After getting that excited that I nearly wet myself , here are the results

So here are the ' Stormed Beads ' 

The ' Stormed' bit is the bit in the middle of the bumps . 

So 1st nights attempt .

The 2nd day 

The 3rd day 

I tried to do some full round beads that gave the same effect but it did not work and I have no idea on what to do next regarding these beads. As shown on the right hand side of the photo below. So I was a bit disappointed this morning regarding them, but the bumpy ones I want to lick them all and hide them away . 

Hope you like xx

I got sooooo excited I nearly wet myself

Oh yes I did . Read this twice I nearly wet myself indeed I finally bought myself the storming tutorial byAmy Kinsch . I then had to wait until hubby went to bed this afternoon ( he's working nights until Jan 2012 ) before I could escape into the shed & escape I did. Just doing the first section for storming got me jumping up and down in my seat. Bursting with OMG OMG OMG and listening to Radio 2 . So as I did not have all the glass she stated I made do with what I had and played . Now all I have to do is wait until the morning.

So a sacrifice of the son again has been made to the kiln fairies . I hope they like smelly 13yr olds with attitude . Before I can see if this storming has worked, even if just one bead and one dot works I will be happy .. Pics to follow if it works.

Enjoy your evening xx

It's all in a name

They say it is all in a name. 

These were made by the wood man whose name I shall edit in later that was in Buxton at the weekend. I could have gone for Silly Moo but felt the wording would be too much. These are to be on my stall at the next market , fair that is coming up at the end of November .

Yesterdays Efforts

After my last posting and after much thinking about handmade via lampwork and the fact people say " if you cannot beat them , join them " . I have come upon a decision that it is easy to join the " mass produced " market and I am sure I will increase my sales if I do so. But I have never been one that takes the easy route more mountains over molehills , and taking the long road girl am I . Or just plain stubborn . 

Anyway I went into the shed and more handmade products were made . Yes it is slow and yes it is hardwork for little products . However each and every bead I made yesterday was  handmade by me and each one will be slightly different and are unique.

And you know what I loved every single minute of making these babies ...

It will never end

The story continues and it is a bug bare with all people who make there own products verses people who sell mass produced products on handmade craft fairs !!!! 

So I shall keep this short and sweet. People come on , if it says handmade or craft then that means no mass produced items should be sold at these events . It is not fair on those who slave blood, sweat and tears over making there products . We cannot even compete price wise with mass produced products let alone knock out the same item out ten a penny.... It also gives these events a bad name and people who want handmade or craft will not come back to future events. 

Mass produced stalls should stay for normal / standard markets NOT CRAFT OR HANDMADE EVENTS. Everybody has to make money and put food on the table but mass produced sellers are giving us handmade artists a bad name believe it or not buy selling cheap mass produced items that we cannot compete with.

Also for those who buy mass produced at Craft / Handmade Fairs . I ask WHY ???? 

Make a stand people .....

Help those stalls that promote there products are handmade. If you are gonna buy , buy from them that's what these events are meant to promote . It sends a message to the hosts of the event and those that sell mass produced. 

Know that each item is made with love and care , that time and effort has gone into each product made. 

That the best quality materials has been sourced and most of all that a large majority of us give excellent customer service because it is products we have made not just bought in large bulk.

This is why we lose artists , crafters , small independant shops because mass produced is bought on price not quality ...... 

I know not everybody has a lot of money but not all handmade is expensive as you find most of us are under cutting ourselves just so that we can sell an item or too .. We never add on our time for making the product ( labour ) or pay ourselves an hourly rate when we do fairs that tends to be for free . So next time you go to an event that says Handmade or Craft , take note of the stalls that actually are all handmade rather than the stalls that just buy in stuff to sell. It may be cheap but you really can tell the difference in the quality .... 

I know I know I said short and sweet. Well I am both short & sweet .....