A Creative Weekend

Just had a brilliant weekend.  I had hoped to get this posted sooner but the weather has been so bad there hasn't been a decent window of sunshine to get some good shots of my goodies and it doesn't look like there is any improvement on the horizon.

I spent the weekend with my mum in Malvern at a workshop by Julie of Lush Lampwork, and George. This was a workshop with a difference, day one was spent making some lovely beads and day two was spent making the beads into some beautiful jewellery. 

All of the pieces are a real departure from my usual 'style'.  First off we have a heart pendant.  I have never made a heart shaped bead before, this one was done using a press.  We also used silver foil, silver leaf, silver wire and made a silvered stringer all of which are new techniques for me.  The use of copper is also a first. 

This ring was really fun to make.  I am no stranger to making buttons but this one is bigger than the buttons I've made in the past.  The colour is slightly washed out in this shot, its a lovely purple/pink which was then encased in clear with the murrini and stringer applied on top which gives the button a real depth. 

Next up is a fibula or shawl pin.  We made a barrel bead for this one.  Again this is a shape that I haven't made before.  We also used some 'special'glass that I haven't used before to make the wrap on the blue side of the bead.

This is the largest piece.  I am really pleased with how this one turned out.  The large bead in the middle is the biggest bead I've made for a long time.  The heart-shaped beads on each side are free-form ie, I didn't use a press.  I wasn't sure about these beads when they went in the kiln but I am so pleased with how they have turned out.  I also love the dangle on the end of the chain.

We also made a pair of earrings but I couldn't get a good picture to do them justice so I might try again when the sun is out next.

All of the copper elements have been made by hand, including the diddy spiral beads!  We learned so many new techniques and I have been desperate to get into the studio to put some of them into practice alas this week has been so hectic I haven't managed it yet.

More Bead Soup?

These bracelets are rather addictive to make.  Here are two more for your viewing pleasure.  First a shot of the beads fresh from the kiln after a clean.  Apologies for the quality of the pics the light has been nightmare these past few days.

Yes, its me again!

Please don't be alarmed, yes I have actually blogged on two consecutive days!!!  Just wanted to share these two bracelet I made yesterday.  They have a bead soup vibe about them. 

They aren't the best photos I've ever taken.  Right I'm off now for a chill out before the madness of a week at work begins.

Valid excuse...

well I think so anyway.  The main reason why I have been away for so long is because I have a job!!!  Yes, I know, it has been abit of a shock to the system!  However, I am still trying to create in any spare moment I have.  I am currently crocheting a ripple blanket in the colours of the rainbow, I am supposed to be making a cushion similar to the one pictured in my last blog post but I have run out of wool and haven't had time yet to get  to the wool shop.

This blanket is the result of my frustration at not being able to get to the wool shop.  I decided I would try to order the yarn I needed online.  It was late at night and I wasn't paying attention to the type of yarn I was ordering, I thought I was getting abit of a bargain...... A few days later a huge bag arrived filled with brightly coloured yarn but unfortuately not the cotton yarn I wanted but acrylic!!!!  Rather than try to return my purchase I decided I would have a go at a blanket that I've seen on attic 24  I feel I should put a warning in here as this is a highly addictive blog for those of a 'hooky' inclination, don't say I didn't warn you!

On the glassy front I have managed some beads and buttons:

This is abit of a favourite colour combo at the moment, you may have seen some creations on my facebook page using this same design.  Unfortunately, I was rather impatient to look at the large bead and I slid it out of the kiln for a sneaky peek abit too soon which has resulted in a slight surface crack - you would think I would have learned by now.......

I have made a few button sets which will hopefully make it to Jumble Jelly soon.

These will be attached to some new button cards that I am having designed.... very exciting stuff I hope to be able to share with you soon.  By the way I can make my buttons into cufflinks.  I use handmade sterling silver bar and chain.






I have also been working on encased beads.  It's really hard to encase beads without getting any bubbles in the glass and getting colour bleed from the base bead and covering the bead evenly. I am particularly pleased with these, not sure if they will be sold as they are or whether to make them into a bracelet.....

 

And finally, you may have noticed that my Etsy shop is rather bare.  Well, I have taken my stock to a pop-up shop in Chippenham!!!  I am hoping to have some new stock for my Etsy shop soon.

 

Late Night Ramblings

It is very unusual for me to be up so late at night, I love my sleep and I rarely have any difficulty slipping into the land of nod.  However, I am blaming tonight's random burst of energy on the dark chocolate fondue our neighbours brought round for us this evening!  Apologies in advance for any typos.

I thought I would share with you some photos of what I have been making recently.  Firstly, a crochet project, one that I can share with you as the major project that I have been working on is a gift that has not yet been given.... This is a cushion I made for one of my daughters, the front;

the back

Both girls went on their first sleepover to a friend's house so I had this waiting on F's bed for when she got home.  I am now making something similar for E but with purple, light green and cream.











There has also been some torch action and subsequent jewellery making!

A fully adjustable macrame bracelet that is waiting for some glue

A sterling silver bracelet with a pretty flower and bell charm.  I might end up keeping this one......

Another sterling silver bracelet.  This is sporting an eclectic mix of some of my handmade buttons.  I am rather fond of this one too.....










Thanks for stopping by, sorry I haven't been very consistent with my updates.  I have some more beads waiting to be cleaned and who knows I might even get around to posting some pics of them too!  But don't hold your breath.

I know its been a while

I've been experiencing some very annoying technical hitches with the camera and I don't like to post without a pic or two.  When I am in the postion to buy a new camera I'll be buying one that downloads direct to the computer instead of having to use a card reader, they break continually.

Anyway, we've been busy as a family and for half term we had a fabulous trip to Canada.  The primary reason for going was to surprise my Grandad who turned 90 this year!

You wouldn't believe he is 90 if you met him, he is so fit and mentally with it.  It was so great to see him, makes me realise how much I miss him.  It was such a whirlwind of a week with family events and touristy things to see and do. 

I am planning to get to the torch soon, so hope to have some glassy pics to share with you until then I hope you get some sunshine....

Progress...

I've been experiencing abit of the lampworking blues of late.  Not able to get motivated to light the torch, not inspired by any colour combos, just generally bleurgh!  I know I'm not alone and we all experience the mojo walkabouts every now and again.  Anyway, I think I am emerging from the dark tunnel and I have actually lit the torch and fired up the kiln twice in one week. 

I was having a little mooch around YouTube and found this video tutorial for how to make a star bead and after watching a couple of times I ventured into the 'studio' and lit the torch!!!!  Here are my first attempts

They aren't bad for a first attempt.  They are a little wonky, the points aren't as even as I would like.  I need to practice the raking technique which is how the colours get pulled down to the hole.  All in all though I was rather pleased.

My latest session was a little more successful...

I like the colours of these two (left and below)  but there is still work to be done, the dots around the holes have been melted in a little bit too much for my liking  but I definitely feel I am on the right track.






           

                                                   
 While my mojo was on walkabout I decided some glass related retail therapy might be in order.  I bought some beautiful rainbow murrini from FlamingEck beads and this what I came up with

I think these might be keepers, they are so colourful and they make me smile! 

Well its pouring with rain here - I know its what we need but it does dampen the spirits.
                                                                                                                                                

They are up...

At last I have listed my Larkshead Knot Bracelet Kits there are 5 colourways to choose from.  The weather here has been beautiful.  I went for a 10k run this morning along the canal and across the fields, it was so peaceful and the views were amazing.  Then this afternoon I managed to get my photos done and get my kits listed.  I would love to know what you think to them.  I'll be back soon with some pics of some beads I made recently.  Need to go and do the Sunday Night Ritual which is bath and wash children.

Oh dear

I have so failed to keep to my promise..... The light on Friday was terrible and I just couldn't get any decent shots so rather than take some sub-standard photos I decided I would wait until tommorrow.  I couldn't do anything today because we went to meet my brother and his family in Guildford.  The weather was fabulous, we had a great meal in Wagamama's, did a little bit of shopping and then took the children to the park with their scooters.  A perfect day!

I will definitely have some pics taken tommorrow and will be listing the kits AT LAST!

Nearly There

Hooray, having a mini celebration because I have almost finished preparing my kit instructions!I have taken

 lots of photographs to make sure that I have captured each step.  I will have a couple of colourways on offer and I hope to have them in my Etsy shop by 9pm (GMT) tonight!  Yes, that's right, I've actually publicly declared a deadline which means that I will have to stick to it instead of getting side tracked into 'other' stuff.  Having difficulty getting the light right for photos on this dull day but I'm going to persevere.

See you later........

A Whiff of Spring

We had beautiful weather here yesterday, it really felt like spring is just around the corner so to celebrate the fact and to try to bring some spring-time cheer to a dull and damp day I made this treasurey in Etsy.

I ordered some new glass colours on Friday so hopefully there will be some neew bead pics coming soon!

Enjoy!

A Little Listing Activity

Hooray, I have managed to list some buttons on Etsy if you care to take a look.

TTFN!

Happy Valentine

I know the way to Mr G's heart and that's through his stomach especially if its chocolate cake on offer.  Can't go wrong with Nigella Lawson's chocolate fudge cake - I will try to resist the temptation to creep down to the fridge in my nightie......

Lovingly decorated by the children.  We are under strict instructions to leave some for them!

Enjoy your Valentine xxx

When is a button not a button?

When its a cufflink ofcourse!

Its my Grandad's 90th birthday in a couple of weeks time, what do you get/make a man who has everything?  I decided that a man can never have enough cufflinks especially when they are handmade by his grand-daughter!  If you were lucky enough to meet my grandad you would never believe he is 90 years old.  I hope that if I live as long as him that I am as mentally and physically alert as he is.  He lives in Canada now and is travelling over for a holiday, I can't wait to see him, I still really miss him eventhough he has been living in Canada for a number of years now.

Here's how the cufflinks look when not on a shirt.  They are on sterling silver chain and bar.

I've got a thing about making buttons at the moment.  Here are some more sets, some with matching big hole beads which I think will become a bracelet.












Thanks for looking.  Hope you're manageing to keep warm, its -2 here which is cold for us, I know some of my relies in Canada will be scoffing at that.

Getting Things Done

Hi, and happy new year.  I had every intention of writing a new year blog entry but time is racing away.  Mr Blue Kiln Beads has got a job!  But unfortunately it is in London which means a 5 hour round trip for him thus leaving the house at 6.40 and getting home 19.45 on a good day.  This means that yours truly is very much at the helm getting 3 children up and ready for school, packed lunches made, dinner planned and cooked, shopping, laundry basically I'm running the whole show.  I have a renewed respect for all those single parents out there who have to do it all, all of the time. I have had to re-jig a few things not least my morning a week volunteering at school just so that I can buy myself some time to get it all done and still be able to melt glass and plan workshops.

On the subject of workshops I have just finished the sample for my next workshop at Potato Patch Crafts

I can now put a very big tick next to this on my 'to do' list.  If you want some instructions and kit etc leave me a comment and I'll get back to you. 

That will have to be all for today, got to go on school run and get to assembly for one of my littlies to be presented with a certificate!!

Here's to 2012!