Long break

Have been off line for ages - busy creating bags for Arteria, Lancaster http://www.arteriashop.co.uk/index.shtml. 
The bags are a little quirky, and not to everyone's taste, but I think they'll suit some with individual style.

Kiln running

First firing of the kiln today.  For some reason it was quite daunting to get on with it, but when it came down to it, it just needed the push of a button.  Something about electricity and extreme heat (and the fear that I had trapped a small furry animal or spider in it - which I couldn't have, because I checked it an OCD number of times!).
Now waiting for it to cool down enough to open - it takes absolutely ages!

Away selling things in my home town tomorrow, so it will be exciting to be back on Friday and do some serious glass work.

Wed 'n' Things

Today has been spent sorting out space for my early Christmas present which will hopefully arrive soon.  It's a small glass kiln, and I've been waiting for it for a long time. In the process of moving things about, I've had to find a new storage space for my wedding tiaras, and this has reminded me that I wanted to mention two talented people in my blog.  There is a connection, as both are involved in wedding-related things (so if you were planning a wedding, I can recommend tham as great people to deal with).

Bridget is a talented professional musician who adds a touch of magic to a ceremony or a reception.  She played at our wedding and was a total star. She is known as the Edinburgh Pianist, and there are some samples of her excellent playing on her website http://www.bridgetkelly.co.uk/

Kate is a wonderfully creative person who designs and produces a range of wedding favours.  These are a lovely touch, and a way to say thanks to guests.  Take a look at:  http://www.bigdayweddingfavours.co.uk/

By the way, the title of this blog is the name of a shop that used to exist in Hull selling wedding-related paraphenalia.  Fantastic name, though not sure what the shop itself was like.  Sadly now closed, I think....

Stitching and Stuffing

Yesterday was spent stiching and stuffing all manner of pyramid-shaped silk and velvet things - lavender bags, Christmas decorations and the beginnings of a handbag.  Who knew what a versatile shape a pyramid is?! (Maybe lots of people except me...).  Looks like it's going to be my next obsession. 


Also in the process of getting in the right frame of mind to start making some glass objects.  So far this has been limted to pendants, but has given me the chance to use some gorgeous colours.  This peacock blue is my favourite glass so far:

The sewing machine is calling me - better get back to it.

Getting back into the swing

Just returned from holiday, and only now getting back into the swing of life at home.  So many things to do, and all of them interesting; too much choice can be a bad thing!  Having started out making felt as a hobby, I moved onto jewellery as a way to refocus my life after redundancy, this led onto working with glass, and then sewing, then aplique.  I feel like Red Riding Hood in the forest; always seeing another beautiful flower ahead, and wanting to look at it and smell it and feel its petals.  There are so many gorgeous materials to work with, and the end result is always satisfying, because it's come from my own hands - no matter if it's a thing of beauty to anyone else!  But in case these things are of interest to others, I also have a Folksy site with a few things on it http://www.folksy.com/shops/Artemis which I have really enjoyed making.

I'm sooned to be joined on this site by the other half of HoppyOkey Designs, known professionally as Fell Wanderer.  He specialises in photographing the more remote and hard to reach parts of the Lake District, though has been known to take some valley shots as well!  I'll leave him to write more about his work, but if you want to take a look at the photographs, see the photo galleries at http://www.hoppyokeydesigns.co.uk/  or Fell Wanderer's shop on Folksy at  http://www.folksy.com/shops/FellWanderer

Getting started

This is my brand new blog, and it feels rather strange to be writing and not know who the audience will be, or what you will make of it.  Rather like an open diary!  I'm starting it to talk about my creative enterprise, which began last year. Having been told I wasn't artistic when I was at school, I had mostly avoided doing anything creative.  I now discover that I enjoy producing a range of handmade things. Discovering my talent for blending colour, fabrics, and any manner of other items has been a joy.  You can see some of the things I've made recently on my Folksy site (http://www.folksy.com/shops/Artemis).  You might also like to look at the HoppyOkey Designs website, which shows the wonderful photographs taken by the other half of the partnership: http://www.hoppyokeydesigns.co.uk/