can try that again!

Construction Time is Over....

2008-07-23T17:06:00.001+01:00

Well, nearly, anyway.

I've spent a good amount of time over the last few days tweaking my webpages and checking that everything functions as it should.

It now seems to do so, and I am about to "reveal" my site to the people on the Frit Happens Forum - a wonderful crowd of people who hopefully will give me lots of feedback as to what they think of it.

I know there is still work to do, but hopefully how that the framework is in place, it is simply a matter of me updating images and so on.

Wish me luck!

Anybody speak HTML?

2008-07-19T15:33:00.003+01:00

Well, on and off for the last few days, I have been trying to sort out my website.

Of course, instead of just getting a tutorial, learning about style sheets and HTML code, I have to be awkward and try and teach myself, don't I?

But step by step, by trial and error, I am getting there I think. I have worked out how to get pictures with clickable thumbnails on, and I am beginning to work out how to use the style sheet (that the lovely Julie set up for me) - still lots of tweaking to be done, but at least I can now start updating the site.

Here it is if you want to take a look:

www.handmadebydawn.co.uk

Now all I have to do is work out how to make that (points above) a proper link.......

(edited one minute later as I found out how to do that!)

Last one for now!

2008-07-16T16:29:00.003+01:00

This is one of my favourites and was from the first ever batch I did in my own kiln at home - this is before I made it into a pendant, and its one I wear a LOT.

I used a combination of glass and copper foil - now that does some strange things in the kiln, copper - sometimes it goes reddish-purple, and other times it goes a blue colour, like here - although in certain lights it still reflects back more red than blue.

If you look closely at this one, you can see a fingerprint on the top surface - hence why this one never made it for sale (although, honestly, quite a few don't make it for sale because I end up wanting them for myself!) - I was concerned about it, but the lovely peeps over on Frit Happens! said it was individual and like a signature - the mark of the maker! Doubt I will be leaving finger prints in all my work though!

Dennis the Menace...

2008-07-16T16:26:00.000+01:00

Well, what else?

Chequers

2008-07-16T16:23:00.003+01:00

This is one of the first pendants I made in my own kiln at home - my good friend Claire nearly snatched my hand off after this one.....

Again, some of my favourite glass, irridised, and a clever juxtaposition of different textures (big word, huh - wikipedia anyone?)

Good mood today!

2008-07-16T16:02:00.003+01:00

I'm a happy bunny this afternoon - I've had two e-mails, from friends I met recently from the beading world, to say they have received, and are very happy with their pendants. That always puts a smile on my face.

I thought I would show you a bit of what I do - this is a pendant I made a few months ago, using one of my favourite types of glass, irridised. It has a sterling silver bail and currently lives on a silver plated snake chain.

I am not sure yet how to get the photos where I want them in a post, so I will have to post seperate blogs for now for each pic.

Boring, boring.....

2008-07-13T08:22:00.002+01:00

Well, its the nicest morning I have seen so far for ages, it's probably going to stay sunny all day, and where am I? Hmm, helping out in some dingy, no-windowed office...... grrrr.

My First Blog

2008-07-12T07:32:00.002+01:00

Hello there

Well, I hadn't really considered setting up a blog before - heck, I can't even get my website properly up and running, never mind do this.

But I met some lovely people from the beading world the other day, many of who had blogs, and one of them asked me if I had a blog.

Then my brother to tell me he now blogs too, so I have to keep up, don't I?

So, I am not sure what I am going to do with my blog yet - whether it will be a personal one, or a glassy, related to my art, blog - I think I might just have to make it up as I go along. I might even get more than one blog going (because I really don't spend enough time in the t'internet already.....)

So, I will start it off with one one of my favourite pieces of glass work - and it happens to be my first ever foray into the murky world of kiln formed glass (I did stained glass a few years ago).

Do you like it?