Winter Warming

Now we are into January, the media warns us of impending thundersnow and, even if there's only a sprinkling of snow it is distinctly chilly.

My lovely mother in law treated herself to a sumptuous woolly poncho before Christmas and this week declared it was no good as she didn't like the flappiness of it all. So, the poncho was kindly given to me, the daughter in law of frequently purple hands with a penchant for drapery; it's lovely!

Before the cat spotted the poncho lap of joy I took a few winter inspired shots of some jewellery. I then spent the afternoon editing them with the laptop perched on the arm of the sofa with the cat claiming her rightful spot on my lap!

Wishing you all a very happy new year!

2014

Molly cat made it onto the mural at The Chain Bridge Honey Farm

Wintry Holy Island

Monty joined us as a teeny wee lad

My beautiful sister with her siblings just before getting married

Discovered a fabulous local flower farm

Lynne and Carl's wedding day

Hester continued to be an essential workshop companion

Finally met a Goldsworthy

Holiday neighbour

Rich setting up at Coldstream Gallery

Visit to my folks resulting in finally seeing the Wallace grin toy in action

Spittal rainbow

Rope twists kept coming this year

My Nana's 90th Birthday; thanks to our lovely neighbour taking my wedding dress across the Irish Sea we got a photo of us together in the frock

Gorgeous Suzie's wedding, here with her fab siblings

Day out in Dublin with my brother

Beachy family photo shoot

Sea glass, patterned ring bands and fancy bezels, yes!

Coldstream Gallery

It is very nearly Christmas and very nearly the end of a year which has brought us many unexpected changes.

Over the last year and a half I had the joy of working at two fabulous local galleries, Number Four in St Abbs and Coldstream Gallery. 

I have loved working in both galleries and when Rich and I were offered the opportunity to take over the managing of Coldstream Gallery and Cafe we jumped at the chance. Both exciting and daunting we have been working hard in conjunction with our own creative work and education work.

Our first exhibition opened last month and it has been such a pleasure showing new work from a slection of the area's top artists. November brought both our first exhibition and our new website, www.coldstreamgallery.co.uk which is growing regularly. You can keep up to date with happenings and exhibition news by subscribing to our email newsletter. We have opened an online shop and you can now buy Coldstream Gallery gift vouchers online. New shop categories are coming soon, including jewellery!

 My own wee web shop was taken offline as it was one thing too many during the transition period but my jewellery will be available online again in the new year. I've still been out collecting glass and pottery and making jewellery and right now my very last orders for this year are tumbling away being polished ready for collection tomorrow.

Tomorrow is my last day working at the gallery before we finish up for Christmas and I am really looking forward to sitting back and relaxing with family and friends. 

We are so thankful to everyone who has visited the gallery, bought work, popped in for a cuppa, liked work on facebook; it has been massively encouraging for both myself and Rich, and all the artists represented at the gallery. Thank you!

Plans for next year are already taking shape and, yes, there will still be tea and cake at the gallery!

 

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

See you then,

Laura 

Stacker Sea Glass Rings

recycled sterling silver pebble ring

recycled sterling silver and sea glass stacker rings

recycled sterling silver rope, band and heart rings

Rings have been stacking up on my workbench ready to be photographed and worn as lovely little stacks of recycled joy! I will be listing the pebble rings in the shop soon; you can see one worn in a stack with a sea glass ring and a hammered silver ring in the middle picture. With thanks to my gorgeous sister for sending me the picture of her wearing her Christmas present!

Crossing Borders Exhibition at Coldstream Gallery

The lovely Coldstream Gallery is hosting its annual Crossing Borders Exhibition featuring work by artists working all over the Borders.  It is a great chance to see a variety of work from members of the artist collective all in one venue and Rich and I are happy to be exhibiting there.

Calendulas by Rich Johnson

detail of work by Niall Campbell

Laura Johnson Sea Glass, Pottery and Recycled Silver Jewellery

 To see more from the exhibition pop on over to Coldstream Gallery's facebook page and give them a like!

Rings

Good evening and happy weekend to you all!

I've been hard at work making rings and helping R sand our floor boards back. A hefty job but we are nearly, nearly orange varnish free.

And I have more rings than I did at the start of the week.

Last Friday we took a jaunt to Peebles where you can see a display of my jewellery and Rich's fine, witty and wonderful drawings at the Eastgate Theatre.  We also made it over to Moy Mackay's gallery which now has a new selection of my jewellery in its lovely cabinets of splendour!

It is Friday evening and I'm done for the day and heading for the sofa for a glass of wine and some Monty Don, good night!

New Jewellery

Work in progress for the upcoming Art Trail! Lots more on the go! These photos all resulted from having to take a thumb break before carrying on making, shaping, filing, sanding... Always seems to be my poor left thumb gets a battering, although I did stab my middle finger with my new, very shap file the other day, right under the nail, ouch.

Beach Finds Jewellery Workshop

Last week as part of Berwick Arts and Crafts Festival I ran a beach finds jewellery making workshop teaching two main techniques for creating wire wrapped glass, pottery or pebble charms.  These charms can be used to make earrings or pendants or bracelets and there was a full range on Friday.

A special mention to two participants who managed to complete the workshop, one with a migraine and one with a broken thumb! Dedication!

If you would like to arrange a workshop just get in touch; the next one will be part of the Crossing Borders Art Trail on the 6th, 7th and 8th September when I will be at Allanbank Arts near Allanton.