Today I have dedicated myself to making more of an effort to sell my work.  So, lots of taking photographs in the intermittent sunshine in the garden and the rest of the day was spent adding my work to all the usual on-line marketing opportunities.  Not quite the day of actually making stuff that I had planned, but a more realistic and practical effort and getting people to see my work.

And if you want to see it, touch it, feel it and talk to me, I will be at the Cambridge Glass Fair on Sunday http://www.cambridgeglassfair.com/ - I can’t wait!

Boy am I tired!  It’s been a while since I gave an update because I’ve been so busy. 

I am currently showing my wares at the British Craft Trade Fair which has been something of an experience.  I have 2 days, just one more to go and I am exhausted.  I have put in so much effort to get a range of stock that I am actually pleased with, proud of and want to promote in public.  I cannot believe how long this takes.  I am so picky about what I do and don’t like of my work, and like edges to be really neat and tidy, and don’t like bubbles in the wrong places - so I have lots of things that I have ditched as “not worthy” and lots of ideas which I’ve not had a chance to try but I do have a range of things on display. 

Friday night was a very 11th hour trip to Ikea for my display units.  I already knew what sort of thing I wanted and knew that Ikea sold them so it wasn’t quite as unprepared as it sounds, but I didn’t want to splash out money until I knew exactly what range of work I was going to have ready for the show.  Of course, what should have been quite a quick shopping trip took an entire evening because I spotted lots of other display options and spent ages trying to compare them all and making the final decision was very, very time consuming! 

So Saturday was setup day and I was already exhausted before we even got there, but I am on a mission, so lack of sleep is trivial in the bigger scheme of things.  I thought 4 hours for setting up would have been plenty but we only just fininished by 6pm.  It didn’t help that the security guards spotted us with children in tow and told us they weren’t allowed so it meant Pete and I had to take turns setting up the stand and swapping instructions and babysitting.  

The fair opened yesterday and was fairly quiet which made for quite a long, tedious and very tiring day, but today things were much busier and I had lots of people asking questions, asking for price lists and generally liking my work.  I have my fingers crossed for a lady who at 5 minutes before closing started wanting loads of details from me and gave me her business card - she is back tomorrow, so fingers crossed for an order!  I even had a few friendly faces such as Natalie from 339 Gallery in Skircoat Green, and Jo Whitehead from Keighley Arts so thank you for coming and saying hello and being enthusiastic about my work.  So if I can keep my eyes open, it’s time for a late supper and then collapsing into bed ready for another had day at the coal face of selling! 

Oh scary, scary!!  I’ve just got back from my first ever radio interview and over half an hour later I am still feeling totally wired by the whole experience.  The interview was to talk about my glass work and my courses and was with Geoff of Phoenix Radio, a local radio station in Calderdale.   I was totally prepared in terms of questions and answers for the topics I wanted to talk about but it was still  really scary doing it all live on air.  

What a busy week I’ve had - the radio interview was just one of many things over the last few days.  Last week was the BCTF in Harrogate which was good to do with lots of great feedback on my work, but so, so tiring.  I had Wednesday to recover before heading back to the day job for a 2 day stint before the weekend.  No rest here though as I had a stained glass course on the Saturday which turned out to be a really great day.  Just the one student, Anthea, but she came prepared with lots of sketches of the sort of thing she wanted to produce, the size of the window to be filled and her inspiration had come from the photographs on my website of my own front door.  And to top it all she had arrived with a supply of home-made cup-cakes.   A brilliant day and we had lunch in the garden as it was such a sunny day.

Sunday was supposed to be a day of running for me as I am getting really behind on my marathon training, but the 16 miles didn’t happen.  Instead I spent most of the day updating my website with all the activities planned for the Craft & Design Month of May in preparation for the radio interview today.   It’s amazing how what you think is going to be a quick activity turns out to be most of the day!

And as if I don’t already have tons to keep me busy, the Stainland Lions beginners course starts today so much of this morning (after a quick trip to gymnastics with Zachary) was spent getting all the final bits and pieces ready for the start of this evening - oh why did I volunteer to be the beginners captain this year when I knew I was already really busy!

And then tomorrow it’s back to the day job which is a day trip to London, meaning a very early start and a late finish and being totally knackered -well more than I already am if that is possible!

But some good news - by some total miracle that I am not going to question, I actually passed my grade 8 piano exam!  It’s only taken me 6 years since I restarted lessons (plus the 19 years since I originally passed grade 7) and despite having a total breakdown in all 3 pieces I have passed.  I should feel pleased but it was such a disaster of an exam I don’t feel that I’ve finished on a high.  When I mentioned to my piano teacher that I was considering re-sitting it, she sounded a bit horrified - I think I’ve stressed her out enough over the past few months.

At least I have Wednesday afternoon free, so I will try and do some running and maybe even have a rest.  Thursday afternoon is going to be good though - I have my first session with a life coach followed by a business mentoring session with Calderdale council.  These should both be great for keeping me highly motivated and making sure that I am doing all the right things to make sure that my glass efforts are a success. 

And then that takes me to the weekend when I have my next course - 2 days of fused glass with 3 excited people - hooray!

Should you be interested in attending one of my courses please don’t hesitate to get in touch

In my constant search for and research into British makers, I have just come across the profile and work of Adelle Corrin, only to find out that she died in August of this year.

While I undersatnd that no one lives forever, I couldn't help but feel sad that someone who chose to give so much to the world is no longer here to continue to doing so and that selfishly, I can not see what she would have yet produced.

And so in my own personal tribute to someone that I have only just discovered but need to say goodbye to, please see below some examples of her work so that you too may know of her and the legacy she has left to us all.

The Four Seasons

Exhibition Pieces

Private Collection Pieces

You can read more about her here

Apologies for being so quiet for the last couple of months but I have been really, really busy which is brilliant!  I am finally busy with my glass full time and things are getting better and better.  I have courses published until the end of August with some new additions.  As well as the mosaics which I kicked off in February, I am also going to be running half day workshops in fun stuff - copper foiling flowers, glass applique, make a mosaic mirror.  These are aimed at people who just want to have a go at something different and leave with something to take home. 

My standard courses in Stained Glass and Fused Glass are going well.  I have lots of dates for courses every month to see what proves popular - mid-week, weekend, school holidays, no school holidays etc  This has meant that numbers on my courses are very variable - some courses are fully booked a couple of months ahead, whilst others have just one person.  I can’t see a pattern yet, I expect to get more consistency in numbers as I get a bit more savvy about how often to run courses.  I’ve also added some extra course durations - stained glass can now be done as a 2 day course and my first student was brilliant.  He made a lovely panel which he is going to be put into his front door and has a schedule of other windows for his house.  For fused glass, I am now offering the 2 day course as a part 1 and part 2 one day course or those who don’t want to do a 2 day course in one go.  And finally, after much pressure from some previous students I have finally sorted out an intermediate glass fusing 2 day course.  The first one ran this week and was really good.  My two students came from quite different backgrounds in terms of experience but they both left with new skills, lots of good samples and lots of enthusiasm.  Hopefully I will get some more bookings from previous students who are looking for more.

Should you be interested in attending one of my courses please don’t hesitate to get in touch

In two weeks I will have done my first day at the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate which I am really looking forward to this year.  I am proud of my work and think it is commercially attractive so hopefully the buyers will think the same thing!  Of course, as usual, I want to try and make loads more stuff and get it framed in time as well as all the other last minute prep that always happens!

After that, I’m off to the National Glass Fair on 6th May which should be good.  I tried out the Cambridge Glass Fair in February and was really amazed at the interest people had in glass.  Unlike a lot of other fairs, people really want to talk to you about the glass and have lots of knowledge which means that the day is more fun and interesting.  I even sold some work and took a course booking!  The National Glass Fair is organised by the same people as the Cambridge Glass Fair so I am looking forward to an enjoyable day.

Anyway, it’s gone midnight again and I am at my usual spot on the computer - I thought I was a glass artist, but it seems that running your own business automatically turns you into a computer nerd!   Just waiting for the latest updates to my website to upload and then I’m off to  bed.