I have a new toy!

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I could not get one that would take my original film camera lenses, it is an old Fuji screw mount, rather outdated, even if it is still good!)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....

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....

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....

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.

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

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

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

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

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!

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....

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....

.... 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?

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

Phew, I think its all over.

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!!!

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!!

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!

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......

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

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!