Darkness Covers The Fens
With that day of spooks and ghosts fast approaching, the fens seem a very dark place today, never once as real daylight welcomed us with a mixture of dark skies and light rain making this Sunday one of staying indoors resting in the warm. But I think you know me well enough to know I had to be out and about for a few hours before I started work. That magical dark sky called and who was I not to obey, every dark cloud seemed to rush over heading towards the coast like wild horses rushing through those fog filled streets of Victorian London.
I headed to the local car boot to hunt for lost treasure but none was found and I returned to my awaiting torch and a welcome cuppa along with orders to pack for posting and yet more beads to clean. My plans for the ceramic room have been put back until tomorrow, yesterday I spent a good bit of time working on pendants and throwing some small disc pendants on my wheel so they need to leather dry and tomorrow will be a perfect time to play with them. I should really have bisque fired by now but I'm trying to get the kiln full which will save me a further bisque firing.
I hope the weather will pick up a bit this coming week so we can get more trees cut down and this big kid can then have a bonfire on the 5th, ok I'll be out there alone but I'm sure the memories of bonfire nights past will come flooding back and sod it I might even get a few small fireworks to play with haha, I can hear the neighbours now "You seen him next door out there letting off fireworks at his age", I love giving them something to talk about !
Well I better get the stir fry cooked and then an evening writing and drawing ceramic design in my note book, what more could there be to a Sunday evening, apart from the bath in the tin bath that is haha !
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Friday, 28 October 2011
Which Way To Turn ?
I Need More Hours
What a week it as been, at last we are getting back to normal with the hot water all running ok and yesterday the car getting through it's m.o.t with no real problems, this morning was the first morning in months I woke up without my first thoughts being how to sort problems out and for the first time in ages I got a good 6 hours sleep, things must be looking up ! But, there is one big worry, how the hell do I get everything done work wise, I have spent two days making seaglass beads for commissions, which I have now completed, I have a mountain of beads to clean, photograph and list on ebay and etsy, then to finish it all off I have a kiln full of ceramic beads and pendants to fire and glaze, which way do I turn ?
To be honest I'm loving every minute, I couldn't think of anything worse than having nothing to do and I'm really getting excited with the ceramics, so many ideas I want to try with a few already working better than I thought they would. This weekend I'm hoping to try out some pendants into which I hope to incorporate glass, so that's a first for me and I'll show the results on here, unless they look so bad they get binned.
I've been collecting seed heads and leaves for ceramic designs this week, as yet only from the garden but I've found a very wide selection which I hope will give me plenty of ideas to work with.
I'm starting to notice the fens are getting that early winter look about them, going are the green fields of vegetables and now the carpets of the plough cover these flat lands, a rich earthy look making each square mile look like three. The winds seem twice as strong as those of summer, bringing coldness and grey cloud, making this area that cold hard part of open ground we all know it to be, the home of weather beaten farmers and fen tigers, hard living people who shy away from nothing.
Well it's time for me to head back to the barn to face that pile of beads that await a clean then its focal making for me today followed by a few hours in the ceramic room and don't tell anyone but I'm working on hearts, yes me and hearts, god whats happening to me ?
What a week it as been, at last we are getting back to normal with the hot water all running ok and yesterday the car getting through it's m.o.t with no real problems, this morning was the first morning in months I woke up without my first thoughts being how to sort problems out and for the first time in ages I got a good 6 hours sleep, things must be looking up ! But, there is one big worry, how the hell do I get everything done work wise, I have spent two days making seaglass beads for commissions, which I have now completed, I have a mountain of beads to clean, photograph and list on ebay and etsy, then to finish it all off I have a kiln full of ceramic beads and pendants to fire and glaze, which way do I turn ?
To be honest I'm loving every minute, I couldn't think of anything worse than having nothing to do and I'm really getting excited with the ceramics, so many ideas I want to try with a few already working better than I thought they would. This weekend I'm hoping to try out some pendants into which I hope to incorporate glass, so that's a first for me and I'll show the results on here, unless they look so bad they get binned.
I've been collecting seed heads and leaves for ceramic designs this week, as yet only from the garden but I've found a very wide selection which I hope will give me plenty of ideas to work with.
I'm starting to notice the fens are getting that early winter look about them, going are the green fields of vegetables and now the carpets of the plough cover these flat lands, a rich earthy look making each square mile look like three. The winds seem twice as strong as those of summer, bringing coldness and grey cloud, making this area that cold hard part of open ground we all know it to be, the home of weather beaten farmers and fen tigers, hard living people who shy away from nothing.
Well it's time for me to head back to the barn to face that pile of beads that await a clean then its focal making for me today followed by a few hours in the ceramic room and don't tell anyone but I'm working on hearts, yes me and hearts, god whats happening to me ?
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Playing With Clay
Ceramic Room Joy
After my oxygen tanks running out on Saturday morning and being unable to change them until yesterday it was a fun couple of days in the ceramic room playing with clay for me this weekend. To say this big kid was happy is an understatement, I was like a pig in s..t and enjoyed every second, producing ceramic beads, pendants and the odd bowl on my old kick wheel, it was a real pleasure. I hope by the end of the week to have the kiln full ready to do a bisque fire then the fun bit, I get to play with glazes which is my favourite part of ceramics.
I guess it's the fact that I can produce so many natural colours which of course is how I love to work, colours I can mix myself just like those produced by an artist, with my lampwork I can mix colours with others but at the end of the day you are guessing at to the final results. With the ceramic glazes I have a good idea what the end product will look like, don't get me wrong I still get that excitement when I open the kiln just as I do with my bead making but it is more with hope the pieces are whole and not damaged or weather the glaze as given the effect I was looking for.
Just like my beads I seem to be fast collecting large amounts of boxes which are full of ceramic beads and pendants that I feel are no good, yes I know someone would love them and yes I guess if I listed them for sale they would sell, but I want to be happy with what I list and all the moaning from Yvonne and others telling be to sell them won't change my mind. I think this is the reason why I haven't listed any pots or bowls on etsy yet, I want to learn as I go along and with that I find it a while before I'm happy with the items I'm producing. My aim is to get some pieces listed at the end of November, maybe just smaller pieces to start with, more to see if the feedback from people is ok, I'm not silly, I don't expect them to sell straight away but more to see if I'm heading in the right direction.
So, this week the evenings will be spent in the ceramic room playing with ideas and sitting at my wheel trying to become a better potter, tho I'm sure this will take years, it will be years to enjoy and that's so very important to me, we all have enough crap in our lives and we need to enjoy those few hours at the end of the day weather it be with a glass of wine watching tv or reading or like me playing with clay dreaming of those wonderful pots in years to come !
Ok cuppa time over, my torch is waiting and there are beads to make, enjoy your day.
After my oxygen tanks running out on Saturday morning and being unable to change them until yesterday it was a fun couple of days in the ceramic room playing with clay for me this weekend. To say this big kid was happy is an understatement, I was like a pig in s..t and enjoyed every second, producing ceramic beads, pendants and the odd bowl on my old kick wheel, it was a real pleasure. I hope by the end of the week to have the kiln full ready to do a bisque fire then the fun bit, I get to play with glazes which is my favourite part of ceramics.
I guess it's the fact that I can produce so many natural colours which of course is how I love to work, colours I can mix myself just like those produced by an artist, with my lampwork I can mix colours with others but at the end of the day you are guessing at to the final results. With the ceramic glazes I have a good idea what the end product will look like, don't get me wrong I still get that excitement when I open the kiln just as I do with my bead making but it is more with hope the pieces are whole and not damaged or weather the glaze as given the effect I was looking for.
Just like my beads I seem to be fast collecting large amounts of boxes which are full of ceramic beads and pendants that I feel are no good, yes I know someone would love them and yes I guess if I listed them for sale they would sell, but I want to be happy with what I list and all the moaning from Yvonne and others telling be to sell them won't change my mind. I think this is the reason why I haven't listed any pots or bowls on etsy yet, I want to learn as I go along and with that I find it a while before I'm happy with the items I'm producing. My aim is to get some pieces listed at the end of November, maybe just smaller pieces to start with, more to see if the feedback from people is ok, I'm not silly, I don't expect them to sell straight away but more to see if I'm heading in the right direction.
So, this week the evenings will be spent in the ceramic room playing with ideas and sitting at my wheel trying to become a better potter, tho I'm sure this will take years, it will be years to enjoy and that's so very important to me, we all have enough crap in our lives and we need to enjoy those few hours at the end of the day weather it be with a glass of wine watching tv or reading or like me playing with clay dreaming of those wonderful pots in years to come !
Ok cuppa time over, my torch is waiting and there are beads to make, enjoy your day.
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Cold Hands Warm Heart
Winter Warnings
The last few days have given us a sharp warning of the cold months ahead of us with the odd frost at dawn keeping the fens fresh and hands cold in the first hours spent on my torch. For the first time this week jumpers were worn and a welcome seat next to my kiln was very welcome.
In the past month we have gone from the first dark mornings making the barn a very different place when I open up, the cold dark walk across the garden so quiet with just the sound of early traffic after those summer mornings full of bird song and flower scent, to the frost and cold we are now experiencing, how quick our seasons change.
Yet still my heart is happy with the thought of my warm seat next to that wonderful glowing kiln while the weather out the window runs wild with cold dancing winds and snow, all to look forward to and sure to arrive very soon. Winter holds so many pleasures from halloween and bonfire night up to the excitement of Christmas and New Year, so very different from those summer pleasures that were special in their own way.
It's been a busy week with long days but there was good news when the plumber fitted the new hot water tank, giving us hot water again after three weeks without Yipeeee ! I was just thinking of how to obtain a tin bath as we were begining to think hot water was a thing of the past for us, but with some hard work and some really hard sacrifices we have sorted it. The bad news is still no laptop and seems it may be a while before a replacement so working here on the old pc, it takes ages and as a mind of it's own but it keeps us going and our business going which is the important thing, so I'm not moaning, just thankful we have it.
I'm hoping to get more trees cut down tomorrow evening and yet another bonfire I'm sure will follow so this big kid will be sitting by the fire in the dark, his thoughts drifting back to his childhood and who knows I may get to bake a potato or onion in foil, so the next blog I'm sure will be full of bonfire memories.
The last few days have given us a sharp warning of the cold months ahead of us with the odd frost at dawn keeping the fens fresh and hands cold in the first hours spent on my torch. For the first time this week jumpers were worn and a welcome seat next to my kiln was very welcome.
In the past month we have gone from the first dark mornings making the barn a very different place when I open up, the cold dark walk across the garden so quiet with just the sound of early traffic after those summer mornings full of bird song and flower scent, to the frost and cold we are now experiencing, how quick our seasons change.
Yet still my heart is happy with the thought of my warm seat next to that wonderful glowing kiln while the weather out the window runs wild with cold dancing winds and snow, all to look forward to and sure to arrive very soon. Winter holds so many pleasures from halloween and bonfire night up to the excitement of Christmas and New Year, so very different from those summer pleasures that were special in their own way.
It's been a busy week with long days but there was good news when the plumber fitted the new hot water tank, giving us hot water again after three weeks without Yipeeee ! I was just thinking of how to obtain a tin bath as we were begining to think hot water was a thing of the past for us, but with some hard work and some really hard sacrifices we have sorted it. The bad news is still no laptop and seems it may be a while before a replacement so working here on the old pc, it takes ages and as a mind of it's own but it keeps us going and our business going which is the important thing, so I'm not moaning, just thankful we have it.
I'm hoping to get more trees cut down tomorrow evening and yet another bonfire I'm sure will follow so this big kid will be sitting by the fire in the dark, his thoughts drifting back to his childhood and who knows I may get to bake a potato or onion in foil, so the next blog I'm sure will be full of bonfire memories.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Wet Dark Skies
A Grey Day But Happy
When I started work this morning at dawn I could see we were in for a wet day, one of those days that never seem to get light, grey dark skies with carpets of rain falling when they please and that autumn smell filling the air reminding us that summer as passed.
As the morning light started to filter through I filled all the bird feeders and started the kiln with the thoughts of a great day ahead playing with seaglass, focals and ring beads. There is something about this time of year that excites me, I never can pin point what it is but every year it's the same. Maybe the thought of winter, those few months that I love so much or the memories of my childhood when the dark evenings meant bonfires and fireworks or cutting sticks in my grandads wash house ready for those roaring log fires, but what ever it is I hope it stays with me until I'm no longer here.
I must admit I long for those long walks in fallen autumn leaves wrapped in warm coat and kicking those golden layers of tree jewellery like a small kid, hoping nobody will see. There are so many reasons for loving this time of year with kids collecting conkers and old gardeners standing watching their fires burn through garden waste while a redundant roll up sticks to their lip and dew drop hangs on nose tip. Their tired old eyes have seen a thousand seasons and their weather beaten faces tell a thousand tales, they know whats ahead as each bird leaves for winter sun to return in spring.
Last night I sat in the garden watching the bats feed over the pond, I think it must be hard for them now with the insect life starting to slow down, yet still they spend a few minutes flying like small dragon shadows over head.
As I'm writing with my hot cuppa the rain falls gently over the fens producing the most wonderful mist rolling across fields of stubble waiting for the plough, just another wonder of autumn and one so many of us just pass by.
So back to my torch and the seaglass that waits, seaglass that makes this bead maker a very happy one !
When I started work this morning at dawn I could see we were in for a wet day, one of those days that never seem to get light, grey dark skies with carpets of rain falling when they please and that autumn smell filling the air reminding us that summer as passed.
As the morning light started to filter through I filled all the bird feeders and started the kiln with the thoughts of a great day ahead playing with seaglass, focals and ring beads. There is something about this time of year that excites me, I never can pin point what it is but every year it's the same. Maybe the thought of winter, those few months that I love so much or the memories of my childhood when the dark evenings meant bonfires and fireworks or cutting sticks in my grandads wash house ready for those roaring log fires, but what ever it is I hope it stays with me until I'm no longer here.
I must admit I long for those long walks in fallen autumn leaves wrapped in warm coat and kicking those golden layers of tree jewellery like a small kid, hoping nobody will see. There are so many reasons for loving this time of year with kids collecting conkers and old gardeners standing watching their fires burn through garden waste while a redundant roll up sticks to their lip and dew drop hangs on nose tip. Their tired old eyes have seen a thousand seasons and their weather beaten faces tell a thousand tales, they know whats ahead as each bird leaves for winter sun to return in spring.
Last night I sat in the garden watching the bats feed over the pond, I think it must be hard for them now with the insect life starting to slow down, yet still they spend a few minutes flying like small dragon shadows over head.
As I'm writing with my hot cuppa the rain falls gently over the fens producing the most wonderful mist rolling across fields of stubble waiting for the plough, just another wonder of autumn and one so many of us just pass by.
So back to my torch and the seaglass that waits, seaglass that makes this bead maker a very happy one !
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Christmas Thoughts
Yes That Time Is Coming
After talking about the rustic disc beads that seem to be fast becoming popular in my etsy shop I was delighted to have received some disc jewellery through the post from Joy McCall, Joy was the first to start using my disc beads and enjoys using them in her work.
After seeing the pieces I just had to share them with you and this morning I thought I would let you see just one of the ways she uses them. This set of red discs really has a great Christmas feel about them, and goes to prove my point that these little beads can be used all on their own yet still look wonderful.
I guessed these beads might work well alongside silver findings but didn't feel they would look this good, It's a real pleasure to see just how different jewellery makers use this type of bead and it's a real honour to have their permission to show their work here on my blog, thank you Joy.
Well I'm sorry it's just a quickie this morning but I have so much to get on with in the barn and I'll be doing a longer blog this evening or early tomorrow morning so I hope you all excuse me, I could have left it until then to show you the Joys work but like all big kids I couldn't wait. Now I'm sure my head will be full of Christmas thoughts and ideas all day so don't be surprised if tonight's blog gives it a tiny mention haha !
Right time to get back to my flame on this dark windy morning, I hope you all enjoy your day and the weather improves where you are.
After talking about the rustic disc beads that seem to be fast becoming popular in my etsy shop I was delighted to have received some disc jewellery through the post from Joy McCall, Joy was the first to start using my disc beads and enjoys using them in her work.
After seeing the pieces I just had to share them with you and this morning I thought I would let you see just one of the ways she uses them. This set of red discs really has a great Christmas feel about them, and goes to prove my point that these little beads can be used all on their own yet still look wonderful.
Well I'm sorry it's just a quickie this morning but I have so much to get on with in the barn and I'll be doing a longer blog this evening or early tomorrow morning so I hope you all excuse me, I could have left it until then to show you the Joys work but like all big kids I couldn't wait. Now I'm sure my head will be full of Christmas thoughts and ideas all day so don't be surprised if tonight's blog gives it a tiny mention haha !
Right time to get back to my flame on this dark windy morning, I hope you all enjoy your day and the weather improves where you are.
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Hot Water, Where ?
Living In The Past
To say the last week was a crap one here at the barn is an understatement. First the chainsaw dies on me just as I make a start cutting back the large conifer trees that line one side of the new kitchen garden site. Then my trusty old laptop finally takes a well earned retirement after several months of playing up, I guess I shouldn't moan after 4 years of service and that's from a laptop obtained in a sale for next to nothing. Then finally we wake to find water seeping through the downstairs loo ceiling from the hot water tank above, leaving us with no hot water until the new tank is fitted at the end of this month.
So with showers out the question it's like living in the past with kettles of hot water being taken to the bathroom for strip washes twice a day and even for washing the dishes.
The situation took my mind back to the 60's when I was a kid taking my Sunday bath in the kitchen in front of the range. It was a tin bath shaped like a coffin in to which my mum would empty large cast iron kettles of boiling water and the soap had a hard feel with that old clean smell, a bit like tar.
Living in a small rural village at that time meant a lot of cottages had no hot water or bathrooms and most still had a loo that was outside in the garden, we lived in such a cottage. The fact it was a beautiful large thatched house with lots of land and a small river running through the garden didn't make those cold winter evenings sitting in a tin bath or walking by torch light up the garden to the loo any easier, but it was normal life to us and we never knew any different.
It wasn't until I was 10 years old when my parents, after 11 years on a waiting list, were given one of the few council houses in the village that we had even a hot water tap let alone a bath and to think my grandad like so many others lived all his life having never once been able to turn on a tap and wash his hands in hot water. So for us to spend a few weeks without is not such a bad thing, tho the idea of a tin bath in front of the fire is not one I welcome !
On the bead side of things, I was trying to get some ceramic beads fired this weekend but it looks like I won't be able to, with lampwork taking up such a lot of time at the moment, there never seems enough hours in the day and I need to get both the etsy and ebay shops well stocked. So I hope ceramics will be ready at the end of the coming week giving me chance to spend a few evenings working on them.
Ok cuppa ready and 80minutes sitting back watching the rugby for me then out to the flame to spend another day playing with glass.
To say the last week was a crap one here at the barn is an understatement. First the chainsaw dies on me just as I make a start cutting back the large conifer trees that line one side of the new kitchen garden site. Then my trusty old laptop finally takes a well earned retirement after several months of playing up, I guess I shouldn't moan after 4 years of service and that's from a laptop obtained in a sale for next to nothing. Then finally we wake to find water seeping through the downstairs loo ceiling from the hot water tank above, leaving us with no hot water until the new tank is fitted at the end of this month.
So with showers out the question it's like living in the past with kettles of hot water being taken to the bathroom for strip washes twice a day and even for washing the dishes.
The situation took my mind back to the 60's when I was a kid taking my Sunday bath in the kitchen in front of the range. It was a tin bath shaped like a coffin in to which my mum would empty large cast iron kettles of boiling water and the soap had a hard feel with that old clean smell, a bit like tar.
Living in a small rural village at that time meant a lot of cottages had no hot water or bathrooms and most still had a loo that was outside in the garden, we lived in such a cottage. The fact it was a beautiful large thatched house with lots of land and a small river running through the garden didn't make those cold winter evenings sitting in a tin bath or walking by torch light up the garden to the loo any easier, but it was normal life to us and we never knew any different.
It wasn't until I was 10 years old when my parents, after 11 years on a waiting list, were given one of the few council houses in the village that we had even a hot water tap let alone a bath and to think my grandad like so many others lived all his life having never once been able to turn on a tap and wash his hands in hot water. So for us to spend a few weeks without is not such a bad thing, tho the idea of a tin bath in front of the fire is not one I welcome !
On the bead side of things, I was trying to get some ceramic beads fired this weekend but it looks like I won't be able to, with lampwork taking up such a lot of time at the moment, there never seems enough hours in the day and I need to get both the etsy and ebay shops well stocked. So I hope ceramics will be ready at the end of the coming week giving me chance to spend a few evenings working on them.
Ok cuppa ready and 80minutes sitting back watching the rugby for me then out to the flame to spend another day playing with glass.
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