Workshops in Glass Bead Making - What do you think?

Whenever I participate in an event such as Open Studios, I am often asked, 'do you teach glass bead making?' My answer has always been 'no, because I only have one torch and the insurance would make a class too expensive.' Recently however, I've been reconsidering and really getting excited about the idea. It's early stages at the moment and first I must find out if there is going to be enough interest.

Glass Bead Making Workshops for 2017

I am hoping to set up a workshop next to my garden studio to run tuition in glass bead making for beginners and for those with experience who need just the facilities. I would like to find out if it may be something people would be interested in etc.

If you think you or somebody you know may be interested in making glass beads and would like to know more, then please contact me. lhjewellery@onwight.net, facebook.com/littlehousejewellery, www.littlehousejewellery.co.uk

Here is a rough idea of how the workshop classes would run. What do you think?

Glass Bead Making Workshops

-       For a maximum of two people working at one time.

-       Introduction/taster course including safety, getting to know the equipment, glass etc and instruction and practise of basic bead making.

-        

Courses and sessions

-       3 hour first steps course including introduction as above. During this course you will learn how to make a basic bead and decorate it in a variety of ways with bobbles and spots.

At the end of your course your beads will be annealed in a kiln and will be cleaned and ready for collection or posted the next day.

-       Further techniques course – 3 hours learning and practising three new techniques such as encasing and making and using stringer.

-       Semi-independent bead making sessions – practising and making beads with some support. New techniques will NOT be taught during these sessions. These are specifically for those wanting to practise and perfect what they have learned. These are charged per hour, with a maximum of three hours per session. Annealing and finishing as above.

-       Independent bead making sessions for those with experience and wishing to work on their own. Glass, facilities and annealing provided. Annealing and finishing not included. Maximum 4 hours.

All bead makers must complete an introduction course before they attend any further courses.

No meals but tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.

Charges – per person

-       Introduction/ taster course - £10

-       First steps course - £50

-       Further techniques course - £60

-       Semi-independent sessions - £15 per hour.

-       Independent sessions – with glass provided per hour - £10, with own glass - £8 per hour.

Please note that these details are just a draft at this early stage and are likely to change.

March 2016

Getting ready for 'Magpie Art'

With only three weeks to go, it's all actions go getting ready for the first of this year's events, 'Magpie Art'.

I will be joining Lis Toft, Pauline Evans, Pat Cornwell and Gillian Connor at Quarr Abbey, PO33 4ES from 21st - 26th April each day from 10am to 4pm.

'Magpie Art' is such a good way to describe what will be on display. There will be Gillian's driftwood art, Pauline's glass, Lis' ceramics, Pat's wire work and of course my glass beads.

Combining Lampwork and Fused Glass

I have always found my fused glass pendants to be very popular with my customers. I can see the appeal: they are bright, eye-catching and can compliment clothes simply and inexpensively. Although my pendants are hung on suede or satin cord, many people have a favourite silver or gold chain they like to use instead. Some have several pieces of fused glass that they interchange to go with different clothes.


The problem is I've always felt I am not very good at it. With beads I can be free and easy, in my opinion handmade beads look better if they are not quite perfect. It sort of distinguishes them from mass produced beads. However with fused glass it is completely different. The best fused glass is precise and balanced in shape, arrangement and design. The best examples of this are Nina Bulley www.ninabulley.co.uk and for stunning objet d' art, Pauline Evans isleofwightarts.com/paulineevans.
Both of these artists will be taking part in the Isle of Wight Arts Open Studios next month [July 2015] isleofwightarts.com.
The other problem with my fused glass is that I have not invested enough time to get to know what happens to different glass when it's in the kiln. It's a bit like the old days when I use to take a roll of film to Boots and eagerly await the prints, but on opening them up, finding only six or seven out of twenty four that were any good. Thank goodness for digital cameras! Well fused glass is just like that. I carefully prepare a tile of what I think are going exciting pendants. On opening the kiln however, some glass has slumped unevenly, any tiny mistake I had ignored before, now is emphasised and looks wrong. Making beads is relatively instant in comparison, I know straight away whether a bead is going to work or not.

Well I thought it was about time to have another go with a different approach. My aim has been to combine lamp work bead making with fused glass. I have briefly tried this combination before by literally making a flat bead and then fusing onto glass. The problem was the bead release, which no matter how much I tried to clean out of the hole, still left an ugly rough bit behind. This time I am making the 'beads' on the end of the mandrel rather like the way I make stud earrings. There is less bead release to remove and if there is any residue, it is hidden within the layers.

Lampwork 'beads' made especially for fused glass

What I also wanted to do is to create an effect that wasn't so slumped or melted. A little less like a melted ice cream and instead have more defined edges. This I did by experimenting with different kiln temperatures and timings. I am making progress with this, but not quite there yet.

Anyway see what you think. I have found some lovely simple silver plated bails on Etsy [hotfusedglass] and will hopefully have some pendants ready for my Open Studio weekend from 17th - 21st July. More photos to follow in a future post.

Open Studio Yearbooks Have Arrived!

I know that Summer is here when the Isle of Wight Arts Open Studios Yearbooks arrive isleofwightarts.com. I feel a tiny tingle of excitement when I open one up for the first time and find my entry in it. It also means that it's only six weeks to go and I really have to step up my preparations.

My daughter, Ellen won't be able to join me this year with her weaving, as she's rather busy with work in Whitstable. I am pleased to say I won't be on my own however, as for the second year running, Jude Allman  judeallman.com will be sharing open studios with me. Jude makes fabulous stoneware pots, bowls and ceramics.

I enjoy open studios, as it is a great opportunity to demonstrate how I make my glass beads. It's also super to chat to old and new visitors in my garden workshop.

Toby's 'Walk'

Here's our border collie dog, Toby. The most important part of his life is his daily and quite often twice daily walk. He rarely gets tired and would really like to stay in the forest all day. Simple pleasures!

The first video shows how he starts every walk. The second is after an hour and a half charging around Parkhurst Forest. He knows his walk is coming to an end, so he tries to put off the inevitable by walking very slowly.

I

Bead Party with the Ladies of Porchfield

'Orphan' Glass Beads

Seed Beads and Handmade Glass Beads

Had a super evening with the Porchfield ladies group yesterday. They each created a made measure unique necklace with my 'orphan' beads and a selection of seed bead.

Several Ladies were inspired to take home one of my bead kits too.

Finding the Right Event

Tactile Disc Bead Necklace

The week started well with a good day at the Affordable Arts Fair at Ventnor.

I've been trying to analyse why one event can be so much more successful than another for me. It's difficult to pin point exactly. I know it's definitely not the number of visitors, as events with a high footfall have so far produced my poorest sales.

It may have something to do with location perhaps? But why a small seaside town like Ventnor artsisle.org appears to be better than a busy Saturday outside John Lewis in Southampton is a mystery.

This leaves me with demographic, which sort of links to type of event. Excuse me if I use West Quay as an example again. There wasn't a vast number of stalls at West Quay, but a lot that consisted of goods [particularly jewellery] that were handmade in a looser sense. It's hard to explain, so apologies for sounding sniffy and snobby, but the stalls attracted the eye of people who were looking for a trinket, an inexpensive treat, a bargain, something nice but ordinary. Whereas an arts event such as Open Studios isleofwightarts.com or Affordable Arts Fairs attract people who spend time looking. The visitors are generally more interested in how something is made and connect to uniqueness.

I don't pretend to be a professional artist. I don't have a degree and I am almost entirely self taught. What I do have is ten years experience in lamp work bead making, an eye for colour and I think a distinctive style of my own. I like to try new techniques and ideas, but don't like to do the same as someone else.

So where do me and my jewellery belong? When it comes to events, I would say somewhere between the craft market and a professional artists' event. Bead making and I however, know exactly where we are. I may never make a fortune, but as long as I continue to get a thrill from turning on the kiln and firing up the flame, everything else is just a bonus.      

Me!

Affordable Arts Fair at Ventnor Winter Gardens

Just a short post this week, as I'm busy getting ready for the 'Affordable Arts Fair' at Ventnor Winter Gardens this coming bank holiday Monday artsisle.org. Monday 4th May 2015 - 11am - 4pm.
I've been making some pendants combining lamp work and fused glass, I'm hoping to get them ready in time for Monday. Here's a little preview of them fresh out of the kiln.

Fused glass and lamp work combination

Amazing Necklaces at the Alverstone WI Craft Group

Selecting beads

More selecting beads

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of taking my beads etc. along to a lovely group of ladies from Alverstone WI. Alverstone is a very pretty village, sort of near Sandown  and oddly, a place I have not been to, despite living on the Isle of Wight just about all my life. I had a really enjoyable morning and  more importantly, I think the ladies did too. Two hours just flew by in a flash. I'm particularly pleased at how everyone created a necklace that was delightfully unique and wearable. I love the way colours and shapes were combined in so many different ways.
Thank you, Sue Lax for organising it.

A present for a daughter

Favourite colours

A finished creation

and another super necklace finished

threading tiny seed beads

A clasp and ring and then all finished

Taking care not to let go of the ends!

A present for a daughter who loves pink

Beautiful shades of turquoise