A Busy Week So Far

Lots Of Time At My Torch


   It's been a very productive week so far with the last two days being mainly spent at my torch, I seem to have got that old love back in the mornings, I'm guessing a lot of it is because I'm now producing more beads that I enjoy making, beads like the encased mythical's such as snake and dragon skin, I'm playing more with rock effects too which always makes this old bead maker smile.

   It really is enjoyable not having to spend hours making lots of beads that I really have no feelings for, beads that I know will please others but don't excite me the maker and that's one thing I've learnt over the past year or so, I really need to make those beads that please me, those beads that excite me when I open the kiln every morning, if it is to be a fight to make a living then I need to enjoy the extra hours I'm putting in.
   I guess like the ceramics, there is something personal between those using the beads and pottery and the maker and how can that happen if the maker isn't putting his or her heart into it, if it's more like a chore then there is nothing special going into the item they make. This last couple of weeks I feel like every bead I list in the etsy shop is one I like, back playing with the effects I love means I hope that once again I will get that connection with the customer, a connection I have missed for far too long, I'll know when they open that little parcel they will be happy and will have ideas on how to use the beads inside rushing to your head and that is the result I'm longing for when I sit at my flame.

   On the ceramic side of things it's been busy also, I'm enjoying every afternoon working on ideas in the clay room, throwing bowls, pots and cups of different shapes and sizes from tiny bells to hang on the Christmas tree to large salad or fruit bowls and some of the pieces I'm trying are to say the least very unique haha !
   I must admit that I'm having fun with the little drinking cups that I'm producing with the collar and button designs as in the picture above, they are fun and just a bit different, which is always a good thing.
   You all know me well enough to imagine what some items must look like, I remember a while back I made a lot of very strange looking focal beads, nobody really had the bottle to try them, maybe they didn't like them or maybe they just didn't know how to use them, well I'm guessing a few of the ceramic pieces may turn out like that but as I keep saying the ceramics are for me, I make what I want and if a few pieces sell then that's a huge bonus, if they don't, well I'll have a barn full of pottery that in years to come somebody will discover and maybe enjoy as much as I did.
   I hope none of you will mind if I start adding more pictures to the blog only I really feel I want to share a lot more with you and what better way than with photographs.