All over the place

Life in our house is never boring, quiet, relaxed…

We’ve had a busy half term including trips to the seaside, halloween parties, visiting friends and of course crafting.

I am now back to normal (relatively) and planning the rest of the year and things for 2018.  I am also just taking on some new writing work so we’ll see how that all fits in.  Anyway the main point of this post is to remind you that November is PRICE FREEZE MONTH so if you’d like to book a class, or gift voucher for 2018 now is the time to do it.  I have some dates pencilled in the diary which I will add to the website over the next week but if you are interested in what is on offer, or indeed want to book a date to suit, get in touch and we can have a chat.  Happy crafting. Toni x

Lots of lovely Fish beads

The last couple of weeks have been consumed with tennis in my household and a few little bits in between including two sports days at school (at least I’ll only have to do the Mum’s race once next year!)

I’m now tackling the garden before my silver clay students arrive next week and have to fight through the Forbidden Forest to get to the workshop!

Thought I’d share my glass fish beads that I made recently – any thoughts on what to make with them?

Creative students everywhere

Once again I have had a busy few weeks in my craft workshop, the most popular class at the moment seems to be silver clay – which is fab as I get to make pieces along with my students and so have had the opportunity to build my skills and try out new things – mainly inspired by the new Sue Heaser book on charms, which is on offer at the Works at the moment. I love Sue Heaser books, she is my silver clay inspiration!  I have also run several enamelling classes and even a combination of the two at FSC Flatford Mill, which is always a fabulous weekend combining crafts, cake and lovely Constable landscapes – it was even Constables birthday so we had a brass band accompaniment! Anyway enough chat for now I will add some photos of work done in classes and later this week I will post up the summer school dates which are booking fast!  Happy Crafting in the sunshine today. #Craftclasseswith Toni #Learnsomethingnew #Learnmagicalsilverclay #Creatingenamelledjewellery

 

Flamework fancy

Gayle img_20161113_103043joined me today to try out making flamework beads – glass beads made using a hot head torch. We went through various stages, from making a basic donut shaped bead, to pulling stringer, shaping and even trying out the bead presses. Gayle took to the techniques straight away, I can’t wait to see her beads once they come out of the kiln.img_20161113_115934

Flaming Flamework day

What lovely hot weather today…what lovely weather to be doing Flamework…mmm maybe not but who doesn’t love a bit of Flamework? I had a lovely day with all my students, passing on the secrets of making glass beads and despite the heat some fantastic beads were made, we melted almost as much as the glass.
This morning http://laparkan.com/buy-vardenafil/ Michelle’s birthday group joined me to make some stunning beads, mainly using blues, greens and purples.

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In the afternoon Sue joined me; using her Christmas present voucher. That Teale blue was popular again, maybe it’s the sunshine making us pine for oceans of blue?

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Fab work everyone!

Busy days and flamework fun.

I’ve had a busy few weeks of classes (including my first at FSC Flatford Mill), planning and getting organised at home…oh and now the Easter holidays! Today I’ve finally had a chance to have play in my workshop. I have been experimenting with various Flamework tools (lampwork) such as a cabochon mandrel, ribbon mandrel and still my favourite blowpipes! These are some pictures of what I’ve been up to. As these are glass they are now annealing in the kiln to strenghthen them…although I am not sure the flower will survive, I am sure there are a few weak points but it was fun making it.

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