Portsoy Boat Festival

What a busy weekend and fantastic weather. I attended the Portsoy Boat Festival yesterday and today and had a great (although tiring) weekend AND both days were sunny and hot. The event usually suffers bad weather and is often a washout.

Saturday morning started slow and we (my crafting buddy and I) both thought it wasn't going to pick up, but we were busy in the afternoon and today was exactly the same.

I was thrilled that my 3 piece slumped set sold - it's now going to take pride of place on someone's mantle. I took lots of fishies, but it was the dichroic glass jewellery that was more popular - people even buying Christmas presents!!.

It was an eventful weekend, with lots of races taking place, pipe band, local heritage marquee, craft marquees and traditional crafts (spinning, weaving, knitting etc).

Wood Carvings (above)

Boatbuilding Skills (above)

Our friend Sue of 'Ewe can Too' spinning (above)

The setting in Portsoy is beautiful around the harbour side and take a look at this view in the restaurant marquee:

Restaurant overlooking the bay

I did of course indulge in the local strawberries and the famous Arbroath Smokies - absolutely delicious!!

Arbroath Smokies (above)

Another busy weekend next week - I will be attending Cullen Craft Fair.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy xx

New Slumping and Casting Moulds

I have some new moulds to play around with, but as yet, I have been so busy with customer orders, that I haven't had a chance to play much. The large bowl mould is 27cm in diameter so a good size to make bowls - I am hoping to make some 'fishie' themed bowls.

I had a quick play with the large round slumping mould and used it to make my 'Reef' bowl (below). The glass is salmon in colour, so it does actually look like a coral reef, slumped into a bowl with clear glass. With a set of rubber feet on the base, it looks a treat on the table.

Ready for the first fire (above)

The end result - Reef bowl (above)

The smaller casting moulds will be used to melt frit (crushed glass) - I've yet to try these ones. I will probably use these to make decorative panels and tack-fuse the heart/star on to them.

I'm now getting ready; packing my glassware for tomorrow's event: The Portsoy Boat Festival. Hopefully the weather will remain calm and sunny (but not too hot!!). Heat inside a gazebo can be unbearable.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy xx

Hot, Hot, Hot - then Not!!

Totem Pendants

I have recently made a batch of Totems - back by popular demand. So many people have been asking for these lately, but I had lost my creative juices for making these. They take a bit of thought and I couldn't get my head around the designs, so haven't made any for a while. They will be added to my website over the next couple of days.

Well, it's certainly been hot, hot, hot lately - too hot to be couped-up inside my studio, when the kiln has been on! You can imagine the heat the kiln gives off - together with the sunny weather we've been having. I tend to work mainly in the evenings to avoid so much heat.

It was 28 degrees today, very sunny and hot - We (daughter and I) have been having picnics in the garden every day. It's great to be in the garden, but, it doesn't get my orders done! We were enjoying the weather this afternoon when the heavens opened, and we had torrential rain, with thunder and lightening. It was mad. Can't say that it has cleared the air though - now it's quite clammy.

Flooding - from the torrential rain today (above)

I'm now looking out of the window and there is a pinkish sky, so perhaps the good weather will return tomorrow (yes, it's 10.45pm and it's still daylight!!).

One of my customer orders (well part order, the rest has been packaged) - this lot was sent to Somerset:

Pop Art Pendants and Dinkies

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy xx

Another Busy Week at Lazy Daisy Glass

Daisy Range (above)

I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth - just been keeping myself out of mischief and still busy with customer orders.

I have been making more Lazy Bones Fish as well as the Drifting By fish - these have been my biggest sellers this season. I have been inundated with orders for fish. Took another trip to the beach yesterday to collect more driftwood, which is now drying outside. It's been scorching here of late, so ideal for drying the wood.

Lazy Bones (above)

Drifting By (above)

Have been making more bangles and pendants from my Daisy Range (top) - these are bright summer colours and love making these. I love the colours, they are very summery.

I have just packed an order for a shop in Torquay and sending an order (tomorrow) for a shop in Somerset and an order to complete for a shop on the Isle of Lewis. So Lazy Daisy Glass could be coming to your town soon!

The latest vehicle in the family:

Vroom, vroom - my daughter has a battery powered scooter. It's really cute and can't believe she took to it like a duck to water. Considering she's only two, she grasped the idea of driving it really quickly. She loves it and constantly asks to ride her scooter.

My next event is the Portsoy Boat Festival (this Saturday and Sunday) so now busy making some glass goodies for the event.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy xx

Happy Birthday - Look Who's Two

Just celebrated our daughter's 2nd birthday (last Saturday) and we took her to a local Playbarn. It's newly opened and it is enormous. Our daughter wasn't content with playing in the under 4's section, she had to explore the over 4's part. The playbarn is so big that I couldn't see her in certain areas, so I did what all mums do - I had to go and play of course! I took her to the very top and we both came down the slides - it was great fun, although have to say I don't have as much energy as her - I was beetroot red and absolutely shattered! She certainly gave me a run for my money. She had a whale of the time:

And opening of her presents of course:

No - the dolly's hat doesn't fit you! (above)

Playing mummy (above)

No - the doll's cot is far too small for you, or maybe not (above)

Each time we had "Happy Birthday Cake" as she would call it - of course it had to have a candle as she wanted to blow the candle out. This was the following day; cake and candle:

We all had a great weekend, enjoying the celebrations. Although we cannot believe how quickly the two years have passed. She is an absolute pleasure to have around and we love her to bits.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy xx

Royal Cornwall Show - Update

Firstly, I must apologise for the lack of posts lately - have been extremely busy with orders (satill am - they just keep coming).

Well, it seems an era since returning from the Royal Cornwall Show - I have to say that I was a tad disappointed with sales. With such a high footfall, I was expecting good results, but alas, they never came. Also, there were 8 (if I remember) glass artists within the marquee, which is a lot of competition. After day one, I decided to reduce my prices (after a very nice man, and fellow glass artist advised) - he informed me that there are alot of glass artists in Cornwall and compeition is very high. Whereas, I have relatively no competition in my area.

The third day proved to be a lot better, but think that the rain drove people in to the marquee and people started spending, yippee.

Anyway, it wasn't all doom and gloom - I was situated next to Jon Cleave, creator of Gully - a series of childrens books. Jon is a talented bloke, as well as being the author, he's illustrator and publisher of his own books, and a real character (he had us in stiches). Not only that, he brought his friend along on Friday - actor Ian McNeice - he plays Bert in Doc Martin. I bought a couple of books from Jon and had them signed by himself and Ian McNeice. Proper job!

Jon Cleave (author) and Ian McNeice (above)

We were camping on site and this was also a family affair - some family members joined us and we had a ball. Although I was busy, I didn't have much time for anything other than work and sleep.

Our new 6 berth tent - loads of room

The view from our pitch - looking down to Padstow

Overall, weather was good, caught up with family, met an author and actor, ate a Cornish pasty (OMG I miss them so much!!) and had a chat with some old friends.

I'm glad to say that my next event is the Portsoy Boat Festival which is only 30 minutes away.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy xx

COAST Art Festival - A Success

COAST is over and I can now relax, well until I start work again first thing tomorrow morning. Then it's busy, busy, busy - working for Royal Cornwall Show.

I had a great time, meeting the other artists and also had very good sales. The interesting thing is that the Lazy Bones Fish and Drifting By Fish were the most popular (again). I was also really pleased to sell one of my bigger pieces:

'Riding High'

This is some of my work and stand. The stand was a little strange, as I arrived later in the day to set up, it seems that other people were allocated my stand, but could not work with the space, so it was left for me. The space consisted of two small concertina-like areas and first thoughts were OMG, what an earth can I do with that. And certainly couldn't fit all of my stuff as I only needed one wall, but two large tables. But after re-arranging things here and there and taking my display shelving it looked pretty good and the space worked well.

Reef Bowl (above)

I also have to say a big thanks to our friends, Ray and Sue (currently visiting us from London) who have been busy looking after our daughter. She absolutely adores Ray and has been attached to his arm all weekend. Even I don't get a look in:

And here is Sue - reading a story (above)

My next event is now Royal Cornwall Show, so have a busy few days ahead to get everything made. I will be exhibiting from Thursday 4th June - Saturday 6th June inclusive. If you will be there, please pop by and say hello.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy xx

A Tidy Studio - At last

I've been so busy of late, that my studio has become very untidy and have to say, this causes more stress than anything else. I'm losing stuff, tripping, and cutting myself - no wonder I'm stressed. It's quite embarrassing showing such disarray:

Very Untidy!

My working surface - lack thereof!!

Hubby has saved the day once again - over the weekend he said "just popping out", about an hour later, he arrived home with a van full of cabinets. He bought some cabinets and a worktop for my studio and kindly set about putting it all together in the afternoon. I think he was fed up with me losing stuff and seeing a very untidy room, so decided to surprise me with storage. What a surprise and it has made the world of difference - in mind and being - the room feels completely changed:

Ahh, that's better - I feel much better now!

I have enough storage for my new branded boxes, packaging, new stock and completed jobs.

I love these little jars of glass frit (crushed glass), it brightens the room:

Now, as I'm feeling raring to go, I had better go and make some more glass goodies.

My daughter was quite unwell end of last week and had to rush her to the doctors, so a little behind of my work. But she's alot better now and back to her normal gorgeous self.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy xx

Busy, Busy, Busy - Retail Orders & Fused Glass Jewellery

I haven't posted as much as I normally do, due to the fact that I have many retail orders to complete. I am also preparing for the COAST Art Festival that takes place in Banff next weekend. My kiln has never been busier! In fact I have been so busy that I had to call upon the services of fellow glass artist Natalie Aird (http://www.natalieaird.co.uk/) - she let me use her kiln to catch up with orders. A huge thanks to Natalie for this - it made a huge difference to my stress levels. The picture above is the fish ready to be fired and below are the fired ones:

Whilst visiting Natalie, their resident squirrels decided to make an appearance and came to feed:

There were two red squirrels that appeared and were so cute. I know they are vermin, but can't help but think they are cute!

I've also been working on some new designs to add to my jewellery range:

Retro Range (above) - available in Cobalt, Sky Blue & Sunflower

Pebbles Range (above) - organic in shape, using decorative glass with pebble-like shapes

Daisy Range (above) - summer colours with black speckled decorative glass.

Available in pendants with matching bracelets

I have yet to add these to my website (which may take a few days). And finally, the photo below is a part order (one of many!), labelled, boxed and ready for delivery. My branded boxes FINALLY arrived as well. I have been waiting for over two weeks for my boxes, and now they are here, I am pleased with the colour and finish.

Oh, I have also been tagged, courtesy of Kookie Designs (www.kookiedesigns.blogspot.com) which I will add over the next few days.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy xx

Not Now Mummy - I'm Working

Where would I be without my laptop - I have to say it's my saviour. It was a birthday present from my hubby (one of the better ideas he's had!!).

I popped out of the front room to make a cup of coffee, walked back in and saw a little person on the sofa with my laptop. "What do you think you're doing, young lady" I said, to which she replied "working on puter", pressing the keys frantically. Well, I just cracked up, bless her, she's not even two yet. She hears it from me, when she wants a story read to her, I'm usually quite busy and usually say "not now baby, Mummy's working". So you can guess where she picked it up from.

Now, I put the 'puter' down, as she calls it, and I always read her stories.

Slimming World - weigh-in results: I put on 0.5 lb this week, but wasn't at all surprised after going out for a beautiful meal at the Craigellachie Hotel - it was our anniversary last Saturday, so we had a bit of the blow out (well, I did anyway) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy xx

Next Event - The COAST Art Festival

Now that the Aviemore Trade Show is over - phew, I will of course be busy with orders for the next couple of weeks.

I applied to the COAST Art Festival earlier this year to ask if I could exhibit. The organiser appreciated my work and I have been accepted to appear in their art exhibition. The festival will be running from 22nd - 25th May (inclusive) with a variety of events; sand sculpting, textile art workshops, metal cating workshop, even childrens art workshops.

About COAST

COAST Festival has been designed to build on the existing interest and demand for creative activity in the Banffshire coast area, notably the existence and activities of Duff House which hosts collections of the National Galleries and the growing demand for arts-tourism in the area whereby visitors can participate in art courses as well as having the opportunity to view and celebrate art created by others.COAST has a strong professional structure designed to drive forward the implementation of the Festival. It is run by The Banffshire Visual Arts Festival Ltd, a company set up by a voluntary Board of Directors consisting of local Business people and Artists. COAST also has a public Festival Forum Group made up of local artists, business people and other members of the community who contribute to shaping the event and where appropriate, this group includes a representative from Aberdeenshire Council's Arts Development Team and the Manager of Duff House Country House Gallery.

Slimming World - Weigh-in Results: I have been busy over the last couple of weeks and haven't posted my results. Two weeks ago I stayed the same and last week I lost another 2 pounds. Total weight loss so far - 11.5 lbs (and had a huge chilli burger and chips on the way home from the trade show - to celebrate all my orders, oh and a bar of chocolate!). I don't know if I will lose this week as we went out for a very delicious meal last night with lots of wine and champagne - hick. Well, it was our anniversary.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy xx