See the wood for the trees!

On the weekend I took myself off to the Blackdown Hills Woodland Festival. I know it sounds a bit tree huggy, we I suppose it was a bit, but really interesting and fun too. There was lots going on, people carving things with chainsaws (yes these really have been carved with chainsaws!)

A competition for running up a pole, sounds dull but the guy on the left managed it in under 5 seconds which I thought was pretty amazing, he must have been a squirrel in a previous life.

People making chairs out of sticks, and lots of other stands about green energy, or selling lovely handmade stuff.

There was also a stand displaying bonsai trees which I find absolutely fascinating, all the teeny tiny leaves and the patience that it takes to carefully persuade and coax them in to shape over the years and it amuses me when a bee or bug lands on one like a giant out of some 1950’s horror film. I’m not sure I’m that patient but I certainly have admiration for those that do, and that’s what has inspired me this week, the teensy weensy detail and miniaturisation of nature.

Etsy a go go

My Etsy shop is starting to look a bit healthier. I’ve only recently started adding items, I haven’t sold on line for nearly a year for one reason or another, not through Etsy tho. So I’m rather excited that I’m getting things rolling and my creations out there again.

I've just added one of my favourites, a storm vortex bead on a hand braided cord, it was a bit of a struggle as I like it so much, but I feel like that about a lot of the things I make!

Click on the pic to go to the listing

How about a nosy round my studio

I always like having a nosy round other peoples work space and seeing what they are up to, so I though I would show you what went on in my studio on Wednesday. I had intended to post this yesterday but I got waylaid making raspberry wine with the latest pickings from the allotment, up to 33lb 11oz now! But I digress.

I’m sure there is a little glass loving pixie that makes a mess of my studio when I’m not there, I don’t remember leaving it in such disarray!

So after a little tidy up, I pulled out a selection of colours I thought I would work with. I was thinking along the lines of mustardy autumn hues despite the fact were in the middle of June!

So I set to work made a few pieces, but I was having one of those days where things don’t go quite to plan. And ended up making a few things with techniques I had read about and wanted to try as well as a commissioned pendant. And here’s what came out of the kiln the next morning...

I also made some lady bugs and bees for earrings

Aren’t they cute? I’ll be making them up and getting them in my Etsy shop very soon.

My little patch of heaven

My allotment, I’ve had it for just over a year and I absolutely love it. It’s so peaceful and when I’m there I can forget about everything else, listen to the birds singing their little hearts out and focus on growing yummy things to eat. So as I’m so besotted with it I thought I would share.

This is the front half with peas, beans sweet corn etc. That’s not my shopping on the right! It’s what I’ve been using to pick raspberries.

I’ve had a massive glut of them, 26 ½ lb (that’s about 12kg I think) so far and there’s still loads to come, so if anyone out there knows any good recipes for raspberries please let me know!

Things keep appearing of their own volition like these beautiful poppies, I’ve also had random potatoes, squash and fennel popping up.

I managed to wage war on the weeds that had taken hold, the front of the allotment was as high as the fence with the little blighters so I took a hoe to them.

And now there gone! (for now)

Inspire me.....

I'm trying not to get stuck in a rut with designs, colours etc so I'm going to try and have a different inspiration each week to keep things fresh. My little trip to Cardiff Castle got me all inspired, all the lovely William Burges uber detail decor really got my imagination going, picturing designs and figuring out the best way to implement them. So I think this week I’m going to work with the rich sumptuous colours, fantasised gothic medieval style and lots of detail Burges used for his interiors and designs.

Art Bead Scene featured Design Seeds on their blog ‘Random beady links’ recently. It’s a great resource for colour combos, I think I’ll definitely be regularly looking there for colour inspiration!

Cardiff Castle

My mum has wanted to visit Cardiff Castle for years. So I thought it would be a lovely birthday treat to take her.

This is the keep which was built on top of a motte, one of the oldest parts of the castle.


The BBC promised wall to wall sunshine, hmm not quite what we got (notice the grey tone to the sky!) although the sun did make a few brief appearances. But we didn't go for the stunning welsh weather, we went to see the fabulous and quite frankly overwhelmingly detailed interiors designed by William Burges. I could have spent a whole day looking round the apartments and not seen all of the detail, it must have been an amazing place to live. Gold leaf glinted off many of the surfaces intermingled with sumptuous colours, heavily carved wood and amazing stone and plasterwork.


This is the ceiling corner in one of the bedrooms. There were little heads like this one sticking out all around the room, a little unnerving to be watched all the time, and the ceiling had lots of mirrors, those Victorians were an interesting lot!

They even had a Pompeii inspired roof garden to relax in on warm sunny days. I don't suppose they saw too many of them as the family only spent 6 weeks each year at Cardiff Castle, the rest of their time was divided between the other 9 homes they frequented (they owned a LOT more than 10 tho!). Ahhh how the rich lived, must have been so taxing, if it was me I would definitely have needed a roof garden to relax in!

This statue of Madonna and child in the roof garden was positioned so that the rays of the evening sun during the time that the family was there each year, would spill through the arrow slit opposite and illuminate the scene, true attention to detail.

I have to say that it was a truly inspiring visit and well worth the trip, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes arts and crafts. We got to convert our tickets in to season passes for free so we will definitely be going back for another Burges overdose.

Today is officially my blog day!

I'm resurrecting my blog. I think I kind of forgot about it, like the things you shove in the bits and pieces drawer and forget you have till you have to clear it out! Well I'll try not to forget about it this time and what better day to relaunch it than the summer solstice.

I've been out on a jolly to Tropiquaria with my sister (in law) and my adorable and constantly entertaining tiddly nephew who has recently discovered what his legs are for.

We got to meet a snake

a rather spiky lizard

and a speedy tortoise

fortunately they didn't bring out the tarantula, I would have been out of there like a shot! We saw lots of ishies (fishes) and furry animals (all of which were far too quick for my camera, I got some rather arty blurred action shots!) and a very amusing marionette show, although I'm not sure the opening act of Can Caning marionette ladies was 'family entertainment', hilarious tho.

Well it's been a while...

OK a very long while! I'm not really sure how that happened but I seem to have been working flat out. The Christmas period was sooo busy, lots of local craft fairs and the few months before were consumed with making stock for the fairs. Now I have a bit of time to breathe!

At last my workshop is finished, well nearly, it needs a bit of faffing, shelves etc, and here it is!...
The garden looks a bit bleak at the moment as all the plant pots are over the other side waiting for me to sort them out, but once I've got the garden sorted out it will look a lot better.

And here's the inside...

ok so it's a bit messy, but at least I've been able to work out there, weather permitting. The pink thing is my new saddle stool, takes a bit of getting used to but I've not had ANY backache from working at the torch since I've been using it.

I'm really chuffed with my little studio and that I've been able to get to do some much needed lampwork practice. Next time I'll post some pics of my glassy creations, so watch this space!