Bubbles And More Bubbles

Bubble Bead Fever

   Well yesterday was the first day of this new week and a great productive day it was here at the barn. I had what can only be called a bubble bead morning with some really nice sets of my owl eye bubble beads being made ready to list on etsy this evening. I'm hoping to produce a few more this morning with an hour or two being spent playing with different colours.
   I must say yesterday was the first day I was glad to be next to my kiln with the cold fen winds returning for the first time this autumn, I'm sure it won't be long before these blog updates will written while I sit waiting for dawn on those cold winter mornings and to be honest, watching those wild dark skies is one part of winter I enjoy.
   On the ceramic side of things, yesterday was also a good day, more tall goblets were made and the first few drinking mugs were produced, later today I'll be putting a few more handles on mugs as with most things, practise makes perfect and boy do I need to practise !!
   The aim for this week is to get a full kiln Friday or sat to bisque fire leaving the rest of the weekend to get those pieces glazed. The first goblets will I hope be listed next Monday, fingers crossed some will like them but as long as I'm happy with them I don't mind how many months they sit on the shelf, I'm beginning to believe it's now becoming time for me to once again start making more of what I like and not just what I think customers would buy. Over the last two years I've watched sales drop to less than half and I guess in my mind I'm thinking, sod it, if I'm going down then I'm going down making things that I enjoy making, some will say that's a real "glass half empty" thing to say but I'm sure when things pick up I'll feel differently again, I think we can all fight but even the strongest get to a point when they wonder if it's all worth it and I guess I'm hitting that stage at the moment.
   On a brighter note, the barn is looking empty but with that comes the chance to start getting that lick of paint on and the carpet changed, we were lucky to have saved some carpet from one of the spare bedrooms and it looks ideal to use in the barn. The glass display units need a good clean, old cupboards and tables are being removed and all in all we hope it will look very different and nice and clean.
    We are looking to obtain some peg board on with we can hang a big selection of spacer beads for visitors to look over, we will both have a display unit each with Yvonne filling hers with her frit beads etc and I'll be using mine to display some of my better bead sets. I'm hoping to get an area arranged in which I can show off my ceramics, both beads and vessels, tho the dusting will be one job I'm not looking forward to haha!
   Ok, this late cuppa time over and back to my flame for me, I hope you all enjoy your day, I have more bubbles to form.