Feeling Better

I'm feeling much better today after my busyness rant yesterday. I got an early start and have had a very productive morning so far. I've been many lamps ready to send to a Christmas Open House in Brighton which I take part in each year. (It's 15 Chanctonbury Road, Hove if anyone can make it).

Calder High was closed today due to flood risk (although now it's not even raining) so Ffion is sitting in the workshop keeping me company and making felt orchids for Christmas presents. She bought a tutorial from Alison Boxwell at www.nestings.etsy.com who makes beautiful things, like the one shown in the picture. You can buy them from her ready made or buy her tutorial and have a go yourself. We've bought all the bits and we'll see how it goes....

Missing You

I'm having a really busy time. Probably busier than ever before. I am really happy about this. My businesses are working and all my hard work is paying off and that is very satisfying indeed. I feel somewhat challenged though and I'm running to keep up every day. I miss the simple things like being here and blogging and taking pretty pictures to share. I'm on full capacity with a brain full of things that need my attention and despite my mindmaps and to do lists I'm forgetting to do things that I've said I'll do and I don't like that! It's not like me. My studio is chaotic and feeling too small. It kind of doubles up as Radiance storage and with all the extra stock for Christmas I feel squeezed and somedays like I'm drowning in cardboard and I spend my days moving things around just so that I can work.

Perhaps I need extra help...but where would I fit someone else? Perhaps I need to delegate some jobs...but which ones? There are so many things to think about...and I feel rather too busy to think about much!

It's all growth I know. Robert keeps me posotive. He said the other day that it's just something else I need to apply my creativity to. That was nice as he made me remember that I am creative and I would find a way.....he made me see things in a brighter light.

So if my blog is quiet that's why, that's what's going on. Oooh feel much better now for sharing...

Thankyou!

Late Night Shopping In Hebden Bridge

The flyers and posters have just arrived for Hebden Bridges late night shopping. Shops will be open until 8pm on the 26th November and the 3rd and 10th of December. On the first night the Christmas lights will be switched on and there will be a handmade lantern parade leaving from the square at 5.30. It's lovely at Radiance when it's dark outside. It really is the best time to visit the shop!

If you fancy taking part in the parade there will be lantern making workshops at the Hebden Bridge Methodist Church (near The Coop) on Sunday 22nd Nov 2-4pm, Monday 23rd November 3.45-6pm and Tuesday 24th November 3.45-6.

Look, the flyers have even got room for s special Hebden Bridge Christmas shopping list....

A lamp in it's new home

Alice from Simply The Nest just let me know that she has blogged about my work after buying an allium lamp at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at the weekend. It is such a gorgeous write up and such a visual treat that i wanted to share it with you. She took some lovely pictures of the lamp in situ. I hardly ever get to see where my little creations end up so it's lovely when this happens! It's has obviously gone to a beautiful home!

News from the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair

I've had a really fantastic time at the show. I have sold lots of lamps and worked hard to promote my work and Radiance which I suppose is the ultimate aim but I have also met up with old exhibitor friends, made new ones and had a lovely, lovely time! It was really nice to know that lots of people looked at my picture of the shop with recognition or with excitement and the promise of paying us a visit! It also met so many people I have been chatting to via blogs and Twitter over the last year and it was really nice to put faces to names.

This year my stand was opposite Linzi Ramsden, a ceramic artist based at The Manchester Craft Centre. She is also inspired by plants and flowers and actually grows her own flowers which she used to create the textures in her ceramic panels. They are lovely and so was she. She was a good stand neighbour and kept us entertained.

This year the show was situated in a large marquee in the centre of Spinningfields, Manchesters new and swanky business quarter off Deansgate. They had an awesome banner. It was huge! Last year the show was at Manchester Grammar School which perhaps a little more quirky but it was nice to be in the centre of town and the venue was more condensed which had it's benefits.



Despite driving rain and high winds it was very busy most of the time and people seemed to be enjoying all the lovely work which I have to say was outstanding and very inspiring. Although I didn't have much time to spend going round get round I did take some time to have a look and take some pictures.

Being me, I always notice the lighting and I loved Jane Blease's new work (shown above)- lampshades, brooches and some lovely framed pieces. There will be some coming to Radiance soon!

Another lighting artist at the show was Jenny Bland with her beautiful lamps and shades made from spun embroidery thread. (hopefully also coming to Radiance soon)



There were some lovely displays and quirky ideas. I liked these hands on Lynsey Walters stand displaying her colourful felt rings.



Kate O'Connells serving platters based on shards of broken pottery caught my eye.

It's always nice to catch up with the lovely Debbie Bryan and was good to hear that her new shop in Nottinghams Lace Market is doing well. She gave me one of her beautiful resin buttons which I have happily sewn on my cardy!

I always like Yungi's cosy textile stand too and catch up with Mr Yungi himself (Bryan Young) We were stand neighbours at b.c.t.f afew years ago. We always have a giggle.

...well I have run out of photos but I feel like I have barely scratched the surface There were SO many talented makers (144 to be precise) making so many utterly beautiful things. It's an honour to have been a part of it.

There are more reviews with great pictures over at Moregeous and over at HisforHome.

Last day before the Show

Just though I'd say a quick hello as I'm going to be busy at the GNCCF over the next few days. My stand furniture and stock is in a huge pile in my workshop and tomorrow we will load it up and go and set up in Manchester.

Wanted to say thanks to Kate Feld from the Creative Tourist website who has written a piece about the show to tempt you!

I'm looking forward to meeting many people I've been chatting and Tweeting to over the last few months but have never seen in real life. It will be nice to put some real faces to these names.

Hope to see you there but if not I'll be writing about it here next week! Bye for now.x

Wedding date lantern

I thought it would be nice if the last lantern on a string of named wedding lights had the couples wedding date on. We tried it out and it looks quite sweet.

What a busy week!

I think this has been the busiest week yet. I seem not to have sat down all week. It's all good though. Laura, on a work experience placement has been amazing (despite being full of cold and coughing and sneezing all week bless her) and it makes me wonder how I ever cope on my own for most of the week.

We have got a lot done together. We've made loads of lamps for the show and gift wrapped them them all. Yesterday the Not On The High Street winter catalogue came out with my personalised fairy lights in and I've had orders for seven sets already which I'm pretty gobsmacked about.

So it's been fairy light making central!

It's been nice to have a couple of glasses of wine this evening and chill out a bit....and tomorrow, no work...except fitting our kitchen floor. The new sink is in place and now time for the lovely floor. That'll make a nice change...

Great Northern Contempoarary Craft Fair Approaches

It's only two weeks until set up day for the GNCCF now so I'm working hard making stock and preparing my stand. It's all go go go! I have Laura Garrow (remember me blogging about her a few weeks back) on a work placement with me which is wonderful and I think we'll be able to do a lot between us. She looks very happy to be here and keeps beaming from ear to ear!

Mr & Mrs

I have just made these lights for Mr & Mrs Armsby. I havent done a 'Mr & Mrs' before as people usually write their first names. I like these, they're sweet. Look out for my fairy lights in the November issue of Perfect Wedding magazine which is out now. I'm yet to go and buy a copy. Looking forward to seeing them there.