My blog features regular updates on what I'm up to, what I'm busy making and any places I've visited.
Click on a small picture to see the larger version. The last ten entries are shown below. Please check the archive for previous posts.
Culture Vulture
A busy day today with a visit to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and Jeff Koon's Popeye Series at the Sepentine Gallery.
I love visiting the RA every year as you get to see such a huge range of different work. This year I was completely bowled over by a piece by Marian Fountain (her blog). I have never encountered the world of Art Medals before but have been investigating further!
Then it was a stop at Madsen's for open sandwiches then onwards to the Serpentine where it was great to finally get to see some of Jeff Koons' work in real life- I only wish it was one of his large pieces- oh well, I can dream.
Last night I continued experimenting with my new rivoli pieces and found myself going back to the drawing board and starting again. Beading, unlike say painting, has limits imposed on it by the size, shape and colour of the beads you have available to you. It can be frustrating to have an idea and not the materials/ palette to hand to realise those ideas. Well that's my excuse for putting some more bicone crystals on my shopping list!
When I get frustrated like this I have to remind myself that there is a point to it all and I do enjoy it!
Crystal Experiments
I have been doing so much beading recently with crystals and last night I had the urge to do some more experimenting with rivolis.
I wanted to bezel them but in a different way- which I did- and this led on to me seeing if I could make a double-sided pendant.
This followed-on from an experiment I did yesterday with some of my new crystal beading where I wanted to make an earring but was concerned about the back showing.... some fancy beading later and I had managed to bead it backwards and it worked- I was so pleased!
The experiment with the rivolis was mostly a success- I just need to refine some details until I'm happy with it- but I do like the idea of double-sided and getting more out of your beadwork!
Beading Achievements
Today was the last day of our 3-day beading retreat and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.
There's been lots of beading, good food and chat- as well as intense sunshine and big storms.
I didn't manage to take a photo of what everyone beaded using my project but here are the results of some of the students hard work.
Yellow Flowers
A trip this afternoon with our students to the gardens at the Abbey De Valloires.
The last time I visited here the weather was a bit different so it was lovely to see all the flowers in full bloom in the hot sunshine.
Lots of floral and colour inspiration!
Boats And Beads
Today I'm heading across to France to teach at the beading retreat myself and Liz Thornton are running.
I caught the ferry from Dover and even managed to fit in some beading on the way- I'm rapidly trying to get those new geometric instructions done and tested- note my highly professional note taking!
Sparkle And Strains
A busy day today which began in an incredibly painful, though fun, way with roller derby training. The less said about strained groins the better...
Onwards then, hobbling all the way, to bead group where I was in no mood to concentrate, or even sit, and so didn't get much done. But I was immensely cheered up when one of our new members had lots of lovely vintage Swarovski with her and let me buy some (much more than I'm showing you in the photo!)
These are all perfect for me to bead around using my geometric beading and I'm itching to get on with them.
I know lots of you are waiting patiently (and not so patiently!) for my instructions for my two latest pieces (1-8-1 and 1-9-1) and I can assure you I'm working away on them any spare seconds I have- which isn't much at the moment.
As soon as the instructions are ready I'll let everyone on my newsletter list know but unfortunately because I am away so much working at the moment it will probably be the end of July at the earliest- sorry!
Back To Reality
Back from Austria and to all the work that has piled up in my absence- so of course I'm procrastinating and browsing the internet instead and thought I'd let you know about some of my favourite bead and jewellery websites to visit as well as some I've newly discovered.
Radical Cross Stitch- some amazing work being done using forms of needlework
The work of Devorah Sperber
Noelle Mason
Beth McMillan nd her great cartoons
Mr X Stitch
One of the best ways to waste hours- choose colours and this website searches 10 million photos on Flcikr to find ones with your choices in
The fabulous work of Meeellla on Deviant Art and her website
The Lone Beader (always a favourite as I love to watch her work grow)
Just to upset us all here's a photo of some of the view from the panoramic bar I was sitting drinking at 48 hours ago.
Austria- Day 2
Day 2 begins with an amazing breakfast buffet- with an unbelievable array of bread.
If I take anything away from this trip it's a severe case of jealous of the range and quality of bread these people have access to- none of the white, sliced rubbish we get in England.
Anyway- onwards to Wattens again where we learn more about the Swarovski brand and the latest trends in jewellery and colours.
Then onto a restaurant serving traditional Austrian food for Topfen with herbs (and of course more bread) Weiner Schnitzel and a desert with pancakes, cream, fruit and more- and of course lots of coffee.
It was then back to Swarovski for - shock of shocks- some beading- just to remind you this isn't actually a food blog!
Then it was the drive back to Munich and a flight back home to the distinctly less sunny UK.
Austria- Day 1
Last night I flew to Austria for a press trip to visit Swarovski.
I have never visited Austria before so was looking forward to the trip.
We flew into Munich and then had a 2-hour drive to Innsbruck where we are staying and although we could see mountains it was very dark so it wasn't until this morning that we got to see the full beauty of the surroundings- and what beauty.
The area we were in was incredibly beautiful- it was very strange to come out of a dark, modern building and be surrounded by the wonderful sights of mountains and the type of alpine buildings you expect to see. It was all so beautiful I managed to take 221 photos in 2 days!
We had a packed day beginning with a trip to Wattens, where Swarovski are based, and a visit to their offices, museum and then Crystal Worlds- which is almost undescribable. Part art gallery- part musuem- part theme park- part wonderland. This is one of those places which needs to be on a "visit before you die" list.
On to Restaurant Grander for a stunning 3-course lunch and then back to the offices to learn more about the Swarovski brand.
Early evening was spent looking around Innsbruck, buying Speck, Sachertorte and Mozart chocolates.
The evening began with drinks at the Restaurant Lichtblick which has an outdoor terrace with panoramic views over Innsbruck - the perfect place to enjoy a Prosecco - with or without Aperol.
Surely every good meal ends with schnapps?- and not the sugary kind we usually get in the UK- I mean the stuff that seems to evaporate as you drink it and is advised as it's so good for the digestion...
Through The Looking Glass
Today was a day spent in Arundel and this time I visited the castle.
It was the most beautiful place with lots to see and look at but the best bit was The Collector Earl's Garden- visiting this felt like stepping through the looking glass- it was all so unexpected.
The gardens are magical with amazing planting, structures and even a stalactite fountain.
It was a beautiful sunny day and against the backdrop of the blue skies and the juxtaposition of these modern- but timeless- gardens against the cathedral from 1873 and parts of the castle going back to 1068 was incredible.
On the way back we stopped at Loxwood and sat and had lunch by the canal - some of which has been recently restored.
