dragonflies

 

Dragonflies ready to be fired above. Below was one I made earlier, in true Blue Peter tradition!

As part of the Havant Arts Trail, Making Space had some open access workshops available, so I took the opportunity to go along and use the time in the studio to make some more glass panels and coasters. It was fairly quiet as the weather was still a bit dull and windy, which allowed me to get on with making!

I have always been fascinated by the iridescent quality of dragonfly wings and love the way they dance and hover over our pond. My birds seem to have worked quite well so I decided to try dragonflies.

I had made a couple, the week before and was happily planning the next pair when a visitor came into the studio and asked to buy one I had already made. Exciting! But I hadn't thought about how much to ask so I guessed a price and she was happy with that. I find pricing very difficult. I hadn't expected to sell at all as I was just making for the day.

My husband is always nagging me to work out how much each thing costs to make, against how much I have spent on glass etc but I keep avoiding it because I know it will prove that it is very difficult for me to make money. At the moment I am just thrilled that anyone wants to buy my work.

steep learning curve

Coasters ready for firing

This weekend has been really busy. After a tiring half term, I was looking forward to a craft fair on the Saturday. My first outdoor event!

Apart from the diabolical wind, the organisers (a group of students), were not ready for over an hour after arrival time. They had promised a marquee, which turned out to be only the roof section, so no protection from the wind! Anyway, I thought lets give it a go so I bravely tied everything down that I could and began to set up shop.

Several other stall holders had given up already and there were mumblings about the impossibility of selling in such conditions.

The lady next to me gave up after her photographs dispersed themselves across the lawns! Then I noticed that, after carefully displaying what looked like lovely bags and textile items on a nearby stall, the whole lot had been blown onto the grass. Disaster! It wasn't long before she had packed up too.

With rapidly dwindling numbers of craft stalls, it seemed unlikely that I was going to make any sales on that occasion. I finally admitted defeat and gradually packed up my stock. I felt terrible, like a rat leaving the sinking ship, and I hope not to have to go through too many more days like this. I'm sure those of you with more experience might have decided not to go in the first place!

open access

I hurriedly took these 2 photos of my work from today before it went into the kiln. I have used dichroic glass for the wings of the dragonflies and can't wait to see how they turn out. I have also been hatching a plan to make hangings for under a parasol, so need to get down to that next. I had made 3 dragonfly pieces but the final one didn't work out so I had to take the glassline paint and confetti off. I had used white confetti and it was just too pale compared to the strong colours of the wings. So I shall finish it at home and fire it later.

my three trees

Evidence of a purple love. Purple is my colour of choice. What's yours?

My three trees- I have 3 daughters who are all named after trees. I used this image as a print for my bags and thought why not make it in glass too. I am quite pleased with them and may do some more on this theme. I would love to learn how to make 3D shapes in glass and that is my next quest, to find a workshop on this. If I had a larger kiln I could make bowls though I want to experiment even further than this at some point.

My first commission! Well, I was asked to make the hearts in lime green especially for a customer so it is a mini commission I suppose! Anyway, I was so worried that she wouldn't like it that I made two for her to choose from. Amazingly, she liked them both and so bought the pair! Hurray. I was so excited. This has spurred me on to make more hearts and to look for more craft fairs. Anyone know of any fairs coming up in the Portsmouth, Chichester, Brighton areas?

heart felt

After removing these hearts from the kiln, I got ready to drill holes in them for the loops , only to discover that my drill is broken. No matter what I tried , I could not fix it so I have had to order a new one and will have to wait for it to arrive before I can finish my work. Boo!

On the other hand , it has been such wonderful weather that it is difficult to feel cross! So we went for a long walk around Emsworth harbour. It was really busy and I had the last vanilla ice cream in the shop! Then fell asleep on returning home. Bliss

birds in blossom

New birds with blossom!

new design-birds

Maybe these would make good card designs. I must investigate further. I don't know how much it would cost or even if they would be a suitable design. I do know one thing though- I MUST improve my photography skills.

I have been working on some bird designs recently. Some of these still need to be fired. I can't decide whether to add a hanging loop, to slump into dish moulds or to leave them as they are. What do you think?

more glass

This afternoon I have been making some glass coasters. I love these and can't wait to see them fired.

Close up of work in progress

 I hope this will make a lovely dish when I have slumped it. The only trouble is I have used kiln fibre as a background so it will need two firings, which means waiting to see the final piece. No patience, me!

colour diving

 I love just opening up the drawers to reveal the fabulous coloured glass and confetti. I also stare at the boxes of brightly coloured wool sometimes! I must get a life!

Colour is the most important thing to me. I could rearrange coloured glass or felt all day long. I used to drive the girls crazy when we passed a field of oil seed rape because I would go into raptures about wanting to dive into the brilliant yellow colour! This was usually accompanied by groans from the back of the car!

millefiori

I like millefiori glass and I have used it in mosaics and recently in my glass panels. You can't always be sure how it will turn out- sometimes it looks like beautiful anemones but at other times it blurs and moves.

millefiori

More work at the making stage

Truly rounded

I have started my first circular design ready to be slumped in a dish mould next. It was quite difficult adding the background fibre paper for kiln casting though. Oh well, I will just have to wait and see. I want to buy some small slumping moulds so that I can fire them in my small kiln and don't have to hire space in a larger kiln. Mind you, I really want my own larger kiln too!

I am hoping to do a rag rugging course with a new friend of mine. It sounds like fun.

In the Round

New glass window hangings

Gosh I am so slow at this game! I have taken most of the day to photograph, resize and list on etsy. Oh yes , I also went for a walk, tidied up after dinner guests last night and completed 3 more glass hangings adding the confetti, paint, wire and other details. Spose that's not too bad. I must be kinder to myself!

One new window hanging on a dull day!