Coming out the other side

I think we are finally starting to get over the horrid bug we've had here. Don't get me wrong, I still feel like death warmed up! But I'm getting to the stage now where in my head, I feel like doing things, even though my body isn't quite there yet!

I thought I'd cheer myself up a bit today, so I've had a bit of a lazy morning, followed by some housework!  Now I know that doesn't sound like something to cheer yourself up, but the state of the house, having been inhabited by 3 poorly people was starting to get to me LOL!!  So now I'm feeling a bit happier, I'm going to move onto the thing that'll really cheer me up - PMC!!  I probably won't get any clay out today, but I do need to get on with creating some templates that I need and creating a pattern for a photopolymer plate.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Positive

So, a friend told me she was taking part in Word of the Year.  I decided it'd be fun - I don't do resolutions.  So, I picked the word "positive".

I am the Queen of deciding I can't do something even before I've started or thinking too much about something rather than just getting on with it.  I'm a month in and so far, its been quite helpful!  I know this may sound daft, but just reminding myself to be positive and get on with it has really helped me.

Why am I writing about this today?  Well, I've been unwell this week, so has my hubby and my little girl.  We've all been at home, no school, no work.  I've already had time off since the New Year when I had a migraine which wiped me out for a few days, and now a week off.  We're feeling really rubbish and run down, and I've realised today that my "positivity" has vanished!!

So, writing it all down may help, hopefully after 5 days of this we're through the worst and we'll all be back to normal soon.

New Additions to the Shop

This has been a job on my list FOREVER! As well as supplying a range of clay, I've wanted to stock my shop with a range of good quality tools at the best possible prices. So I've been trawling the web, dealing with manufacturers, and I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere!  There's a long way to go with some of the things I want to source and it seems to take forever for some of the companies to come back to me, which is totally infuriating.

This clay shaping tool is one of my most used tools, I love 2 tools in one, because you never have enough hands!!

I've managed to reduce the price of this tool by £1.00

Another double ended tool, this one is SHARP! I use mine to cut out freehand shapes from wet clay and also to scrape away at unwanted dry clay.  This one has been reduced by £1.70

I'm on a mission to find the best value tools I can now! Its becoming quite addicitive LOL!

These tools are up on the website now HERE

Masters Registry - initial thoughts

Initial thoughts may be slightly mis-leading given that I've been registered since April 2009!!  Maybe it should be latest thoughts LOL!

I've mapped out which 10 projects I'm going to attempt for Level 1 - actually I've mapped out all 5 levels!! They are not set in stone though and I'm happy to change along the way. I wanted to make sure that I got a good spread of projects.  I know what I'm like, I'll wimp out and leave all the tricky ones until last and then never finish!

I've started the design work on my first project and so far i'm really pleased with my progress. Of course I haven't actually "made" anything yet!!  I'm learning to be restrained and to only open my pack of silver when I actually know what I'm making and how it all fits together!

Enamelling

There's a number of topics I could've blogged about today!!  But I chose this Grains of Glass

I saw a link to this site on Joy Funnell's blog yesterday and went over and joined the group.  It seems like a great place to hang out - lots of information on enamelling and some GORGEOUS pictures to drool over!

I'm hoping to really advance my enamelling techniques this year so this is going to be a valuable resource for me I'm sure!

Just one of the lovely pieces in Trish White's photo album on Grains of Glass, a gorgeous copper bowl:

Masters Registry

So with the "no selling in 2009" decision a few weeks behind me, how do I feel now about it?  I still feel that I've made the right decision for me. Phew!!

Back to the subject in hand - Masters Registry

I am making a serious start on the Masters Registry and to say that it's challenging is an understatement!  I am in no rush to get through all the levels.  I've had a good think about what I want to get out of this - and its to build a collection of work that I am proud of. So if it takes me the next 10 years of my life then so be it LOL!!  Although I hope it doesn't take that long!

I regsitered for the Masters Registry back in April 2009 and have just had no time to really devote to it.  That has been one of the major influences in how I structure 2010 - I really want to progress and challenge myself, the MR will certainly do that!

So, full steam ahead with the MR!!

Clearout Sale

So, the important bit first - I'm having a clearance sale on my website, here's a LINK

The next thing is - Why?  Well, as you know I've been re-designing my website and I will be concentrating on building that up and teaching workshops.  Add to that my day jobs and I won't have time for much else!!

I am going to ensure that I have creative time, but I don't want that time to be clouded with having to make to sell.  I am doing a lot of work on my design skills and expanding my skills and I'm having fun with that.

I don't want to have this stock just sitting around, so I've decided to just clear it all out.  There are bargains to be had and they're going fast because its 50% off!