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.
posted on Thursday, 08 May 2008
Back home and back to work.
I have a busy week ahead with the last pages of the next issue of Bead to finalise, two weeks worth of emails to catch up on, two classes this weekend and lots and lots of instructions to finalise and proof- and some beading to squeeze in.
I'm still working away on my next geometric piece and am really enjoying the monochromatic scheme.
Last full day in Cornwall so making the most of it and spending the day wandering around St Ives, checking out galleries and buying pictures.
Whilst wandering we re-discovered these wonderful bin stores. I know William Morris said "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful" and it's great to see design which fits both!
There's got to be a way I can use them in a design.
posted on Thursday, 01 May 2008
It's not often I get to go to a beading class so I always enjoy doing one when I'm on holiday.
GJ Beads in Cornwall run classes every week- really nice 2 hour ones where you can sit down, bead, buy and chat- what more could anyone want!?!
Last week I went ,but did my own thing, so this week I thought I'm shut my brain down for a bit and do the class- a netted lariat. Netting isn't a stitch I do often and I very rarely design my own pieces with it- I think the last one I did was a big netted collar for Bead last year (I must get it photographed and on here!)
I really enjoyed doing the class and sitting and chatting- great fun all round- and the best thing was I managed to finish my necklace and not have to come home with a UFO- I've still not fully finished the piece I started at a class there last year!
posted on Wednesday, 30 April 2008
After finishing my latest geometric piece yesterday I dove straight into another monochrome one. This is to be a new version of Geometric 2.8.1 (Collar For A Rangoli Girl) - which very excitingly has been juried into Bead Dreams 2008!
I also began a new project inspired by stars and some silver star hoop earrings I wear most days. Look out for it at some point in Bead and on here- I'll let you know when.
Figuring out the stars took a few hours which I did at a bead group/ class at GJ Beads in Cornwall. It's a lovely 2-hour class where you can either do the project on offer or your own thing. I just went for the afternoon today but next week will spend the whole day beading- something to look forward to!
posted on Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Wow- I'm on a beading roll!
One of my new year resolutions was to finish at least 1 geometric piece a month- and I've actually done it (ok, we'll ignore the fact that I haven't managed the other 3!)
This is my 4th geometric piece so far this year and tomorrow I'll begin my 5th- I'm going to be overwhelmed by these by the end of the year- hopefulyy
Some very exciting news just in- I'm going to be judging Bead Direct's Creative Challenge- see the full details here- so get beading!
posted on Thursday, 10 April 2008
Sitting here in very cold France having fun playing with wire for the first time in a long time.
I've also managed to fit in some beading and my latest geometric piece is that bit nearer completion- a good week all round.
When not beading or wiring (or dodging snowballs coming through windows!) I'm working hard on some diagrams for the next set of instructions which will be available for download. These will be my Fabulous Fringes which is a class I haven't taught in a while but I still get a lot of requests for.
I have decided to re-do all the diagrams and re-structure all the instructions and am really enjoying re-visiting the series- you never know I might even get out all those unfinished fringed pieces and actually get around to finishing them- well, stranger things have happened!
On a delightful note my friend, and one of my beading heroes, Suzanne Golden, finally has her new website up and running. If you want to see an example of beadwork at its best do check it out- truly outstanding.
Dan Cormier, who I took a fantastic Polymer Clay class with a few years ago, also now has a website- check it out to see some of the most amazing work you'll ever see!
I was also pleased to receive my contributor's copy of 'Beading with Pearls' from Lark Books. As with all their books it's a beautiful publication and I'm really pleased to have two projects in it.
posted on Wednesday, 02 April 2008
Well I finally finished my latest piece. This has been a work in progress for many months now and it's a huge relief to have it all done.
To reward myself I bought a lovely piece of work from Janet Clare. I can't wait to receive it and put it up on the wall.
posted on Thursday, 27 March 2008
I'm still working away on my latest piece in my Geometric Series, the picture is a sneak preview of it. This is the beaded clasp at the back.
I finally manged to get to the new Swarovski shop in London to see the new range to be launched next year. It's a great space worth visiting to just see the full range of beads, pendants etc. It's so nice to see Swarovski no longer ashamed of their beads! They always seemed to be their 'dirty secret' which you'd never even know they produced if you looked at their website, shops etc. So it's about time they're shouting about them. Very hard to resist buying some of their new kits- but had to remind myself I own far too many crystals as it is- but it was nice to see some really fashion forward kits rather than the usual amulet purses ones we beaders usually get to choose from!
More online browsing and whilst doing so I stumbled across some great art sites. One I could resist was h.r.fricker's place of places series. So I'm now eagerly awaiting my own place to arrive. I found some other great ones as well, but seeing as they're limited pieces I'm not going to mention them until I own one- don't want you all rushing and buying one beating me!
Ever wondered what happens when you combine a budding actor and writer brother-in-law and a new video camera? Click here to find out. Warning- do not click if easily offended or not appreciative of stupid humour and swear words! But if you are that way inclined, look out for part 2.
posted on Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Wow- what a weekend!
Went to France to enjoy the long Easter weekend and I've never seen weather like it (ok- apart from that strange 24 hours in LA- hmm, I'm starting to see a theme develop!).
When we set off we weren't optimistic the ferry would even be sailing as it was so windy- but we drove to Dover and took a chance. The sea was so choppy I almost wished we hadn't! There was much stomach churning and use of sick bags, not good.
Then we drove off the ferry into lovely sunny France - a complete contrast- but it didn't last long.
Our first evening we went into town for a coffee and a walk and managed to get caught in the most severe hail storm I've ever seen- add to that torrential rain and lightening and we were glad to get home.
Our second day we spend in Rouen. We visited the cathedral and did lots of wandering in the rain and purchasing of fine French patisserie and other treats.
The third day began with a lovely walk in the gardens of the Abbey De Valloires. The weather was beautiful, if cold, and the gardens were so wonderful- well worth a visit. On the way back we decided against walking over the hills, fortunately as it began to pour down with rain again.
That afternoon it was another drive into town and it was on the way back it all changed. From nowhere the heavens opened and snow began to fall, and fall, and fall. Within minutes the surrounding fields were covered and we were driving through a blizzard. Fortunately by the time we got home it had died down- but there was still plenty of snow to make a snowman. I have to admit I took no part in it, I was too busy perfecting my hula-hoops tricks and trying to duck the snowballs!
Our last day involved a drive to Le Touquet for a walk along the cold promenade, a relaxing lunch and a bit of window shopping. I treated myself to some World famous fish soup from Perard's to take home and bring some of that French vibe back to London.
posted on Saturday, 15 March 2008
A cultured day today with a trip to the Tate Modern, one of my favourite places in the world.
The last time we visited the were installing Doris Saldeco's 'Shibboleth' so we went to see that.
Although it is just a crack in the ground, it was very impressive to see- and great fun to watch children being dangled into it, babies crawling over it and people drawn to walking down its length with one foot on each side- irresistible.