Wirework

SO, you thought I was going to let this blog slide again? Never fear, I'm back after a couple of weeks off...I kept meaning to blog but didn't really have much to say! And more to the point, I didn't have any photos to post. I am RUBBISH at taking pictures. I'm not really a happy snapper, it all seems like a bit of an effort for often a very poor result. But tonight I got my wee Olympus out and took some pics of some new pieces I made over the past few days. Because we all know blogs are really all about the pictures...

I decided that my big stash of lampworks really deserved to be turned into some jewellery.

Pixiewillow

The CUTE pewter birdie is from Mamacita Beadworks. And guess what? He's a songbird. Or is he a she?

Sarah Downton

(I just couldn't get a good picture of the lampwork bead in this bracelet. And I'm not sure it works too well with my new music background and I've used so many transparent and delicate beads. But here it is all the same! Check out the beads here.)

Clare Scott
(Again, not the best lampwork pic. I need better light! But you know, you've seen my other picture of this one, right?)

Lush Lampwork
(This is going to be a necklace. I just need some co-ordinating chain to complete.)

So, what do you think? I really like my 'ye olde notation' backdrop but perhaps just for darker/more vibrant pieces. And I so need a lightbox or just to be organised and take pics in the 2 minutes of sunshine we seem to get a day here in Manchester *sigh*. We're currently house hunting and I am obsessed with figuring out directions and angles and which way the sun moves around each flat/house that we look at - not just for picture purposes of course, also because it affects my mood so much. Any one else the same, have a touch of SAD?! N.B. Where it says 'winter depression' read 'all-year-round depression' for Manchester! We don't get the best of weather. At least I have my beads to cheer me up!

I've just seen the new issue of Beads and Beyond (out on the 13th August) and I am thrilled to see one of my wire leaves on the mini photo display on the front! It's so exciting to see your work in print and I think Beads and Beyond is really a fantastic publication, especially since its revamp! My design is second from the left, next to the lovely summery daisy. And the stunning necklace on the very front is by Eve Smith, fellow Scottish artist, with lampworks by Clare Scott. Below is a close up picture which I took of one of my leaves.

So, I've been lucky enough to have had a lot of time at home recently, squeezing in a lot of designing and (not so fun) writing up instructions for classes. AND (keep your fingers crossed!) possibly for publication sometime in the not too distant future! Nothing is set in stone as yet so I will say NO more but I am feeling positive! I've been on a wirework bend recently but the past couple of days I've picked up my needle and thread again and it feels GOOD...so much more time consuming but I just love the process of thread, needle, beads...wirework is great, as things work up so quickly but I think in a past life I must've been a seamstress. My heart lies with the needle and thread! Hopefully I'll have some pics for you soon but at the moment I have lots of 'ideas' pieces and not many (any) finished articles. Soon my pretties! x x x