Artroom Gallery in Garstang

I thought I'd just do a little advertising for the Art and Craft Guild exhibition currently running at the lovely gallery of the title.  I have a small collection of pendants and earrings in the exhibition including this one.

 

A little bit different from my usual organic style but I was in the mood for something with a little architectural influence.  

How long since I posted??!!

Can't believe how long it's been since I updated this blog - just shows how busy you get when new grandchildren arrive! 
I've just completed a new 'raggy' quilt  ready for the next grandson.

Made with flannelette and backed with a new flanelette sheet. I was glad that I had been advised to wash it in a tied up duvet cover as it produces a huge amount of fluff.
There are plenty of websites giving instruction if you just google 'raggy quilt instructions', I found some good ones here and here

First quilt completed - I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it! It's definitely not perfect but I love the finished result and hope that my new grandson to be will be equally happy with it :) I used Rural Jardin fabric by Moda and a pattern from http://tutorials.missouriquiltco.com/
My next quilt project is a crazy nine patch for a seat pad, I'll post pictures when it's done.

So exciting - New Gallery at the Wharf

For quite some time the Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire,which I belong to, has been pursuing the dream of an art and craft gallery at Burscough Wharf and it's now so close we can almost touch it. This is so exciting as it's a lovely position and is nearing the end of a complete makeover of the old buildings whilst retaining it's character.

It opens on Valentine's weekend with fire eaters, jugglers, stilt walkers and other attractions so will be well worth a visit if you are anywhere near Burscough.

New Year - old interests!

Well I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year even if it was a bit chilly!

I decided it was too cold to chizzle the icy path to the studio/garage and dusted off the old sewing machine instead. I made a set of the cutest little bags for my granddaughter from 'The Perfect Handmade Bag' then a couple of handy shopping bags to replace those supermarket plastic bags.

Here's a photo of some fabric I've had lying around for years so I used it to try out the cover bag in the Bag Making Bible

another lovely book. I'd forgotten how much I love sewing:)

Church Bank Gallery in Bolton

There's a lovely gallery in Bolton town centre, tucked away down Church Street and opposite the parish church. There are some lovely works of art in there well worth a visit, particularly in time for christmas!
I have a selection of my jewellery available there so why don't you pop in for a look around.
This is the website for the gallery.

Bead Fair - Sunday 12th September

I'll be here, http://www.staffsbeadfair.co.uk/ , on Sunday, please stop by and say hello if you are in the vicinity.
I'll have lots of beads, silver and copper findings and earwires and I'm sharing a table with Kaz so there'll be even more beads and murrini and frit.
See you Sunday!

It's been a while........

since I posted here, where does all the time go?

Here's a new shape of bead that I'm quite taken with at the moment having borrowed a friends brass spiral tool.

I've used some double helix odds to make the shards that give it the pinkish colour and the rest is anonymous stringers left on the table :) A truly unrepeatable bead.

Fancy a trip out this weekend?

Then please visit Mill Barn in Samlesbury, Preston, for the Art and Garden Festival, 12th and 13th June 2010. The opening times are 11am - 4:30pm on both days.

As well as a selling exhibition of art and craft design work the garden is open and refreshments available. I will be there will my jewellery and fused glass along with other artists and craft workers. There are also plants available to buy, what more could you want!

It's a beautiful setting and a wonderful opportunity to explore beautifull gardens.

Here's the post code for your satnav PR5 0SS , looking forward to seeing you :)

How about a visit to Samlesbury Hall

Here is a photo of my jewellery and glassware in the beautiful setting of Samlesbury Hall, a tudor mansion in Lancashire.

It's a really lovely place and I encourage you to go and have a look around and stop by for a coffee in a magnificent setting. The Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire exhibition is along the gallery and in a room off the gallery and well worth a look.

The exhibition runs until the end of May so plenty of time yet.

2010 Exhibitions List

Well I have been quiet for a while but I've been working away getting ready for my first exhibition with the Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire. My fist will be at Lytham Heritage Centre, Lytham, Lancashire, from 20th April until 9th May.

I've still got loads to do but I'm pleased with the way this necklace turned out :)

A little bit of Maille

I love my new jump ring cutter and have just made these Scherzo maille earrings, available on Etsy. I was a bit nervous cutting the silver but had practised a fair bit on copper first so I just bit the bullet! It's really handy to be able to cut exactly the size I want :)

New Beadshop in Preston

Just Beads has opened a showroom in Preston centre. It's a lovely space already with a great selection of beads and the owner is very helpful and welcoming.
I am really happy to say that there is also a selection of my own lampwork beads now available in the store.
If you are local to Preston or just passing through it's well worth a little detour past this shop :)

Yeah for the thaw!

We're finally rid of the icy skating rink that was my street!

I'm now trying to rid myself of the feeling of being a hermit as have hardly ventured out since Christmas.

I have at last cored some beads with the stamped copper bead caps that I've been making and I'm quite pleased with the effect, what do you think?

Happy New Year !

Happy New Year everyone. I've been a bit quiet lately but that's just the season isn't it! Every time you think you've got all the shopping done something else crops up. Hope you all had an excellent Christmas and I hope you all have a hugely satisfying New Year.

I have been inspired by the January sales to have a sort out of all my single/lonely beads. These are beads that are left over from sets, test beads for new glass or techniques, beads that turned out differently from what was expected etc. They've been accumulating for a while so I thought it was time to sort and bag loosely by colour.

Enjoy!

I'm liking copper at the moment

Just found a lovely new group of copper wire workers here , can't wait to have a good look around as I'm enjoying working with copper wire at the moment. This pendant is available here in my etsy store.

Just a little update

The bead for Tommy's went for a fantastic £25 so the total is now tantalisingly close to the £500 target. A big thank you to the generous bead purchaser.

Silver Cored bead for Tommy's Charity

This is one of my big hole beads which I have capped and lined with sterling silver.

You can bid on this bead and it will be sold to the person who sends me the highest bid price and all the proceeds are going to the Frit Happens Tommy's fund, you can see the page here www.tommys.org/frithappens

You can email your bid to me at diane@dilunah.com and I'll contact the person with the winning bid next Sunday evening.

Don't be shy, send your bid, it's a good cause.

meanwhile, back to the anodised aluminium

I've finally got around to making a few things with the anodised aluminium (or anodized aluminum for US searches :) ) I'm beginning to really appreciate it's possibilities when I can make co-ordinating lampwork beads to put with it. I'm really pleased with how these earrings turned out together with my hand forged earwires.

All I need now is another 12 hours in every day so I can do all the things I want to do!!

New Big Hole beads

Well I've been busy making and silver lining a new batch of big hole beads, shown in the photo on my troll bracelet. Now all I have to do is take photos and list them on the webshop, I hate that bit!