I can't quite believe that after about two weeks of intense nerves and worry that the Flame Off has been and gone!It was a great day - very nice to meet lots of people who I've been emailing for ages. It's always good to put faces to names! I finally met Manda from Mango Beads after more than three years of speaking to her and she gave me one of her beautiful silver cores. It was also lovely to meet Pam from Maple Glass who gave me one of her fab beads too. Thank you both!
I'd like to say that I enjoyed doing the demos but I was such a bundle of nerves I was concentrating more on stopping my hands shaking than actually enjoying the experience! For those that watched my demos I apologise for the lack of decent commentary but I found it very tricky to make beads and talk at the same time.
My favourite part of the day was later in the afternoon when I was downstairs making beads where I was able to answer your questions and show you the beadmaking techniques that you wanted to see.
Martin Tuffnell and everyone else involved with the organisation of the day did a wonderful job and Towcester Racecourse was a great venue too.
Finally, I want to say a big huge thank you to my wonderful boyfriend Chris who was fantastic moral support and a general calming influence on a very nervous me. He was also an ace photographer and handbag and coat minder too! ;o)
Oh Laura, I know exactly what it's like to be so nervous!!! My hands begin to sweat (yuk!!, probably too much info!!) and I can't grip anything properly!!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I bet you were brilliant and I wish I'd been able to see you. Next time!!!!
xx
Laura you were great.
ReplyDeleteTo get to watch your stringer control was amazing. If I'm honest I didn't really notice the lack of commentry as I was so focused on your demo. How you make the glass soft without melting those fine stringers was awesome.
I would have been so nervous if it were me up there too. You did good girl. It was so nice to meet the you and say hello.
Catherine - I've never been so nervous in all my life!
ReplyDeleteVirginia - thanks for your lovely feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed the demo. :o)
Laura x
Wow just watched the videos! It looks amazing and your Dad managed to get a lot of detail of what you do in there so well done to him too!
ReplyDeleteIt must have been amazing to see it in 'real life'
I was thinking about it on Saturday and how nervous I would be. Just public speaking scares me so actually doing a demo would be even worse. Well done Laura you did great!!!
J x
Aw, cheers Janine! :o)
ReplyDeleteLaura x
Laura you know what I think you were damn brilliant girl - but you must be sooo relieved its all behind you . Well done and enjoy a well earned rest this week everyone must be very proud of you .
ReplyDeleteLotsa love Mandaxx
Thank you, Manda! It was so great to meet you on Saturday. :o)
ReplyDeleteLaura x
Hi Laura.
ReplyDeleteWatched your video, really amazed how you manage to make it look so easy, and I know it must require an extremely steady hand and lots of skill. Whats more amazing is that you don't have black, singed finger ends!!!
Looks like you had a lot of fun hope it went well for you!
:o)
Thank you, Mark! Yes, I do tend to get my fingers very close to the flame and I do burn myself every now and then!
ReplyDeleteLaura :o)
Hi Laura, talk about patience and a steady hand. Just watched the vid and am in awe....amazing stuff. I sound so naive but I never really realised what was involved. What a skill. Do you mind if I do a link to the vid so people who buy my jewellery can see just how handmade their beads are?
ReplyDeleteVeryan
Many thanks for the compliments, Veryan. Yes, by all means, please feel free to link to the videos!
ReplyDeleteLaura x
Just watched the vids - I'm in awe! You make it look so easy, but I can see it's not. Wow!
ReplyDeleteLaura, I was thinking about you all day Saturday. I am glad it went well for you.
ReplyDeleteGreat videos.
Tina
x
Thanks Caroline and Tina! :o)
ReplyDeleteLaura x
So glad it went well for you Laura! Do you mind if I link to the videos too?
ReplyDeleteOf course not, Jo. Link away!
ReplyDeleteLaura x
My, you make it look so easy girl. Was hoping to come and see you doing your stuff but had a poorlyish child......
ReplyDeleteWhat happens to the beads you made on the demos?
xxxx
Shame you couldn't make it, Mandie.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what happened to the beads. They went into vermiculite but that was the last that I saw of them .....
Laura x
Laura - Well done for Saturday. I was there and thoroughly enjoyed all the demo's from you and your fellow glass artists. I was particularly interested to see the contrast between your technique for appliying dots using (very, very) fine stringer, and Mike Poole's technique using glass rods. It has spurred me on to try stringer work again, in the hope I can produce something half decent.
ReplyDeleteCongrats again. Have you signed up for next year's event yet?
Liz B
Thank you, Liz
ReplyDeleteYes - everyone has different ways of doing things. I make quite small beads so I find fine stringer easier to work with.
Next year? I have trouble working out what I'll be doing next week let alone next year! Hehe! ;o)
Laura x
I am so happy that it went well for you Laura, I really am. Now I am off to You Tube to watch them videos.... :D
ReplyDeleteYeaaaa Laura ive finally seen how you do it!! the videos that is lol
ReplyDeletewell done you, and im just gutted i never got to meet you, its my dream to meet you...one day;)
keep up the good work
xx
Angie