. : the eve : .

...of my first south coast market adventure.

i'm excited and a little nervous. but thoroughly prepared, enough so that my mother would be suitably proud. i might even fill a thermos of hot tea in the morning, as to have plentiful cups of tea on hand throughout the day, in the Berlach tradition. at some stage though, i will visit these guys and enjoy some real, fresh brewed 'lavender grey' goodness.

its an amazing locale for a market. the school where its held, Coledale Public School, is wedged between the escarpment and the rocky sea cliffs. if you had a good kick on 'ya, you'd lose your ball to the sea every day at recess. (they must kick north to south, then.)

so i'll get a good nights rest, ready for a big day ahead.

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wednesday - today

Jose Gonzalez drove me home from school this afternoon, with the splishing and sploshing of rainwater hitting the undercarriage of the car as i bumped over cracks and potholes. my school day quickly faded from memory as i dreamt of the chewy, salty ginger bickies i was going to make when i got home (they're baking themselves in the oven as i write...).

i had to stop at the shops to pick up the necessary raw sugar, ground cloves and ginger - it was a minor inconvenience - having to slosh through rushing gutters, in completely silly, inappropriate shoes. my feet now still a little damp, i sit, waiting for my afternoon tea and preparing myself for a night of peaceful creativity.

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the search is on...

after a fabulous day at the event that was Sangria and Lace, hearing what people think of my glass wares and being humbled and amazed at peoples enjoyment of it, i believe it is time in my glass career to purchase my own kiln. it will be a considerable step - and will make quite a dent on our bank account - but will hopefully see me making glass wares for many years to come.

there were a few times throughout Sangria and Lace where i would be talking to market goers about my work and i would have a really vivid realisation that i am doing something that i have dreamed of for quite a long time. this is a dream come true. a real dream - to work with warm glass - coming true. it is something i need to actively remember, as i sometimes winge about so many dreams never being fulfilled (see this post), but i need to be aware and grateful that this one is!

so, i'm in the market for a small glass work kiln...wish me luck

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have a look

i have a new direct link to my facebook site for wood|GLASS art glass and jewellery. go have a look. we had a great time at that event and are looking forward to more in the future.

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. :work: .

i have been working of late, every day! (shock, i know! but to a young lass accustomed to casual work - it is a bit of a burden) i'm not so sure how i feel about that, considering the event i have coming up and the amount of pending glass projects in my studio incomplete. i would rather be doing other work, even doing some yard work.
i hope you enjoy doing your work - whatever that may be.

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glass beauty

you know that i love glass, and that i enjoy playing with it and am amazed by the wondrous things it does when 'gently' fired to blistering temperatures. here some other beautiful pictures of glass, and important uses for it, might i just say...

a full tray of pretty glasses, filled with a delicious mix of liquids - served on my bubunia's stainless steel tray.

aah, and crystal...there is nothing like it.

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some new production

here are some of my earrings that i've made of late for wood|GLASS...planning on making a heap more for an upcoming event. you want some too?

i love the dichroic, it is like a vision of something under the sea or something else beautiful of the like. the colours playing under that clear glass encasing is incredible.

i wear a white pair as my everyday staple earring. so easy|so pretty. i hope you like them...and if you do, then maybe you would want to buy some? contact me if this might be the case...

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. :glass: .

my good friend, one who has known me since my birth, and seen a lot of my junior years is a beautifully loving and creative woman, who i admire. on my recent trip West i visited her and saw her latest work (she is a glass artist who has worked with the magical material for over 25 years), and commissioned her with a piece for myself. i was so elated when it arrived in the post - and i haven't taken it off since. it hugs my wrist with a an appreciated weight, reflecting light and colour so vividly.

before i went on holidays, i had some time in the studio making some earrings and pendants for impending sales (i hope). here are some images...

with a necessary glass of wine...to get the creativity flowing.

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...it is finished...

this is my finished product, an art deco kinda style copperfoil lamp, which i think is quite delightful. what do you think?

the sparkle glass feature strip at the bottom of the lamp is my favourite part, i think. but i also love the water glass pattern of the opaque ivory, especially lit. i had a lot of fun making this piece, doing something different from the fusing i have been doing for the last 8 months...(some of which is in the kiln ready to be made into beautiful pieces to wear.)

the lamp is loving its home, on my bargain retro atlas desk i scored from a garage sale - i think its a nice combination of styles...

this evening came close...

...to finishing my lamp project. a little painstakingly close - i had to leave it, wash my hand and say, "i'll see you again, soon my friend." to be finished another day...

it came from this:

all cut, ground and foiled, ready to be put together as 'biscuits'.like this one above. pretty nice huh. then all them there biscuits are ready to go together as a lamp!

What! i put it together upside down?!!? oh no. haha (lame - i must be tired). all i have to do is bead all the outside joins with solder then put the lamp stand and cover together. woohoo. until then, this beautiful specimen will sit tucked away in the studio, all wrapped in soft cloths and padding - goodness forbid something terrible happen - and wait, wait for my enthusiastic return. keep crafting/making/loving/reading, my friends.

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my cave

last night, i was once again able to escape to the cave that is my wednesday night glass workshop. it is such a peaceful and secluded locale, that no matter how far my poor eyelids were drooping when i arrive, i leave that place refreshed and inspired.

with my head down in determination, and body warmed by my tea - i worked and worked until i had sucked every last penny from my 3 hour class. the image above is my current project. my first attempt at a copperfoil lamp for the house. i am looking forward to its completion...next week - i start to solder.

i hope ya'll finding some respite from the busy work schedules and crazy full days and weekends. enjoy

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.a weary wednesday eve.

Three serene hours, given wholely to creative pursuit, chatter and tea - what a wonderful way to spend a weary, wet Wednesday eve.

In the flickering fluorescent light we all tinkered and cut, soldered and puttied with our heads down like working mice. (do mice work? i don't know...)

Anyhow, the colours and hues and sparkles of a studio full of glass really is a beautiful place to while away some hours.

workshop 1 complete.

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