Rustic Day

My Kind Of Weekend

   I was up and about nice and early yet again, not just through lack of sleep but also with excitement from knowing I have a weekend ahead that makes this beadmaker a very happy one. Today I get to make rustic beads all day yipeeeeeeeeeeee !!!!! Tubes, rings and much more all with some great natural colours ready to list in my etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/pebbledreams
   I have a nice new stock of focals ready to list this evening on ebay so now I get to play and produce new work for etsy too, I can't think of a better way to spend the day. I guess like all jobs there are things you enjoy more than others and for me it's making rustic looking beads, if I could make a living making just those and focals then I would. I don't know what it is but these beads which are often very simple will always be in my top three of beads I produce. Maybe its just the colours with more earthy shades or maybe it's just the fact that they are simple that does it, I don't think I'll ever figure it out but boy I like making them.
   I just wanted to mention the way my pictures look at the moment in both the etsy and ebay shops. I'm just having a little trouble getting my pictures back to a standard I like since changing the pc around and while I'm working on getting it sorted I used the light effects to try and show the colours as best as I can, but I'm really not happy with them and so I hope this evening to list with a better quality photograph. I'm sorry if they didn't look that great and I'll try my best to get them sorted. I think you all know me enough now to know I like my pictures to be simple and to show off the beads as best they can, I hate any colours looking too artificial, so this last week or so has really pissed me off to say the least but I'm hoping this evening the pictures will look a lot better, fingers crossed.
   Ok cuppa time over and I'm off to my torch to enjoy the day, I hope you all enjoy yours too.
  

First Plate

Little Things Please Little Minds

   I know this will sound really silly to most but yesterday evening I made my fire ceramic plate and boy was I pleased. Just like my lampwork I'm learning a bit at a time with the ceramics, small steps but sometimes those little steps mean a lot and yesterday was the first time I had thrown a plate on my wheel, I didn't try anything silly or too large just a small plain plate to start with and was so pleased with the results.
   At some point I hope to place some pictures here on the blog of the finished items to see what the feedback is like. To be very honest with you since I started doing the ceramics it has helped take my mind off some of the problems we face here at the moment, the fact that I'm learning something new gives me more confidence and I guess in my head I'm thinking, hey if you can do this you can cope with the crap life has presented you with, so even if my pieces of pottery turn out crap I'm still getting something good out of it plus everyone I know will get ceramic Christmas presents for the next ten years haha !
   It was a long day yesterday having started at half six in the morning and working through until half seven last night but I got a lot done and this evening I get to list a lot of new focals on ebay www.stores.ebay.co.uk/Beads-Of-Glass  and some new beads in my etsy shop too www.etsy.com/shop/pebbledreams  I need to get more listed this month building up the ebay shop more with sets as well as focals.
   Those dark grey skies seem to be staying with us here in the fens and over the last week we seem to only get drizzle and not a sight of bright weather. I can understand why some people get down in the winter months needing light boxes etc, it really has changed big time here in the last month. We seem to be getting a lot of those days where it never seems to get light, you wait for the day to develops but it just never happens and before you know it that half four darkness is approaching.
   We are having a treat this morning, we are off out to a local store to pick up a few shelving brackets for the clay room and to see what felt is available for the barn roof, sometimes an hour away from the barn does us the world of good, not only do we get a rest but we get to see how the rest of the world lives haha, well it feels like that sometimes, it feels like we live this little life away from the rest, with the world passing by not knowing we are here, a nice feeling sometimes and all part of living out in the countryside away from the busy streets of town and city.
 

Early Bird

Winter Morning

   Yet another dark damp morning with just the sound of early traffic heading off to work and yet again I was up at silly hour after not much sleep at all. So with kiln on and coffee in hand I thought I'd get some thoughts wrote down.
   A customer and good friend mentioned to me that a few bead makers she obtained beads from were having a hard time with lack of sales etc and some were thinking of packing up all together. Well, I'm sure there are more in the same boat as there are in other crafts, myself included and I'm sure over the coming year it won't get any easier, with the amount of bead makers now set up and selling their beads online it can only make sales thin out, great for the buyer who gets a bigger selection to pick from but not so good for the makers. I can only give it from my point of view and the only answer I know is to keep up the hard work, look to see what people like, by which I mean are there any beads that are in fashion more than others or like me just try out different designs.
    As we talked I mentioned how a buyer called me asking me to make a set of ten beads all the same size as the lady she normally buys from couldn't do them and I knew why straight away. When I was starting out making beads I spent hours and hours making spacer beads or sets of ten beads, just plain beads with no fancy tricks, After months doing this making sets of ten or more beads the same size became the norm, I could get sizes pretty much ok every time and I guess this as stuck with me all these years after.
   Some people who learn today seem to start making their first beads one day and a week later are trying out all the fancy designs that they see online in forums or read in books and to me this is the reason they don't like making sets of beads all the same size. Lets say you ask for ten beads all the same, I would make around 12 beads to make sure I cover any slight size changes and then pick out the best ten. But Some people have to make maybe 20 beads to get enough to make that set of ten, making it hard work and really not worth their time doing so. It's a real shame really but I guess it's just the way things are now and just goes to show that people want to run before they can walk.
   I think this is part of the reason so many are finding it hard, the market is flooded with the same type of beads and it just can't carry on like that as more people start up every month, they see what others make in the bead groups and straight away make the same and in the end some buyers will get bored and start looking for something different.
   My feeling is that if more bead makers started looking to make their own type of bead, a bead design that they could start getting known for, then it would not only be better for them but also better for the buyers. If you think about it there must be hundreds of fashion houses out there who all make a great living but they are all known for their different styles making them all individual, they don't just all go out and design the same dress, yes they use colours that others are using that season but they use those colours in there own way. Well to me beads are the same and why can't it work like that in our craft, yes I know there will always be those who can't be bothered to come up with their own beads and find it better to just copy designs they see else where but there are a lot of great bead makers out there who I'm sure would make it work and to be honest wouldn't it be great to see the work of say ten bead makers and see every one made something different so very unique to them.
   I know we all need to cover most styles when making beads for a living as this helps cover more buyers but it is nice when you get people telling you they like your beads as they are different to most. With me I guess it's my rock effects and more natural looking beads with others it can be dot designs or flowers or maybe hollow beads, so maybe thats the answer.
   Ok cuppa time over and my rant for the day done and to any bead makers out there finding things hard at the moment all I can say is don't give up and if you love making beads and you put the hard work in then you can't do anything more and fingers crossed it will get better for us all.

Autumns Golden Carpet

A Whole Different World

   How different the countryside looks with autumn working hard to shepherd winter in, those bright sunny mornings replaced with mist over the flat lands and that wonderful golden carpet that autumn treats us to covers paths and lane floors everywhere, taking our thoughts back to the days of no traffic and horse drawn carts traveling under oak arches.
   To imagine those journeys by foot to the local market taking the good part of a day, passing banks of wild herbs and dew covered meadow, no warm car and weather proof coats to make life so easy, such a different life unless you were highborn but still no comforts of today.
   I hope you all had a great weekend with bonfire night being enjoyed by all. Here the rain held off for a few hours, long enough for one of the bright spark neighbours to let off a volley of huge mortar type rockets right next to my garden, needless to say we sat holding three terrified dogs for half hour trying to relax them, why do some have to go that little bit further ?
   Yesterday was a great day for beads, I spent the day making pandora style beads and focals for ebay so this beadmaker was happy and the last couple of hours were passed in the ceramic room throwing bowls and finishing off some pendants. Later today I hope to throw a couple more small pieces as I want to get some ready to list at the end of the month, to be honest I think I'll crap myself when I do as it's all new to me and I'm not sure what feedback they will get, but hey, it was the same when I listed my first lampwork beads and ceramic beads so fingers crossed it will turn out ok and after all if I find just one person who likes my pottery then that's enough to make me happy.
   Ok I need to get on as cuppa time over and there is a lot to do, hope you all enjoy your day and if you get time get out there and walk through those carpets of golden leaves.

A Wet Weekend

Dark Wet Fenland

   Just as we all thought, bonfire night as arrived and so as the wet weather to welcome it, the last week produced lots of rain here in the fens and it looks like it will continue to spoil that special night of fireworks and flame.
   With the bad weather I haven't been able to cut down more trees so my plan for a bonfire is out the window, there is a big firework display about four miles away which we could go and watch but we'll see how we feel later after a long days work, most evenings after cooking dinner we just seem to sink onto the sofa, god that makes us sound so sad !
   When we talk of the hours we put in and how hard it can be I always say we are still very lucky and some people work just as hard but they are doing a job they hate, at least our efforts are made a little easier as we love the job we do, of course there are parts of my work I don't look forward to such as cleaning hundreds of beads, spending hours sorting photographs ready to list beads and the listing, but as for the making of the beads, well, I can't remember a single day when I didn't enjoy it. Some of you may think this is bull shit, but I promise I really can't, not once have I not had that excited feeling when I empty the kiln in the morning and now with the ceramics I get that feeling doubled tho it can mean more disappointments too but touch wood not too many.
   I've still yet to felt the barn roof what with the hot water tank going and the car to tax I couldn't afford the felt, but I'm hoping this coming week I'll get that sorted. With the rains we have had it was a good reminder and a kick up the arse to get more work done to get those rolls of felt sorted, I must admit I had a couple of days this week when I really was tired and I think Yvonne noticed but I told her I just thought I had her cold coming, I always feel that if she sees I'm struggling then it willy worry her and after sleep I always feel back to normal and ready for the next day.

      I find it hard to admit that this week I started thinking about Christmas beads and ended up making this pair of pandora style beads above, god what was I thinking, me and Christmas style beads, it must have been on one of those tired days has I can't remember doing them haha, but don't worry I promise there will be no snowmen or santa beads popping up, if I ever make those then I'll turn off my torch for the last time. Maybe someone will find them fun to wear so I listed them in my etsy shop last night.
   Today is focal day plus I hope to get more ceramics made this afternoon, I want to try out more glaze colours so a few hours is called for there. By the way I really want to thank all of those who have bought my ceramic beads, I know some are just simple beads but there are lots of new beads on the way which I hope you will enjoy and every set helps me towards that electric wheel which will save my legs after all the hours on my kick wheel. I hope this week coming I can list a lot of the new colours and yes, at last some pendants. Still I'm not that happy with the pendants I've made, yes they are ok and everyone who as seen them thinks there are great but you know me, I won't list until they are ok in my eyes plus I've made so many different types it's not easy to know which to list but I'll get there and take that jump in the deep end before long.
   Right it's off to work for me and focal beads to make, I hope you all enjoy your bonfire night parties and please be careful with the fireworks, I know what can happen when your fingers are close to that kind of heat, enjoy.

A Bright Start

Sunny Morning In The Fens

   What a great morning, birds singing, the sun filling the garden, Yvonne feeling a lot better and both a ceramic and lampwork kiln to empty, what more could I ask for. I sit here with my cuppa looking out onto what can only be described as a early spring morning, after what seems like days of grey skies, the gods of the flat lands must have decided we need a last reminder of summer, maybe they know something we don't and can see what winter has in store for us.
   That evil magpie sits here above the conifer branches yet again waiting and hoping to find a late nest to savage, most mornings he cries out that nasty rattle of a call, I just hope no late chicks or eggs are around to be lost to this monster of the bird family. I know people love the magpie with his bright display yet do they know it's not just items that glitter he steals, like most of the crow family he will take young chicks and eggs from any nest left unguarded and tho I love nature with a passion there are some parts of her great show I just find hard to watch but then she shows us all, her way of teaching and I guess the only way.
   The lunch time bike rides are getting colder as the weeks past, more coats being worn and every day there seems to be a strong wind to fight, so I'm trying to spend the odd lunch time working in the garden, I know the exercise is a different kind but to me I will be getting jobs sorted at the same time and I really want to get that new kitchen garden up and running by spring. Now my step daughter Nicola is the proud owner of an allotment so I'm fast becoming the veg growing expert in the family with all sorts of questions from digging to what veg to grow, I must say it makes buying Christmas presents easy this year, seeds, tools and more seeds haha !
   Well I better get back to it, I need to go empty the ceramic kiln before I get on my torch, the excitement I'm feeling in my belly is telling me that the glaze results may not be as good as I thought, but we'll see in a few minutes, my fingers are crossed and there is pleanty of time to get it right, tho I think more clay may be the only thing on my Christmas list this year.

A Day Alone

A Cold Hits The Johnson Household

   Today was spent working alone in the barn as Yvonne woke up full of cold and was wrapped up under a quilt on the sofa by her wonderful husband haha! I hope I did everything ok keeping her topped up with hot drinks and soup for lunch and to be honest a day watching old films and not putting up with this moaning old git will do her the world of good.
   I spent the morning working on focal beads while the afternoon had to point to the clay room with a bisque firing to unload and beads to glaze, fingers are crossed that the kiln will produce some nice items in the morning. It's funny, the first time I took finished ceramic beads from the kiln I was so disappointed, none were how I imagined and it hit home to me just how hard it was going to be, ok, yes if you just want plain colours then that's ok but I was after something more natural, so now I never expect anything special then any good results are a bonus.
   Just four more days and I get to have a bonfire but can I somehow get to sneek off and buy a few small fireworks without Yvonne stopping me, maybe today was a great chance while she was watching some romanic black and white film from the 40's, dam !