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.

Spring 2016 - Sand, Sea and Sky

Sand, Sea and Sky

www.littlehousejewellery.co.uk

When deciding colours for my Spring collection this year, I started with just two coloured glass rods. I have been using baby blue transparent in a small way for several years. I like it's paleness and it rarely gets a yellowy tinge that clear other pale transparent glass gets. I usually use cream opaque glass in the Winter because it warmer and white for freshness in the Summer. However this was a cream glass I had not used before and from the moment I first used it, I knew it was going to be interesting. So these two colours became the foundation on which to add shape and other colours.tuffnellglass.com

Pale Baby Blue and New Ivory Effetre Glass Rods

As each piece of jewellery emerged it became apparent that a theme was beginning to develop. Wisps of white and grey added to the blue became watery Spring skies. Cream, new ivory and fossil swirled together gave an impression of sand and pebbles.

I have included a few additional photos that reflect my sand, sea and sky theme. These include pebbles and shells from opposite sides of the country and two pictures by two artist friends.

Oyster Shells and Pebbles from Whitstable, Kent and Other Shells from St Davids, West Wales

Pebbles by Trudi Bridgeman

Yachts at Cowes by Hilary Thorpe hilarythorpe.co.uk

And here is a selection of my Spring Sand, Sea and Sky 2016 Jewellery

Spring is Coming

Photo for Open Studio Entry

Just a little update on the progress of my new Spring collection. Still enjoying the sea, sky and sand theme that has evolved so far. www.littlehousejewellery.co.uk


I have also got my Open Studios application underway for this year. I'm not quite ready to click the submit button yet, as I've been trying to get the wording and photo just right. isleofwightarts.com

January 2016

Pale blue hollow bubble beads with swirls of palest soft green and grey.

After a successful series of Christmas events in my studio, at the Quay Arts, Tapnell Farm and Ventnor Winter Gardens, it was time for a little rest. Feeling refreshed, I'm now ready to start thinking about Spring and Summer, yippee!

Bell flowers, this time pale baby blue with mauve grey petals.

All these discs are destined for one necklace. A good illustration of  my first colours for Spring 2016.

I've not quite got the colours sorted yet. I've started with some turquoise, soft green and white. These are colours that work well and are so wearable. Always a good place to start.
I used a spot pattern on cream and black for my Autumn and Winter designs that proved popular. Attempts to use it in a Spring design haven't been too great yet, but it's early days.

Here are some experimental beads I've been making with some interesting variegated glass rods.

I've been having a few little experimental sessions and have come up with a sort of sideways heart design. Definitely a useful possibility.

Heart shaped patterns created by dragging dots of colour on white.

Events this Christmas - 2015

I've been busy getting things ready and looking forward to this year's Christmas events.
To get the season started I am having a mini Open Studio in my garden studio. This is a sort of preview of my new jewellery and decorations, as well giving regular customers first dibs!

Saturday 21st November - 9am - 12noon

The first proper event will be 'Quay Christmas Gift Weekender' which is at the lovely location of the Quay Arts Centre, Newport. quayarts.org 

Quay Christmas Gift Weekender

Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November - 10am -4pm.

The next event is part of Isle of Wight Arts Open Studios. This year it is located at Tapnell Farm in the West Wight. It's not a place I've been to before, so I'm interested and excited to see what it is like. isleofwightarts.com

Christmas Open Studios.

Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th December - 10am - 4pm.

The last but by no means least event is 'Ventnorville' at the Ventnor Winter Gardens. I first had stall at this location last May and it had a very lovely atmosphere, which I'm sure will be enhanced further by all things Christmas. loveventnor.co.uk

Ventnorville 

Saturday 12th December - 10.30am - 4pm.

Swirls and Whirls

Here are the newest additions to my Autumn and Winter collection. Soon to be found on my website littlehousejewellery.co.uk and in my Etsy shop.

New Jewellery for the Quay Arts

Swirly Whirly Brown, Turquoise, Cream and Green 

While I have been working on some more spotty beads, my priority this week has been to get a new collection together to take to the Quay next week. quayarts.org. It takes a bit of time, consideration and balance on deciding what to include. After all these years I'm only just getting to know what their customers like. I need to balance this but still bring in something new to keep it fresh.
Anyway, here are a few that can be seen in the Quay shop from the end of next week.

Cubes

Cream with Spots

Bells to go with Blackberry Necklace

Mauve, White and Black Beads with Concentric Circles