Memories

Time to share.......

When I was a little girl I often went to stay with my Grandparents in Huddersfield, on one occasion it was for a week or two, I think mum and dad had bogged off to France and dumped my brother and I there, not that we minded we were spoilt rotten. One evening after a thorough scrubbing with Imperial Leather from Nana in the bath we were ritually wrapped up in dressing gowns with horlicks in one hand and a kit-kat in the other winding down for bed. Grandad appeared and announced that we were going on an adventure and that we all had to get in the car, as we were! We had no idea where we were going, an hour or so later there we were parked up on the front at Blackpool in our pyjamas, eating fish and chips from Harry Ramsdens watching the Illuminations from the car, it was magic! One of my fondest childhood memories of my Grandparents.

It's just a year since Grandad passed away which put me in mind of him a lot, so it was wonderful to relive that memory with my own children recently. We took them to Blackpool and enjoyed the very best Blackpool had to offer, Harry Ramsden's fish 'n' chips, a ride on the big wheel on central pier, a horse and carriage ride all the way along the seafront, Blackpool Rock and of course the Illuminations, but this time aboard the Illuminations Tour open top tram! I have to say it was fantastic, the children were mesmerised, and I LOVED it, all of it.

Cooking up a Storm

Hello Peeps,

Oh dear, has it really been that long!

Well, onwards and upwards, I have good news, I made some beads! :0)

After a dry spell my tattered mojo has been reignited by a wonderful new tutorial, 'Taking Reduction Glass by Storm' by Amy Kinsch. I love this tutorial because is is technique based and works with silver glass which I adore.

The technique teaches you how to create storm like effects in your beads, I'm trying my best to get some work out ready to list, in the mean time I hope you enjoy these, mesmerising!

Link to Amy's tutorial http://beeswaxrubberstamps.com/lampworkbeads.htm

Kate xx

Swap till you Drop

I did a great swap this week with Diane Turton of http://www.sowzeredesigns.com/ I sent her a Zoozii Star Press and she sent me lots and lots of glassy goodies as well as some of her super super beautifil hand dyed silk chiffon ribbons which are stunning.

These are the perfect thing for setting off focal beads, just gorgeous. I was really inspired by the colours and set off to the studio for a play, this is what I came up with..........

Opulent Swirls
I love swaps, and this one was especially good. Kate xx

Zingy Zesty Mojo Medicine

This is what you do if your Mojo is waining or has gone walkies, I know it happens to lots of beadmakers. You get yourself a Mojo box from Jo at Kitzbitzartglass you take it into the garden, glass of wine optional, stare at it, fondle it, stroke it and let the Mojo return :0) easy peesy.




Coordinating hand blown shards, hand made murrini, handmade frit, hand pulled twisties and stringers, what more could a girl want.

Love Kate xx

Tuesday 2nd June 2009

Keeper of the Thicket Review

I have had so much fun with this wonderful Keeper of the Thicket tutorial by the outstanding Cynthia Tilker.

For anyone venturing in to sculptural work I would highly recommend this tutorial it's excellent, a comprehensive list of tools and materials, nothing exceptional required I had everything I needed and I'm not a tool hoarder. Clear steps, great pictures and constant reminders to 'keep me warm' which are essential. I've really learnt a lot about glass making these little chaps, and this tutorial has given me a bit more confidence to make larger sculptural work, I've thoroughly enjoyed myself and thrilled my children who have adopted them all.

I really should have been working but it's not often I have a play day, and this one I put down to research ;o)

My First Keeper 'Dinky'

Second Attempt 'Viv'

Flo

Dinky, Viv and Violet

Thursday 27th May

Half term prevents any studio action, but have laptop will work even with kids chelping at my heels. So, I've had a big sprink clean this week of my website and blog all to tie in with my Etsy shop.

Check it out http://www.sublimebeads.co.uk/ hope you like it.

Beady stuff occuring recently is lots of silver glass beads, I treated myself to a stach of the Double Helix glass rods, super super gorgeous, a bit expensive but I do love them.

A recent creation - Evolve

Well off to see to my duty as chief water bomb target in the garden now.

Kate xxxx

Brights

We've had a great Easter, and I've had a brilliant run of sales from my website so I've celebrated by eating way too much chocolate......oops.

A HUGE Thank You to everyone who's shopped over the weekend, the sales have covered the cost of my recent impulse buy.....GLASS :-) which will be put to good use making more beads, heaven.
My newly designed studio, complete with 'Window' has got me hooked on brights at the moment, I think it's the sunlight beaming through that just makes those glass rods look so irresistible.

Here's some of the brightest of the bunch..........

Party Poppers

Hope you've all had a good Easter. Kate xx