My Coolness Crusade

I'm perfectly aware of how uncool bumbags are and the naff tourist stigma that is attached to them, however, of late I have created my own little craft bumbag.  Well, i'd say it's kinda more pinny shaped but I guess it's effectively a bumbag.  I've noticed a lot of stall holders have them and it's a pretty wise idea having your money close to you.  And with my marketing head on I made it oh so cool with my 'Designs by Neelie' logo on it!  I'm on a one woman mission to make the bumbag cool.


A stylish piece of bumbag art!



My Super Awesome Craft Day!

So, I'm still buzzing from yesterday.  I was at a craft fayre in The Paget Rooms in Penarth and had a really great day.  Sold out of lovespoons! And had loads of interest.  Days like that really boost your morale when you've not been selling much, I'm sure any humble crafter will agree.  I really like craft stall holders.  They're always so nice and friendly and they are always willing to help you out.  I met some nice people yesterday.  The craft industry is a lovely little community that I am proud to be part of.  I think I would have forgotten my head yesterday tho had it not been securely attached to my neck!  I was a big jumble of nervousness and excitement.  It was a super awesome day which I hope was an indicator for future events to come.  Bring it on!!



This is my 'Mega Chuffed' face



Me and my little glass creations



So my mam is quite the seasoned poet and has written a little poem for Designs by Neelie.  Here it is

A dazzling array of glass creations sparkling in the sun

Unique and different, bespoke, handmade, each and every one

Designs by Nëelie will carefully listen and lovingly create

Your wishes and your dreams fulfilled, your breath will be a bate

Peruse my site and let me know if there's anything you need

I'll do my utmost to supply a perfect gift indeed!

Norma Davies ©

Is it a balloon ? Is it an alien?.... No, it's a suncatcher.





 It's really interesting how different people see things in this world, especially when it comes to art.  When making this suncatcher I thought I was creating a sky with a balloon.  I didn't know this simple image was open to interpretation.  I had this on display at a recent craft fayre and was talking to guy I know from my old arts group.  He picked up the suncatcher and says 'I like this.  I like the alien'.  Bemused yet slightly amused at this comment, I smiled politely.  He then went on to say 'You know, if you could make one like this but perhaps make the aliens ears a little pointier and the jawline more defined, i'd buy it'  I didn't quite know what to say to this comment but well they do say the customer is always right!









Hmmm, not completely bowled over....

Since I've had my kiln i've been trying to use a slump mould to slump bowls but have yet slumped one correctly.  This is probably because i've got a habit of skimming through instructions and just trying things out for myself.  So I recently made a new creation in readiness of slumping it.  In my feeble attempts to save money I decided to create an 'arty' bowl, using as little glass as possible.  I think it's got an 80's feel to it myself, it reminds me of the copious amounts of 'edgy' black furniture my parents amassed from the 80's/early 90's.  I'm not sure what to think of it right now, it did slump all the way into the mould this time though which is a plus point.  My instructional ignorance has allowed me to create an array of different shaped bowls with just one mould too which is pretty cool.

My most recent creation







The Lovespoon

I've been making lovespoons today.  These are proving really popular.  They're really selling well.  I draw up my own designs and work out the best way to cut them so they fuse together well.  I then put them in the kiln and hope all goes to plan.

The cutting process

They come in a nice little box and I even got my mum to write a poem about the tradition of the Welsh Lovespoon.  I think it's a nice little anniversary gift or even just a little token of love to bestow on your beloved one.

The packaged Lovespoon

The Lovespoon and it's tradition

Stained Glass - Labour of Love

My first ever glass piece was a pretty epic journey. I used to attend an arts group regularly and we were given an amazing opportuninty to create a stained glass piece for Caerphilly Castle. As naive as I was at the time to the long and sometimes tedious process of tiffany work, I designed quite a complex A2 sized piece with about 100 awkwardly shaped fiddly pieces of glass.

The assembled piece after designing and cutting

  As time went on I began to realise the enormity of the challenge i'd set myself. Glass cutting didn't come naturally to me so I often found myself getting very frustrated from the beginning. There were times when I worried I wouldn't finish the piece and many members of the group thought I wouldn't do it.

As I found, grinding individual pieces is time consuming!

The copper foiling process

But (somehow) amongst the frustration, doubts, cuts and splinters I managed to finish the piece (just) on time and was really pleased with the result. Seeing it proudly hanging in Caerphilly Castle made all my efforts worth it. I had an excellent teacher along the way who I still keep in contact with and who was actually the person who encouraged me to pursue glass as a career.

Stained Glass needs light to show it true beauty!

 

The completed stained glass piece

 I'll always have a soft spot in my mind for the labour of love that was my introduction into glass artistry.

I'd love to know what you think of my piece, let me know!

Craft Fayre Nerves

I've got a craft fayre on the 24th.

Truly Handmade Craft Fayre #Penarth Sunday 24th March community.penarthview.co.uk/2013/handmade-…
— Penarth View (@PenarthView) March 14, 2013

Eek!!

I always get really nervous at craft fayres.  I'm really shy and most definately don't have the gift of the gab!  I love to people watch at these events.  It always feels like every other stall holder there is a confident dab hand at this selling lark but i'm pretty sure that's not the case!

Hello Hello :)

Welcome to my blog! My Name is Neelie and I'm a  glass artist from South Wales.  I've just started on my venture as a 'creative business lady'.  I'll be using this blog to publish my journey of glass artistry and business.  I'm not business minded so have loads to learn but it should be fun and interesting along the way.  I'd love to hear from fellow glass artists and crafters so get in touch and join me in my crazy adventure ♥