uBou : promotional postcard

I needed to design a promotional postcard/leaflet for uBou so I did this at the weekend too. I am really pleased with the design and I can't wait to get them. I've made them non-date specific so they can be used at any time. I also ordered some round stickers with the details of our next event to pop onto the cards when we use them as event leaflets. Genius! Here's the digital version of the postcard:

What's this? Glass, on a glassy blog?! Whatever next!

Yes, that's right folks! I managed to slip in some kiln goodies in amongst the domestic stuff and uBou craziness!! I've fired a beautiful latticeware bowl made on commission via some of my gift vouchers (make great Xmas pressies!), in some beautiful autumnal colours. In homage to 'Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds' (grew up on listening to this in the car!), I've called it 'Forever Autumn' :)

This is a snapshot of the bowl, post-firing (flat). Love it!

I also went big on cufflinks, making the glass for 35 pairs, 5 of each of the designs I mentioned before. These are nearly ready to be shipped out. Just need the finishing touches. :)

Sorry about the rubbish photos! Just took some quickies without my usual lighting.

Wholesale order

Just about to cut and fuse the glass for a wholesale cufflink order. I asked Karen of Blueberry Park to choose from my designs for her order. I am re-making:

L-R: The Blues, Liquid Pools, Last Night at the Proms, Electric
Oberon, Flame, Comrade

I will post photos once the order is ready :)

Freebie giveaways

With my next two events just around the corner - Handmade on the 9th Nov @ Oxford Town Hall and uBou Christmas on the 30th November @ The Royal Oak, Prestbury, Cheltenham I've been a busy bunny.

Each event will have take-away goody bags, filled with lovely samples and info on all manner of talent artists and designer/makers. I am providing little samples of fused glass on specially designed cards and I made the first batch this morning. I am really pleased with how they've turned out. I think they look really professional and will give visitors to the events an idea of my work and be nice little take-home samples. I plan on making 100. I have made 16 so far! hahaha!

If you wanted to do something similar, I've used Bostik removable 'sticky dots' which have worked a treat! Took me a while to find what I wanted - not easy when you don't know the name of something! I picked removable ones so the glass could be easily taken off the card. I'm considerate like that!

uBou grows and grows :)

The collective of artists that is uBou : Unique Boutique is growing and growing. Here's a list of who we have so far...

• Handmade Heaven by Steph Jones (me!)
  Funky fused glassy goodies & contemporary crafts with a retro twist
• Lush Lampwork by Julie Fountain
  Stunning, delicious & delightful handmade glass beads and jewellery
• By George by George Harper
  Intricate handmade metal maille jewellery, oozing quality & style
• Emily Parker Art by Emily Parker
  Realistic & artistic life-drawings & mixed media paintings
• Charmaine Bartram
  Luxurious & exquisite wearable wonders : collars, shawls & wraps
• Dove Art by Kate Wilkins
  Richly textured & colourful mixed media art
• Through the Lens by Ken Shekan
  Photography for all occasions and needs
• Button Bijoux by Lauren Williams
  Fun, eye-catching & wearable unique button and fabric bead jewellery
• Frances Browne Art by Frances Browne
  Cute & collectable flora & fauna paintings
• Sue Green Jewellery by Sue Green
  Pretty, easy-to-wear, handmade fashion jewellery
• Changing Leopards by Katrine Elliott-Mead
  Contemporary mosaics for interiors, exteriors & to wear
• Green Forest by Phil Hinton
  Woodland crafts in local & reclaimed timber
• Sarah Pearson Cooke Textiles by Sarah Pearson Cooke
  Hand-dyed Shibori textiles
• Emma Helbrough Art by Emma Helbrough
  Charming & collectable still life, real life & textile artwork
• Boseley Wood by Lucy Boseley
  Mirrors, clocks, coat hooks & more made from recycled wood & old furniture
• Fuzzy Merton Jewellery by Katherine
  Contemporary, unique handmade jewellery in silver, gold & semi-precious stones
• Trudi Hayden Art by Trudi Hayden
  Nature & abstract art for home, commercial & outdoor spaces
• Michael Peckitt Jewellery by Michael Peckitt
  Very colourful, handmade designer jewellery made from acrylic & adonised aluminium

uBou artists coming soon...

• Richard Wells
• Snappy Sausage by Abbi
  Fun, funky jewellery for dressing up or dressing down
• The Gingerbread Girl by Emma Gladding
  Cute, cuddly and colourful recycled textiles
• Worcester Pen Company by Bryan Lucas
  High-quality pens made from precious resins, ebonite & hallmarked sterling silver
• Mike Kingston Art
  Bright & bold paintings - beach huts & more
• Jane Vernon Ceramics
  Modern-yet-tradtional ceramics for every home

I'm planning on making some glass this week (shock horror!) so watch this space!!

I'm still alive, just super busy

You know how usually I'm rushing about doing allsorts of things? Well, I am now past that stage and have hit uber busy!! Sorry I am neglecting my blog. Here's my current to do/just did list...

• liase with pub to book uBou2 in
• sort out food & drink for uBou2
• update uBou website with new artists
• write application pack, form and terms & conditions for uBou2
• email uBou-ers with said application material/answer uBou emails
• create excel file with all uBou info in it so i don't forget what
  i'm doing!
  
• update Handmade Heaven website
• make 35 pairs cufflinks for wholesale order
• order in supplies for said wholesale order/packaging for uBou
  gift bags
• design, create and order in cards for glassy samples for Handm@de/uBou show freebies
• order glue for said card freebies once decided the type it is/what it's called!
• pack up and post 'Patience' latticeware bowl which just this minute sold
  
• create 6x 'Huge Heart' coasters for a commission
• make more stuff for Handm@de fair
• sort out bloody car!!
• domestic stuff
• eat/sleep - or at least try to sleep!!

etc, etc!!

So, I shall get back to proper blogging asap when things have calmed down a bit.

Bye, bye 'Patience'

I also want to say RIP to TishTash Art, my friend's painting venture which she has sadly laid to rest due to a big promotion at work and health problems from trying to be superwoman! Chin up Tash. Hope things sort themselves out now you'll have time for yourself xx

uBou's back!

Yes, we're back with another uBou : Unique Boutique shopping event. uBou1 was such a success we couldn't pass up another opportunity to sell our wares at another uBou event - uBou2 will be on the 30th November, 11am-5pm @ The Royal Oak, Prestbury, Cheltenham, Glos., so do pop along and support us!

http://ubou.co.uk/

More details shortly :)

By the way, if you have a website and would like a link swap with uBou, please contact me and I'll add you to our links page.

Jewellery cards

I thought I'd try out something a bit different with my glass. I've ordered some jewellery cards I'll attach pendants & rings to at fairs, etc. I can also use these cards as my giveaways in goody bags at the Handm@de event and at our uBou events. Fingers crossed they look nice in the flesh!

Sausage Singstar Saturday!

I must make a special mention to my friend Claire who made the tastiest sausage and mash for us on Saturday night. I got together with friends from work for 'Sausage Singstar Night'. I was adamant I wasn't going to sing... but a few drinks later I was demanding the microphone!! Never try to sing a song cos you like it - deelite's groove is in the heart is a nightmare!!!

Ooo, light fantastic!

I'm getting things ready for a big (hopefully!) fair in Oxford Town Hall called Handm@de on the 9th November. I bought the white shelving unit a while ago but haven't used it yet. It will give me more height and looks really professional, I think. Yesterday I bought two new lights which is kinda why I took this photo. They're great! They give out as much light as the 6 smaller lights I was using before and fold down flat so will be easy to pack away and carry. They are fully re-positionable too so I can point the light exactly where I need it. I'm excited about lights. Oh dear!

You can also see my new cloth in this picture. It's a bright red with a Scandinavian pattern and makes such a big difference. The moss coloured one I was using before was a little bland and I wanted to have something that more reflected my bright, fun and colourful work. Must say a big THANK YOU to my mum for hemming the new cloth for me!! x

I'm really pleased with how the stall looks in this mock-up. Planning before an event is always a good idea and I'm glad I did it. Now I know I don't need extra lights - well, maybe 2, but not the full 6 old ones as well as the new! I also now know how I am going to set up the basics of the stall so this should save me time on the day. More time to make things look pretty & buff up my glass!