Friday 31 December 2010

One year ends ... Lets welcome the new one !

Hello .. it's me again :)

I hope everyone is well today ?

Today feels kind of strange, what with it being New Years Eve and all that ... I had so many plans for today, but they ended up being shelved in favour of spending the day pottering about the house and just spending time with the kids. Nothing much has been achieved today work-wise, but hey .... the house is tidy (er) and the kitchen smells of clean laundry :)

I helped Poppy to make some plaster of paris up and poured it into 2 picture frame moulds, whilst we talked about what she wants to be when she grows up .... she's decided she wants to be an actress or a singer, hehe ... bless her :D

I don't know about you guys, but I tend to feel a little melancholy at this time of year ... it's a time, for me, that always seems to remind me of those who are no longer with us. Each year that passes takes them that little bit further away.

I used to be a real party animal up until just a few years ago. I just can't seem to rustle up the enthusiasm for parties on NYE anymore.
But that's not really a bad thing ... I know that I will gain much more from a quiet evening at home, reflecting on the year that is just passing. It also sets me up for the coming year. I find January 1st a great starting point for making changes in life .. it just feels kind of natural for me...

So .... I know that I shall wake up bright and early to see in 2011 and I have a plan for the day :) I am doing some paperwork to tie up 2010, then I am making beads ;D Stuff lying in bed with a monster hangover... I want to get proactive and make a start, hehe .... so hopefully, I'll have some new bead photos to share with you real soon.

Anyway .. my end of year ramble is done with .... I just want to round off a quiet day by wishing you all a very happy New Year.
If you're off out to some party somewhere ... have the best time ever ! And if you are doing the quiet thing, then I hope you also have a lovely night ... just minus the thudding music and crowds :P

Bye bye 2010 and welcome 2011 ... A very Happy New Year to each and every one of you ... may the coming year bring you all lots of love, luck and happiness :)



Thursday 30 December 2010

looking forward

It's been a long time since I updated this blog. I have always been so bad at remembering to keep this blog updated.

Things are going to change though. Creatively, 2011 is going to be a challenging year, as I explore new media and try to figure out just where I want to take my business.

I am lucky and have been chosen as the Artist Of The Month on one of the beading forums that I frequent ... you can find this forum here ... www.beadbuddies.co.uk/forum

Part of the AOTM deal is that the featured artist keeps a blog throughout the month, to share with the rest of the forum. Hopefully this will teach me good habits and I will carry it onwards with this blog once January is over and done with .

I have decided to copy and paste every day's blog entry into this blog, so that I'll have a well established blog to carry forward after my time in the spotlight is done with :)

So here's today's entry ...

Well ... hmm ... I'm never usually very shy, but now I am having to write something about me, I am suddenly finding myself struggling with what to say ... But here I am ... day 1 of my month of blogging. I only hope that it takes you all a while to cotton onto the dull life that I lead, and keep reading.. at least for now anyway, hehe :)

Today has been a very up and down kind of day today. I still find myself suffering from a post Christmas slump, so I haven't lit my torch up today, well not since just before Christmas really. This is something which I fully intend to remedy at some point tomorrow. I have some viking commissions that need filling, so hopefully that will give me the kick that I need 

Anyway ... the up and down bit .... Today started the way it usually does lately... up early... coffee in hand, staring with bleary eyes into space for an hour until the caffine (sp?) has kicked in. Then I figured that I really need to do something positive with my day.

I started really well, deciding that I needed to rearrange the furniture in the living room. A task that I undertook with a moderate amount of enthusiasm, but I am really pleased with the results... it's so much better now :O)

Once the chaos was all set straight, I sat down with a cuppa and realised that I still had the dirty dishes to wash.... laundry to do ... cat litter trays to clear out.... ripped bin bags to clear up on the yard .. damn foxes n cats ... and I had one of those " Aarrgggggggghhhhhh !!!!!!!" moments 

One rant on facebook later and I felt better about it ... but here is the up part of my day ... later on this afternoon, my LOVELY other half decided to tell me that he had treated me to a day of learning off mandrel glass with Anouk Jasperse at Diana East's studio on the 10th of January !!! 

I could have cried, I was so touched ! It's 5 years since I last took a class from anybody, I just haven't had the money.
One of the kids (Sam, almost 13) offering to peel and dice the spuds for tea has also helped to change what could have been a really bad day into a fantastic day !

On a creative note, I have decided that I really want to diversify this year. I even went as far as buying some fimo and some air dry clay the other day too. My first thought was (obviously) to make beads, but I got to looking at some mixed media mosaics using poly clay tiles, and bingo ! All I need to do now is have a go. 

One of my favourite artists, Hundertwasser, is absolutely perfect for inspiration too ... so for now I shall end tonight's  ramblings with a picture to help visualise the kind of mosaics I have in mind ... 



Night night xx

Thursday 14 October 2010

Some new beads have been made at last !

I'm really, REALLY enjoying this time of year ... I find it so grounding when you can see the seasons changing... and of course, there is always Samhain, to look forward to.... and Halloween for the kids .... ahh... that reminds me... MUST buy monstrously HUGE pumpkin really soon !

Anyway ... I have decided, for a few days anyway, to take a break form making little characters, and have decided to make some pretty, but simple autumn and winter beads instead.. here are a couple from yesterday that I'd like to share :)



I am going to have start working REALLY hard to organise myself for the festive season ... I might start making some 'gifty' type stuff for a change... and jewellery ... I MUST make jewellery.
This evening though, I shall just be content to have both my Etsy shop and my website both back in business :)

Hope you all have a lovely day... by for now
xx

Sunday 10 October 2010

I had the most fantastic of fridays !

I had the most brilliant day on Friday !
I spent the day with a bunch of lovely, funny and talented glass artists at Diana East's studio, near Leicester.

The journey there and back was so much fun too ! I travelled with Kaz, Lorna and the two Dianes (glass people will know who I mean) ... and we had an absolute hoot !!! I haven't laughed so much in ages !

I had never been to Diane's studio before ... it's such a wonderful place ! It had such a lovely atmosphere .. we even had a marquee up out the back too. It was like a mini flame off !

There were so many lovely beads on display, both in cabinets and for sale... I just wish I could have bought some !

The facilities at the studio are just awesome too ... lots of torches and a really user friendly space to work in too.

I was also very fortunate to get to see a bead making demo by Astrid Riedel ... her work is just so beautiful ! It left me really wanting to try to get to know my nemesis again .... silver glass !

It was lovely to see Teresa and Martin again too ... and especially Emma Green ... I do love that girl... she's the best ! She's also enrolled me to help out at April's flame off again ... she just kind of forgot to tell me, lmao ..... but that means that my ticket is sorted ! All I need to sort out now is how to get there... it's all coming together !

And Kay .... Special Kay, and her fellatio ;OP It was SO lovely to see her again too... laugh ? I nearly wee'd !!!

Oh and the fudge ..... how can I not mention the DELICIOUS handmade fudge that I bought..... it didn't survive for very long, hehehe ....

All in all, I had the most wonderful day ... I have some of the best friends that anyone could ask for.... I also have the most talented friends too... they all inspire me to better myself, which I will endeavour to do :)

Anyway ... I am rambling again ... so I shall just share a few photo's taken on the day, of some fantastic people :)

If you're a glass artist, you'll probably recognise some faces :)
Bye for now ... Les xx









Thursday 7 October 2010

How could I not include WoW in the 'stuff about me' post ! .. play it and enjoy x

Autumn

I walked to school in the autumn mist this morning ... I love this time of year ! The leaves are all on the turn ... the berries are heavy on the bushes, and the morning air smells so much fresher than it does in the summer.

I am feeling the influence of autumn in my work too... I am feeling drawn to the wonderful, scrummy and warm shades of glass.... Adobe... Stoneground ... Olive green ... GORGEOUS deep red browns ... rich and vibrant shades of Orange .. they're all just so delicious ! And, of course, the all sit SO well with my little viking creations too !

The kids... well mostly my daughter, Poppy, are looking forward to all the fun that Autumn brings... Halloween ... Bonfire night ... fireworks and sparklers with Grandad. I love it too... probably more than they do !

I especially love the chilly nights, as it gives me the perfect excuse to light a fire and chill out in the evenings :)

Anyway.. I am rambling somewhat here .. so for those who don't really know me, here's a quick introduction :

My name is Lesley
I am 39 years old
I am a mum of 3 children ... aged 9, 12, and 19
I am a self employed glass bead maker / glass artist .. whatever you want to call it
I live with my partner in the Midlands, United Kingdom
I have 2 beautiful cats
I have far too much housework to do
I wish I had more time to enjoy things like reading, or baking with the kids
I'm originally from the Peak District area, and still miss it like crazy
I fully intend to grow old disgracefully
I must lose some weight
I have the best friends anyone could ask for
I play World of Warcraft ( and yes you can stop rolling your eyes at me... it's awesome fun)

Anyway .. just to tie up my opening ramble, here are just a few pictures that kind of describe me, in a rambly, roundabout way .....




I'm off to a fabulous studio to meet lots of amazing and talented friends tomorrow.. hopefully I'll remember to take some photographs

Have a lovely day... x