GaysieMay's Beadmobile

I have had a lovely and extremely busy Summer.  The main job has been renovating an old caravan (exact year unknown).  I went to visit the caravan in its very beige state but instantly fell in love and knew I had to try and acquire it!  A successful ebay bid or two and it was mine!















The work has been fun, tiring and at times more than a little frustrating.  The first sign of rain saw several leaks including from the old and perished skylight.  I did most of the work with my Dad - who is a hero and very calm, thinking though each stage, where I might be tempted to just wade in with a hammer!

We did all the internal work first by big beefy fella ripped everything out including the kitchen sink!  The Dad filled all the holes before we reinforced the floor and set about creating a workbench and glass storage unit.








Just call him Mick two drills!  Once the unit was made and in, we drilled through the floor to add extraction and feed the propane hose out of.  I then set about mosaic tiling the workbench a labour of love indeed.

My daughter kindly (and under only a little duress) covered the upholstery for the settees that we had kept at the other end.  I dusted my sewing machine to whip up some curtains and then Dad and I got busy again reclaiming bathroom cupboards and using lots of plyboard to make bespoke glass storage!  Big beefy fella was then called in to put down the flooring - it has been very much a family affair!  A labour of love and I think very worth it!

Papering over the Cracks!

Ok so I had some really tatty looking jewellery busts - I bought them off ebay and didn't read the blurb properly they are tiny and to be honest a little useless!  That'll teach me!  Anyway I decided to try and tart them up a bit.






The first thing I did was to cover the busts with torn paper and pva glue.
You can see that I wasn't too careful about how I applied it. The only thing I did was to make sure it covered the whole of the busts and that I didn't use coloured newsprint.

It was at this point that the very important next step had to be followed.  This is the most important step of any re purposing, up cycling or generally faffing about with bits and bobs. - HAVE A CUP OF TEA AND WAIT FOR THINGS TO DRY!





Next I applied some old emulsion paint - I applied it with a dry brush and quite sparingly.  Once this was dried I added some gold paint detailing before waiting for it dry once again.


The final stage was to brush varnish over the whole thing - I chose one with quite a light stain this time in the past I have used one with a darker stain for a more aged effect.  Wait for it to dry and dress it with some of your lovely handmade jewellery!

You never know what is around the corner...

... a few months back I went to my daughters university to have a dress fitting.  She is in her final year of a costume design degree course and I am to model one of her degree show outfits.  Now that in itself was exciting enough for me, its such a cool place with aged tailors dummies draped with costumes from every era you can think of, such a creative environment.  As her lecturer was talking her through what needed to be done next and discussing decorative finishes he noticed my bracelet and commented on it.  He then recalled Jessica telling him about having a Mum who made glass beads and jewellery, well before I knew it I was agreeing to run a one day wire-work workshop!

The workshop was on Friday, I was so excited.  I have been a primary teacher for the last thirteen years, but this was the first time I'd taught adults - I loved it!

None of the students had done any wire-work before and I think you'll agree they did a very good job!  The students choose lampwork beads from my stash of odds and orphans and every single one looked fab!  I also gave a lampworking demo.  I have the bug and now and can't wait to deliver my two day lampworking and wire-work workshop 'Beads to Bracelets' at Tuffnells.
http://www.tuffnellglass.com/contents/en-uk/d143_Beads_to_Bracelets_-_Two_Day_Course.html

The March class sold out so they asked me to do another Aug 31st/1st Sep.

Totally Twisted!

Its strange how sometimes things just seem to evolve.  I had a glassy friend over for a cup of coffee and as we sat talking and stroking glass beads I picked up some of the copper wire that was lying around (I had intended to make some jewellery up - okay, okay I admit it, I'm just untidy) and started to play.

My friend had admired the necklace I was wearing and asked about the small copper twisted connector bead on it.  It was as we were looking at this that I decided - why not elongate it and turn it into a setting for a lampwork focal?  The results were rather pleasing.  Needless to say I got a little carried away and made up several.

Tomorrow I Fight Again!

I posted a while ago now about a fight I had - I didn't exactly win.  My adversary was the 'pop up' light tent, which I bought to improve my photos.  Since the brawl to get it back into its ridiculously small bag it has sat wedged behind a wardrobe - not I hasten to add, in the said small bag!

Since that time some months ago I have practiced patience and waited (sometimes for a number of weeks) for sunny days on which to get outside and take my photos.  However, after yet another bleak weather forecast with no mention of sunshine, I have decided to be proactive and have set myself the challenge of setting up the light tent and capturing some images using daylight bulbs!  Still scared emotionally from my previous bout I am already finding little house hold chores and distractions that may yet take priority!

 Yet fight I must, I owe it to the beads - this poor little chap was snapped on a rather grey day - wish me luck?

Tomorrow - The First Day of the Rest of My Life?

Ok, so I made a huge decision to quit my day job!  Tired of the stress and workload I resigned. I finished at Christmas.  On the 28th of December we flew out to Tenerife for a fortnight.  On returning to the UK my youngest fell ill with a fever and was off school, for three days.  The fourth and fifth day of that week would have ordinarily been my days off!  So (drum roll please) tomorrow Monday 21st January will be the first day of the rest of my life!

So what to do? Well I do have some rather exciting news, not only am I delivering a one day wire workshop at the local uni campus in February but I've also been asked to run a two day course at Tuffnells Glass.  The first day will be making up lampwork beads and the second day will be transforming the beads into bracelets.  To say I'm excited is an understatement.  Wish me luck?

You can find out more at Tuffnell glass

http://www.tuffnellglass.com

It's Been Too Long!

I can't believe I've neglected this poor blog - and so much has been happening too!  Perhaps that's the reason why.  I've just been reflecting on what has been a great year on the glassy front.  I was lucky enough to win the stringing section of the GBUK annual competition, with this my entry Juno's Friend. I was obviously delighted and am already thinking about 2013s entry.

As if that weren't enough I actually managed to win the Lampwork section of the Jewellery Maker of the Year Competition held by Beads and Beyond Magazine.  I have to admit I shed a little tear on hearing the news.  The piece I entered was quite tricky to make, but I'm pleased I persevered with it.  I've also been lucky enough to attend a couple of courses, one with Bronwen Heilmann who came over from the States and the other with Amanda Muddimer who came up from her own studio to deliver a course at Tuffnells glass.  They were both fantastic and I learnt loads of really useful tips.

So I'm here wondering what next year will have to offer on the glassy front?  If its halve as good as this year it will be great!