Last weekend I had another fused glass course with three excited people full of enthusiasm for fused glass and what fun we had!  Two of my students were on a weekend break courtesy of their husbands who contacted me way back in December about a Christmas present for their wives.  Away from all family comitments they were both great fun all weekend.  My third student was a teacher who wants to introduce her students to glass fusing.  With so much enthusiasm I tried to give them as much information as I could about all aspects of glass fusing - I probably over-did it but when you have such an enthusiastic audience it is hard not to get caught up with all the enthusiasm.  At lunch time on both days we managed to enjoy the fabulous sunshine which finished off an excellent weekend course. 

My next big task is to get details of my courses posted up everywhere so that my courses get busier.  I had a fully booked stained glass course last month which was great news but now I am struggling to find my courses on internet searches which is impacting my course bookings for the next couple of months.  So much for being a glass artist - I seem to spend most of my time on the internet doing sales and marketing activities and web management!

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

May already!  This means it is Craft & Design Month and everybody should be in the mood for learning something new.  I have open studio sessions and glass fusing tasters to add to my usual courses so am going to be having a busy month.  This started today with a visit from the local newspaper who came to interview me and take lots of photos of me and my glass - very scary and very exciting.  The Halifax Courier will be doing a full page feature on me, my courses and my glass next Wednesday so fingers crossed this should generate lots of interest in my courses over the next few months.

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

Last week was very exciting for me - the Halifax Courier published a full page feature all about me and my glass - how exciting!  I emailed a press release a couple of weeks ago about various activities I had planned for the month of May as part of Craft & Design Month.  I wasn’t too hopefull of any interest so was very surprised and pleased when I got a call from Diane Crabtree first thing the next morning asking to come round the next day with the photographer to do a feature!   The feature was published last Wednesday and anyone wanting to read it should got to my website http://www.wickedgencrafts.co.uk/index_files/Page827.htm. 

There was a certain degree of embellishment which made it slightly embarasing to read and a few comments at my day job the next day when a couple of people were genuinely surprised that I was still there given what was said in the article.  All part of the fun of being famous!!  And the feature did actually result in some additional business for me in the form of a lady who came round on Sunday to buy a window hanger and actually left with 3 plus a bowl.  So, now I need to think of following this all up with more local advertising and marketing.  Busy, busy…

What a busy few months!  Bookings on courses are growing each month which is great news and I am adding evening and afternoon sessions for the fused glass.  I am also starting to get interest in running a mosaic course so I need to get some dates organised and get going! 

Last month I was at Art in the Pen and what a great weekend that was.  I had loads of really lovely comments but the biggest complement was from a couple who bought 3 of my confetti flower pictures.  I couldn’t believe it when they said they wanted three!  Another lady bought one of my wave heart pictures which was another big boost.  It’s good to actually have some pieces that I actually like and that other people are loving and buying!  I’ve also sold a whole load of work to Gerry at Neaversons in Huddersfield which is another big boost.  So to celebrate I treated myself to a new kiln, an introduction to Enamelling book and a starter pack of enamelling bits - it’s going to be a while yet before I get competent but it is so exciting having something new to play with!   

Hooray - I’m giving up the day job at last!!   I applied for voluntary redundancy and last month they said YES!!  I can’t believe the added enthusiasm and momentum it has given me knowing that this really is it.  No more life-line to hold on to - glass is the future!!  And just to make sure I don’t forget it, life has just got busier and busier on the glass front.  Bookings on courses are picking up with this month being my busiest yet and I’ve even got fully booked courses as far ahead as February 2012.  I was at Gibson Mill at the end of October for the 3 day craft fair run by the National Trust.  What a fabulous location at Hardcastle Crags and the mini-bus ride from and to the car park every morning was highly entertaining - a great way of bonding with the other designer-makers.  I’ve just given a 2 day glass fusing course which was great fun but combined with a really horrible cold has left me shattered. 

But I don’t have time to rest as I am at Essence of Christmas at Harewood House in less than two weeks and this is in a different league to the usual fairs that I do.  I’ve got loads of things to make, and lots of final prep for all the bits I need to display everything.  I’ve drawn the layout on paper, but bringing it all to life is going to be challenging in the timescales.  I applied for a mobile payment machine two weeks ago and just hope it all gets processed and arrives in time for the fair. 

My Confetti Flowers  and Hearts of Glass have proven popular in recent months so they are what I will be focusing on displaying on the walls.  I’m also going to have a display of my wave heart pendants and some of my wave trinket dishes.

But otherwise the emphasis will be on my Gift Voucher Boxes for my courses.  For each of my main courses (One Day Stained Glass, Two Day Fused Glass and Fused Glass Taster) I have a gift voucher which is valid until the end of December 2012.  This comes in the form of a small gift box with a sample of either fused glass inside or some some glass and lead as appropriate for the voucher.

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

But finding time to get it all done is going to stretch me!  I’ve got 4 days a week at the day job to fit in as well as a stained glass course to run next weekend and an evening class in glass fusing tomorrow night and  I’ve still got work from my students at the weekend to fuse in the kiln!  And I mustn’t forget that I have 2 kids to try and look after and a partner to entertain.  All this and I’m a Celebrity comes on to TV provide a major distraction (very sad I know, but it is one of my not-so-secret guilty pleasures in the run-up to Christmas!)  And as for my running, well that is proving somewhat difficult to fit in and I have too many quite valid excuses!  I’m just going to have to eat less mince pies this Christmas! 

Got to go - Pete’s just got back from shopping, the oven is on and I’ve got salad to make - well past 7pm, it’s a school night and the kids have not yet had dinner….