There's a new kid in town

For the last few months, I have been thinking about a website aiming more at the trade than the general public, showcasing constant ranges made to order, gallery-style, rather than an actual shop with weekly-changing stock. Something to incorporate my slowly-growing sculptural work. Something the permanently house the fabulous professional photos we took a few weeks ago (yes, specifically for this website, among other things :o)

Well......it's here. The general public might never notice its existence, and there are a few things I'm not 100% happy with, but...ladies and gentlemen, may I present: www.sabinelittle.com. May the site live long and prosper.



The photo is, of course, by the fabulous Claire Penn again :o)

New year, new...everything :o)

Happy New Year everybody! I'm really looking forward to 201, th first full-time year dedicated to glass! It has been very busy so far already - last Saturday, I spent a fabulous day with photographer Claire Penn (www.clairepennphotography.com), hair and make-up artist Clare Ardern (www.harryjon.com), and three gorgeous models - Tabitha Courtney Smith, Terasa XDx and Leah Slater. All six of us trundled up to a farm in Lancashire, took over a barn, and worked our little socks off - well, all the others did, I just made sure the jewellery was facing the right way and suggested a few poses.

The girls were all fabulous - trying to shoot elegant, dreamy and glamorous pictures when it's chucking down with rain, or while you're crouched in a drippy little cubbyhole because of the lovely dark background isn't easy. Clare did a beautiful job transforming the girls for different 'looks', before Claire and I dragged them through the mud. It was very cold and wet, and with only the odd cup of tea and lunch to keep them warm, I'm very grateful everybody was so 'up for it'. You will be seeing more pictures cropping up as they get edited, but here is one to start with, the fabulous Leah Slater modelling a poppy ring.



To celebrate the new photos, I'm running a little give-away on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/littlecastledesigns), so be sure to look out for it!

Mystery guest in the studio

Today, I had a visit from a lovely guest, whom quite a few people will know by name, and a fair few personally. If you're out and about online, this won't be much of a secret, so if you spotted her posting that she was coming, *sh* :o)



Otherwise.........who might it be? :o)

Poppy time

I'm always quite late when it comes to beading ahead of the season, but recently, I've had the poppy fever - and all ahead of Remembrance Day. I've also found that a bit of sparkle has started to find its way into my beads, but I shan't mention the C-word just yet. Anyway, it's a funny old thing, isn't it? As a lampworker, I'm inspired by the seasons....in spring, the shoots and buds inspire me to get the frit out, do blossoms and vines....but jewellery makers need to get their beads ahead of the season, not when it's already in full flow. Right now, everybody is busy preparing for Christmas (oops, I said it!) markets, while at the same time trying to hold on to the last rays of sunshine. So, just out of interest, how do others deal with tis? The hell with it, and bead whatever, put things aside for ten months ;o)? Or enjoying being ahead of the times?

Anyway.....time to share some poppies!

Leave it to the professionals!

Recently, pieces of the Alcazar range travelled up to Chester to be part o a professional photo shoot. Expertly modelled by Tabitha Courtney Smith, hair and make-up by Clare Ardern of Harryjon, and photos by Claire Penn of Claire Penn Photography. It's amazing what a difference it makes when the professionals get a chance to play with my humble roses, isn't it? The two shots below are my favourites. The photos will be used for banners and advertising - one of them was already sent somewhere to hopefully go into print, but I'm not allowed to say where ;o)

The rest of the festival

It hardly does the International Festival of Glass justice to lump the rest of it into one post - there were other masterclasses, in engraving, Ghanaian bead making, casting, blowing - if I ever thought I was aware of the versatility of this lovely medium, I am now even more aware of it - I just wish I could use them all :o)

The Biennale private preview meeting was rather posh, with press and artists mingling, I now can put more faces to names. During the course of the week, I also met the lovely Carrie Fertig, who has work both in the Biennale and the exhibition at Plowden and Thompson's - I covet one of her feathers :o)

Selling over the week-end was great, because it turned into a 'saying hello to lots of old friends'. On Saturday afternoon, I was back at the Ruskin, presenting my work as part of a quick-fire pecha kucha. That was interesting, and again getting an opportunity to listen to others' inspiration behind their work.

I had to leave on Sunday night, and missed all of the lectures and demos - on Friday, I had a go at glassblowing, and I was absolutely thrilled with the results...now, just where could I get the money and space for a glassblowing studio??

So much to say, so little time!

Where shall I start?! Since I last posted, I have begun my full-time beadmaking adventure, attended the most amazing Masterclass with Gianni Toso, sold at the International Festival of Glass in Stourbridge, sent stock to new gallery, met one of the Dragons from Dragons' Den, and launched my new jewellery range. And that' just beadie stuff! So, let's take things slowly, and let me tell you about the masterclass!

Gianni Toso has a history in glass that goes back 700 years on his father's and 650 years on his monther's side (on one branch of my family, I can get back to the late 18th century, farmers and shepherds, mostly, as far as I can tell.....hmmmmm! Not sure what that tells you.)

I had the honour of spending a week with Gianni, both as his student, and, together with the other class members, as part of the evening entertainment. The week has left me dazzled - by Gianni's skill, and warmed - by his generosity with his knowledge and friendship. Since he won't mince his words (the best free-standing butterfly I made was called 'arthritic'), every 'brava' from Gianni felt fantastic. But even more so, I could feel myself growing - I daren't say 'as an artist', that sounds rather poncy. But I think I left the week being more brave than I started it, with ideas for experimentation. I will always be making beads, but I am finding myself getting frustrated by the vulnerability of them, the idea that they have to be 'wearable'. Gianni's creations are so fragile you wouldn't subject hem to daily wear and tear - they are made to be admired, and seem so delicate that they are removed from the day-to-day world. I'd love to develop further in that direction.

I'll tell you more about the rest of the festival later!