Hi


I've been very busy this week - working on some more Time & Tide beads, getting to grips with my fusing schedules for my big kiln and making some jewellery.   I spent Thursday making beautiful deep blue beads from a smashed up bottle I brought back from holiday last year and today turning them into a necklace with sterling silver and gorgeous turquoise discs. I don't have a photo as I've just finished the necklace but I promise I'll show it soon.


Instead, I have some photos that I took a week ago on a one day workshop with Charlie Waite and Anthony Spencer of Light and Land. It was a little daunting for me as these guys are fabulous photographers; Anthony is currently Landscape Photographer of the Year and Charlie has been in the past. My husband, Simon, is also a fantastic photographer.  I love taking photos but glass is my real passion and I can't compete with any of them! So I was a bit worried that I would be out of my depth and feel a bit of a fraud.


I was wrong, however, as Charlie and Anthony were very encouraging and didn't seem to mind that some of us on the course weren't as experienced (or skilled) as others. I can highly recommend Light and Land if you want to develop your skills or just spend some time learning about how professionals set up their photos. We spent the day at Stourhead which is a beautiful National Trust property in Wiltshire. The day was a bit on the grey side (don't you just love the English summer?) but I am quite pleased with how these turned out.

And finally, my lovely friend Becky has been interviewed by UK Handmade - its a great article so please have a look and don't forget to check out her beads too!

Speak soon!

Sarah

xxx

Hi I'm Sarah and I make things with glass - usually beads but I also fuse and I will be learning to sculpt in the flame in September. Having set this blog up in 2006 I thought it was time I used it!


So I thought I'd start by showing you some of my latest creations. When I started to make beads back in 2006 I arranged a course with the wonderful Diana East.  I already knew how to make a bead but Di taught me so much about working with glass and made such a difference to my technique.  I have always intended to go back and see Di for another class but time moved on and it never happened.  Until a few weeks ago when my friend Kaz arranged a special day with Di for her friends and experienced lampworkers. So we got together after Di's open studio last month and had a fabulous day.  Di showed us how to make her wonderful crinian canes and use them in beads. 



I've been practising those beads almost constantly for the last two weeks; they have become a real addiction.  I am very proud of these beads I've shown below. They are a work in progress and I know will improve with time but I wanted to share these now as I'm really pleased with my progress. I made all the components in the beads - some of the canes took a couple of hours as did two of the beads! I have had stiff shoulders as a result but I'm not complaining.


I hope you like them too.


Sarah
xxx