Sunday 28 October 2018

dreaming lampwork

Last year when I started making these fabric necklaces, 
it was because I had always loved lampwork beads 
so I was trying to do my version in fabric, but I still lusted over those beautiful glass beads.
So when Iris and Dora announced that a lampwork tutor was coming over 
 and was going to do courses, I was beyond excited!

Well it was last Saturday afternoon, and it lived up to everything I had hoped.
There were 6 of us, each with our own station and a very powerful gas flame, first we selected our colours from the rainbow for glass rods. Unsurprisingly I went for blues.......
The actual technique was pretty simple, but just like machine embroidery it is practice and control, control and practice, but I was hooked.  Our tutor was very patient and by the end of two and a half hours we had all produced about 12 beads, 
sadly my favorite one, that looked like a sputnik - all spiky, cracked.  
But all the others came off the rods easily. Really pleased.
Can wait to have ago at wrapping, winding and spodging molten glass again!
Loved it so much I actually drempt about it that night......

Friday 12 October 2018

A towering library in my life

The Guille Alles Library has always been a big part of my Guernsey life. 
My mother was one of the group of ladies who launched 'Bookwormobile' a mobile children's library which later (poss 1981?) was absorbed into the Guille-Alle. Then later after she passed away, a video library was opened in her memory, and I remember standing in the Hayward Room for the opening, wearing a very large silver lamee scarf!  Well I was young.....

But I didnt really understand its history to well,
 and when the chance came up to join a 'behind the scenes' tour, I jumped at the chance. 
 We were led round the building by this fantastic gentleman, 
think he was called Mr Pitt, one of the early library directors from the 1880s.  
But the main reason I want to do this was to get up into the tower! 
 It's designed as a widow's walk
we couldn't get out side but the views from the porthole window was fantastic.
A very different view out over the roof tops of St Peter Port
and the roof top of Specsavers, some one has a brilliant terrace, but they really need to tidy it up!
Herm and Jethou behind the church
The copper tobacco leaves on top of the old Market Building 
The market, then the church and then the castle
This brilliant room is now 'The story tower' for children's story time, 
I am very very jealous of those lucky children!

Tuesday 2 October 2018

finding a new artist to love

This time last month I was in the beautiful city of Bordeaux and I discovered the work of Henri-Jean Martin  (5 August 1860 – 12 November 1943), according to wikiart he is an Impressionist Artist.  I just though these were fantastic, I can can see the Impressionist influence, but I also think there is a nod toward Pointillism which was happening at a similar time.
In the same room were some of his painting featuring figures and I must say was not so keen on those, they felt a little kitsch, a bit twee, the landscapes and flowers were alot more powerful and felt contemporary.  The ultimate compliment of 'I would love to have that hanging on my wall' was whispered under my breath a few times (out of ear shot of the guards!).
 



I do hope you like his work too, sorry the photos aren't great, always feel guilty taking snaps in a gallery even if it is allowed.  I find it very exciting to discover artists I have never heard of, and I definitely want to learn more about Henri-Jean.