Wishing all my 'internet friends' a Happy Christmas
and best wishes for the coming year.
Helen xx
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Hot glass - the results!
We got our pieces back from the hot glass day - very exciting! Here is my paperweight - it is purple, honestly... and so smooth and shiny!
One thing I have realised today is that if I am going to make more glass I need to learn how to photograph it properly - all you can see is reflections in these!
And here is the piece made from the sandcast mould of my indian printing block - also pretty difficult to photograph. The glass is tinted where the sand sticks to it, the darker spots are a few little bits of red glass frit I threw in to see what would happen.
It is just a lovely piece of pure texture!
One thing I have realised today is that if I am going to make more glass I need to learn how to photograph it properly - all you can see is reflections in these!
And here is the piece made from the sandcast mould of my indian printing block - also pretty difficult to photograph. The glass is tinted where the sand sticks to it, the darker spots are a few little bits of red glass frit I threw in to see what would happen.
It is just a lovely piece of pure texture!
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Working with hot glass
I was really really lucky today and had the chance to have a go at working with hot glass at World of Glass in St Helens. We had the chance to each make a paperweight and also make a sandcast of an object. I was pretty nervous about it at first, but we were quite a large group and I was one of the last to have a go, so by the time it was my turn I was just impatient to get going and had forgotten all about the nerves!
The tutor gathered some hot glass from the furnace for me and I had to keep it moving, turning it all the time.
I shaped the paperweight using a very sophisticated piece of equipment - 6 sheets of folded soaked newspaper!
The finished paperweight is now in the kiln cooling down very very slowly. I can't wait to see it!
The tutor gathered some hot glass from the furnace for me and I had to keep it moving, turning it all the time.
Then I dipped it in coloured powdered glass...
Heating it in between each step, and remembering to keep it turning steadily all the time. You do get very very hot doing this!
I shaped the paperweight using a very sophisticated piece of equipment - 6 sheets of folded soaked newspaper!
The finished paperweight is now in the kiln cooling down very very slowly. I can't wait to see it!
Thursday, 2 December 2010
A little snow
We haven't had much snow here - just the merest sprinkle. My eldest son went out hunting for it the other day and took some lovely pictures...
I told you he was tall!!!
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
New! ffflower kits!
Have you ever fancied having a go at making flowers? Well now you can. New in my etsy shop are these kits, each containing a lovely wooden flower loom and enough ribbon and buttons to make 3 flowers, plus the all important instructions.
Now available here in my etsy ffflowers shop.
I only have a very few of these at the moment so if you would like one, don't delay! They would make a great Christmas present for someone crafty!
Now available here in my etsy ffflowers shop.
I only have a very few of these at the moment so if you would like one, don't delay! They would make a great Christmas present for someone crafty!