New paintings and regular art updates.
Thanks to my friend Angela Ashton whose glass workshop I attended to make these glass cabochons and my friend Debbie Travis whose wire weaving skills produced the wire supports for them. I have to say they came out beautifully. Now all I’ve got to try and do is sell them!
I went to a glass workshop with my friend Angela Ashton at Spode today. I’ve previously made square or oblong pieces but today I had a go at curving the edges to make round glass cabochons. I was allowed to use a glass grinding machine to create the curves. Then you place coloured glass on top in strips and small pieces. I used some glass with a special shiny sheen, dichromic I think it was called. As you tip it in the light it changes colour.
At the end of the workshop I decided to create a long coloured strip that could be hung up in a window. I’m hoping this will be an interesting piece. I used clear and opaque glass in horizontal layers over the top of a long transparent oblong. Once the coloured pieces were laid on and tacked in place with glue I placed clear glass in vertical strips on top. Each of these will prevent air getting to the glass. When the glass is exposed to high temperatures it can change colour due to chemical reactions including oxidisation. The heat fuses the glass together.
I should get the resulting pieces in a few days. Then I will go back and may make holes in them using a diamond bit drill so they can hang up or be turned into necklaces.
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This is why I’ve been missing today. I enjoy doing craft fairs but not on a regular basis.
I’ve not done badly today. But it is a lot of messing around and carting stuff about to be able to display your art. There is also the time it takes to get everything out then packed back away at the end of the day. We had some heavy wooden trestle tables, my shoulders are aching now . Anyway that was my day.
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Glass cabochons with wire weave surrounds. These will be for sale at the Spring Makers Market at the potbank Hotel, Spode site, Eleanora st, Stoke-on-Trent. I will also be selling small and medium size paintings..
I did a glass workshop a while ago using blue glass and copper and silver and Mica and different coloured foil.
I then asked a friend if she could do some wire weaving around them to turn them into fabulous necklaces. A few months later (she is quite ill so can only work on things occasionally) I collected these lovely things.
I’ve included front and backs so you can see how they are held in place and the intriguing patterns of wire on their backs. They come complete with gold coloured chains with loops and bars to open and close them.
They are for sale so contact me if you want a unique gift or treat for yourself.
Here are some photos of my exhibition at Etruria. The show looks pretty good. I’ve sold a few pieces and talked to lots of people. I had a chat with someone from tourist information who was very helpful. I’m hoping that I can do more work and that people will enjoy what I do. I’m sure I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m always willing to take on commissions so the choice of subject matter can be yours.
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I miss talking to people sometimes. I have a tenancy to isolate myself as I have said in the past. But today was a good day, I saw an old artist friend who has an idea for a travelling exhibition, and my work fits with it. It’s great to get some positive vibes. Also, a painting that I did a couple of years ago was bought at my exhibition. Someone really admired it and decided to buy it. I feel like a parent seeing a child move into the world. It’s amazing how attached you can get to things, and to see something you love go to a good home gives me a glad feeling inside.
In fact what started out as a quiet weekend has turned out very well. People were interested in my exhibition and some of the new things I have went down really well. I have to thank a friend for creating necklaces for me from some fused glass I made in a workshop earlier in the year. Also a photographer who turned some of my paintings into cards. Again they sold well.
I have not made a fortune, but it has boosted my confidence. Even the chap that came in and said my art was not his cup of tea was not rude, just honest.
The only bad thing is that I seem to have caught a cold! Maybe talking to all those people meant I picked up a bug. We will see….
