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!!