Josephine Wadman Designs.

Orphans.

2011-10-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

Somerset Art Week is over, a bit quieter than in previous years but still worthwhile. Now I have some Christmas fairs to get ready for.

I've listed some new beads sets in the last week and I've also had a good sort out and added some orphan beads to my Etsy shop.

Organic beads.

2011-08-18T04:54:00.000-07:00

I'm just starting to get ready for Somerset Art Weeks, which starts in just over 4 weeks. I need to make lots of jewellery. Well first I need to make beads to make into jewellery. I always find it hard to get going during the school holidays. I'm aware that the time I will have the girls at home is limited. in fact Ellie is already up in Leeds ready to start her art foundation course. Anyway I must get going.

I have managed to list a few sets in my Etsy shop this week. Both mixed organic style beads. Hope you like them.

Posie.

2011-07-19T09:11:00.001-07:00

Not many new beads this week. I've had my son visiting and a big jewellery order to sort out. I did get the chance to make these beads yesterday. They are in my Etsy shop.

New website.

2011-02-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

Oh dear! Is it really that long since I blogged. Must try to do better.

I have been rather busy, Somerset Arts Week, Big Bead, Christmas.....and setting up a new website for my jewellery. One of the pendants available there is the heart pictured above. I've kept one of them for myself, something which I rarely do, but I really loved the colours of this design. The range is a bit limited at the moment but there will be more to come.

And for any bead lovers out there, don't forget the spring Big Bead show is rapidly approaching. I will be there at Sandown Park on 2nd April. I really must get onto the torch and start making stock!

Some buttons and some news!

2010-10-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

I have just added some glass beads to my shop. I've been planning to make buttons for ages and have only just got round to it. They have been very popular during Somerset Art Weeks so I thought I would try some in my Etsy shop too.

I also have some exciting news that I have been keeping secret for the last few months. I have a bracelet and a lampwork bead in the finals of the British Bead Awards, due to be presented at the Big Bead Show, Sandown Park on 30th October. The bracelet above is very similar to the one that has been shortlisted. It is on my Arts Week stand at the moment but if you would be interested in buying it then please email me. The bracelet has gold filled findings, lampwork beads, amethysts, pearls and Swarovski crystals. It is priced at £85.

I will be at the Big Bead Show selling my beads with the help of my friend Gill, so if you are there please come and say hello.

Somerset Arts Week.

2010-09-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of Somerset Arts Weeks Open Studio event which lasts for the next two week. I am at The Coach House, Pitminster with my friend Charlotte and another artist called Sara Glanfield. We are really pleased with how our venue looks and the mix of work we have; my beads and jewellery, Charlotte's applique and Sara's paintings. There are also some lovely corsages that my sister has made. She is going to get an Etsy shop to sell these but if you are interested in the meantime then email me. They are £12 including postage and packing. I know I'm biased but they really are the nicest I've seen anywhere.

If you are anywhere near us in the next few weeks do pop in and say hello.

Some new beads.

2010-08-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't been very productive since I got back from holiday despite having had a week without either of the girls at home. However there are some new beads in my shop including this set.

I am off to London tomorrow to help my older daughter carry her bags home. She has been to a summer art course at the Slade School of Fine Art which is where she would love to end up in a years time. Unfortunately it is about twice as competitive as any Oxbridge course, 1400 applications expected for 25 places. Still, someone has to get in.

Phoebe and I need to decide what to do in London. We are meeting up with my son and his wife who has just got back from visiting her family in Iowa. And I will get my new Macbook tomorrow which Emily has brought back with her. My laptop finally gave up the ghost last week. The graphics card has gone, plus it needs a new keyboard so I decided it was time for a new one. I've never used a Mac before but my iPhone along with some visits to Apple shops to stroke the elegantly designed computers has convinced me to make the change....along with some advice from Emily who is a big Apple fan.

Have a good weekend. I will try and get more work done next week!

Norway.

2010-08-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely week cruising up to Norway, visiting Bergen, Olden, Alesund and Stavanger. The weather was kind to us and apart from a couple of hours drizzle in Bergen the sun shone all week and the sea was calm.

The top photograph shows our ship, Oriana between some of the charming wooden houses in the old area of Stavanger. Phoebe and I rather fancied living in one of these or in the lovely green house in the next photograph. This was at Olden. Having sailed about 65miles up the fjord to Olden we got off the ship just by this house and went on a coach trip to the lake shown in the last photo. The water was a really lovely shade of green because the movement of the glaciers means that the water contains a lot of fine sediment from the rocks. We went on a trip across the lake and then walked up to just below the glacier.

Seashells.

2010-06-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

Sea shell beads always seem to be popular and it is certainly the weather to make thoughts turn towards the beach. Here is a new set I have added to my Etsy shop today.

I hope you all had a good weekend in the sunshine. I had a visit from my two little nephews which was lovely...although our three cats didn't agree and made themselves scarce.

If you are in Taunton this Sunday then come and see me at the Art Boot Sale and Queen,s College. I will be selling my jewellery and beads there but there will also be lots of artists selling paintings, prints and ceramics.

Mexican Beads.

2010-06-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

I've been making beads in lovely bright colours inspired by some Mexican arts and crafts I've been looking at. I've even made some little skull charms for Day of the Dead jewellery. I need to practise them a bit more before I show them or list any for sale. Don't know that they will be popular in the UK but there does seem to be a lot of Día de los Muertos work on Etsy.

Isn't this lovely!

2010-06-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

I just had a message from one of my Etsy customers in the USA. She has used a couple of my Tribal beads in a beautiful bracelet. I thought you might like to see it. If you are interested you can read the ARTIST'S BLOG or go straight to her ETSY SHOP.

Not Mass Produced.

2010-06-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

I make and sell a lot of jewellery but until now I haven't really tried selling it online. I decided it was time to try so I have just added a couple of items to the website Not Mass Produced. So far I have just added these heart sets in three colours. You can also buy the earrings and pendants separately rather than as a set.

There are lots of other handmade items on the website. Why not take a look.

Yet more beads.

2010-03-31T05:10:00.000-07:00

I have been adding more sets to my Etsy shop including a couple of sets of these pretty marbled pink rounds. Some similar beads that I made last year have been featured in April's Beads and Beyond magazine. The have been used by Jo Bailey in a very pretty wire worked necklace.

I hope the weather isn't too awful where you are. My daughter came back from a school exchange to France last night....it wasn't a good crossing. I've never known Phoebe to be seasick but she was yesterday along with almost everyone else!

More New Beads.

2010-03-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

I have added some more new sets to the shop today, these two have a rather summery feel....unlike the weather here in Somerset. I've got very wet twice today walking over the road to the post office and shop.

New Sets.

2010-03-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

I had a good weekend at Cheltenham. Thank you to everyone who came and looked and bought. Hope you all had a good time and didn't overspend too much!

For those of you who couldn't make it, I have lots of sets left so please take a look at my Etsy shop. There are some sets there already and more coming tomorrow.

Sorry no new beads from me today.

2010-03-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

So what do you think of my two new assistants! I've had them helping me do a stock take so hopefully all the levels on my website are correct ...at least until this weekend when I am off to the Cheltenham bead fair which is why I am afraid there are no new beads to list this week.

But if you have bead money burning a hole in your pocket why not take a look at the Frit Happens featured artist Shahlaa Walsh. Here is a link to an article about her and her work. Well worth a look.
http://fhfteam.blogspot.com/2010/03/featured-artist-shahlaa-walsh.html

Back next week with beads......I promise.

Take Your Child To Work.

2010-03-22T04:33:00.000-07:00

Hi,

This is Phoebe and Victoria on Take your child to work day counting some beads. Later on we will be making some glass beads and helping prepare for the Cheltenham bead fair next weekend.

xxx

Chepstow Bead Fair.

2010-01-27T06:39:00.001-08:00

I will be at Chepstow Bead Fair this weekend, 30th-31st January. I'm still busy making at the moment as well as stringing up set, counting bags of headpins and generally trying to get organised.

If you are there please come and say hello1

Winter Pansies.

2009-11-12T06:24:00.000-08:00

I'm busy making jewellery for Christmas sales at the moment but I have just added this set to my Etsy shop.

Another Treasury and some new beads.

2009-11-02T02:59:00.000-08:00

I managed to grab another Treasury West for the Frithappens Team.

If you want to see more work from members of the UK lampwork forum then go to Etsy and search using the tag fhfteam, lots of lovely beads and jewellery.

Talking of beads I added some more to my Etsy shop yesterday.

Etsy Treasury.

2009-10-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

I managed to grab a Treasury slot on Etsy and picked a selection of work from various members of the UK lampworkers forum, Frit Happens. Please take a look, there is a great selection of different work.

Golden Brown Treasury

Normal Service will be resumed....

2009-10-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

I'm back from the Big Bead Show and with beads to list. I will be adding sets to my Etsy shop over the next few days. In fact there are two new sets already.

The Big Bead Show was great, I could have spent a fortune but I limited myself to a couple of strings of pearls....and the inevitable bundle of glass. I was pleased with my sales. I'm not about to retire on the proceeds but I got over the target I had mentally set as the difference between being pleased and being disappointed so I am keen to book some more bead shows. I met lots of nice people, some I already knew and others for the first time.

Back to work now, as well as listing sets on Etsy I need to make up some jewellery ready for the run up to Christmas. I have also promised to take out a few days to decorate the bigger bedroom that used to be my son's so that Phoebe can move in there. She is in the small box room at the moment and it is rather overflowing!

Big Bead Fair.

2009-10-12T05:51:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the lack of posts here. I have been very busy with Somerset Arts Week, actually a fortnight, and more recently preparing for this Saturday's Big Bead Show at Sandown Park in Surrey.

Here is a glimpse of one of the new style sets I will have with me there.

Back from holiday.

2009-07-27T13:37:00.001-07:00

Is it really that long since I posted here? Must try harder in future.

Well, we just got back from our holiday. We rented an apartment at Charlecote Park a beautiful National Trust property set in lovely gardens and a landscaped deer park. It was very nice looking out over the croquet pitch at deer grazing beside the river Avon! Back to reality now. Here are a few pictures though.

I'd highly recommend the National Trust holiday cottages, we have stayed in a couple and have really enjoyed them.

Etsy Treasury.

2009-07-08T00:27:00.000-07:00

I managed to grab a Treasury slot on Etsy. I've included lots of organic style lampwork from UK beadmakers, some of it made up by some of the best jewellery makers around.

Take a look.

Heat Wave.

2009-06-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely day on Sunday. I had a get together of lampworkers/jewellery makers/fusers from the Frit Happens forum. We didn't get many beads made, there was definitely more talk than action. It was great to spend the day with other people who share the same obsession. Just in case you are wondering who's who. From the left, clockwise, Steve and Kay (hollergrafik), Janine, George (http://www.designedbygeorge.co.uk/), Sal with baby Sophie, Vicky (http://www.morellobeads.co.uk/), me, Julie HB (http://www.dolmairicdesign.co.uk/) and Julie (http://www.lushlampwork.co.uk/).

So is it hot enough for you? I gave up in the workshop this afternoon, it just got too hot with the kiln and the torch! I'm hoping it will be a bit cooler on Friday as I have two ladies coming for an all day lesson.

I've just added another organic set to my Etsy shop.

Charity Auctions on Ebay.

2009-06-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

Members of the Frit Happens Forum are getting together to raise money for the Tommy's charity which researches the causes of premature and still birth and miscarriage. I have just listed a couple of auctions the proceeds of which will go to this very worthwhile cause. I don't think there are many of us who haven't been affected by these issues either directly or through friends and relatives so please take a look.

Better Photos.

2009-06-25T16:10:00.000-07:00

I bought a new macro lens for my camera today. I haven't been happy with some of my photos recently. I've been wanting to get better close ups especially of individual beads like my silver cores. Cropping pictures right down I've found that some of the definition has gone. I haven't had much time to play with it but here are a couple of photos I took quickly between getting home rom town and cooking dinner! I got some useful tips from the man in the shop too. I like to use a white background but it's difficult with light coloured beads. Just need to get myself some frosted glass!

Etsy Treasury West.

2009-06-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited. I've just found that someone has picked one of my beads for their Etsy Treasury West. Here is the link. I think it will only work for today.

Etsy.

2009-06-12T11:23:00.000-07:00

White Sands. Now in my ETSY shop.

I expect most people reading this blog have heard of Etsy but just in case there is anyone who hasn't I thought I'd do a bit of promotion for it.

Etsy is a brilliant site set up in the USA. Anyone can open an Etsy shop to sell their own handmade goods or commercial craft supplies. For someone like me it opens up a huge market that I could never reach through my own website alone and it does this for a very reasonable listing fee and commission on sales. There are all sorts of items available to buy and a lot of it is of a very high standard. So if you want something different for a birthday present then why not take a look there instead of in the usual high street shops. Or if you are into sewing or other crafts you might find some different fabric or supplies.

I recently bought my daughter in law a beautiful bag from this shop, Red Ruby Rose. I met the maker at a fair locally and had a long chat with her. Her mother had bought her one of my pendants at last years Somerset Arts Week event. I had a look at her Etsy shop when I got home and thought her designs were really lovely.

I've been putting most of my beads in my Etsy shop recently and I have had a number of sales from the USA. I may move all my bead sales there in the future.

What happened to the sun?

2009-06-06T13:57:00.001-07:00

Where has the lovely summer weather gone? It has been pouring with rain here today. Perhaps these beads will help remind you of warm days on the beach. They are off to California first thing on Monday morning. I think I might have to make some more though.

I'm giving my first ever jewellery making lesson on Monday. It is a practice run for some workshops I have been asked to do at a local gallery, Ginger Fig, in Taunton. I'm wondering about putting together some kits to sell on Etsy too. If anyone thinks they might be interested let me know, it might spur me to get on with it. There always seem to be so many things that need doing.

I've just booked a stand at my first bead show, The Big Bead Show at Sandown Park in October. It is two weeks after the Somerset Arts Weeks open studio event so looks like I have a busy summer of making ahead of me.

Busy time.

2009-05-31T10:16:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted this week as I've been rather busy.

My youngest daughter, Phoebe, and I went up to London for a few days to visit my son and his wife. Phoebe did a bit of clothes shopping and I did some bead shopping (you can tell I've got my priorities right). We did a few other touristy things too. We visited the Sir John Soanes Museum. He was a very distinguished architect born in 1753 but also a collector of all sorts of art and antiquites. It's a fascinating house, some rooms are just ordinary but very lovely living rooms but others are a private museum. It is well worth a visit. http://www.soane.org/

We also went to the London Glassblowing Centre and watched as some water jugs were made. Again it is a trip worth making as you can just sit in the workshop for as long as you want and watch the glassblowers doing their magic. http://www.londonglassblowing.co.uk/

Since we got home I have had to tidy the workshop, a necessary evil as I had two students for a beadmaking lesson yesterday.

Now I'm looking forward to a week of beadmaking, and no doubt a bit of jewellery making.

New Addition.

2009-05-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

We had lovely day in the sunshine at the Devon County show. We spent most of the time looking at the animals.....and my daughter came home with a big smile on her face and Tallullah, the little grey hen in the top picture. Well actually she is a Maran Blue. We waited for Rosie and Millie our other chickens to go to bed and then popped her in to the house with them. Hopefully she won't get too hen pecked over the next few days but we will need to keep an eye on them.

A Commission.

2009-05-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

This bracelet was a commission. I'd made a set of beads in this colour combination a while ago and when my customer saw the photo she made up her mind straight away. She ordered it as a birthday present for a friend who wears a lot of blue so hopefully it will go down well!

New Blog.

2009-05-21T05:23:00.000-07:00

I decided it was time to start a proper blog, so here I am.

I made this necklace yesterday, sterling silver, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals and some of my own lampwork beads. The lampwork beads are made using the lovely Aurae glass from Double Helix which has given them a beautiful shimmery look.