A Very Busy Week
Well, another long day over and more to look forward to. It has been a bust last few days and to be honest when I have managed to get finished and sat down in the evening, I.ve been so tired that I end up asleep when I should be here updating my blog and listing beads.
Tomorrow I'll be adding beads to my etsy shop and spending a few hours trimming around 20 bowls, pots and cups that I made yesterday, Next weekend they will be fired so then at last a few will be listed, god only knows what people will think of them but sod it, I'll give them a go, I think I've been waiting around long enough, plus ever penny will be required this coming month as bead sales are without doubt lower than they have ever been,
For the first time ever I find myself thinking of my future without beads, unless things pick up in the next month or two that will become a very real possibility, we'll see what happens, just maybe for once our luck will change and we will get through this lean spell, I really hope so.
In the mean time, like everyone else I work as hard as possible to get beads made and bills paid, these brighter summer days help a great deal and it really is a great pleasure starting early in the mornings when the world seems so still and quiet, it means that at last I get more hours in the day, something I have wished for often.
I think it's time for a cuppa sitting by the pond and maybe I'll be lucky enough to watch the bats hunt over the garden, I'm sure I'll be back here writing on a more cheerful note tomorrow, enjoy your evening.
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Good I'm Feeling My Age
Stiff As A Board
Yesterday was such a busy day with work taking up most of the time followed by garden work and another good long bike ride, tho I have to admit this morning I feel like I've been run over by a truck, I guess I'm starting to feel my age and the bike rides are showing up just how we change over the years, those things we took for granted become more of an effort, all part of getting old me thinks.
The Coeliac also causes aches in the joints so this and the extra exercise make some early mornings very slow, it's rather like starting up an old steam engine, first few steps seem to take ages then after an hour the old fellow is running ok.
Before I go any further I have to thank those who have emailed me about the cost of postal charges that some bead makers are charging, I didn't realise how many of you were thinking the same and it looks like some of you are already questioning these prices, I know I have these rants and I admit I do get so angry when I see how some makers treat customers but it's nice to see I'm not the only one and remember, your very important to bead makers, your custom pays there wages, if they want to carry on with these disgraceful charges then just go to another maker, with the wide selection of sellers online I'm sure you will find more that make the beads you require, after all we would if it was some of our other needs like foods and clothes, we wouldn't put up with it then so why in this case.
Early yesterday morning I sat turning a few more bowls ready, I hope, to get the first listed next week, I think I'll just list them and then hide in the barn for a few days making beads in case the feedback is bad, I have never enjoyed listing new items as some of you already know, you would think after all these years I wouldn't worry, I'd be used to it, but no, I still hate the wait to see how others react.
It's looking like another dry day today so touch wood I may get to sit throwing pots in the garden this afternoon and I have a few more garden jobs to do, at last we can do all those summer jobs without the rains getting in the way, tho saying that I'm guessing the will now return and spoil all my plans, me and my big mouth !
Ok, my torch calls and more beads to clean ready for listing again this evening, it's all go here at the barn, talking of which, this weekend we start to empty out the barn ready for that lick of paint and new carpet, it will be nice to get the place looking fresh again and even if customers don't want to visit it will be a pleasure to work in there without the cobwebs.
Yesterday was such a busy day with work taking up most of the time followed by garden work and another good long bike ride, tho I have to admit this morning I feel like I've been run over by a truck, I guess I'm starting to feel my age and the bike rides are showing up just how we change over the years, those things we took for granted become more of an effort, all part of getting old me thinks.
The Coeliac also causes aches in the joints so this and the extra exercise make some early mornings very slow, it's rather like starting up an old steam engine, first few steps seem to take ages then after an hour the old fellow is running ok.
Before I go any further I have to thank those who have emailed me about the cost of postal charges that some bead makers are charging, I didn't realise how many of you were thinking the same and it looks like some of you are already questioning these prices, I know I have these rants and I admit I do get so angry when I see how some makers treat customers but it's nice to see I'm not the only one and remember, your very important to bead makers, your custom pays there wages, if they want to carry on with these disgraceful charges then just go to another maker, with the wide selection of sellers online I'm sure you will find more that make the beads you require, after all we would if it was some of our other needs like foods and clothes, we wouldn't put up with it then so why in this case.
Early yesterday morning I sat turning a few more bowls ready, I hope, to get the first listed next week, I think I'll just list them and then hide in the barn for a few days making beads in case the feedback is bad, I have never enjoyed listing new items as some of you already know, you would think after all these years I wouldn't worry, I'd be used to it, but no, I still hate the wait to see how others react.
It's looking like another dry day today so touch wood I may get to sit throwing pots in the garden this afternoon and I have a few more garden jobs to do, at last we can do all those summer jobs without the rains getting in the way, tho saying that I'm guessing the will now return and spoil all my plans, me and my big mouth !
Ok, my torch calls and more beads to clean ready for listing again this evening, it's all go here at the barn, talking of which, this weekend we start to empty out the barn ready for that lick of paint and new carpet, it will be nice to get the place looking fresh again and even if customers don't want to visit it will be a pleasure to work in there without the cobwebs.
Saturday, 23 June 2012
Opportunist, Desperate Or Just Plain Shameful !
Unbelievable Postage Rates
Two days ago I was sent a link to beads that a UK bead maker is selling on ebay, along with the link sent by a customer and friend she also included a question asking me why I can afford to charge my regular postal rate when others were charging three times that amount and in some cases even more such as five or six times more as shown in the link.
After replying to her email explaining that we just charge the amount it cost us, I spent some time searching etsy and ebay to find out just how much some makers are charging and to be honest with you the results were in my opinion a disgrace, nothing more than shameful.
I found a number of sellers charging £3.00 postage on a set of beads, plus extra for each item added, how the hell these people come to this amount is a mystery to me and I think I'm experienced enough to know what postage rates with the royal mail are, having sent thousands of beads to customers, both first class and recorded. One such seller was charging such a high price that if you were to obtain just three sets of beads from her, the postage would be £8, yes £8 !
I've been trying to find a good reason for such charges for the last couple of evenings and to be honest with you I just can't ! Here in the barn we use the up to date postal rates of Royal Mail and even use postal scales to weigh our post which I hope leads to us charging the correct rates, so if our rates are correct how can these people justify their huge charges.
As for the excuse of sending beads in cute little gift boxes or bags, well they cost pennies to buy as most of you who make jewellery will already know so the extra cost definitely doesn't come from there. Bubble wrap and padded envelopes are again very cheap, so yet again no answer there, the only possible reason I can think of is profit, having the cheek to make profit from customers on postage, customers who already spend their hard earned cash with these bead makers, customers who feel they can trust these people, some of which they give their custom on a regular basis, what sort of bead makers are these people, it makes me feel ashamed to be part of a craft where this goes on, it's just straight forward greed !
Deceitful, devious, underhanded, whatever you want to call it, it just ain't right and I for one invite any bead makers who charge £3 or more for postage on their beads to email me and explain the reasons why, you all know how to contact me, I'm not going anywhere, lets hear your excuses.
The funny thing about it is that these people are very often those who moan about lack of sales or their auction prices not reaching what they did, makes you wonder how their minds work, do they think to themselves, mmmmmmm prices low so I'll put the postage up to make up for it, no, they wouldn't, would they ?
I suggest the next time you get some beads through the post just check the cost of the stamps used, this will give you an idea of just how much profit these so called honest bead makers are making from the postage.
Sorry for the rant but it makes me mad to think this is going on, luckily there are still those selling their beads who are very fair with the cost of post and packing, I guess this tells a lot about someone.
Now onto the bead side of things, it was a long day here at the barn, I had focals to make plus more larger spacer sets to list on etsy, by the way, some of you may have seen the website as now gone, I feel sad about it but hope to get a new one up and running very soon and until that happens my etsy shop will be selling spacers and such things as the lucky dip spacer sets, so I hope most will still find what they need.
This morning I spent the early hours throwing some pots on my wheel, it was great sitting there with the birds singing and the early sun filling the garden, a great way to start the day.
Ok, I'm off for a cuppa and to let my little four legged mates out for a run around, a cuppa sitting in the garden watching the bats is always a nice way to finish the day.
Two days ago I was sent a link to beads that a UK bead maker is selling on ebay, along with the link sent by a customer and friend she also included a question asking me why I can afford to charge my regular postal rate when others were charging three times that amount and in some cases even more such as five or six times more as shown in the link.
After replying to her email explaining that we just charge the amount it cost us, I spent some time searching etsy and ebay to find out just how much some makers are charging and to be honest with you the results were in my opinion a disgrace, nothing more than shameful.
I found a number of sellers charging £3.00 postage on a set of beads, plus extra for each item added, how the hell these people come to this amount is a mystery to me and I think I'm experienced enough to know what postage rates with the royal mail are, having sent thousands of beads to customers, both first class and recorded. One such seller was charging such a high price that if you were to obtain just three sets of beads from her, the postage would be £8, yes £8 !
I've been trying to find a good reason for such charges for the last couple of evenings and to be honest with you I just can't ! Here in the barn we use the up to date postal rates of Royal Mail and even use postal scales to weigh our post which I hope leads to us charging the correct rates, so if our rates are correct how can these people justify their huge charges.
As for the excuse of sending beads in cute little gift boxes or bags, well they cost pennies to buy as most of you who make jewellery will already know so the extra cost definitely doesn't come from there. Bubble wrap and padded envelopes are again very cheap, so yet again no answer there, the only possible reason I can think of is profit, having the cheek to make profit from customers on postage, customers who already spend their hard earned cash with these bead makers, customers who feel they can trust these people, some of which they give their custom on a regular basis, what sort of bead makers are these people, it makes me feel ashamed to be part of a craft where this goes on, it's just straight forward greed !
Deceitful, devious, underhanded, whatever you want to call it, it just ain't right and I for one invite any bead makers who charge £3 or more for postage on their beads to email me and explain the reasons why, you all know how to contact me, I'm not going anywhere, lets hear your excuses.
The funny thing about it is that these people are very often those who moan about lack of sales or their auction prices not reaching what they did, makes you wonder how their minds work, do they think to themselves, mmmmmmm prices low so I'll put the postage up to make up for it, no, they wouldn't, would they ?
I suggest the next time you get some beads through the post just check the cost of the stamps used, this will give you an idea of just how much profit these so called honest bead makers are making from the postage.
Sorry for the rant but it makes me mad to think this is going on, luckily there are still those selling their beads who are very fair with the cost of post and packing, I guess this tells a lot about someone.
Now onto the bead side of things, it was a long day here at the barn, I had focals to make plus more larger spacer sets to list on etsy, by the way, some of you may have seen the website as now gone, I feel sad about it but hope to get a new one up and running very soon and until that happens my etsy shop will be selling spacers and such things as the lucky dip spacer sets, so I hope most will still find what they need.
This morning I spent the early hours throwing some pots on my wheel, it was great sitting there with the birds singing and the early sun filling the garden, a great way to start the day.
Ok, I'm off for a cuppa and to let my little four legged mates out for a run around, a cuppa sitting in the garden watching the bats is always a nice way to finish the day.
Friday, 22 June 2012
Plans For The Future
What Will I Do, I'll Carry On Making Beads Of Course !
No doubt most bead makers are finding things hard at the moment, not only the fact the country is having a bad time all round but also these summer months can be slow on sales with people taking holidays and needing their money for making the summer an enjoyable one for their families.
I spoke to a customer yesterday who was mentioning that some other makers were talking online of how difficult things were and some had mentioned giving up making beads, she said most were just making the beads as a paid hobby and how do we cope when it is our living. Well as most of you who read this blog already know, I love every second of my job and tho things are bad I will try everything I know to carry on working at my torch.
Of course I worry about sales, not a month as passed this year when we thought we wouldn't cover the bills and yes I'm guessing that hasn't helped with my health, but hey, we are still going and tho we have gone without so much it is worth it to be able to carry on making and selling beads.
The very small few of you who know us and understand what we have to do to continue, know how committed we are to making beads, still we try to help out customers if we can and I guess we always will, even if it ends up costing us money, yes I know some of you will just say we are silly doing it and that we should put our business heads on more and think about making money and not helping out, but why on earth would I want to spend the little time we have on this earth just thinking about making money and sod everyone else. Don't get me wrong, I would love to make more money so we can once again live a normal life and we are trying to sort out a few more ways to do so including selling from here in the barn and getting the ceramics off the ground, but there is one thing for sure, we will still think of our customers as friends and when we can help them with beads we will.
So as for the future, this bead maker is planning to stick around for many years yet and as I've stated before, one day some lucky sod will find this old dusty barn in which this mad old bead maker will be sitting at his torch surrounded by boxes of beads, in fact some would say there is already a mad old bead maker sitting here every day !
Ok time to pop off to my flame, lots more beads to make and some to photograph as listing this evening, I want to make some stone forest leaf beads for a change as it's been a while since I produced them and I always think they make such great pieces of jewellery.
No doubt most bead makers are finding things hard at the moment, not only the fact the country is having a bad time all round but also these summer months can be slow on sales with people taking holidays and needing their money for making the summer an enjoyable one for their families.
I spoke to a customer yesterday who was mentioning that some other makers were talking online of how difficult things were and some had mentioned giving up making beads, she said most were just making the beads as a paid hobby and how do we cope when it is our living. Well as most of you who read this blog already know, I love every second of my job and tho things are bad I will try everything I know to carry on working at my torch.
Of course I worry about sales, not a month as passed this year when we thought we wouldn't cover the bills and yes I'm guessing that hasn't helped with my health, but hey, we are still going and tho we have gone without so much it is worth it to be able to carry on making and selling beads.
The very small few of you who know us and understand what we have to do to continue, know how committed we are to making beads, still we try to help out customers if we can and I guess we always will, even if it ends up costing us money, yes I know some of you will just say we are silly doing it and that we should put our business heads on more and think about making money and not helping out, but why on earth would I want to spend the little time we have on this earth just thinking about making money and sod everyone else. Don't get me wrong, I would love to make more money so we can once again live a normal life and we are trying to sort out a few more ways to do so including selling from here in the barn and getting the ceramics off the ground, but there is one thing for sure, we will still think of our customers as friends and when we can help them with beads we will.
So as for the future, this bead maker is planning to stick around for many years yet and as I've stated before, one day some lucky sod will find this old dusty barn in which this mad old bead maker will be sitting at his torch surrounded by boxes of beads, in fact some would say there is already a mad old bead maker sitting here every day !
Ok time to pop off to my flame, lots more beads to make and some to photograph as listing this evening, I want to make some stone forest leaf beads for a change as it's been a while since I produced them and I always think they make such great pieces of jewellery.
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
A Busy Few Days
More Hours Please
The last few days here at the barn have been spent doing a mixture of jobs, with work taking up most hours in every day I've still found time to complete a good variety of jobs including felting the barn roof and of course yet more garden work, with the weather at last feeling more like summer it has been a real pleasure working outside, great exercise and nice fresh air, what more can one hope for.
I've been working on more ceramics and I set myself a target of two weeks to get made and fired a good selection of bowls, wind chimes and beads ready to list in my etsy shop, still I'm enjoying trying out glaze colours, ok I know what your thinking, he said bowls, well yes at last I'm happy to give a few a go, just small items to start with but we'll see how things go.
This morning we woke to the sound of rain but by all accounts the good weather will return again tomorrow so just maybe the summer is here at last, we can only hope.
Today was an early start with a full day on my torch ahead of me, more focals, encased frit sets for etsy and yet more sale sets to go in the ebay shop, I'm enjoying my bead making at the moment, maybe the sight of summer life around the pond helps when I glance out the window, maybe it's just that after all these years I still love my job, whatever reason I hope it continues.
My Flame
Every morning she greets me, that burning smile where orange, yellow and blue candles dance together, a marriage like no other, a magical trick of fire casting spells on cold glass and silver.
On grey days she cheers with moments of molten wonderment, showing tricks only she can show, mixing magic with fire to produce gems that will live a thousand years.
However cold or mundane, there she stands strong and warm, a cone of light cutting the cold air, a tool of dreams never tamed and always the foundation to my ideas.
The last few days here at the barn have been spent doing a mixture of jobs, with work taking up most hours in every day I've still found time to complete a good variety of jobs including felting the barn roof and of course yet more garden work, with the weather at last feeling more like summer it has been a real pleasure working outside, great exercise and nice fresh air, what more can one hope for.
I've been working on more ceramics and I set myself a target of two weeks to get made and fired a good selection of bowls, wind chimes and beads ready to list in my etsy shop, still I'm enjoying trying out glaze colours, ok I know what your thinking, he said bowls, well yes at last I'm happy to give a few a go, just small items to start with but we'll see how things go.
This morning we woke to the sound of rain but by all accounts the good weather will return again tomorrow so just maybe the summer is here at last, we can only hope.
Today was an early start with a full day on my torch ahead of me, more focals, encased frit sets for etsy and yet more sale sets to go in the ebay shop, I'm enjoying my bead making at the moment, maybe the sight of summer life around the pond helps when I glance out the window, maybe it's just that after all these years I still love my job, whatever reason I hope it continues.
My Flame
Every morning she greets me, that burning smile where orange, yellow and blue candles dance together, a marriage like no other, a magical trick of fire casting spells on cold glass and silver.
On grey days she cheers with moments of molten wonderment, showing tricks only she can show, mixing magic with fire to produce gems that will live a thousand years.
However cold or mundane, there she stands strong and warm, a cone of light cutting the cold air, a tool of dreams never tamed and always the foundation to my ideas.
Saturday, 16 June 2012
An Addiction Thats All
I Could Spend Days Playing With Colours.
To say I've enjoyed my day would be an understatement, with the morning spent making beads from seaglass picked up here on the east coast and the afternoon hours used glazing some more ceramics ready to fire this evening, I've been in heaven, the perfect start to the weekend.
This evening's firing is for some bowls and wind chimes that I hope to list tomorrow, I've been playing around with the glaze this week, trying different mixes with mixed results, I have a feeling your all going to learn much about my taste in colours from my ceramics, yes I enjoy the more natural colours when producing my lampwork beads, but with these glazes I can produce far more colours by mixing my own glazes and those sold by the supplier, there must be thousands of combinations to play with.
This small bowl shows how I enjoy both glazed areas like here inside the piece alongside areas left natural like on the outside with only the raw clay to form the decoration, I know most if not all of you won't like my taste in colours and designs and small bowls like this are not the kind of item that sells, but I just enjoy making them and the idea is that these smaller items give me lots more pieces to experiment on, I keep getting asked when I'll be listing bowls but to be honest I'm really not sure my work is good enough to offer for sale just yet, but we'll see what I produce over the next couple of weeks.
On this piece I love the textures on the unglazed areas, where the glaze runs and mixes with some slight coats of slip or oxides, there is something about this and the rich turquoise blue inside that brings the piece together, to me it's not just about colours but also feel, with my lampwork I don't really get to form textures that often apart from etching and the odd use of baking powder, so I guess ceramics feed me that drug that I long for with glass.
Well I guess I better leave you all to enjoy the rest of the evening and fingers crossed we get that brighter day we were promised tomorrow.
To say I've enjoyed my day would be an understatement, with the morning spent making beads from seaglass picked up here on the east coast and the afternoon hours used glazing some more ceramics ready to fire this evening, I've been in heaven, the perfect start to the weekend.
This evening's firing is for some bowls and wind chimes that I hope to list tomorrow, I've been playing around with the glaze this week, trying different mixes with mixed results, I have a feeling your all going to learn much about my taste in colours from my ceramics, yes I enjoy the more natural colours when producing my lampwork beads, but with these glazes I can produce far more colours by mixing my own glazes and those sold by the supplier, there must be thousands of combinations to play with.
On this piece I love the textures on the unglazed areas, where the glaze runs and mixes with some slight coats of slip or oxides, there is something about this and the rich turquoise blue inside that brings the piece together, to me it's not just about colours but also feel, with my lampwork I don't really get to form textures that often apart from etching and the odd use of baking powder, so I guess ceramics feed me that drug that I long for with glass.
Well I guess I better leave you all to enjoy the rest of the evening and fingers crossed we get that brighter day we were promised tomorrow.
Thursday, 14 June 2012
I Knew It !
I Know It's Coeliac !
Well after my Coeliac blood test came back with a very low reading and my GP telling me I haven't got Coeliac, he suggested I started to introduce wheat products back into my diet slowly to see what happens, I was shocked to be honest with you that the test came back negative in the first place but hey he knows best.
This week I started eating bread for the first time, just as toast in the mornings and a small roll with the odd salad, within a day I started to get those old feelings back again, the head ache, the joint aches, plus the reflux and wind in my chest, well upper stomach, all those feelings are back now my body is consuming wheat again. After checking it all out on the Coeliac UK website I noticed that you should never go on a gluten free diet before the blood tests as this gives a false result, you should make sure your still eating wheat right up until the test.
I was on a gluten free diet for three weeks before my blood tests so there is no surprise that my results were negative, I did mention this to my GP but he said he didn't think this would make any difference, wow, makes me feel real fed up now, I now have to reintroduce wheat back into my diet for around four or five weeks putting up with the ill feelings before I can have a second blood test. I really should have known it was Coeliac after the gluten free diet made me feel so much better within days, now of course within two days of eating wheat again it all returns, oh well I guess it's all sent to test us and it's not the end of the world.
On a brighter note, today I need to spend a few hours getting ceramic beads and wind chime parts ready for bisque firing tomorrow night, I'm hoping I can list them Sunday so want to get everything ready. I must admit I love working with the ceramics and feel so lucky to be able to share my time between lampwork and clay and of course my garden. Talking of garden, it was so nice to enjoy new potatoes and fresh new carrots from my kitchen garden yesterday, the taste was fantastic, one you only get from your own veg, all the hours of hard work are really worth it and I'm looking to turn yet more of our land into veg growing, how could one not want to be eating this fresh produce all year around and to do that I feel I may need just a bit more ground, well my excuse any way, Yvonne may have different ideas as it may mean a few flowers have to be moved.
We have a good sized side garden which until now as never really been used for anything, so what better way to put it into use, It would be the ideal size giving us enough room for growing more soft fruits too, I guess this winter it will be a new project but if it means we grow even more of our own food then that can only be good.
Ok, off to work, so much to do today and believe it or not, we have sunshine here too yipeeeeee!
Well after my Coeliac blood test came back with a very low reading and my GP telling me I haven't got Coeliac, he suggested I started to introduce wheat products back into my diet slowly to see what happens, I was shocked to be honest with you that the test came back negative in the first place but hey he knows best.
This week I started eating bread for the first time, just as toast in the mornings and a small roll with the odd salad, within a day I started to get those old feelings back again, the head ache, the joint aches, plus the reflux and wind in my chest, well upper stomach, all those feelings are back now my body is consuming wheat again. After checking it all out on the Coeliac UK website I noticed that you should never go on a gluten free diet before the blood tests as this gives a false result, you should make sure your still eating wheat right up until the test.
I was on a gluten free diet for three weeks before my blood tests so there is no surprise that my results were negative, I did mention this to my GP but he said he didn't think this would make any difference, wow, makes me feel real fed up now, I now have to reintroduce wheat back into my diet for around four or five weeks putting up with the ill feelings before I can have a second blood test. I really should have known it was Coeliac after the gluten free diet made me feel so much better within days, now of course within two days of eating wheat again it all returns, oh well I guess it's all sent to test us and it's not the end of the world.
On a brighter note, today I need to spend a few hours getting ceramic beads and wind chime parts ready for bisque firing tomorrow night, I'm hoping I can list them Sunday so want to get everything ready. I must admit I love working with the ceramics and feel so lucky to be able to share my time between lampwork and clay and of course my garden. Talking of garden, it was so nice to enjoy new potatoes and fresh new carrots from my kitchen garden yesterday, the taste was fantastic, one you only get from your own veg, all the hours of hard work are really worth it and I'm looking to turn yet more of our land into veg growing, how could one not want to be eating this fresh produce all year around and to do that I feel I may need just a bit more ground, well my excuse any way, Yvonne may have different ideas as it may mean a few flowers have to be moved.
We have a good sized side garden which until now as never really been used for anything, so what better way to put it into use, It would be the ideal size giving us enough room for growing more soft fruits too, I guess this winter it will be a new project but if it means we grow even more of our own food then that can only be good.
Ok, off to work, so much to do today and believe it or not, we have sunshine here too yipeeeeee!
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Another Mixed Day
Ceramics And Lampwork
At last we woke this morning to sunshine and bird song, the fens look bright and full of life, not those damp misty fields that have faced us for the last few weeks and with a mixed day ahead of me I'm one happy bead maker.
This morning I have beads to clean and photograph followed by a few hours making more ceramic beads, days like this where I get to work on different things are always very welcome, I guess it's the butterfly in me, the flickering from one thing to another keeping my mind occupied, the thought of working on the same thing all day long really doesn't appeal to me at all and never will, I guess that's why I will fight so hard to carry on making a living doing the job I love.
I'm on track to get the first of this weeks ceramics bisque fired this weekend with a glaze firing on Saturday night I hope, ready to list Sunday, I have wind chimes to make up along with ceramic disc beads to list so this weekend will be a busy one but one I'll enjoy I'm sure.
Plans to give the barn a good makeover are afoot with the roof being the first job and one we hope to begin this weekend, then the barn will be emptied and decorated before carpet is laid and display areas are fitted, most of the displays we already have plus the carpet so really it's just a matter of paint to obtain, yes it will make a nice fresh workspace but also it will make the barn far more welcoming to customers who would like to visit to obtain beads.
We are hoping to have a wide selection of beads on display with both my own beads plus those Yvonne makes too, there will be large range of spacer beads available as well as a selection of ceramic beads, all in all we are looking to give any visiting customers as best choice of beads as we can. Over the years I found customers enjoy far more handling the beads here in the barn, selling online is ok but buying from photographs will never be as good as seeing the beads in person so fingers crossed people will enjoy their visit and we will enjoy working in a nice new looking work space too.
Ok I'm off to my torch plus I need to get the plants out at the gate as every bit of money we make there goes towards paint for the barn, I hope you all enjoy what I hope is going to be a nice sunny day.
Monday, 11 June 2012
Wet Mornig, Wet Afternoon
Great Weather For Ducks !
What a wonderful June day, sunshine pouring through the windows from 5am, the day so hot we had to have all fans on in the barn and ice drinks waiting for this evening, yer right ! now the truth, rain hammering down from the minute I woke this morning until mid afternoon, the barn roof sprang a leak straight above my seat and as for ice cold drink, well a warm cuppa is more like it.
So the first week of summer is now over and still no sunshine here in the fens, ok, we did get a few hours at the weekend but nothing to write home about, the insect world must wonder whats going on, to think most of them only get a matter of weeks on this earth, some even days, so they must be longing for those warm days when they can enjoy the sunshine.
It's been a mixed day for me work wise, I had decided to spend the day with clay but after a couple of hours first thing making wind chimes my torch was calling and I headed off to the barn. There was no chance of garden jobs being completed, the ground is just too wet to work but I'm sure with the winds we get here it will soon be possible again.
The bird feeding stations were cleaned and filled with the amount of finches that use them growing every week, which all points to the little fellows feeling safe using them, I often worry about the amount of cats there are around here, yet they never seem to pose a threat, maybe the presents of our dogs helps.
Tomorrow morning I'm taking a few hours out with my camera, just the odd look around some local woods, I'm hoping the weather is dry as I can't make any other days this week, so fingers crossed it will stay dry. Maybe later in the month I'll fit in the odd visit to the coast, it's been a while since that wonderful salt air filled my lungs and with it being such a short journey we really should find the time to be there more often.
What a wonderful June day, sunshine pouring through the windows from 5am, the day so hot we had to have all fans on in the barn and ice drinks waiting for this evening, yer right ! now the truth, rain hammering down from the minute I woke this morning until mid afternoon, the barn roof sprang a leak straight above my seat and as for ice cold drink, well a warm cuppa is more like it.
So the first week of summer is now over and still no sunshine here in the fens, ok, we did get a few hours at the weekend but nothing to write home about, the insect world must wonder whats going on, to think most of them only get a matter of weeks on this earth, some even days, so they must be longing for those warm days when they can enjoy the sunshine.
It's been a mixed day for me work wise, I had decided to spend the day with clay but after a couple of hours first thing making wind chimes my torch was calling and I headed off to the barn. There was no chance of garden jobs being completed, the ground is just too wet to work but I'm sure with the winds we get here it will soon be possible again.
The bird feeding stations were cleaned and filled with the amount of finches that use them growing every week, which all points to the little fellows feeling safe using them, I often worry about the amount of cats there are around here, yet they never seem to pose a threat, maybe the presents of our dogs helps.
Tomorrow morning I'm taking a few hours out with my camera, just the odd look around some local woods, I'm hoping the weather is dry as I can't make any other days this week, so fingers crossed it will stay dry. Maybe later in the month I'll fit in the odd visit to the coast, it's been a while since that wonderful salt air filled my lungs and with it being such a short journey we really should find the time to be there more often.
Friday, 8 June 2012
Winds Batter The Fens
What A Morning !
Like most of the southern part of Britian, we woke to steady rain and the most amazing winds here in the flat lands, in all the half term week as been a real let down and I'm guessing lots of family holidays have turned into a week of disappointment.
Only here in the UK would the first week of summer be such a let down and those who say we are lucky to have such great mixed weather in this country can keep their remarks to themselves as I for one am fed up with the lack of sunshine.
On the brighter side of things, we are off back home this morning to visit family, I'll be taking my auntie out for a trip to a local garden centre and a good catch up on the village news, it's nice to get back there, it's been a few months now since we were there and I'm sure there is lots of news to hear, plus a few more tales about the old days I hope.
Yesterday turned out a very productive one with a good long day at my torch producing a good amount of beads including hollows, I really enjoy making hollow beads but never seem to bother, maybe I just get too busy with other types but every now and then I make a few sets. Once you get used to making them they are a simple bead to make so don't take any notice of anyone telling you any different, yes you may spend a few hours getting it right to start with but I promise you within a couple of days they will become a lot easier and you will start to enjoying your results.
One thing I've always noticed about hollows is how some makers try to make such a big thing about them, for years they make and sell mainly hollows painting this picture to customers of how difficult they are to make, how long they take to produce and it takes some kind of magical gift to make them, well take it from me, anyone can make them and any of you out there who make beads go give them a try, set yourself a day to learn them and I think you will be very surprised what you can manage by the end of the day, these are hand wound hollows, not blown hollows, tho I do enjoy blown hollows too but that's another story.
I just want to take a second or two to thank one of my customers for the kind remarks she gave me on the ceramic disc beads, thank you Sarah, it sounds like your going to have fun working with them and I'm really pleased you like them. I always worry when I list something for the first time, you have a feeling they will work out ok but you never really know for sure, I guess it's the same for those who make jewellery, you can produce a piece you really like but until someone else enjoys it like you do, you never know how others will react, well I am like that with the discs and still my fingers are crossed that those who are waiting for discs to arrive will also like them.
Ok, I'm off to get ready for our trip out, I hope you all enjoy your day even tho this weather may make that a little difficult.
Like most of the southern part of Britian, we woke to steady rain and the most amazing winds here in the flat lands, in all the half term week as been a real let down and I'm guessing lots of family holidays have turned into a week of disappointment.
Only here in the UK would the first week of summer be such a let down and those who say we are lucky to have such great mixed weather in this country can keep their remarks to themselves as I for one am fed up with the lack of sunshine.
On the brighter side of things, we are off back home this morning to visit family, I'll be taking my auntie out for a trip to a local garden centre and a good catch up on the village news, it's nice to get back there, it's been a few months now since we were there and I'm sure there is lots of news to hear, plus a few more tales about the old days I hope.
Yesterday turned out a very productive one with a good long day at my torch producing a good amount of beads including hollows, I really enjoy making hollow beads but never seem to bother, maybe I just get too busy with other types but every now and then I make a few sets. Once you get used to making them they are a simple bead to make so don't take any notice of anyone telling you any different, yes you may spend a few hours getting it right to start with but I promise you within a couple of days they will become a lot easier and you will start to enjoying your results.
One thing I've always noticed about hollows is how some makers try to make such a big thing about them, for years they make and sell mainly hollows painting this picture to customers of how difficult they are to make, how long they take to produce and it takes some kind of magical gift to make them, well take it from me, anyone can make them and any of you out there who make beads go give them a try, set yourself a day to learn them and I think you will be very surprised what you can manage by the end of the day, these are hand wound hollows, not blown hollows, tho I do enjoy blown hollows too but that's another story.
I just want to take a second or two to thank one of my customers for the kind remarks she gave me on the ceramic disc beads, thank you Sarah, it sounds like your going to have fun working with them and I'm really pleased you like them. I always worry when I list something for the first time, you have a feeling they will work out ok but you never really know for sure, I guess it's the same for those who make jewellery, you can produce a piece you really like but until someone else enjoys it like you do, you never know how others will react, well I am like that with the discs and still my fingers are crossed that those who are waiting for discs to arrive will also like them.
Ok, I'm off to get ready for our trip out, I hope you all enjoy your day even tho this weather may make that a little difficult.
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Yet More Rain, What A Wonderful Summer
Talk Of Storms
How nice to hear we have yet more rain heading our way today, storms with strong winds are mentioned, a great start to summer, I have a feeling I'll be watching the rain dancing on the pond while working at my torch most of the day.
Tomorrow I get to visit Ashwell, my first visit back there for a number of months now, so a nice bright day would be very welcome. It's funny really, tho the village has changed in so many ways and many of the faces you see in the streets are unknown to me, I still feel I'm going home, even after around 15 years away from her thatched cottages and tree lines lanes, maybe one day I'll get back there, one can only dream.
Today will be a long one with focals to make this morning and a bunch of beads to clean and list this evening, after spending yesterday making ceramic beads it's nice to return to my torch.
I know this is a short update but I have a feeling I'll be back on here this evening so until then I hope you enjoy your day even if the rain reaches your area.
How nice to hear we have yet more rain heading our way today, storms with strong winds are mentioned, a great start to summer, I have a feeling I'll be watching the rain dancing on the pond while working at my torch most of the day.
Tomorrow I get to visit Ashwell, my first visit back there for a number of months now, so a nice bright day would be very welcome. It's funny really, tho the village has changed in so many ways and many of the faces you see in the streets are unknown to me, I still feel I'm going home, even after around 15 years away from her thatched cottages and tree lines lanes, maybe one day I'll get back there, one can only dream.
Today will be a long one with focals to make this morning and a bunch of beads to clean and list this evening, after spending yesterday making ceramic beads it's nice to return to my torch.
I know this is a short update but I have a feeling I'll be back on here this evening so until then I hope you enjoy your day even if the rain reaches your area.
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Could Anything Be More Perfect
Is Nature Not Amazing ?
This may sound silly to some but how could anything be more perfect and all nature's own making, this is why I long for the summer months.
This may sound silly to some but how could anything be more perfect and all nature's own making, this is why I long for the summer months.
I Just Knew It !
Rains Return Just When We Didn't Want Them
Oh how wonderful this British weather of ours, the whole country sets itself for a weekend of parties and celebration only for the heavens to open and rains to fall over most, should we really have expected anything else !
Today I had a bike ride planned and camera fully charged ready to catch any interesting sights on the journey, but it looks like that won't be happening until tomorrow, I don't mind it being a dull grey day but I think heavy rain is even too much for me to be out on my bike.
It looks very much like a day making beads and playing with clay for this bead maker, I have ceramic disc beads to sand ready for bisque firing and I need to form some pieces ready for more wind chimes, it's all go here at the moment and I'm enjoying every minute. I want to get more bird feeders made but I think that's a job for tomorrow. I find that by doing my lampworking in the mornings until around 2pm it then gives me the afternoon to work on the ceramics meaning I'm getting far more time with clay which points towards learning more plus every morning I'm looking forward to getting back to my torch, sometimes when you spend long days at the flame day after day you lose a little of that enthusiasm, by working this way I'm finding that enthusiasm is back which can only be a good thing.
While I'm here I'd like to thank those who have given me feedback on the ceramic feeders, I never know if my ideas will prove that popular with others because I love making more rustic pieces and that is not to every ones taste, but so far they seem to be looked upon as ok which makes me happy, so thank you so much and a special thank you to those who have obtained any.
The ceramic disc beads have also pleased me, I was lucky enough to see a picture of a piece a good friend and customer made from then, she used the discs alongside leather cord and to be honest with you it looked bloody great, it was great to see how good these discs could look when used like this.
Ok, off to work for me and lets hope the weather changes over the next two days so we can all enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend.
Oh how wonderful this British weather of ours, the whole country sets itself for a weekend of parties and celebration only for the heavens to open and rains to fall over most, should we really have expected anything else !
Today I had a bike ride planned and camera fully charged ready to catch any interesting sights on the journey, but it looks like that won't be happening until tomorrow, I don't mind it being a dull grey day but I think heavy rain is even too much for me to be out on my bike.
It looks very much like a day making beads and playing with clay for this bead maker, I have ceramic disc beads to sand ready for bisque firing and I need to form some pieces ready for more wind chimes, it's all go here at the moment and I'm enjoying every minute. I want to get more bird feeders made but I think that's a job for tomorrow. I find that by doing my lampworking in the mornings until around 2pm it then gives me the afternoon to work on the ceramics meaning I'm getting far more time with clay which points towards learning more plus every morning I'm looking forward to getting back to my torch, sometimes when you spend long days at the flame day after day you lose a little of that enthusiasm, by working this way I'm finding that enthusiasm is back which can only be a good thing.
While I'm here I'd like to thank those who have given me feedback on the ceramic feeders, I never know if my ideas will prove that popular with others because I love making more rustic pieces and that is not to every ones taste, but so far they seem to be looked upon as ok which makes me happy, so thank you so much and a special thank you to those who have obtained any.
The ceramic disc beads have also pleased me, I was lucky enough to see a picture of a piece a good friend and customer made from then, she used the discs alongside leather cord and to be honest with you it looked bloody great, it was great to see how good these discs could look when used like this.
Ok, off to work for me and lets hope the weather changes over the next two days so we can all enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend.
Evening Green
Evening Green
Green carpet of rich sweet grass, two acre in all, lined by mighty Elm with trunks of weathered stone that only nature can form.Timber temple does stand proud with glazed doors and cricket teas on tables that fold.
Old dust filled pavilion is home to rollers and lime where years have passed since laughter filled it's eves, ghosts of past matches rest while willow strikes leather.
Families picnic on tartan blanket in summers evening sun as cries from hopeful bowlers ride the cool breeze. The sound of horse shoe does beat the tarmac as great regal hunter passes in rich leather bridal with socks of white.
Couples pass heading to country lane and evening walk while wise old characters rest on ancient grey bench telling tales and putting world to right, their faces wear a thousand winters with pipe and fag dancing to every word.
Green carpet of rich sweet grass, two acre in all, lined by mighty Elm with trunks of weathered stone that only nature can form.Timber temple does stand proud with glazed doors and cricket teas on tables that fold.
Old dust filled pavilion is home to rollers and lime where years have passed since laughter filled it's eves, ghosts of past matches rest while willow strikes leather.
Families picnic on tartan blanket in summers evening sun as cries from hopeful bowlers ride the cool breeze. The sound of horse shoe does beat the tarmac as great regal hunter passes in rich leather bridal with socks of white.
Couples pass heading to country lane and evening walk while wise old characters rest on ancient grey bench telling tales and putting world to right, their faces wear a thousand winters with pipe and fag dancing to every word.
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Bird Feeders
Just A Quick Look
I just wanted to put a couple of pictures on here to show the ceramic bird feeders I've made, it will be interesting if anyone as any feedback on them. I'll be listing a couple on etsy later this evening along with some of the disc bead sets so feel free to pop along to take a look.
It's been an interesting project doing these and I've really enjoyed it, I made one for my own garden and the birds are using it already even tho it's only been up an hour, I have a feeling I know what I'll be making later this weekend !
I fill the feeder with wild bird seed by lifting the lid and putting just enough seed into the feeder so that the it is just below the level of the feeder holes then just sat back and waited, I was amazed at how quick the green finches started feeding from it.
I'll be making different sizes over the coming week and as with my pots, the glazing will be fun, god knows what colour effects I'll end up with. As I said, any feedback is very welcome, now I'm off to eat a salad lunch while we sit watching my first ever feeder at work.
I just wanted to put a couple of pictures on here to show the ceramic bird feeders I've made, it will be interesting if anyone as any feedback on them. I'll be listing a couple on etsy later this evening along with some of the disc bead sets so feel free to pop along to take a look.
I fill the feeder with wild bird seed by lifting the lid and putting just enough seed into the feeder so that the it is just below the level of the feeder holes then just sat back and waited, I was amazed at how quick the green finches started feeding from it.
Long Weeked Of Mixed Adventures
Lots To Do In Next Four Days
At last the royal holiday weekend is upon us with street parties being held is most parts of the country but to be honest with you I'm just looking forward to four days in the garden and clay room where so much is happening, the kitchen garden is already producing some wonderful produce including the first new potatoes that I dug last night, I just couldn't resist digging a root and I'm glad I did, they are the perfect size, I don't grow them to be large I love to eat them when you still get a few tiny sweet tasting potatoes in every root you dig, it may sound silly but to me the taste of those first new potatoes from your own garden is one of the best things about summer alongside the first sweet strawberries and picking the first ripe peach of the season.
This morning my first job was to open the ceramic kiln and to see if the bird feeders have turned out ok, as far as I can tell all looks well but I won't know for sure until I unload the kiln at lunch time, I have more ceramic disc beads in there too so I hope I'll be photographing and listing those this evening alongside a few more mother earth pendants. If the bird feeders are looking ok I will list one or two in the etsy shop, I'm guessing they may not sell but who knows I may get lucky and some people may find them interesting so fingers crossed.
Now, at last I get to have my first bike ride this afternoon, I picked up my bike yesterday afternoon from the bike shop, they have sorted it out but there are a lot of problems with it and I just hope it lasts the summer, I have done a lot of miles on it and so I can't complain if it dies on me, but most of all it means I get to go out into the countryside with my camera again most days, great for the exercise I know but more than that I get to see what nature is up to again in those quiet lanes and along those river banks here in the fens.
On the bead front the weekend means I can just take my time and play around with focal beads, using up a lot of my many hundred rod ends to make spacer sets and I can produce some nice new beads for the etsy shop, I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy this weekend and also I think you may get fed up with all the updates here on the blog.
Well, I hope you all enjoy the next four days and I hope the weather stays fine for whatever you have planned.
At last the royal holiday weekend is upon us with street parties being held is most parts of the country but to be honest with you I'm just looking forward to four days in the garden and clay room where so much is happening, the kitchen garden is already producing some wonderful produce including the first new potatoes that I dug last night, I just couldn't resist digging a root and I'm glad I did, they are the perfect size, I don't grow them to be large I love to eat them when you still get a few tiny sweet tasting potatoes in every root you dig, it may sound silly but to me the taste of those first new potatoes from your own garden is one of the best things about summer alongside the first sweet strawberries and picking the first ripe peach of the season.
This morning my first job was to open the ceramic kiln and to see if the bird feeders have turned out ok, as far as I can tell all looks well but I won't know for sure until I unload the kiln at lunch time, I have more ceramic disc beads in there too so I hope I'll be photographing and listing those this evening alongside a few more mother earth pendants. If the bird feeders are looking ok I will list one or two in the etsy shop, I'm guessing they may not sell but who knows I may get lucky and some people may find them interesting so fingers crossed.
Now, at last I get to have my first bike ride this afternoon, I picked up my bike yesterday afternoon from the bike shop, they have sorted it out but there are a lot of problems with it and I just hope it lasts the summer, I have done a lot of miles on it and so I can't complain if it dies on me, but most of all it means I get to go out into the countryside with my camera again most days, great for the exercise I know but more than that I get to see what nature is up to again in those quiet lanes and along those river banks here in the fens.
On the bead front the weekend means I can just take my time and play around with focal beads, using up a lot of my many hundred rod ends to make spacer sets and I can produce some nice new beads for the etsy shop, I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy this weekend and also I think you may get fed up with all the updates here on the blog.
Well, I hope you all enjoy the next four days and I hope the weather stays fine for whatever you have planned.
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