New paintings and regular art updates.
Our Orme group continues to meet and create new art.
We are holding our annual exhibition, with paintings, sculpture, jewellery and other art and crafts available. There will be festive refreshments available.
We have new artists who have joined this year so there will be different work amongst the art on display. If you are in the area of Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, on 23rd November 2025 why not come along?
Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life.
A few years ago I met a fused glass artist who showed me how to work with glass to create jewellery, bowls and other hand made craft pieces. A friend of mine helped mount the glass with wire weaving.
I wish I had learnt more about it so I could experiment more with glass. This piece was made with dichroic glass which gives it a metallic sheen. I made it into a pendant.
The trouble is that I can’t afford my own kiln so I’m limited in making things at workshops. The original glass artist moved away and it took a while to find another one, I’ve been to a couple of workshops with her and really enjoyed it.
I’m interested in doing other crafts too, like ceramics, but again there is a lot of cost involved. But I am a bit of a jack of all trades (master of none?)
I could have chosen a much more important subject to show how I have learnt from experience, but I’m not in the mood to consider a serious subject today.
I’m pleased to say one of my necklaces, made of dichroic fused glass has gone to a good home. Fused glass is a way of heating and melting various colours of glass together to make a unique pendant.
I made these a few years ago, I haven’t really pushed the sale of them as I’m concentrating on my paintings, but every so often I get them out and today I gifted one to a friend who kindly helped me out.
I will try and sell the rest of them this year. It’s about time they all found new homes!
What personal belongings do you hold most dear?
My wedding ring holds mom’s in place. Her hands must have been bigger than mine, hers would fall off without it. My ring is cheap, soft gold. I bought it myself for £27 from a jewellery store when we were getting married. Mom’s wedding ring is heavier and I’m sure higher quality. It’s slowly wearing mine away as they have rubbed against each other for about ten years. It was her bequest to me when she died, and every time I look at it I am reminded of the strong supportive woman she was. She allowed me to go to college when she could have insisted that I found a job. She helped me with my spelling when I was younger (I was in a low stream at school because I couldn’t see properly). They tested my eyes and I got glasses, mom helped me catch up by helping me with spelling. 100 words at a time! I got put up into the top stream at school. Mom encouraged my artistic endeavours. She would even show people my drawings.
She raised me and my siblings after our father died and went out and did two jobs to support us. She learnt to drive so she could transport us to places. She even took us out to Chinese meals and taught us how to use chopsticks. So many good and odd memories! She raised us to be polite and thoughtful. I am forever in her debt.
Today’s #bandofsketchers prompt was jewel. I made up a jewel. I was going to draw a ring but the stone turned into more of a micro mosaic. I titled it jewellery by mistake. Its a big lump of a necklace but it was fun to draw! Another felt pen drawing.
Not this one…
But while I was having tea tonight I realised one of my rings was missing. One hubby had given me on our anniversary a few years ago. I’d had to wait for it because the one in the shop was a size too big. I eventually got it, gold with some diamond chips.
I suddenly looked down at my hand and felt something was missing. I did a double take and squinted, not realising it was gone. Just thinking it had shrunk….?
Searching, in bins, no, going through the recycling, no, but it must have slid off. I’ve lost a bit more weight and all my rings are getting loose. In the pedal bin, no, in the kitchen, on the floor? No…. Panic, where was it. Coat pockets, no, dressing gown pocket? No. Another bad thing today… Looked on the floor and swept up. No. Can’t vacuum incase it gets sucked up.
I remember a senior manager getting some students to search for her diamond ring through full vacuum cleaner bags! That was years ago.
Oh where are you? Handbag, got a torch… A GLINT of GOLD!
Oh great!!! I won’t need to contact the places we visited, or our insurance.
Where is it now? On my other little finger, crammed between two other ones. Hopefully safe now.
I’ve got some of my glass pendants for sale at Etruria Industrial Museum cafe. I also have some cards and prints. It feels good to have work accepted by them, I don’t have many outlets available in the area. I need to find some more places and try my hand at craft fairs again, but I want to work towards more fine art.
I like doing craft fairs but if you don’t sell enough and you have to provide your own table, or even gazebo, it’s hard to make enough to cover the costs of the fees, plus I am not capable of putting up a gazebo on my own… Possibly a Sun Umbrella, but that might not be suitable!
Lots of small and tiny paintings, jewellery and prints were also for sale today at the exhibition. The ginger cat at the front centre found a new home. I was only charging a small amount so it was good to sell a few. I even discounted them more. Sometimes you need space to create new things.
Two boards I had paintings on today. I also had a table with small paintings, jewellery and prints. I sold a few pieces which was good and I think I got a good reception from people. Overall most people in the group seemed to have a good day. It was quite busy all day from when we opened to the last few minutes. It was also good chatting with artists and finding out bit more about their work. I’m tired but happy.
This Saturday, around eight artists will be exhibiting at the Whitfield Community Centre, Whitfield Avenue, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire. Eleven till Four.
It should be good. Crafts and jewellery as well as paintings and drawings will be for sale. It will be interesting to see how many people come out. Hope the weather is fine. I will be wearing a mask, hope no one minds!
Mallaband-Brown