Tut tut!!

Ok, bad Steph! It's been 2 months and no blog. Thanks go to Caroline for giving me a virtual poke to remind me I should blog!

So, what's new? Well, I last wrote about the show I was going to do at Sudeley Castle. This show was cancelled as the beautiful natural amphitheatre setting ended up flooded out! The INCREDIBLE rains came on the Friday and the show was meant to be the next day. Sudeley was under 6ft of water, the staff were trapped and the emergency services were there. Hmm, no show then!

With the floods came the water crisis. All that water and it got cut off for ages! A week after the flooding, still with no water, I was meant to do another small artists market in Oxfordshire @ Sunningwell but I have to admit to running away to my folks' place! (I am doing one there on the 30th September though). Funnily enough I wasn't in the mood to trek out to Oxfordshire, early on a Sunday morning after showering using a watering can full of bottled water, to sell to the few people who could make it to the market (probably those who had boats!). I'm glad I did go home actually. It was my big brother's girlfriend's birthday and Mette (big brother's gf!), Colin (big brother) and Mette's parents over from Denmark who I'd not seen for 6 years were up at mum and dad's. Mette didn't know I was coming, nor did her folks, so it was a great surprise to them when I turned up as they were finishing dinner! Hopefully it was a good surprise!! They made all the right noises anyway as I tucked into some birthday cake! ;)

Since then glassy things have been a bit on the back burner. To be honest I am not sure exactly what I've done since then! With 2 shows cancelled I don't have that mad rush to make stock so things have been a lot more chilled out. I still have work to do of course, as ever. Still in demand! I have cufflinks coming out my ears! Made loads of those recently so don't need to make more for a while. Check out this link and scroll to the bottom to see the newest designs.

I also came up with a winner of a design. In a moment of inspiration 'Happy Ever After' was born and I instantly fell in love with it. Such a simple yet beautiful design. I am really proud of it. Almost as soon as I'd made it I'd sold 3 sets which is great.

Happy Ever After

I actually made them specifically for an up-market holiday cottage in Rutland, 2 Chapel Lane (http://www.twochapellane.co.uk). My arty friend Tash (of http://www.tishtash.co.uk) has her work there and got me in on the act too. I supplied 2 pairs of coasters, 'Happy Ever After' and 'Patriot' (latticeware) for the 2 bedrooms and a quad of coasters for the lounge - 'Cherry Cola Multisquare'. I also supplied 2 Chapel Lane with an unframed artwork for the wall. I have posted this before in the blog. It's called 'Rich Red Patchwork'.

Patriot

Cherry Cola Multisquare

As well as paid work I have also been, finally, making things for family members. I owed my aunt some fused glass goodies so she got 2 hangers (5 x 25cm)...


My little brother was also hankering after some artwork so I rustled this up for him. Initially my plan was to make something in black/white/grey but I changed my mind last minute and I'm glad I did. I am really pleased with this piece and I think he is too...


I have also been putting together some samples for a lady in the US who would like to use my glass tiles in a bathroom she is redesigning. She loves the 'stripes! stripes! stripes!' design so I made 3x 4" samples for her which I finished this week. Fingers crossed they are what she's after...


Well, that brings me more or less up-to-date. I hope this makes Caroline happy and anyone else who reads my blog will know I am still alive and still working! :)

Making me hungry...

I keep doing designs that look edible! Glass does have that boiled-sweet quality about it but this particular design - Sugar Cinnamon - reminds me of those sweet spicy biscuits with large sugar granules sprinkled on. This new design is one of many for the Designer Art & Craft Show I am doing on the 21st July at Sudeley Castle.




I had a quick look on the Sudeley website to see if the show was advertised on there and had a nice surprise - they have used my Bandits! cufflinks image to promote the show! Look...

Eventful morning!!!

What a crazy journey to work that was. Have been awake since about 4am listening to the torrential rain. Lots of schools in glos are closed due to flooding. Had to mount the kerb to pass a flooded stretch of the A40 with an abandoned Ka in the middle of a HUGE 'puddle' then passed a garage which I had to do a double take at. Half of the front of the building was missing! Perhaps it had been ram-raided? Flooded and crumbled? Driven into by accident? I dunno, but it was bizarre! Then, just outside work there was an accident on the road meaning I had to traverse car debris. I hope my tyres are alright. So, those were my 3 things. Hopefully that's an end to a very eventful journey into work! Of course, there's no flooding in Oxfordshire so probably no-one at work believes me :P

Cufflink crazy!!

As well as developing new styles, I've also been working on cufflinks. My handmade fused glass cufflinks have proved to be really popular which has taken me a little by surprise but it's great! I love making them and I've sourced some really smart boxes. This is Theseus boxed...

They look the bee's knees and I think they make great statements. As ever, the Bandits! design is my most popular - I think there are a lot of patriotic men around! I recently finished a commission for 10 matching pairs for a friend at work's ushers...

Here are some other designs I've also made...


Poseidon...

Red Baron...
You can see the full range of current designs on my Wearables for men page on my website, www.handmadeheaven.biz.

Back again!

Bah! Rubbish!! Been a bit quiet on here for a while but now I'm back. My head wasn't in the right place for a while and my mojo had suffered but I'm back on form now and back to work :)

Just started on a new smart, classy, uncomplicated range called "Simplicity". I've had this idea in my head for a while and now I've finally realised that idea I'm really pleased with the results. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most successful. Here's the first of many - Chocolate & Turquoise Cream...

And at the other end of the scale, my new "Patchwork" series is also being developed. Tests were successful - Very Berry Patchwork & Seaweed Patchwork were the reults...

This led onto an unframed artwork panel which will be mounted on standoffs. This piece is expected to go into a high spec holiday cottage in Rutland called "Two Chapel Lane". My work will be in situ around the cottage as a working showcase for people to see and handle Handmade Heaven wares, with details of how to buy or commission. Hopefully this will increase my profile and lead on to good things :) The artwork uses copper and red dichroic as well as come lovely colours (tomato red being one of my faves). Here are a couple of photos of Rich Red Patchwork. It's 25 x 25cm (10 x 10")...


The website for Two Chapel lane is: http://www.twochapellane.co.uk/

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!

that was nice - a week off from everything :) just back from my week's holiday in cornwall. wet and windy but still lovely.

out tonight for my best mate's 30th bday celebrations! eek!! should be a giggle. we're off to bristol, dressed as builders of all things.... so look out! ;)

x

Woohoo! HOLIDAY!!

As of 5.30pm today I'm on holiday :D Can't wait. Been working so hard and have definitely earned it. Have done a 12-day week this week! Off to Cornwall with my folks for a very relaxing break in a quaint little cottage near St Neot. No glass, no computers, no work :) Hopefully I'll be rejuvenated by it and will have lots of new ideas to crack on with.

Also have someone to meet when I get back too...

Vivre Interiors

there were 2 people at the vivre stand, both loved mine and tash's work. mark, the guy we got talking to, bought a pair of my cufflinks - the 'bandits' ones and he put them on straight away he was so excited! they looked FAB! i was excited myself as i've not seen my cufflinks actually on anyone and they just looked SO funky and cool. unfortunately i'd just been home and left my camera there too or wouldve got him to be my model!!short week this week (she says, having worked an 8-day week so far!) then off on my holiday to cornwall. bliss. not doing the cotswold craft market anymore as the temporary venue is just shocking. it's a shame but needs must. (was meant to do it on sat). tash and i will sort out our own contemporary 'fair' (still deciding on what to call it - avoiding all 'craft fair' connotations) soon anyhow.

have a commission to do this week - a bowl in brown, cream and burgundy, as well as one for tash's bday in browns, creams and pink.

the vivre interiors shop website is www.vivreinteriors.com

Cheltenham Home & Garden Show, 5-7th May

have been doing this show the last 2 days and again tomorrow. sharing a stand with my friend of 'tishtash art'. i've talked to SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many people and handed out so much stuff. nearly out of postcards & leaflets - and only really given it to the people who looked interested! yesterday was v quiet & mainly OAPs but a much younger crowd today & the place was rammed from 10 to about 3.30. all non-stop! lots of positive comments & made some sales. hopefully will get some people going to the website & maybe buying there. satsuma coasters are gone! that will disappoint a few people i know who have had their eye on them. snooze you lose tho right. ;) even had people queueing to look at our stuff & even coming back again when they couldn't see!

also been talking to a guy a couple of stands down who loves my stuff & tash's work who we will be doing a 'private view' thing with all our work in his high-end spec interiors shop (he takes all his stuff off the walls & out the shop too). champagne, the lot! you'll all have to come!! he's also keen to take on some of our work too & was particularly interested in the latticework bowls :) so that was great.

it's all very exciting & i love talking to people. most people are really enthusiastic as well & have had so many nice comments. we expect monday will be even busier so early night for me i think!

anyway, here are some photos. it's quite a small stand so nowhere to sit but we've certainly filled it! yes it looks busy but people are really drawn in. our work complements each other so much people dont realise it's 2 companies. someone even thought we were sisters! ha! only met tash in feb :P lots of people have commented on how colourful our stand is compared to the others & it's funny watching people trying to walk past, hesitating, and walking in :) am very tired - with 'real work' and this will have done a 13-day week (REALLY 13 days as have been up to the small hours most days, working!). x

Cocktail anyone??

how fun are these?! these are fresh from the kiln - 'tishtash splishsplash' swizzlesticks called "Candy Cane" (set of 6) and "Flame" (set of 4)...

Last day before "The Biggie"!

Oh good god, it's the Home & Garden Show tomorrow!! So much to do, so little time! I'm very excited and very terrified at the prospect of a "proper" show. Everytime I hear the ad on the radio I get more nervous. I'm sure it will be fun and definitely an experience. I'm so greatful to Tash of www.tishtash.co.uk for offering space on her stand. It will be great to have her moral support over the 3 days and we can hatch our next venture together. Muhahaha! *rubs hands together*

Friends

Don't think because you're chalk and cheese, you can't be best mates with someone. I've just been out with my best mate and had a blast! Nothing fancy, just the local pub, but it's been so great to get together. I've not seen much of her the last year as she's been pregnant and I've been crazily busy working but getting together was such a buzz. We're SO different but have personalities that just click and, in the real world, we probably would never have gotten together. This is where I sing the internet's praises! Just have an open mind, you never know when your perfect friend might come along.

...how sugary was that?! Can you tell I am a little tipsy?! lol! ;)

Here it is. Viridian. Stunning! I'm so pleased.

Viridian...

...should be cooled and a bowl when I get home later. Will buff it up and take a couple of photos. Very excited! Watch this space...!

Latticeware

so, the new latticeware i've been working on went really well. www.handmadeheaven.biz/page21.htm
the first one was a bowl called Sugar & Spice

it's sold and will be on its way to belgium after this weekend's home & garden show @ cheltenham racecourse 5/6/7th may as a display model for commissions. i also have another commission from this in browns/cream/burgundy so no rest for me!

then, of course, i had to make coasters! they worked really well.

and this bowl (still flat here), Viridian, is cooling in the kiln. i have a black/white/grey one ready to fire tonight.

i also made up a test on the suggestion my friend made, so in her honour, here's a tishtash splishsplash swizzlestick! lol! this one's Emerald City . i think they're great fun (bit of a random test colour scheme tho!)

Who is Steph Jones??

Hello there!

My name's Steph and I'm a glass addict!! I'm a contemporary kiln-fused glass artist living and working in Cheltenham on the edge of the Cotswolds, UK. Working under the name Handmade Heaven, I produce a range of unique and contemporary fused glassware, gifts, art and jewellery for men and women.

Over my time working with glass, I've become something of a 'coaster-queen', producing unique, fun and funky designs in bold and bright colours. My work has been sold to customers all over the UK and US, as well as Europe, so I am quite the international! It has a wide-ranging appeal and is different and modern. I specifically produce things you won't see anywhere else and feel I am doing something different with the glass, colour-wise and with the design, to other fused glass artists.

My work has been described as "sweets for the eyes", real eye-candy stuff, and it's funny how many people have a strange urge to eat my glassy products! They do have that quality of boiled sweets about them but I wouldn't recommend them for consumption! I produce affordable 'artworks' for everyday use, showcase artwork for wall-mounting and display, gifts and 'wearable' art in the form of jewellery for men and women, with this range ever-expanding as I try new ideas and techniques. The possibilities with glass are endless and my 'to do' list is huge! I really love working with such a tactile medium and am very passionate about my work. From the amount of fingerprints I have to clean off my work at fairs I know that other people can't help but touch too. The traditional thought is glass = 'do not touch', but with my work, it's positively encouraged - you just can't help yourself!

My website is http://www.handmadeheaven.biz/ which will tell you a lot more about me and my work. You can also see my gallery of commissions and my online shop which are both crammed full of bright and colourful photos. It's definitely worth taking a look rather than me try to explain my style as, like they say, a picture speaks a thousand words.

I am currently working on a new range of latticeware designs, which I am launching at the Home & Garden Show at Cheltenham Racecourse (5/6/7th May '07) which is very exciting for me. I have had a spectacular reaction to the designs I have created so far, and with my glass looking better in the flesh than on photos, I am hoping for good things from it this coming weekend.

I have an online shop and work in outlets in Gloucestershire (hoping to sort out some more in the next few weeks) and also thrive on commission work. I enjoy the challenge of bespoke designs and have many very satisfied customers so far.

I am a trained graphic designer and design children's books day-to-day and I find my design background has been really helpful not only with colour choice and design, but also presenting my products to my customers. I work with glass almost every hour outside the graphic design job and can't get enough of trying out new, exciting designs.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog and come back regularly to see how I am getting on.

Thanks for reading,

Steph :)