A Day Of Beads Here At The Barn
After a weekend spent photographing beads and trying out new ceramic ideas, it was back to my torch this morning with the sun pouring in the widow what must have been every bird in the fens feeding on the stations outside. It's funny how they always seem to brighten up any day and this last couple of days with the worry of Marley playing around with my head it's nice to take my mind off things by watching the finches showing their second brood how to feed.
We had a few weeks when we couldn't afford to buy bird seed and the garden seemed so empty without the little fellows, now at last we obtained a sack of food for them and tho it took a couple of days for them to return, at last they are all back, like players in some grand show they make my days pass with such pleasure.
This afternoon I was in the clay room rolling ceramic beads and forming disc beads, I have bisque pieces to glaze later in the week and more wind chimes to produce, so all in all it's going to be another busy week here at the barn.
For those of you who were asking after Marley I thank you and I'm afraid it's not great news, he as not been great this last few days and to be honest it may soon be time to call in the vet, the last thing I want is to watch my best friend suffer, at the moment he is eating and drinking but getting very weak, we'll see how things go over the next few days.
Well it's been a long day and a cuppa is needed while I spend an hour with my sketch book.
Monday, 17 September 2012
Monday, 10 September 2012
Monday Blues, No Way !!
Kilns To Empty And Beads To Make
Why on earth would I have the Monday morning blues when I have beads to make and kilns to empty, the ceramic kiln will I hope be ready to empty after lunch with some new items in there, I just hope they turn out ok. It's ok making new pieces but after the addition of glazes and that final firing it's really time to cross fingers and see what results I get, as I've said before, unlike the lampwork beads with ceramics you really don't know what the colours will turn out like, yes you have an idea but even small things like the position they are taking up in the kiln can make a huge difference.
I have a number of beads to make this morning including both focals and sets for the etsy shop, and we have post to pack and post, so a trip to the local post office will give us a treat, I do sometimes wonder if people realise just how important some of these little village post offices are to people, we send all our orders from a tiny post office in a neighbouring village, it saves those trips to the town and those busy offices where your just a customer and often you don't even get a smile.
Another quiet morning here in the fens with the schools back and the morning rush hour over we can all settle back to work after such a great weekend, the sunshine is filling the garden already and it looks like another warm day for us here in Norfolk.
I'm hoping to tidy up the clay room later today which I'm really not looking forward to, I guess it's a man thing, we are great at making a mess but so so good at cleaning one up, maybe we need to get back to the caves and days out hunting food, I'm sure most wives would agree. We had another hour or two working on getting the barn ready for visitors this weekend tho we are still not ready to paint yet, it seems to take up so much time sorting out all the treasure we find in every cupboard and box, there are bowls and jars everywhere holding beads, glass and findings, we were hoping to have it done by now but it's a matter of finding the time between working. Often it's gone seven by the time we pack up for the day and after starting most mornings well before eight it leaves you wanting to just sit and relax in the evenings, yes I know I should just get in there and get it done but you have to remember, no work, no money and as most of you know things have never been so slow here sales wise so every hour we get is focused on production at the moment.
Ok, off to my torch and the rest of the morning playing with my flame tho I'm sure my mind will be on opening that ceramic kiln for most of the time.
Thank you to all who have asked how Marley is doing, he is not great and is looking very thin and old but he is eating some things and drinking ok, he is loving the cuddles and believe me there have been lots of those.
Why on earth would I have the Monday morning blues when I have beads to make and kilns to empty, the ceramic kiln will I hope be ready to empty after lunch with some new items in there, I just hope they turn out ok. It's ok making new pieces but after the addition of glazes and that final firing it's really time to cross fingers and see what results I get, as I've said before, unlike the lampwork beads with ceramics you really don't know what the colours will turn out like, yes you have an idea but even small things like the position they are taking up in the kiln can make a huge difference.
I have a number of beads to make this morning including both focals and sets for the etsy shop, and we have post to pack and post, so a trip to the local post office will give us a treat, I do sometimes wonder if people realise just how important some of these little village post offices are to people, we send all our orders from a tiny post office in a neighbouring village, it saves those trips to the town and those busy offices where your just a customer and often you don't even get a smile.
Another quiet morning here in the fens with the schools back and the morning rush hour over we can all settle back to work after such a great weekend, the sunshine is filling the garden already and it looks like another warm day for us here in Norfolk.
I'm hoping to tidy up the clay room later today which I'm really not looking forward to, I guess it's a man thing, we are great at making a mess but so so good at cleaning one up, maybe we need to get back to the caves and days out hunting food, I'm sure most wives would agree. We had another hour or two working on getting the barn ready for visitors this weekend tho we are still not ready to paint yet, it seems to take up so much time sorting out all the treasure we find in every cupboard and box, there are bowls and jars everywhere holding beads, glass and findings, we were hoping to have it done by now but it's a matter of finding the time between working. Often it's gone seven by the time we pack up for the day and after starting most mornings well before eight it leaves you wanting to just sit and relax in the evenings, yes I know I should just get in there and get it done but you have to remember, no work, no money and as most of you know things have never been so slow here sales wise so every hour we get is focused on production at the moment.
Ok, off to my torch and the rest of the morning playing with my flame tho I'm sure my mind will be on opening that ceramic kiln for most of the time.
Thank you to all who have asked how Marley is doing, he is not great and is looking very thin and old but he is eating some things and drinking ok, he is loving the cuddles and believe me there have been lots of those.
Sunday, 9 September 2012
A Full Day Throwing On The Wheel
Sunday Is Clay Day
Today I get a full day throwing on my wheel and an evening glazing the bisque fired items from last night, it's all go this Sunday and I'm sure I'll enjoy every second of it. I must say after a night with not much sleep and being up and about at dawn, I'm feeling a little tired so if I'm not still working late this evening it won't be a surprise but maybe it will mean I have a good nights sleep to look forward to.
The sun is shining over the fens this morning and it's so quiet, the perfect Sunday morning with the world taking it's time to wake before family days in the garden and trips to the coast, there is something about Sunday that makes you feel relaxed, in my case I guess they were always days when my family worked in the garden, when mornings were spent with the radio on in the kitchen and veg being made ready for Sunday lunch, the smell of roast meat in the oven and my mum making stuffing and Yorkshire puddings. My dad would be finding jobs to do in the veg garden and I would be enjoying some kind of game or drawing in one of many sketch books.
I often wonder how different it would be now if my mum was still with us, I'm sure we would be enjoying those huge roast diners with them, you never ever taste those same tastes when your mum passes and however hard you try you just can't get meals to taste the same.
I remember spending hours helping her in the kitchen, we made pickle together, me chopping all the veg while mum cooked it adding spices of all sorts, how I sometimes wish those days were still here, but I guess life moves on and maybe one day others will remember me in that way.
So, it's clay in my hands today and a list of items I'm hoping to produce, after lunch I hope to empty last nights bisque firing from the kiln, fingers crossed there will be a few nice pieces to glaze. I have bowl sets to make and a few new items to try, with Christmas in mind I've been jotting down a few ideas and I think it's time I started putting them into practise.
Ok, I'm off to wedge some clay then to my wheel, I hope you all enjoy another warn day and get lots done in the garden or better still you enjoy a nice day out with the family.
Today I get a full day throwing on my wheel and an evening glazing the bisque fired items from last night, it's all go this Sunday and I'm sure I'll enjoy every second of it. I must say after a night with not much sleep and being up and about at dawn, I'm feeling a little tired so if I'm not still working late this evening it won't be a surprise but maybe it will mean I have a good nights sleep to look forward to.
The sun is shining over the fens this morning and it's so quiet, the perfect Sunday morning with the world taking it's time to wake before family days in the garden and trips to the coast, there is something about Sunday that makes you feel relaxed, in my case I guess they were always days when my family worked in the garden, when mornings were spent with the radio on in the kitchen and veg being made ready for Sunday lunch, the smell of roast meat in the oven and my mum making stuffing and Yorkshire puddings. My dad would be finding jobs to do in the veg garden and I would be enjoying some kind of game or drawing in one of many sketch books.
I often wonder how different it would be now if my mum was still with us, I'm sure we would be enjoying those huge roast diners with them, you never ever taste those same tastes when your mum passes and however hard you try you just can't get meals to taste the same.
I remember spending hours helping her in the kitchen, we made pickle together, me chopping all the veg while mum cooked it adding spices of all sorts, how I sometimes wish those days were still here, but I guess life moves on and maybe one day others will remember me in that way.
So, it's clay in my hands today and a list of items I'm hoping to produce, after lunch I hope to empty last nights bisque firing from the kiln, fingers crossed there will be a few nice pieces to glaze. I have bowl sets to make and a few new items to try, with Christmas in mind I've been jotting down a few ideas and I think it's time I started putting them into practise.
Ok, I'm off to wedge some clay then to my wheel, I hope you all enjoy another warn day and get lots done in the garden or better still you enjoy a nice day out with the family.
Friday, 7 September 2012
Passion Returns
That Feeling Of Excitement Returns
This week as been a busy one here at the barn with mornings spent on my torch and afternoons throwing pieces on my wheel, still my mind is working over time thinking of working beads and ceramics together, my note books have page after page of sketches and ideas, I just hope I can reach the skill levels that I will need to bring these ideas into use.
After a few down days over the last month when the joint pain as placed me on the lower ladder of life and I really struggled to get going in the mornings, it's now nice to have that feeling of excitement back, that feeling when every evening is spent planning the following days work, when each morning holds the pleasure of opening my kilns, both lampwork and a couple of mornings a week the ceramic kiln, for the first time in months I feel like the old Rob and believe me it feels great to be able to say that.
Now I just hope with time I start feeling better health wise, it will happen and tho it may take a long while I can cope with it, after watching those hero's who have been competing in the paralympics what the hell am I doing moaning about aching joints, it's just a matter of getting on with things and with winter just down the road I just need to keep warm.
Today is another mixed day work wise with beads to make, some to clean and photograph ready to list this evening and yet more ceramics to throw on my wheel, I guess the fact that my days are now filled with a variety of jobs helps take away that mundane feel that was at times showing it's head and of course the fact I'm teaching myself another skill always helps, every day I'm learning more, I feel so very lucky.
This weekend I was hoping we may manage a trip to the coast one evening but I think we may have to put that on hold, I miss my walks along the beach picking up drift wood and other interesting items, you would be amazed at how many different textures you can find when walking along the tide line, I'm sure we will get there next month when sales pick up a little.
With Christmas only a few months away I'm looking at ceramic items that may be ideal for the festive holidays including candle lamps and tree decorations, any ideas are always very welcome so please feel free to email me any time.
Ok back to my torch for me and with the sunshine already filling the garden I'm hoping we are in for another warm day here in the fens, I hope you all enjoy your day.
This week as been a busy one here at the barn with mornings spent on my torch and afternoons throwing pieces on my wheel, still my mind is working over time thinking of working beads and ceramics together, my note books have page after page of sketches and ideas, I just hope I can reach the skill levels that I will need to bring these ideas into use.
After a few down days over the last month when the joint pain as placed me on the lower ladder of life and I really struggled to get going in the mornings, it's now nice to have that feeling of excitement back, that feeling when every evening is spent planning the following days work, when each morning holds the pleasure of opening my kilns, both lampwork and a couple of mornings a week the ceramic kiln, for the first time in months I feel like the old Rob and believe me it feels great to be able to say that.
Now I just hope with time I start feeling better health wise, it will happen and tho it may take a long while I can cope with it, after watching those hero's who have been competing in the paralympics what the hell am I doing moaning about aching joints, it's just a matter of getting on with things and with winter just down the road I just need to keep warm.
Today is another mixed day work wise with beads to make, some to clean and photograph ready to list this evening and yet more ceramics to throw on my wheel, I guess the fact that my days are now filled with a variety of jobs helps take away that mundane feel that was at times showing it's head and of course the fact I'm teaching myself another skill always helps, every day I'm learning more, I feel so very lucky.
This weekend I was hoping we may manage a trip to the coast one evening but I think we may have to put that on hold, I miss my walks along the beach picking up drift wood and other interesting items, you would be amazed at how many different textures you can find when walking along the tide line, I'm sure we will get there next month when sales pick up a little.
With Christmas only a few months away I'm looking at ceramic items that may be ideal for the festive holidays including candle lamps and tree decorations, any ideas are always very welcome so please feel free to email me any time.
Ok back to my torch for me and with the sunshine already filling the garden I'm hoping we are in for another warm day here in the fens, I hope you all enjoy your day.
Thursday, 30 August 2012
Ceramic Bead Day
A Day With Clay
Today is to be a clay day for me here at the barn, I have so many ceramic beads to make, sand and bisque fire including round, disc and a few new designs. There are also wind chimes to finish and bisque fire as well as a number of pendants, I've been working on a few ways to use glass and clay together so I hope a couple of these will produce some good results, fingers crossed.
We put together the first three trinket pots last night so I'll be listing them this evening in the etsy shop. It was Yvonne who came up with the idea of using some of my beads to decorate ceramic pots, I was just ordered to make them and I think they are interesting little pots, ideal for many uses as I'm sure you will agree when you see them.
To be honest I can't think of anything better to do than to marry together my beads and the ceramics I love making, maybe another of those small quiet lanes for me to follow where I can experience many new things and come up with yet more ideas while leaving most to their busy main roads of life. I guess there is the simple idea of mixing ceramic and glass beads together in jewellery pieces but no, that's far too simple for me, the idea of spending weeks if not months trying out other ways and ideas is one that I'm looking forward to and maybe incorporating the glass along with glazes may be the answer, we'll see.
I have to continue working on my first candle lamps later today which is exciting, after forming the bases and the globes I now get to cut out the light holes before they are finished off and fired, I love the idea of having a few in our house this winter and I'm sure they would be perfect for the Christmas period, if they turn out as well as I hope I'll be listing a couple next weekend. This weekend will be taken up listing ceramic beads and wind chimes, which points to yet another busy few days.
Ok cuppa time over and back out to the barn for me, I need to clean glass beads before I start on the clay, they will be listed this evening.
Today is to be a clay day for me here at the barn, I have so many ceramic beads to make, sand and bisque fire including round, disc and a few new designs. There are also wind chimes to finish and bisque fire as well as a number of pendants, I've been working on a few ways to use glass and clay together so I hope a couple of these will produce some good results, fingers crossed.
We put together the first three trinket pots last night so I'll be listing them this evening in the etsy shop. It was Yvonne who came up with the idea of using some of my beads to decorate ceramic pots, I was just ordered to make them and I think they are interesting little pots, ideal for many uses as I'm sure you will agree when you see them.
To be honest I can't think of anything better to do than to marry together my beads and the ceramics I love making, maybe another of those small quiet lanes for me to follow where I can experience many new things and come up with yet more ideas while leaving most to their busy main roads of life. I guess there is the simple idea of mixing ceramic and glass beads together in jewellery pieces but no, that's far too simple for me, the idea of spending weeks if not months trying out other ways and ideas is one that I'm looking forward to and maybe incorporating the glass along with glazes may be the answer, we'll see.
I have to continue working on my first candle lamps later today which is exciting, after forming the bases and the globes I now get to cut out the light holes before they are finished off and fired, I love the idea of having a few in our house this winter and I'm sure they would be perfect for the Christmas period, if they turn out as well as I hope I'll be listing a couple next weekend. This weekend will be taken up listing ceramic beads and wind chimes, which points to yet another busy few days.
Ok cuppa time over and back out to the barn for me, I need to clean glass beads before I start on the clay, they will be listed this evening.
Sunday, 26 August 2012
Thunder, Rain And A Body That Don't Work
A Busy Sunday Ahead
It's bank holiday Sunday and boy have I a lot to do, no bead making or throwing pots today, just a long day cleaning, photographing and listing both beads and ceramics, as you can tell by the lack of beads I've listed this week, to tell you the truth, the last four or five days I've been as stiff as a board and sitting for hours cleaning beads was the last thing I needed.
I'm sorry if this sounds lazy, I'm not I promise, it just seems that some weeks I get the odd period of a few days when my joints hurt more, I'm getting used to it and apart from moving around like someone of 80 I should be grateful that's all I have to suffer when so many people have far worst things to cope with every day of their lives.
So, today is catching up day here at the barn and I'll be locked to my seat cleaning all day even if it means I can't walk tomorrow haha ! The ceramic kiln is cooling down from last nights glaze firing and I hope this evening to pack it with more items that need bisque firing, I have a feeling I'll be listing ceramics all this week, lets just hope a few get sold.
This time of year is always so quiet on the sales side of things, just another negative of being a full time bead maker, most people think we live the ideal life and in many ways we do, but it's not all easy going, in fact I think most of you who follow my blog must know by now just how hard it can be, when things are tough I just hope for that one little piece of luck that we all need in life and maybe ours will come. I must admit sometimes I wonder what I did wrong in a past life to get in such a mess, but then I guess that's just silly and the only reason we are not doing so great is because I need to work harder, put in more hours making those items that sell, I need to look through my past sales and take notice of the best sellers, I am the first to admit I make a lot of sets that in the back of my mind I know won't do that well, I guess it's past experience that teaches us makers just what will be popular and what won't, still you hope but now I'm thinking hope is just not enough anymore and it's time I started making real beads again, beads I love making and beads I know others enjoy.
When things are hard my head tells me to make anything, it's more quantity rather than quality and to me that's not how I want to be, yes I agree people like a range of simple beads such as spacers etc but they also like the more unique beads, the beads that made my love for glass grow, the beads that excite you in the mornings when you open the kiln, those beads that you feel proud of when you clean and string them and I know I need to get back to making those, if things stay a struggle at least I'll be making the beads I love once again and not just turning out beads for money.
So from tomorrow morning every set of beads I make will once again be a pleasure and not a chore, my love for pebble beads will I'm sure mean they will be making an appearance once again in my etsy shop and many encased beads too. Any more simple beads will be listed in the ebay shop over the next few weeks and yes I will still make spacer sets, tho I'm not yet sure which shop I'll been listing then in, maybe both etsy and ebay.
Now it's off to the cleaning table for me and a trip to the veg garden to harvest some beans and kale for this evenings dinner, the fens are well and truly damp this morning after those wonderful thunder storms last night and tho a grey sky this morning they say it will stay dry. I hope you all enjoy the rest of this bank holiday weekend.
It's bank holiday Sunday and boy have I a lot to do, no bead making or throwing pots today, just a long day cleaning, photographing and listing both beads and ceramics, as you can tell by the lack of beads I've listed this week, to tell you the truth, the last four or five days I've been as stiff as a board and sitting for hours cleaning beads was the last thing I needed.
I'm sorry if this sounds lazy, I'm not I promise, it just seems that some weeks I get the odd period of a few days when my joints hurt more, I'm getting used to it and apart from moving around like someone of 80 I should be grateful that's all I have to suffer when so many people have far worst things to cope with every day of their lives.
So, today is catching up day here at the barn and I'll be locked to my seat cleaning all day even if it means I can't walk tomorrow haha ! The ceramic kiln is cooling down from last nights glaze firing and I hope this evening to pack it with more items that need bisque firing, I have a feeling I'll be listing ceramics all this week, lets just hope a few get sold.
This time of year is always so quiet on the sales side of things, just another negative of being a full time bead maker, most people think we live the ideal life and in many ways we do, but it's not all easy going, in fact I think most of you who follow my blog must know by now just how hard it can be, when things are tough I just hope for that one little piece of luck that we all need in life and maybe ours will come. I must admit sometimes I wonder what I did wrong in a past life to get in such a mess, but then I guess that's just silly and the only reason we are not doing so great is because I need to work harder, put in more hours making those items that sell, I need to look through my past sales and take notice of the best sellers, I am the first to admit I make a lot of sets that in the back of my mind I know won't do that well, I guess it's past experience that teaches us makers just what will be popular and what won't, still you hope but now I'm thinking hope is just not enough anymore and it's time I started making real beads again, beads I love making and beads I know others enjoy.
When things are hard my head tells me to make anything, it's more quantity rather than quality and to me that's not how I want to be, yes I agree people like a range of simple beads such as spacers etc but they also like the more unique beads, the beads that made my love for glass grow, the beads that excite you in the mornings when you open the kiln, those beads that you feel proud of when you clean and string them and I know I need to get back to making those, if things stay a struggle at least I'll be making the beads I love once again and not just turning out beads for money.
So from tomorrow morning every set of beads I make will once again be a pleasure and not a chore, my love for pebble beads will I'm sure mean they will be making an appearance once again in my etsy shop and many encased beads too. Any more simple beads will be listed in the ebay shop over the next few weeks and yes I will still make spacer sets, tho I'm not yet sure which shop I'll been listing then in, maybe both etsy and ebay.
Now it's off to the cleaning table for me and a trip to the veg garden to harvest some beans and kale for this evenings dinner, the fens are well and truly damp this morning after those wonderful thunder storms last night and tho a grey sky this morning they say it will stay dry. I hope you all enjoy the rest of this bank holiday weekend.
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Just An Idea
Recording My Poems
Before anyone thinks this old bead maker is a real show off by recording his own poems I have to say I was asked if there was any way I could record them and place them on here for you to listen to. Well I have started and as a couple of you already know I have been trying to pluck up the courage to place the link here on the blog, to be honest with you the thought of you all hearing me reading the poems I write is one that frightens the life out of me, but I keep getting told to go for it so here you are.
This link should I hope allow you to hear the first two poems I've recorded and if people don't think they are crap then I'll place a few more on there over the coming weeks.
www.soundcloud.com/beadmaker/evening-garden
I hope by following the link you should be able to hear both poems that I have so far recorded. Ok I'm off to hide while you go see if I've made a big fool of myself.
Before anyone thinks this old bead maker is a real show off by recording his own poems I have to say I was asked if there was any way I could record them and place them on here for you to listen to. Well I have started and as a couple of you already know I have been trying to pluck up the courage to place the link here on the blog, to be honest with you the thought of you all hearing me reading the poems I write is one that frightens the life out of me, but I keep getting told to go for it so here you are.
This link should I hope allow you to hear the first two poems I've recorded and if people don't think they are crap then I'll place a few more on there over the coming weeks.
www.soundcloud.com/beadmaker/evening-garden
I hope by following the link you should be able to hear both poems that I have so far recorded. Ok I'm off to hide while you go see if I've made a big fool of myself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)