O Christmas Tree!

Christmas Tree Decoration 

At the beginning of the year I made 30 glass Christmas trees ready for the end of the year then put them away, feeling smug. However, since November there has been a Christmas Tree explosion! I am now making a batch a week and they have been selling out each weekend.  I have another 20 in the kiln for East Riddlesden Hall Christmas Fair on 5th and 6th December.  They are such a delight to make - mixing up coloured glass and hand decorating with gold and white glass powder.  Finally, they are finished off with red and white striped string. 

Multi colour Christmas Trees

I've even made some spotty ones too and I am teaching Glass Decorations at Skipwith Common, Nr York on Monday 7th December at Silver and Stone. 

More Trees

Christmas Trees are available for sale at my Etsy Shop or visit my Facebook Page too.

East Riddlesden Hall

I shall be at East Riddlesden Hall near Keighley this Sunday (1st December) at the Christmas Craft Fair.  The fair will be held in the Great Barn from 11am to 4pm with 25 stalls of Christmas crafts.  East Riddlesden Hall is a 17th century manor house, now owned by the National Trtust, set in lovely grounds with a duck pond and two barns. I shall be in the Great Barn and I hope you will come and say hello.  I have lots of new glass goodies including tree decorations, lightcatchers and the popular Scandi Birds. 

Kelbrook 2013

This weekend (Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd November) I shall be at Kelbrook and Sough Village Hall as part of the Art and Craft Fair. This is a really surprising fair because, although it is in a village hall, the quality of the makers is really very good.  There's also excellent cakes and tea there too.  So if you are in the Barnoldswick, Earby district please call into Kelbrook for an afternoon treat.   Or why not join the Event page on Facebook? 

Making and Taking

Make Your Own Glass Decoration

If you are visiting Historic Haworth (home of the Brontes) on Saturday 5th October then pop into the Old School Room (opposite the Bronte Parsonage) and have a go at making your own fused glass decoration. Using quality Bullseye coloured glass you can design and create something wonderful to keep forever.

Hearts of Glass

This event is free although you will need to arrange to collect your glass from my studio in Sunny Silsden after it has been fused or pay £3 for the postage. Either way, you will be the owner of an original and beautiful gift and this may even be the start of a new craft!

Making and Doing Event at Haworth has been organised by Pennine Prospects and is part of a regional festival for the arts.  For more information visit Pennine Prospects. 

Happiness is Handmade

Headingley Heart Centre

Yes I shall be at Headingley Heart Centre next Saturday with lots of new lightcatchers, coasters and dishes. Now back to the kiln.......

Chapel Allerton Arts Festival

Chapel Allerton Festival 

Yikes! I have just been invited to take part in the Chapel Allerton Arts Festival's Makers' Fair and it is tomorrow!

No panic but I have glass to sort and wrap, a table to paint and a car to load. Also, must remember to go into town and get some float.  I don't know anything about this festival except that I am outdoors(!) but my friend Natasha assures me that it won't rain... hmmmm. (But what if it is windy)? OK. Better bring a plastic table covering and an umbrella too.

If you are visiting Chapel Allerton Arts Festival please visit their website HERE for more information. I will be on Wells Lane so come and say hello. 

Grassington Festival - here I come!

For the first time I will be taking part in the Grassington Festival  Saturday 22nd June. 

Grassington, North Yorkshire

Grassington is a small, but very popular, village in the Yorkshire Dales - not too far from Skipton.  I shall be outside under a covered market stall (must search the attic for the bunting) from 10.00am with a display of new glass items alongside some favourites. There will be a lot of activity going on during the day with street theatre and music, craft stalls and shops.  I am actually mentioned on the website HERE but you will need to scroll down the page to find me! 

There is plenty to see and do in Grassington with lots of walking country, great views and lovely pubs to go for lunch.  We go there often as we like to walk between  Hebden and Grassington or Burnsall and Grassington , walking back via Thorpe.  There's lots of parking too with the Yorkshire Dales National Park car park 500 yards down from the village square.

So, if you are in the area, please come by and say hello!

The Kiln is on but nobody's home....

Yikes! Only six days left until the Saltaire Arts Trail and I have more glass waiting to be fused than time to fuse it in! 

I have now finished making decorative hangings and cocktail swizzle sticks but the number of dishes waiting to be slumped is growing and I have two very large dishes still waiting to be fused AND slumped! Well, if it's not finished, it's not finished - not a lot I can do about it. Just waiting for the gift boxes to arrive this week. Gulp! 

Rainbow Cocktail Swizzle Sticks

If you are thinking about visiting the Saltaire Arts Trail then I strongly recommend that you go. Everything is FREE yes, free! With The Makers' Fair in Victoria Hall (I'll be there, hopefully near the cafe and in sight of the cake) Open Houses around the village, three exhibitions, free family activities and choirs singing outside, this is the most vibrant and exciting weekend in the calendar of Saltaire. 

Hope to see you there. X

16 Days to go!

Victoria Hall, Saltaire

Only sixteen days to go until the Saltaire Arts Trail, when I shall be showing my glass at The Makers' Fair in Victoria Hall. So, NOW is not the time to be thinking about making new designs in glass..... but I am!

I am working on some new glass hangings and "swizzle sticks" but will I get them made in time for 25 - 27 May???

A Busy Weekend

Platform Gallery Clitheroe

Saturday 27 April sees the opening of the Craft Open exhibition at The Platform Gallery, Clitheroe where I am exhibiting three pieces of glass. I will be there from 12.30 to see the prize giving and to see all the exhibits. This exhibition is open until 6th July so,if you can't make it on Saturday, there's still plenty of time to visit. 

Otley Courthouse

Sunday 28 April I shall be at Otley Courthouse as part of the Designer Craft Fair from 9.30am to 1.00pm. Entrance is free so if you are in Otley please pop in and give me a wave! 

First show of the season

Higham Village, Lancashire

I will be taking part in Higham's 40th Annual Arts and Crafts Fair from Good Friday 29 March to Easter Monday 1 April.

Well, my glass will be there even if I will not! The art and crafts will be displayed in the village school and the event is manned by volunteers. 

Higham St John's School

This event is organised by the local church and refreshments are in the village hall. I will be visiting the event over the Easter holiday weekend but I have no idea what to expect because I haven't done it before. I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised. 

Higham Village Hall

Now all I need to do is decide which glass I will be taking..... More information about the event HERE

Glass Fairs 2013

I have been sorting out this year's shows and fairs and trying to plan ahead. Here is a list of dates and venues where I shall be during 2013, although it is still a work in progress. 

Otley Courthouse Designer Craft Fair Sunday 28 April 
This coincides with the Otley Famers' Market and is inside the Courthouse from 9.30 am to 1pm

Saltaire Makers' Fair at Victoria Hall, Saltaire 25 - 27 May 

As part of the prestigious Saltaire Arts Trail, I will be at Victoria Hall as part of the Makers' Fair from 10am to 4pm

Art in the Pen at Skipton Auction Mart 17 - 18 August

My second year at Art in the Pen. This year will be bigger than last with 30% more stalls selling handmade and original art

Headingley Heart Centre 14 September and 14 December

A busy venue with a lovely cafe and a great atmosphere

Please come and see me at Glassprimitif at one (or all) of these events) or check in to my News page 

Headlingley Heart

Glassprimitif will be at Headingley Heart and Craft on Saturday 8th December!

There will be new glass designs including sculptural labyrinth bowls and more lightcatchers.  I'm busy in the studio fusing glass for this event. Hope to see you there.

Kelbrook Arts and Craft Fair

Kelbrook, Lancashire

This weekend (3rd and 4th November) I will be at Kelbrook Arts and Crafts Fair in the Kelbrook and Sough Village Hall in Lancashire. This will only be the second time I have displayed my glass in Lancashire and I am looking forward to it.

My first venture into Lancashire was at The Ace Centre in Nelson as part of the Nelson Art Fair two weeks ago and it was really enjoyable. So, next year, I hope to be adding some Lancashire venues to my craft fair itinerary. 

Transparent glass lightcatchers

As Christmas is less than two months away I feel that it's now OK to say the C-word, Christmas, without getting booed and hissed. So my kiln has been very busy fusing glass tree decorations and ornaments which can also be used as Lightcatchers. I popped into our local haberdashery store this morning, Duttons for Buttons, to buy some pretty gingham ribbon for each decoration, as gingham is not too Christmassy and can be used to hang the decoration from the tree or in the window. 

Mosaic Decorations

And, as I have mentioned Christmas, I have just reminded myself to dust down the box of decorations in the attic and start planning our own Christmas here at Chez Glassprimitif! I like the idea of a diorama in the living room window showing a snowy village scene so, as soon as I am back from Kelbrook, I will be drawing some ideas for the window.

Kelbrook Village Hall is just off the A56 between Skipton and Colne. The Fair opens from 10.30am to 4.30pm.  I hope to see you there. 

Glassprimitif at The Light, Leeds

If you are in Leeds city centre on Saturday (2nd June) don't forget to call into The Light and say hello.
I will be at The Stalls pop up shop as part of the contemporary Arts and Crafts Fair and will be showcasing new coasters, dishes and magnets fresh from the kiln. There will also be some new glass pendants and cufflinks for jewellery-lovers.

Here is some more information about the event:
The Stalls officially launches its pop-up shop at The Light in Leeds city centre this Friday 1st
 June 2012! Described as a 'haven for designers' The Stalls presents an eclectic mix of 
contemporary artwork from new emerging and established artisans. The aim is to raise a 
substantial contribution towards £10,000 needed to open The stalls very own Urban Arts and Crafts Gallery on Leeds city centre high street during the eight day extravaganza.

Leeds born Natasha Harris, entrepreneur and founder of The Stalls commented, "It is a great opportunity to have the pop-up shop based at The Light and a fantastic venue to host The Stalls Arts & Crafts Market on Saturday 2nd June . We have designers specialising in art, glass, jewellery, mosaic, knitted crafts, textiles and live artists' demonstrations, it's a not to be missed event". 

The Stalls has recently relocated from Harrogate to be situated more centrally to the designers and makers it supports. Natasha looks forward to setting up shop very soon to continue her work of championing and selling handmade arts and crafts and delivering creative art workshops for the community.

Event Details:

Pop-up Shop - 10am - 6pm 1st - 8th June 2012

Arts & Crafts Market - 10am - 6pm 2nd June 2012

The Jubilee Tea Party - 11am - 4pm 4th June 2012

Jubilee at The Stalls

I will be taking part at  The Stalls pop up shop in Leeds on Saturday 2nd June as part of the Arts and Crafts Market. 

Natasha Harris of OOBBAA will be opening a pop up gallery in the old Benetton Shop at The Light, The Headrow, Leeds LS1 8TL. 

Connecting the community with new emerging and established artists and makers, The Stalls Market showcases the work of talented local designers.  

There will also be a Jubilee Tea Party on Monday 4th June 2012  in support of Breast Cancer Care.

I hope to see you on Saturday 2nd June - please say hello. Doors open at 10am. 

Come and See Me

at Saltaire Maker's Fair in Victoria Hall from 5th to 7th of May 2012. Visit Saltaireartstrail.co.uk for more information and to find out who else will be there. 

Who else will be there? 

Bell Amour

Dove Street Pottery

Dizziebhooked

Prefab Designs

Kitschen Sink

Alice Fox Textiles

InkyLinky

Hooray for UK Handmade

I am thrilled to have been asked by UK Handmade Blog editor Kirsten Miller (Quernus Crafts) to write a piece about craft fairs and arts markets from the organiser's point of view. 
I think UK Handmade is a fabulous website because it works hard to promote hand made artisans and crafters.  The on-line magazine is a brilliant read, the blog is very informative and there is also a Forum to share your work with other makers.  I have started a group on the Forum called Craft Fairs and Hand Made Markets so, if you are attending an event and want to share please join the group. 
I also wrote 10 Top Tips for Craft Fair Traders which you will find here. I have tried to take a different angle rather than saying "bring a pen, money, table cloth etc" that I hope will make traders better business people and get those all-important sales. 

Making Gift Boxes

I got fed up with how expensive gift boxes for jewellery had become so now I always make my own for craft fairs. I use origami paper or stiff gift wrap for the lids, the bases I make from magazine pages.

These boxes were made from Beatles album covers gift wrap. The paper makes the ideal boxes for cufflinks and are fun to make too. The great thing about using patterned paper is that each box comes out with a different design. Plain paper boxes are rather tedious to make.

Each box has a small square of wadding in it to stop the cufflinks from rolling around. These boxes were made from a 15.5cm square piece of paper. To make the base fit use 15cm square of paper for the base.

I learned to make these boxes by following a short film on You Tube (see below). These boxes won't survive in the post unless they are placed inside a cardboard box but they are great to use at craft fairs.

The film.