Dum de dum... & 'Mollie Makes' magazine find

...still waiting for my domain transfer. Seems to be taking forever moving my www.handmadeheaven.biz address to the new host. Patience, patience, patience. No new makes either as the studio's been upside-down with guests staying etc. My craft bone is getting twitchy though and I've been looking for new inspiration. I came across a fab little new crafty magazine (some 2 issues too late it seems!)...

* Internet find of the day *

If you haven't seen it yet, 'Mollie Makes' is a great new, interesting, fun, CONTEMPORARY craft magazine. Nothing twee or naff about it. Right up my alley. It's just the magazine I've been looking for for a good few years. Thank God! Bought my 1st edition (#3) today and already subscribed. Since I went off 'Delicious' magazine (post new editor) I've had a magazine-shaped void in my life but now that'll be the job of 'Mollie Makes' to fill. Happy reading/browsing times ahead :)

Internet find: Lagom - Animal Nesting Dolls

* Internet find of the day *
Browsing inspirational illustrators for the day job and came across these very sweet and super-fun Animal Nesting Dolls

Want!

Hello world! New website is on its way...

Blimey! Been such a long time since I've blogged. *Waves* Hello world! I'm still here. After taking time out from the hectic world of glass making, just running on tickover, I am back. I've decided to move my website hosting so that's what is keeping me busy at the moment. Once it is up and running, you'll see plenty of improvements: personal shopping accounts, discount codes, a more organised shopping experience with categories sub-divided by style, and, as soon as possible, LOTS of new glassy goodies! Yippee!

Here are a few screenshots of the new work-in-progress website as I prepare it to go LIVE. As soon as it does I'll be sure to let you know. I know, you want to go try it out NOW but as it is much more sophisticated than the old one there is LOADS for me to do behind the scenes. You can still shop here and view my past work here - all of which can be re-commissioned should you see something you like.

Here's how the homepage is shaping up...

Moving webhosting is a bit of a mission. The new-fangled website has oodles more stuff on it, so plenty of extra work for me behind the scenes! I'm liking the new look - almost like the old one but a bit different :) Make sure you register a shopping account for yourself as soon as it is live. There is a lot to do but I've done plenty already. Here's more...

The rings main page...

Each product will have its own category page, with links to styles. This should provide a much more organised way to browse & buy my glassy goodies.

And the 'cufflink menu'...

For my glassy goodies with many ready-made designs already created, I am creating 'menus' - grouped galleries of my designs to pick and choose from. This will show sold out/commissioned/current work for you to re-commission or designs from which to influence something new, just for you.

Right, back to it. I hope you're well and 'speak' soon!

S.

Out & about find: Funky Swedish Ceramics

This coffee pot, cup and saucer set is right up my alley. I spotted it in an antiques shop over in Barnard Castle. If I had the space I would've snapped it up. I love the design and have not seen this particular one before.

I did manage to grab a bargain in a charity shop there though - got myself a lovely pressed glass cake stand. Once I've cleaned it up I'll post a photo :)

Internet find: Lush Designs - Lightshades, etc

* Internet find of the day *
This isn't technically an internet find as I came across these fabulous lightshades and other goodies by 'Lush Designs' whilst on my week off, mooching about Lytham, near Blackpool. But they have a website and I wanted to share! Their designs are something quite different and I really like the style of illustration and funky colourways.

I really liked this pale colourway which I imagine will look fab lit up.

And this stylised fox and cubs is lovely.

My mum and I both adored these wild boars and the flora around them.

These cards they do are also very stylish, in bright colourways with added foil 'bling'. We bought a few of these and it was very hard to choose between the designs as we loved them all!

They sell tea towels, bags, cushions, aprons, clocks, decorations... allsorts! Take a look - might make for a lovely alternative gift. I emailed the ladies who make these and got a lovely reply, so I wholehearted support their talented work :)

Downtime

I've booked next week off work so I am taking some time to chill. It has been insanely busy at the day job. Designing books for kids takes a lot of hard work you know! We've been prepping for the annual book fair where all our new ideas get showcased to buyers. We spend a good couple of months intensely working on covers to sell these new ideas. Our office is one of 3 - the smallest of the bunch with just a handful of designers, me included - 7 of us. We did about a third of all covers produced (just under 400 this year, I think) which is a big achievement as there are around 20 designers in the medium-sized office, and around 2 or 3 times as many as that in the 'big' office! I've also been in charge of orchestrating the whole thing - keeping tabs on illustrators, commissioning, fees, invoices, designs, feedback from our bosses... all the while getting not one, but TWO books off to print at the same time! No wonder I am pooped. I just couldn't face next week at work and Friday just gone was our official book fair deadline, so I made a break for it!

I am off to see my folks in Lancaster later on today for a while. It is my dad's birthday Monday so we're looking forward to a zoo trip (family tradition!). Maybe I'll make him a courgette cake?! (see allotment blog!) I'm hoping the weather is alright as I've heard whilst we've had a reasonably nice spate of sunshine, they've had rain and gale force winds. Think I'll pack some warm gear and my waterproof! I'll be back later in the week to tend to the allotment - see if the butternut squash have grown much since I last saw them budding up, and dig up my 'rooster' spuds, along with other jobs. I also want to make some glassy goodies too. 'Back to the Future' is being shown at the cinema (HUZZAH!) so I'll be seeing that and out for a friend's birthday meal.

In between all those things, I plan on chilling. I find this very hard to do, getting 'lazy guilt', but I'll give it a good go!

FOR SALE 'Autumn Sunrise' handmade fused glass latticeware bowl

Autumn is officially here and along with it comes an autumnally-inspired handmade latticeware bowl, fresh from the kiln - 'Autumn Sunrise' (click to go to the shop). Soft shades of purple, warm amber, chocolate and cream come together to form this pretty bowl.

Our latticeware bowls look stunning anywhere and change throughout the day, in different lighting conditions, casting wonderful coloured shadows. Ideal on a table or sideboard filled with fruit, or left empty as a statement piece.

I'm taking a few days holiday from the day job so some relaxing is in order. I will be away from the studio for a few days but plan to get some new glassy goodies underway when I return :)

FOR SALE 'Lavender Kiss' latticeware handmade fused glass coaster duo

Hot and fresh from the kiln, the latest addition to the 'latticeware' family - please welcome 'Lavender Kiss'. The photographs really don't do this pretty duo justice. I love this simple colour combination & soft-coloured glass.

What have you been up to?

'Ello :) Another little blog gap. Been making & prepping things behind the scenes. Yesterday I was sending photos and info over to makers-online who asked me to join their handmade website. It was lovely to be asked and it will be good to have my glassy goodies somewhere new. So far they have some of my JAXX rings, PATCHWORK coaster duos, LATTICEWARE bowls and HARLEQUIN coasters. I will be sending them some more wall art - planning on making more of that today - as well as more rings, square bowls and handmade cards. They're just re-launching the website and I support what they're doing. With the line "we want to include the best makers around" how could I refuse? ;)

So, what else? I made a pair of bespoke coasters for a lady who bought a pair of my Teal & Chocolate Block coasters a while ago. It is always lovely to get repeat business and heartwarming to be thought of again. She wanted the 'Ice Age' design but in browns, cream & white. Here's what I came up with:

I have also had an enquiry from a re-seller in Hungary. I'm currently organising my work into a new catalogue with retail & wholesale prices. The graphic designer in me is faffing and wants it perfect. The businesswoman in me just wants it done and ready to send and the artist just wants to make new glass! I really need to get it finished, at least the relevant pages for now. I am liking how it looks so far...

I also got an email today saying that my JAXX rings on etsy.com have been featured in a treasury. That was nice - the first one since rejoining the website. I used to be featured quite frequently which was flattering and always an honour to be picked.

Right then, back to it! Hope you're having a nice weekend :)

FOR SALE 'Jaxx' handmade fun, funky, fused glass rings

Re-photographing done, well, for a good chunk of the batch. Some more 'Jaxx' handmade fun, funky, fused glass rings need doing but this is plenty to start with. I am pleased with how the photos turned out. I went for an off-centre styling on white as this seemed to work the best. Hope you like them! You can find all these rings here in the online shop. Should you want to commission a different colour combination, let me know.

I will finish the 'Jaxx' batch soon, then get to work on re-photographing my other styles of rings, along with making another bowl - already cut! - and a commission duo.