What have you been up to during this period of Lockdown? Like me, perhaps you’ve re-decorated everything in sight, cleaned out your cupboards and now have a stock of bags to go to charity shops, whenever they re-open!

I have also been working on some creative ideas.

I was cleaning the studio, repainting bits that need repainting and generally trying the occupy my time well. On one of the shelves I found some mosaic tiles that I had been ‘keeping for a rainy day’! They are Smalti tiles which are a particular Italian glass tile. They are formed into rounds – pizza –  and then cut up into rectangular chunks of a fairly regular size. I had bought two sets of mixed colours, so I sat down to sort them out. At first, I thought I had 4 or 5 shades of each colour, then discovered that there were actually 11 or 12 shades of each colour. I do enjoy sorting things, jigsaw pieces, mosaic tiles etc so I had fun trying to sort them into one continuous colour line.

My husband suggested that I mosaic the step into my studio but when I looked into using smalti I discovered that they are unsuitable for walking on. The tiles are meant to be used sideways, cut side uppermost, but that surface is very uneven. The benefit is that light reflects differently off the surfaces, giving a particular effect, but not suitable for walking on. Also, unusually for mosaic tiles, smalti are not usually grouted.

So, I designed a piece for our garden. We have a messy bit of garden (as one does) and we’re going to put up a screen with the picture hanging on it. See what you think:

It’s very colourful and I look forward to seeing it hanging in its new home.

I wish you a healthy time during this weird period of our lives and I hope to be running workshops and attending craft fairs soon.

Jane

Well, what a strange Spring we are having. I retired in February but didn’t realise that everyone was going to join me!

I am very fortunate to have my studio in my back garden so access to it is unrestricted as many other glass artists can’t get to play as easily.

I have been making lots of lovely things – including Christmas Trees, but more of those later in the year.

However, I’ve also been playing with the alphabet. These are large letters, 18cm high. They are made to order and are available in any letter and any combination of colours. They come complete with a chain to hang them from. They are £29.50 each incl p&p.

I am booked into a lot of craft fairs this year but the early ones in May have been cancelled / postponed. I am hoping that later ones will still go ahead but who knows? I will publish them when this crisis is all over.

Meanwhile, keep well and stay home.

I’ve been working on some quirky animals / birds and I’d like to introduce you to Amelia (with the ‘skirt’) and her Hen pals, that’s Molly, Polly, Jemima, Alice and Susan.

These ladies are all free standing and will soon be joined by more friends.

Soon to be available at a craft fair near you.

I have been working hard on my 2020 designs and booking lots of craft fairs for the year. It seems that I have made designs using my C curve moulds although there will be other shapes coming soon.

My first new design is a seascene. This is a standalone piece and the sandy rocks at the front give the pieces some depth. There will be more examples of this design but I’m waiting to curve the others.

The next is a low maintenance fish tank. They are made from transparent glass so can be put on a windowsill.

My third curve is beach hits. This design was so popular last year so I have made some new ones with a paler sky and bright colours on the huts. Summer is coming!

If you’d like to get hold of these new designs hot out of the kiln get in touch. I will be publishing my craft fairs list soon – still waiting to hear about one or two that I have applied for. My first one is in May. I am thrilled to be appearing at Living Crafts at Hatfield House over the VE Day bank holiday weekend. More about this later.

I have had enquiries about courses so if you’re interested in having a go yourself or with a friend or two do have a look at my course pages and get in touch.

cosycreativecrafts@hotmail.com

My last Craft Fair for the year is over and although I still have three workshops I’m getting ready for Christmas. What do I buy that tricky person in the family? How about a taster workshop? Well, funnily enough that’s exactly what would make a great gift for your difficult person who has everything too.

I run workshops on mutually agreeable dates, and on any day of the week. I offer mosaic courses: table dish or stepping stone:

  Or how about a glass fusing course: coasters, funky dishes or decorative curves

Or a bead making course:

If any of these workshops appeal to you either email me at: cosycreativecrafts@hotmail.com or give me ring on 07765 016642 and book one for next year.

I provide tea, coffee, biscuits, a warm welcome and a few hours of fun. If you come for the whole day please bring your lunch with you.

Happy Christmas

Jane

I know that there are lots of animal lovers who come to craft fairs. Some bring their dogs with them so I thought I would produce some glass pieces that reflected this.

The paw prints are cut from copper foil and sandwiched between two pieces of glass, the top one being clear. I have just made a series of small dishes, keyrings and hangers ready for my Christmas Fairs.

Looking forward to seeing visitors at Hatton Country World, near Warwick this weekend, with or without their doggy friends.

My Christmas Craft Fair season is well under way. I met some lovely folk in Banbury today. It’s great going to craft fairs locally as I begin to see regular customers. Here’s my table from today, although not everything here is still for sale! They’ve gone to be loved by someone, for themselves or as a gift.

I went to the Creative Crafts Show at the NEC last week with my lovely crafting friends I did a workshop and made this fella: he’s made from clay and I may just have to have another play sometime!

Next week I’m at Hatton World of Adventure, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm, it’s free to enter the craft fair. Last year everything in the marquee was home made so it’s a great way to browse for gifts for Christmas or any other event.

Meanwhile I’m back in Banbury on 30th November.

 

The year is progressing at a terribly fast rate. I have a granddaughter who was born in January and is now 9 months old. How does that happen?

I have been working hard to prepare my goodies for Christmas. I showed my Christmas trees in August – I have now made about 100 and I’m hoping they’ll all be different!

However, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a lampwork creature and this year it’s Father Christmas’s. There are short, fat ones, tall, slim ones just as in real life. Although I use the same red glass rods for all of them each rod softens differently and the glass flows better in some than others. The Santa’s are made like beads so they have a hole through their middles and are hung with coloured thread. I have made about 40 but am working hard to make enough for the season. With 10 more craft fairs to attend before Christmas I need enough supplies to last.

If you’d like to visit me at a fair here’s the list:

19th Oct – Witney Corn Exchange

26th Oct – Henley Town Hall

2nd Nov – Banbury Town Hall

9th, 10th Nov – Hatton, Warwickshire

16th Nov – Chipping Norton Town Hall

23rd Nov – Carrdus School, Banbury

24th Nov – Cropredy Art Group Exhibition

30th Nov – Banbury Town Hall

7th Dec – Towcester Town Hall

I look forward to seeing you at one of these locations

 

If you are a crafter then you always have to begin your Christmas designs well ahead of time, especially if you want to make more than one of anything. I am in the process of making glass Christmas tree decorations. I started off by making 50 but I have two venues other than my craft fairs to sell at so I’ve gone for 100 instead!

This is a selection and I’m trying to achieve 100 different colour combo’s, – I can but try.  They are all made from transparent glass so the light, either natural or candles, will shine through the rich colours. I have become aware that some folk like the traditional reds and greens but others like blues so there is a wide variety of colours.

I’ll be selling them from the end of October so if you’d like one hot out of the kiln, in your own colours get in touch soon.

If you’d like to come and make one then that’s a special workshop you can do. I’ll mix it with other pieces too so come and have Christmas fun.

I am delighted to have a stand at this event on Sunday. The fair is full of goodies to try, demonstrations to watch and lots to buy. Having craft stalls there this year is a new venture so it’s going to be interesting to see how it goes.

Because of the subject of the fair I have been majoring on dishes which folk might like to display their goodies on.

Apart from these three serving dishes I have another patchwork one (but it’s in the kiln so not on show just yet). I also have two dipping dishes:

 

Added to that both teaspoon rests and larger spoon rests in many colours I have a riot of colourful and vaguely useful glass to enjoy.

Added to all of the above, despite the changing forecasts it looks like it’s going to be a dry day. Yippee