This is a quick post as I've been staring at the laptop all day adding items to the website and there's loads more to get added!!! I'd much rather be playing but it has to get done.
My friend Matt (who is truly awesome! and I'm not the soppy type :P) has redesigned my website for me, logos, banners and all singing all dancing bits! I absolutely love it and hope you will too! Have a wee peek at it and let me know what you think!
www.elburnzocrafts.co.uk
His website is www.mattmckeown.com so if anyone needs help with their website, or like me, needs someone to do it for them, he's most definately your man! Alternatively contact me and I'll put you in touch with him.
Website redesign i complete!!!
Sunday, 14 August 2011
My glassy day trip- Caithness Glass factory, Crieff
Saturday, 30 July 2011
On my leaving night from work a week ago we were discussing what I would be doing on my week off in between jobs. Someone mentioned to me that I should visit the Caithness Glass factory. My dismal knowledge of Scotland came to the fore when I realised it was less than an hour from me and I had never even thought about going. SO i decided I would have to go have a wee look around... and dragged my mum and sister too.
After all the lovely weather we've been getting we woke up on Thursday to rain. As it turned out that was the best thing that could've happened. Its a fairly small factory compared to those you might find in Stourbridge etc however the factory has a observation area where you can watch the glass workers making paperweights. Absolutely fantastic to watch, they make it look so easy!!!
Being me I had to have a shot. For £30 you can make your very own piece of Caithness Glass. It was hot hot work with all the furnaces etc so I was really glad it was colder outside! Here's some pics of me doing just that!
My instructors name was Calum, lovely guy who just so happens to also be a lampworker. He showed me some pictures of the paperweights he makes. Absolutely amazing. His work mainly seems to revolve around paperweights with lampwork inclusions which are the most detailed paperweights I have ever seen! He also gave us a sneak preview of this years Christmas paperweight, which I really have to put on the list for Santa! Here's a pic of him at work:
There's also a shop, which is an inspiration to walk around. To think these people make all of these and most dont take them more than 20 minutes to make!!! I could spend the rest of my life trying and never produce something as beautiful!
Anyways, if your in the neighbourhood it is well worth a visit!!! Also the website is worth a look too!
www.caithnessglass.co.uk
Pick of the week- FHF Team Button frenzy treasury
Monday, 25 July 2011
I am hoping to make this a weekly feature so please follow my blog to be kept up to date with all my newest treasuries!!!
This weeks treasury features BUTTONS!!! Polymer clay and lampwork, shank style and traditional two hole buttons. In addition I have included the master of buttons, Julie from Lush Lampwork's wonderful tutorial and button tool!!! A must have for lampworking button fans!
Here's the link:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/OTA0MjYxNXw0OTA2MDkxNTQ/button-frenzy
£4.00 GBP
£16.00 GBP
£3.00 GBP
£9.00 GBP
£12.00 GBP
£15.00 GBP
£8.00 GBP
£6.00 GBP
£12.00 GBP
£5.00 GBP
£9.50 GBP
£10.00 GBP
£10.00 GBP
£8.00 GBP
£12.00 GBP
£1.00 GBP
Rave Reviews- Pegasus Lampwork Tools
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Hello again, in this blog I’m going to do a little feature on Pegasus Lampwork Tools as I recently bought this ribbed round and bicone bead roller.
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The website is easy to navigate with a fantastic range of graphite rollers. Bev is constantly updating the site with new designs including a few which have been added recently including the chunky focal combo which looks like a fantastic collection of the most desirable shapes. The cart is easy peasy to wiz through and payment by paypal is probably the easiest way to pay for anything on the net these days.
I ordered my roller on Friday and woke up to find it on my door mat on Saturday morning. How is that for service! To say I was surprised is an understatement. Graphite can be pretty brittle so when I seen it had gone through the letter box I was a little worried it might have gotten damaged. But there was no reason to worry, it was packaged very well with loads of bubble wrap and didn’t have some much as a scratch on it!
I have had a play with the roller itself (I borrowed one from the Lovely Sue prior to buying my own) and it is a great tool. Very easy to use. I had thought that they would be a little top heavy as the handle is quite thin, however they are very well balanced and the thin handle is actually the perfect size. It also fits in my CG bead roller stand which is useful! The beads themselves have turned out pretty well for a first attempt (from a relative newbie :P). The learning curve on this tool is very short, within a couple of beads I had figured out just about how much glass was needed to obtain a slightly ribbed bead and a more defined bead. I personally prefer the more defined version but it’s nice to be able to play about with it. I need a bit more practice on keeping the ends of my beads nicely puckered but I have no doubt with a little more practice i'll get there! The selection of sizes is also great, from small spacer sizes right up to focal sizes. I'm definitely going to make a set featuring the amber and green beads. Its amazing how this roller can make a plain coloured bead look so much more interesting. I also love the way it gives fritty beads a bit more dimension and interest. Once my encasing is a bit better i'll try encasing some fritty beads as I've seen some gorgeous examples of this.
Anyone who has ever seen my shedio (or my bank balance!) will know I’m slightly obsessed with bead rollers. I have 4 CG Beadrollers and one Pegasus (and that’s AFTER I sold a few). I cant honestly say if I have a favourite or not because they are both fab tools to have, however the idea of buying from the UK without the need to pay a Royal Mail ransom and wait a while appeals to me. As always a little healthy competition in the market never hurts, particularly when you’re the consumer :P
Now I have my eye on a few more bead rollers from Bev’s range so I had better get selling and saving!!!
For anyone who fancies a look at the range of bead rollers available from Pegasus Lampwork tools follow this link:
Pegasus Lampwork tools
A day in the life of.... and a focus on Mad Cat Glass
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Well I'm happy to say that the new and improved shedio is almost complete! One small part to paint and a hole for the ventilation to be cut. Its taken an eternity but it is fantastic! Much more inspiring and a far happier place to be. Photos to come very soon!
In the mean time I have had a glassy delivery (second this month!) from Tuffnells Glass, complete with freebies! Some Effetre tongue pink and some filigrana!!! I also added a few other colours to my collection, mainly CIM as these were on sale (and who can resist a glassy sale!). Pic of my haul below (please ignore the crocheted blanket, the cat had an 'incident' on the actual bed sheets :( )
In addition what you cant see from my picture (because my camera batteries died mid photo shoot) is that I am the very proud owner of some beads from Mad Cat Glass. http://www.etsy.com/shop/MadCatGlass . All the beads for sale by Mad Cat Glass are handmade lampwork beads made by artist Lesley Jane Nixon in her North Staffordshire home. Les is a lovely woman who is immensely talented and I've been hoping to get some of her beads since I started lampworking a year ago. I urge everyone to have a look at her Etsy shop as she really is an inspiration! Here are her pics of the beads i purchased which are far superior to anything me and my camera could reproduce:
Eydis- a peaceful, sleeping goddess bead ... her name means goddess of good fortune :)
Frittata- a gorgeous set of fritty beads
Back soon with some of my own creations and pics of the shedio.
Claire xxx
Hmm I've been neglecting this lately
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Unfortunately life has a way of getting in the way of my good intentions, as such I havent spent nearly enough time on this blog, the website or generally making things!!!
Never to mind, I do have a new cat, his name is Alfie and here is a pic of him:
Whilst he may be as cute as can be he is also a monster! Just kidding, he's a cat, therefore he thinks he rules the roost and I'm just here to keep him topped up on food and cuddles. He has already brought me a "gift" (read poor wee dead bird). I have directed him towards the Tuffnells Glass website should he want to bring anymore gifts.
Oh and I have recently purchased some Val Cox frits from Veebeads (must say, super fast delivery and the packaging is fantastic!). Hopefully I can get some time in the shed at the weekend.
Which brings me onto the shed. Gosh has this been a long term project. Me and Alasdair have been insulating the shed. Easy job you say? Not so, I say. Its currently half done and due to terrible weather and clashing timetables has stood half completed for the last month. Again a job for the weekend.
A new look!
Monday, 21 March 2011
Hello again!!!
Well I've updated the blog to have a nice new background, hope you all like it. Here's a couple of pieces I've been working on lately:
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