Missed a month I think….head spaces and kickstarts……

Back in a temporary middle school job….teaching….job-sharing  to be precise at the moment….and my life has been absorbed again ( although I do basically love the job it can be all consuming…)….how I would love to be able to make a living just from creating….

I have drawn ideas and know what I need to do to get those kiln shelves ready for the next batch but the practicalities of paying the bills have taken over.

I am very blessed that the current job is enjoyable with really super, fun, bright, pleasant pupils and staff …I have regained my partly lost confidence with excellent feedback and have confirmed to myself that I must trust my judgements….don`t know when I stopped really.

The son is back from his travels and the house is filling up for a bit which is nice. Last year it was full of visitors from around Europe (mainly) and that was enjoyable too. I like positive change and am always planning next steps or next experiences.

I have improved the pc problems with a lovely reconditioned baby so no excuses to keep up the blog, as it is instant access and not the half hour of warming up my old laptop needed.

So a year ago I was watching the outdoor temperature rise to get clay work sorted and now I am more organised and just need the headspace to get a kickstart.

To sum up, I have moved on immensely and should be proud with that, I really need to make the time for being creative and give myself some deadlines, time to get that calendar out.

I finished with squares on clear glass (see pics) and this is where I shall pick up from…pictures of progress to appear soon.

Magnificent Cornwall, mendings, and markets….

Was so glad to have a short October break to see family in Cornwall. It is such an inspiring English county. The scenery is magnificent and so breath taking in places, and the many harbours feel familiar yet are all very different.

Falmouth is an exception …it is massive !!

It is a wonderful town with lots of quirky shops. We got to know it well when the eldest `gorgeous one` studied there.

I also got a bit closer to this amazing place.

In fact I managed to drink hot chocolate staring at it closely this time, I could actually see the houses where several families live and the small harbour. Next visit I would like to sail out there ( or walk at low tide ) and have a look around. It is called St Michael`s Mount because the angel Michael was supposed to have been seen there.

Another place I had driven by so many times was Trebah gardens.

The planting is very sculptural, exotic and in large amounts and  size !! A great place to go sketching or to take photos. The central lake is a homage to Monet with the Japanese bridge. ( see pic above ).

The most moving and unusual aspect is having a beach at the end of the gardens, but also the fact  that, for thousands of American troops, this was the last piece of friendly land they walked through before being loaded onto the boats to take part in the D Day landings.

A very poignant place.

All through this visit was my focus on the fused glass everywhere !! Arts and crafts is BIG in Cornwall. Tourism is a huge source of income and artists have been attracted to the area mainly because of the  clear, bright, surrounding  light and inspiring scenery.

So, no shortage of things to see and ideas to log … and prices to gauge !! I have booked our first stall to sell glass in a newly refurbished Open Market in Brighton. I am busy working out reasonable prices to reflect all the work that has gone into them.

I spent my week back home working in a school for a few days and then, a mending session where the glass hadn`t fused properly  and experimenting with yet more new materials, like these holly and ivy printed decals, and using copper foil and wire. I have gone a bit smaller with some of the pieces thinking they may be good to hang on Christmas trees……I apologise if it is STILL far too early to mention the `C` word.