First in a new series, inspired by my children

I am working on some new themes for this year’s work, one of which is a series of panels inspired by my children, trying to capture how they view the world and the tales that capture their imagination. The seed of this was planted in the summer when I made them a mermaid window for their room, read about that here The first finished piece is called ‘The Fox and The Moon’ and expresses the excitement and wonder my girls enjoy in our garden at night. When the familiar becomes other worldly and the local wildlife come out to play! Amazingly we also have a hedgehog, bats and slow worms in our city centre garden, much to their delight! The panel itself is composed of bright primary colours and every piece of glass has been altered in some way; kiln formed glass  textures of the moon and the tree, lino cut printed houses and fox (which have then been fired in the kiln) and acid etched details of grass and stars. It should be framed soon, ready for sale on my website or gallery exhibit, not sure which yet!

New Year New Ideas!

I have been very busy this month experimenting and working on new ideas! This has made me very productive in the workshop, but not very good at writing my blog! Anyway………

I am learning to print on glass using various techniques. Firstly I have been making some lino cuts and direct printing

onto glass this way. The results have been varied and though I very much like the effect I am finding getting the right consistency of the paint a bit hit and miss, however, using a roller not a ponce or a brush to apply the paint has helped greatly and I have made a new range of Valentines items as a result, available on my website . I am also experimenting with  firing photograph images onto glass (coming out of the kiln today!) and I have 2 new series of work coming along nicely in my studio. So lots to tell you about in the next few weeks!

 

A creative Christmas break

I have not been in my studio since Christmas Eve, a well needed break for my hands and mind from the world of glass and a chance to concentrate on my family and home.

The festive season really started for us when we had a Winter Solstice celebration with friends whilst watching the sunset over Budleigh Salterton Beach on 21st December. The day had been very cloudy, but just as we got to the coast the clouds cleared and we had an amazing sunset! I think these photos will be incorporated in my work sometime soon!

I have small girls and I had spent much of the run up to Christmas looking forward to making some Barbie clothes my girls and their best friends, I followed the instructions on this lovely blog http://sewspoiled.blogspot.com/2011/01/barbie-clothes.html, this is ‘Marrying Barbie’ and her friend ‘Bridesmaid Barbie’ (my feminist inner voice sighs at my children’s obsession with ‘marrying’)

While I had the Sewing Machine out its been new cushion cover time and a chance to recover the horrid   kitchen chairs which were getting a bit 60s in the wrong way!

My children’s Christmas gifts were a world of craft activities and stickers which they have been racing through enthusiastically, one of the best of which was a kirigami mobile kit. Basically its lots of pretty printed paper with shapes printed onto it which you cut out and assemble into long strings with coloured thread and sticky tape. We have added a couple of large bits of driftwood to hang it and now we have a lovely family art work in the living room…..bets on how long till the cat or one of the kids wrecks it???

The break from formal work has given me the head space for lots of new design ideas and I cant wait to get started on 2012! But before that starts I am looking forward to seeing out 2011 in style with a fire, food and friends. HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! I hope 2012 is a good year for you all x