The past decade in pictures- what a ride it's been!

I came across this amazing site summing up in pictures the last turbulent, dramatic, shattering, helter skelter 10 years. 

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/12/the_decade_in_news_photographs.html


I celebrated the new millennium listening to Kiri Te Kanawa singing on a beach in Gisbourne, New Zealand. We were the first people on the planet to see in 2000 and it felt very special. 


The big wide world has changed so much since then and not I feel for the better. On my personal planet tho, I feel blessed to be seeing in 2011 with my close friends and family, my wonderful husband , and all of us fit and healthy 


I wish all of you a safe, happy and fulfilling 2011
deb xxxx

Tis the season......

Well.... I was going to make a polymer clay Christmas pudding but hey, life's too short, so for the season, here's my special recipe for a real one. enjoy!

A Christmas pudding

Ingredients:

* 2 cups flour
* 1 stick butter
* 1 cup of water
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1 cup of sugar
* 1 tsp salt
* 1 cup of brown sugar
* Lemon juice
* 4 large eggs
* Nuts
* 1 bottle Brandy
* 2 cups of dried fruit

Sample the brandy to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the brandy again. To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the brandy is still OK. Try another cup... Just in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 eggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.

Pick the frigging fruit up off floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the brandy to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Check the brandy. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or some fink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the brandy and wipe counter with the cat.

Bingle Jells!

Craft and Design Magazine- metal and polymer clay issue- Feb 2011

This month's Craft and design magazine is one of the best issues yet and a really good read. www.craftanddesign.net

Interestingly i just got an email from them about their next issue which focuses on metal and polymer clay- hurrah

Coincidently, there's talk of putting together a polymer clay exhibition to coincide with the May craft month so it could all tie in quite nicely

so....from the editor Angie Boyer, I quote

'I wanted to let you know that we’ll be putting the spotlight on Metal Clay and Polymer Clay in the Makers Gallery pages of the March/April issue of craft&design magazine, which is on sale 24 February through to 21 April.

This is a really cost effective way to let people know where they can see and buy your work - be it at a show, in galleries, or even online! It’s a unique opportunity to publicise your work to a wide and diverse audience; private and public buyers, gallery owners, interior designers, event & exhibition organisers and creative industry key figures.  

With prices starting at just £35* +VAT for space roughly 1/8 page in size, or £50 + VAT for approx 1/4 page size, we hope you'll accept our invitation to be included in the Metal & Polymer Clay Makers Gallery. We'll prepare the layout for you at no extra cost, all you need to do is send us your text and image(s) as detailed in the attached information.

To keep the costs as low as possible for you, if you book your space before Christmas, we can invoice you at the current 17.5% rate of VAT, which increases to 20% at the beginning of January.

Great guest teachers for our Polymer Pamper and Play event

I'm really delighted to announce that Carol Blackburn www.carolblackburn.co.uk  and Christine Dumont are our 2 guest teachers for the event  

Carol is going to be making Ikat beads. Ikat is a style of weaving common to many world cultures.  It is likely to be one of the oldest forms of textile decoration and is associated with silks and luxury fabrics. 

Carol will show you how to adapt Ikat's distinctive patterns and graphic qualities to polymer clay and make beautiful beads and pendants. 

Carol’s experience as a freelance designer of knitted fabrics adds excitement to the project!

Christine Dumont 

Butterfly Beads are constructed to be physically light, requiring a sculptural approach that might be new and challenging to many.

When several beads are assembled, they produce stunning necklaces or bracelets as their fluted outlines create elegant negative space. In themselves, they carry enough drama to be a focal bead or a single-beaded pendant.

This workshop will be appropriate for those with a basic knowledge of polymer clay material handling, and will be particularly appreciated by artists who want to explore sculpting as a new way of working.

In addition to her awe-inspiring work, Christine is the creator of Voila, a web based community for artists to develop polymer, their voice and raise their game! 

www.allovercreation.net        www.voila.eu.com

There are some more surprises to be announced before Christmas so watch this space. See my last post for more info re the event and a booking form or contact Rebecca on 07902 155 280 or info@polymerpamperplay.co.uk 

Join us at the first Polymer, Pamper Play event in Dorset, March 2011

I'm delighted to announce the first Polymer Pamper Play event to take place March 2011 on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. 

The idea is to bring together a group of polymer clay enthusiasts, mostly UK based and of all skill levels,in a creative and hopefully inspiring part of the world. With the added bonus of the pampering possibilities on offer at the hotel, it should be a blissful weekend on all levels! 

I'm organising it with fellow polymer clay enthusiast, Rebecca Thickbroom. All the info is in the brochure- see below. Booking is open now and as space is fairly limited- don't delay. 

Email info@polymerpamperplay.co.uk or call Rebecca on 07902 155280 

Double click on brochure to enlarge

Chain Reaction

I don't normally 'do' chains, (life's too short frankly) but my 'roomie' at Made In Clerkenwell, Faith Tavender
www.faithtavender.com  gave me the idea and I'm enjoying wearing them myself so maybe it's a new thang!! Wadda think?

PMC Guild 2010 Annual

It came out a little while ago, but I think this year's PMC Guild annual is one of the best so far www.pmcguild.com . There is always good work featured  but I particularly liked the fact that there were quite a few new artists- at least new to me and there was something really different about a lot of the pieces.


Lovely also to see UK artists Chris Pate, Sian Hamilton and Xuella Arnold as well. Must get my acts together to submit work for the next one!!

  

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. ~W.J. Cameron

I love this quote and the idea that the universe applauds action not thought at all times!!.


A happy, joyous and action packed Thanksgiving day to all my American friends.

Even more new stuff and a great Polymer Clay course/holiday

My 'At Home' went really well this weekend, thanks so much to everyone who came along and for all your lovely comments and purchases, all much appreciated.


I've posted some more new work- see below-when will it end!!


Needless to say I'm pretty shattered today but happy!. One of the hits of the weekend were my new handbag charms/necklace hearts particularly the steampunky ones. 


On another note altogether, I'm just about to register for the Corbieres Creatives October 2011 in France www.corbierescreatives.com .The last one was absolutely terrific. Kylie has put together what promises to be another  brill programme with Louise Fisher Cozzi, Sandra McCaw, Tory Hughes and Judy Belcher teaching full day and half day workshops.Polymer clay heaven indeed 


Lots more info on their website.


Next show is Made In Clerkenwel 26th-28th November. Snow and a tube strike are forecast but hey...do I look bovered

I'm loving black and gold

Still beavering away making new things for my Christmas shows, starting with my 'At Home'' which begins on Saturday.


I noticed that black and gold was a definite trend when I was at the American Craft Council event in Baltimore in February and the shops here seem to be full of it now.


Talking of American craft shows... check out The Philadelphia Crafts Council event where Ford and Forlano are showing some amazing new pieces, www.pmacraftshow.org    


Anyway here are some of my Black and Gold earrings

Mrs Santa is busy busy busy!!

Having spend weeks and weeks doing everything but make jewellery, it's panic stations now for my looming first show of the season, my 'At Home' on 20th -21st November and I've been up since the crack of dawn for days making things, don't we love a deadline?!! 


To make matters 'worse', I'm, having a creative snap so want to try out new things as well. These bangles are lighter and relatively smaller than my other ones and I'm having great fun with some blingy handmade cabochons. 


If you'd like to come along please just drop me a line on 07967 978061. There'll be lots of mulled wine, mince pies and other goodies. 


Of which, more to be posted in the next few days- hurrah. 


Back to work Mrs Santa

Big Bangle's Baby Sister

'Ancient people' bangle

PMC Pro- the latest thing in metal clay?

The metal clay community has been holding its breath in anticipation of the launch of Mitsubishi's latest product PMC Pro which is now on sale, I think at the mo, only in the USA





I haven't even had my paws on it let alone tried it out but check out the post on Lora Heart's blog Such and Such ( great blog btw) . She gives a good overview of what it's all about. Sounds like it's good to use and much stronger than PMC3 etc but is 90% silver 10% copper and can't be hallmarked.


Call me old fashioned but my gut feeling is - why?. One of the best USP's of metal clay is the fact it's fine silver i.e. pure pure pure. I love that quality despite the draw backs of less strength


Suffice to say, I think, that the jury is still out.



http://lorahartjewels.blogspot.com

PS Please be my friend

Feeling a bit lonesome today. I know lots of you are reading my blog... so please join as a friend or even post a comment. I'll be ever so grateful!!

Even more 'worthwhile' distractions

Cruising around the internet is probably my distraction of choice because I kid myself, 'it's working really' Right.?!

Anyway I did come across this little gem http://kitandcaboodle.ning.com  It's a bit like CraftHaus, but based in Australia. It has lots of new (to me) jewellery to look at, some good discussions going and a really fab list of links. With those alone you have literally days of 'worthwhile' distractions to keep you ( I mean ME)  from getting down to proper work.

I've listed them below so have fun, hey after all it IS the weekend

• 18kt
• Art Jewelry Forum
• Klimt 02
• mar de color rosa
• Metalcyberspace
• Object Fetish
• Panie Przodem
• The Carrot Box
• zero925

• AGC
• Calerie Bijouterie Jungblut
• clog
• Conceptual Metalsmithing
• Craft Unbound
• D*Hub
• Design Boom
• Design Spotter
• Ethical Metalsmiths
• In Design
• Jewel History
• Jewelry Business Guru
• Joyas a la Carte
• Lup Rocks
• Map Magazine
• No Dirty Gold
• On Jewels
• SNAG
• The Big Idea
• WOW

• Wearable Art

Craft Central- a fantastic resource for all crafts people

Craft Central, www.craftcentral.org.uk  is a great organization. I've been a member for about 3 years and as well as exhibiting there with the WOW group I'm taking part in their MADE IN CLERKENWELL Christmas event for the first time. http://www.craftcentral.org.uk/debbie-carlton-jewellery 


I'm on the 5th floor of the St.John's square building ( don't worry they have a lift) 
They also run a really good ongoing education program for members ( only £40.00 per year) about every aspect or running a small business, marketing, PR and general creative endeavours etc . VGFM IMHO!

Craft Central: 2 Buildings. 90 Designers. The Ultimate Shopping Treat!Special Launch Night on Thursday 25 Nov, 5-8pm (Join us for Love Brownies treats, washed down with Kopparberg cider!)

Late Night Shopping on Friday 26 Nov, 12noon - 8pm
Avoid the High Street crowds on Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 Nov, 12noon - 6pm

Venue: CRAFT CENTRAL HAS TWO GREAT BUILDINGS, 33-35 St John’s Square London EC1M 4DS and 21 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0DX

Admission: £2.50 per person, under 16’s free

I have a limited number of free tickets.. just ask me. 

From Oman to Cricklewood !

I've taught students from all over London, all over Europe and even India and Singapore which has been wonderful. Emma West came over all the way from Oman specially for a 3 day polymer clay/metal clay class. 


Well done to her for making the journey, we had a fun 3 days and she made some lovely things. She has her own jewellery boutique in Muscat and has promised me she's going to spread the word about polymer and metal clay- more converts to our cause- hurrah

Blogger glitches

No I haven't gone off on a long holiday around the Caribbean or emmigrated to Alaska ( altho it has been suggested!)

Having probs with uploading pics to my blog and as a picture speaks a thousand words, I'm not sure what to do

Help!

Come and learn how to do this.....

A bit of eye candy heading for the weekend. Some polymer clay bead samples etc. to illustrate what we would cover in a days 'introduction' class.Quite a lot eh?! If you interested in learning more you can contact www.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk where I teach or if you want a one to one lesson at my studio in North West London, call me on 07967 978061.

Daily Art Muse, a(nother) must see blog

I've probably mentioned it before but Susan Lomuto's www.dailyartmuse.com is one of my absolute favourite blogs. She's just re designed the site and it looks fab. She has a knack of finding the most fantastic artists and unusual art. It's always food for thought and inspires me on a daily basis to take notice of the world outside my own particular niche.

Check it put and expand your horizons!!

In Susan Lomuto's own words,

'DAM explores the global landscape of handcrafted excellence by showcasing the best in contemporary fine craft. The site inspires artists, designers and collectors worldwide and is frequently used as an educational resource in traditional classroom settings (high school and college) as well as online learning environments'

My personal route to polymer and metal clay

I'd like to say that I made fantastic models with polymer clay as a kid, but I don't think it was around then or that I always wanted to do something arty, but that wasn't it either, at least not consciously!!

About 10 years ago however, I went back to college and did a diploma in figurative sculpture at Heatherley's College and totally loved it. My final disertation was about the American artist Alexander Calder, one of my enduring heroes, and my exhibition piece was inspired by his work Le Cirque.

Calder's Le Cirque

Debbie's version!

So far so not polymer clay, but during my research about using wire and colour I found Barbara McGuire's book, Wire in Design www.amazon.com/Wire-Design-Modern-Jewelry-Crafts and thro' her, polymer clay, metal clay and jewellery making as a natural extension after that.

So, some 8 years on, I've returned to my first love, life modelling the figure in clay and, yup, I still absolutely love it. I'm sharing a few pics of work in progress

The moral is- you never forget your first love!