More fun than sand castles!

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.....

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

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....

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

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??!!!

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

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

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......

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!

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.....

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

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....

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

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)

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.....

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!

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?

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

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.....

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!