David Hay

Well, the fair at the weekend was very poor on the sales front in that there were none. That's right - two days, no sales! I think many people were away holidaying as the turnout was very low considering how much effort had gone into advertising by the organisers. Still, I don't think I'll be booking another one.

Today has been a designated day off as we've been working hard on completing the PTLLS course, creating pieces for sale and attending fairs. This morning was the start of a much needed Spring clean and this afternoon we went over to an exhibition at Duns Castle.

River Walk David Hay
image courtesy of Art Amoria

There was some fine work on show and the stand out artist for me was David Hay. His layered glazes create atmospheric and absorbing landscapes and it was good to see a collection of his work together. I have only ever seen one painting of his before and was impressed that each piece on show today, from the very small to the very large, were all of great impact.

We paused down by the river when out on the bikes this morning and nattered about how much we love living here. Tomorrow marks a whole year since we moved and I can fully confirm it was a good move!

New Earrings

Only one day left to get all jewellery, display and directions sorted for tomorrow's Easter Fair in Galashiels! Yesterday I did some last minute drilling over at R's parents' and was treated to lunch in the garden and a sit in the sunshine, it was lovely! A bit of time off in a busy week is an essential I have decided.

Having thought I was out of teeny tiny drill bits with only tiny ones left I was delighted to find I'd left the last teeny tiny one in the work shop so was able to drill some pieces for earrings. I paired up some aqua sea glass with copper this time and have a pair like the copper circle ones above with a heart shape on the workbench to finish this morning. Then there will be another big tumbling session to get the last lot shiny and pretty ready for tomorrow.

Wishing you all a happy and blessed Easter.

Workroom Wednesday

Two pieces of sea pottery set in fine silver; they are finished now but the image shows them in a nearly finished state.

There are lots of new pieces on the go and they'll all be ready for this weekend's Easter Craft and Gift Fayre in Galashiels. If you are visiting make sure you come and say hello!

Gareth and John

Last year I heard the sad news that John Erwin had died within a month of being diagnosed with Leukemia. John used to live round the corner from us and was a school mate of my brother and his next door neighbour Gareth Crockett.

Gareth and Jez, a university friend of John's, decided to go on an epic fundraising mission in memory of John and to raise money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Research. They set out last week starting off with a marathon around Moira, cycling to Dublin, the Dublin Marathon and then the ferry over to Wales. The plan was to cycle to Bristol and then London before completing the London Marathon on Saturday.

Tragically on Wednesday morning, about half way throught the challenge, Gareth was knocked down by a car and died at the scene. It is unbelievably poignant and sad and my love, thoughts and prayers are with Gareth's Mum and Dad, Emma, Jonny and Alison.

I don't know if Jez is continuing on the challenge but the appeal remains open and the boys have done it as the £10,000 target has already been surpassed. If you can do please offer your support by donating here.

I'll leave you with words from Gareth's sister Emma:

“He had been so delighted with all the donations to the challenge and raising awareness of leukaemia in memory of John,” she told the News Letter last night.

“We are all trying to get through this, but it has been great to see all the messages of support which have been left online for him and we know that he achieved what he set out to do, even though he didn’t get to finish the challenge,” said Emma.

She added: “We will never forget his intelligence, his dry wit and his great sense of humour.”

Newsletter

Workroom Wednesday

Six slimline stacker rings ready for polishing; they are all a bit mucky from sanding in the photo but will come out lovely and shiny after they've been in the tumbler. On the 23rd and 24th April I will be at the Galashiels Easter Craft and Gift Fayre and there will be a whole host of new pieces ready for the weekend.

Bunting

A couple of years ago I bought a sewing machine. It is a nice, basic machine, good range of stuff and things to make stuff and things happen when you do other things.

The thing is, believe it or not, I hadn't used it until about two weeks ago when I decided I had to learn! Apart from whipping up a few costumes out of brown pillow cases for the school play and before that some experimental free machine embroidery at university and school I am not hugely experienced in the world of stitchery.

Thanks to my darling friend and her beautiful family I had a reason to learn: I wanted to give her new baby a gift before he turned eighteen! So, I thought bunting for new baby and big sister's birthday would be a good place to start.


It was fun! However, due to the aforementioned looming eighteenth birthday baby boy has not had his name sewn on! There are several gaping whoopsies and when helping her children open their gifticles I believe Mummy will realise why her suggestion of a 'Cameron original' for my wedding dress is not such a hot idea!

Blooming Lovely

It has been the warmest day of the year so far today, according to me anyway! Sunshiney delight and, after a fair bit of rain recently, the garden is actually dancing for joy.


Spring bulbs are blooming and new shoots are emerging, some expected and hoped for, others a complete mystery until we see a bit more emerging from the soil. It is a very exciting time!

This is our first time watching what comes up in the garden and, even though we've planted some bits, we weren't here this time last year so each day brings new and exciting discoveries.

At the end of this month we will be marking the first anniversary of living in the borders and my it's been a cracking year! Yesterday was the third session of the Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning course we've been doing which marks half way. It will be good to have the qualification and the people on the course are all really friendly but I'll be glad when it's finished as I'll not have to be working on assignments!

Last week I got an offer for a GCSE examiner position which I was delighted to accept as it brings a little financial boost and will be funding a new camera. After several 'camera not working at the wedding' nightmares I need to have a back up camera before photographing the lovely Kate and Andrew's wedding in October! So it's all go in a good way. Enjoying work with plenty of time to enjoy the sunny days in the garden. On this day when another friend has left full time teaching I wish him huge amounts of happiness in his next adventure!

Karine Polwart, David Tennant and Billie Piper

Yes, really.



We were really fortunate to see Karine Polwart, her wee brother Steven Polwart and Inge Thomson play at Peter Potter Gallery a few weeks ago. It was amazing. Between the beautiful voices, instruments, lyrics, fairy lit swan flight and Church bells I don't think I was the only one mesmerised in the moment.

If you get the chance to see the trio on tour, go!

New British Comics Volume Three

New British Comics volume 3 is available now and features a host of fabulous work including Here Comes the Neighbourhood which was created by Matthew Craig and Rich Johnson. I'm incredibly proud of Rich and his work and it is so exciting to see his illustrations in print not to mention his paintings in a gallery, his poetry in a magazine! Eeeeeee! I'm gushing, he is a talented man!

Earth Hour 2011

8.30pm - 9.30pm Saturday 26th March 2011

On Saturday evening we joined many others in participating in the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour. We spent the hour cosied up on the sofa, staring at the candles and eating our dinner which was a good way to calm my mind after a week of gallivanting ready to start back to working full time this week. I've got a lot of unfinished jewellery waiting for me this afternoon having spent this morning on the first of two assignments due this Friday. Clearly saving the fun stuff for when the not so exciting stuff is done!

Workroom Wednesday

The beginnings of a new charm bracelet chain lined up on a ruler. I must point out the super little blue gizmo on the left hand side of the picture; a tapered steel mandrel on a rest so I can shape wire into circles with ease. An ADJ original and one of the handiest tools on my newly elevated bench!

Work Bench Revolution

Check out my new and improved work table!

I have highlighted the stylishly subtle changes to my working environment which have been designed with the utmost care to aid a shoulder friendly posture when making jewellery.

After a morning of accounts I'm ready to try it out and am hopeful it will prevent neck ache and allow me to work for longer periods without strain and pain.

Hope it works!

Beads by Laura

Laura Sparling is selling some hand made glass beads for the Japan Tsunami appeal.

The first lot have sold out but if you want a way to support the work of the Red Cross in Japan keep an eye on her blog for the next batch.

Thank you Laura and all who are working to help Japan.

Workroom Wednesday

So, I've had a wonderful mini break with my fabulous siblings and today's workroom has been less hammering and sawing, more emails, accounts, assignments, photo scanning, fair arranging and cups of tea on the settee.

I am also deciding which pieces to take to the lovely Number Four Gallery in St Abbs which will be stocking a selection of my work from this weekend and feeling generally excited by the sunshine even if it is still freezing and windy enough to blow my laundry off the line!

Green News

I have joyous news - at long last I have a UK supplier of recycled silver!

This means that my next order of silver will be made up of recycled silver! I am so pleased that I will be able to create my jewellery from over 90% recycled materials as all glass, pottery, silver wire and sheet will be recycled! I also have a lovely stock of recycled copper sheet to use which I'm having fun exploring. The roughly 10% new materials used in my jewellery are fine necklace chains and lobster clasps.

I am hoping my new supplier will agree to be featured on my blog to tell you all about their work but until then if you would like their contact details please get in touch. It is so exciting that now jewellers in the UK have access to recycled silver and hopefully the large precious metals will take note and ethical metals will become the norm.

In more green news I have an even more exciting* announcement to make: laundry balls work!
After a few years of seeing these laundry balls in the shops and wondering if they work R's Mum mentioned she had bought a set and was really pleased with the results. So, today we bought a box and I have just hung the first load of washing out. I am pleased to announce that without any laundry detergent or fabric softener the socks are indeed clean and lovely, I hope it works every time as it's all rather pleasing for thrifty and eco reasons! There are loads of reports online about these laundry balls being eco-gimmicks but if this first wash is anything to go by they are working and I'm hopeful!

Happy Weekend to you all!

* update on the eco laundry balls, they ain't so hot after all! After a week I find on certain garments which have been in close proximity to armpits the eco balls don't remove deodorant whiffs so I'll have to add a wee bit of detergent in with t-shirts. Otherwise, still good!

First Fair of the Year

Last Saturday R and I had our first fair adventure of the year at St Abbs' Wool Festival run by the lovely Louise of Woolfish. It was a good day and despite still feeling a bit tired and run down getting out and talking to people about work did wonders to banish the despondent feelings which had been creeping into my sleepy head. You know the ones which hammer on about not earning enough and having to go and try to get a job you don't want to do. Just as they were serious enough for me to get a job application form other opportunities are starting to appear on the horizon and I calmed down again with the reminder that I am still in the first year of being fully self employed and just need to crack on and not fret!

Each day this week has bloomed into glorious sunshine which is boosting my energy greatly. I have been combining jewellery photographing and website updates with cycling around this fabulous place we call home and sticking bulbs in the garden with wild abandon.

It's a good mix and resulting in me finally getting my website a little bit more up to date. I've listed a few new pieces and will be adding more once I decide which bits of jewellery will be going to my new stockist - more on the who, what, where on that soon! I'm loving the way copper works with the tones of the sea glass and pottery in these pieces and am looking forward to working with more copper.


Tomorrow R and I are starting a Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector course which was recommended by the Workers' Education Association when we taught for them. I have really enjoyed teaching jewellery workshops and am hoping this course will lead me on to planning some new ones; all part of the cracking on!

Let's hope this spring delight carries on - I have siblings flying this way and it would be ace to have some sunshine to accompany their visit.