It's Nearly February!! Hooray!

So here we are again. Getting to the end of January which I'm really pleased about. January (for me anyway) is the most depresssing month of the year and it seems soooooooooo long. Everyone is a bit miserable as they're giving up something in a new years resolution, or is a bit broke because they're repaying all their Christmas debt. All I want to do is feel some warm sun on my face and not have to wear a big heavy coat.

Now I've got that off my chest I can say nice and happy things, lol!

I've been making some lovely glass things and he's a confession......I haven't made a piece of jewellery all year!! ha! I think I just made so much jewellery in the run up to Christmas that I've lost my jewellery mojo. I'm sure it'll pop it's head back up as I've got some beautiful beads sitting here begging, begging I tell you, to be made into something beautiful.

In the mean time I've been commission to make two Valentine pieces by a very romantic gentleman for his wife. I've made one 'safe' option which is their initials in a heart but I'm allowed to go crazy in the second one so opted for a stylised heart, with copper hearts, cupids & flowers; initials in glass again & more hearts.
My lovely friend Lucy (who makes beautiful silver clay jewellery) asked me to make a coaster for her desk. The design brief was "I was scattered confetti in pink and white".I've also made my first wave mould Poppyfield. There's been quite alot of interest in this already and I love it so I can see me making more. I'm thinking of maybe a cottage garden scene or a bluebell wood.....or the sea. The options are endless and I can't wait to get my hands on some more glass this weekend.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to one and all!

Here I am again after a very busy pre-Christmas sales rush and a post-Christmas rush around the country visiting inlaws (well nearly) & family.

After the shop which after reflection actually went really well, Elisa and I then had a weekend slot at The Square Tower, Old Portsmouth. I woke up on the saturday to find it had been snowing (AGAIN!) but I set off only to get a couple of miles up the road before slipping and sliding deciding that nothing was worth risking my life! The next moring I got up again and set off. Got there ok but the pavement outside the Tower was a skating rink. Not sure if that was the reason or just the absolutely freezing cold weather but the Fayre was a complete disaster for everyone :0( But reviewing the sales I had meant that I did make a good profit which I have squandered on 2 courses with Warm Glass! Can't wait! Oh, and some moulds and some new glass!

The New Year brings resolutions to get fit and lose some weight in a sensible manner ready for an exciting trip to California in May. Also, sitting squeezed into a airplane seat for over 10 hours is an amazing incentment!

Looking to make lots of new glassy things in the kiln and I've got a wave mould coming so I can do 'standing up' pieces and I want to make plates, vases & useful items.

SHOP SHOP SHOP!

Today is a VERY exciting day! Elisa & I have the shop!! Ok, so it's not that exciting if you're not involved but it's been a long time coming.

The other ladies involved are Lucy & Vidiya who make jewellery and pottery. Unfortunately we lost our graphic artist, but not to worry.

We set up the shop last night and it is FULL to the seams. And there I was worried that I wouldn't have enough stock. But it's the unexpected.

We are due to have a full house on our preview evening (tonight!!!) but I'm guessing we'll be very quiet the rest of the week. I'll get some photos tonight and give you an update soon.

I've been busy playing with the kiln, finally I hear you say! I've fired it up twice and I've managed to get a few good items already which I really pleased about. G was away on Monday night, and laying in bed I could hear a gentle hum. I suddenly realised that our bedroom is over the garage and that should the kiln decide to explode during the night, then we will feel the full force of it.....not that that'll ever happen. But it kept me awake for hours!Pop over to my Folksy shop where you'll find lots of lovely Christmas gifts and if you don't find anything you like in my shop, then you're bound to find it elsewhere on there.

Take care! x

Snow

Have you done all your Christmas shopping yet?

I think I'm almost there! And thank goodness for that as I'm so busy with jewellery shops and events in the run up to the big day. Ah just remembered that I said I would make G's mum a cameo pendant from silver clay, ok, but I think that's almost it!

Elisa & I had planned a sale at the centre where I have my office but wouldn't you believe it that on the day we had 7 inches of snow and only 'heros' like Elisa & I managed to get into the office. I would have been stuck in the snow but her b/f has a 4 x 4 which can leap tall building, scale Everest etc etc so he came to the rescue.

The casualty of the snow has been G & my's Christmas 80's party this saturday. I didn't want to be responsible for slips, trips & near fatal car crashes on the motorway in this weather. No doubt we'll have revellers turn up in their party glad rags expecting to hear 'Relax' (only just got the words to the song about 2 years ago - yes, isn't it rude!) when the only relaxing will be me & G chillaxing with a bottle of red in front of the fire.

Next week the thaw is due which is good timing as Elisa and some other crafty pals have our shop in Portsmouth (Market Way - Pop Up Shops). Drop in and say 'hello' if you're passing. Oh, and buy all our stock too!!! ;0)

Exciting Times

Elisa and I held a Jewellery Party at the home of the Lovely Lucy last friday. We love going to Lucy's as she always invites a fun crowd, so it's always very lively with lots of drinkies flowing (soft drinks only for me as I was driving - boo!)

We arrived and set up whilst trying to chat to her young son who is 6. He was enthralling Elisa with tales of his 16 girlfriends and how he climbs out of his window at midnight to go and see them. Methinks too many vampire films or Count Duckula???

We had the most amazing night of sales! Basically, if it wasn't nailed down or reserved for others then the jewellery flew off the table. Some people bought 4 or 5 items. I didn't get home until 1 in the morning but I didn't care. I promptly went to Monsoon in Chichester and spent the whole takings on a sparkly top for my 80s Disco Party, a beautiful red scarf, earrings (yes, I know!) and lots of other silly things.

We've also been offered the chance to sell to up to 60 ladies in a college & also the possibility to have stock in a shop in Petersfield. That's early days yet but I can see it doing really well based on who will be running it!

I hope you all have great plans for the weekend. I have Lucy (a different one) & Elisa coming over to do beady things tomorrow and then we may have to have a Kir Royale or 3 before tucking into chinese takeaway. Fortunately for G, he is at football in Manchester and won't be home til well after we've passed out!

Shop!! - 8-12th December 2010

Twice in two days! I know, it's a record! But I thought it was time to really make an effort with the blog, so here I am again.

More news which I haven't told you about is that Elisa & I are having a shop, YES, a shop!!! Well, only for a week but given the amount of thought and planning required it's probably a good job it is only for a week.

We're holding a Christmas Gift Fayre to promote our crafty friends and will be selling jewellery, pottery, glass & graphic illustrations.

We've sat down today and talked through our plan, which mainly just involves turning up and hoping that our marketing campaign has worked. We've ordered flyers and will get some airtime from a local radio station on the day & get some local paper exposure.

Oh, and we've ordered some paper bags & black velour material for our tables. You've got to love it haven't you!!!

Main points are it's the Pop Up Shop, Market Way, Portsmouth, Hampshire and we'll be open properly for trade from 7pm on 8th December until 5pm on 12th December! We very much hope that you'll pop in and see us!

I'm Back

sorry, sorry, sorry for being away for soooooooooooooo long! I wish I had a perfect excuse like...G whisked me off to the Antartic for a surprise 6 month holiday, or I've had the lurgey and been in quarintine, but actually the reality is that I've just been busy with life and the blog was the thing to have gone.

"What's happended in your life?" I hear you ask. Don't worry, I'll fill you in on it all!

But the main news is I'VE BOUGHT A KILN!!!!! Yes, it's very exciting news isn't it! It comes on friday morning and fortunately I've got all day, yes, all day sunday to play with it AND I've been allowed to keep it in the house and not in the freezing cold garage. The only slight fly in the ointment is that the man delivering said it's 'coming on a pallett' which indicates that it may be slightly bigger than I anticipated but I think that has to be all packing.

Other news is that I've had a lesson with silver clay Mistress Lesley Messam in her studio and I'm rocking and rolling on the clay vibe....and loving it, although it's costing me a fortune! I can do 50g of clay in a few minutes and that costs on Ebay £56. I desperately need to sell some gear to fund my clay habit!

Anyway, that's it for today. I promise that I will be back and I won't let it go months again!