CREATIVE LIFE MAGAZINE Issue No.16
Inspired reading for creative hands
IN THIS ISSUE
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WELSH GIANT JOHN EVANS “WELSH HERO”, “PUNK LEGEND”, “ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST”, “ONE OF WALES’ MOST TALENTED AND ORIGINAL WRITERS AND FILM-MAKERS”. 1
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OUR SPECIAL GUESTS IN THIS ISSUE... MOUTH ARTIST - BAZZA WEST LAMPWORK& SEA GLASS ARTIST - SUE HARRIS JEWELLERY MAKER & AUTHOR - LINZI ALFORD MIXED MEDIA ARTIST – AMANDA CRAGO
March 2014
“LIFE HAS ITS CHALLENGES BUT LIFE DOES NOT STOP WHEN YOU’RE PARALYSED OR HAVE A DISABILITY. THERE’S NO REWIND BUTTON ON LIFE SO ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF LIFE AS BEST YOU CAN”. TURN TO PAGE 22 FOR OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MOUTH ARTIST BAZZA WEST! 2
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significance to him. As the saying goes, ‘every picture tells a story’. Many of the stunning images sent in from our contributors do exactly that. New to Blog Spot are Anne and William McCormack who are on their adventure of a lifetime exploring South America and Janna Townsend who is on a photographic journey through Italy. Welcome! If you are a jewellery maker I think you’ll like what you see on page 60. Here we give you a sneak preview of a beautiful jewellery making book authored by my friend Linzi Alford. Her photography is as stunning as her jewellery and this book is, without a doubt, a real ‘gem’!
JOAN GORDON EDITOR IN CHIEF
Hello, Welcome to our March issue of Creative Life Magazine. My new editor’s photo is from our Australia Day celebrations that we held in the Welsh village we live in, here in the UK. We had a brilliant party, with music, dancing and games including a blind folded jelly eating competition! This kangaroo is, I think, the only one of its kind in this part of the world. An endangered species which I plan to put in my front garden if Australia beats Wales in the rugby. My neighbours are always trying to wind me up, so this year I’m planning on giving back as good as I get, even though I don’t follow the sport.
Congratulations to the winner of our Dremel competition, you will find your name on page 28! If you missed out on winning this month, make sure to enter our new competition as we have two fantastic tools to give away in this issue. The details are on page 72. Warm Regards, Joan
As featured on our front cover, we bring you an exclusive interview with John Evans, world renowned writer and film maker. John lives his life creatively and with passion, you’ll find his article on page 8. This month we offer a broad range of interviews and features that include artists, jewellery makers, lampwork artisans and photographers. In Blog spot you’ll find articles from our regular contributors Richard Walsh, Debs Dew and Yan Fahey. Thomas Cook joins us this month with a collection of photographs that hold particular
THE BEAR PUB LLANTRISANT PIC CREDIT - THOMAS COOK
All website and magazine content is reserved: ©www.my-creativelifemagazine.co.uk ©www.creativelifemagazine.com. All articles and projects are for personal use only. Permission to reproduce or copy any of the contents for any other purposes must be obtained from the publisher. Articles are published in reliance upon the representations and warranties of the contributors and without our knowledge of any infringement of any third parties copyright.
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Table of Contents
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INTERVIEWS 8 John Evans 14 Sue Harris 20 Bazza West 30 Amanda Crago 60 Linzi Alford
PROJECTS 68 Flower Trough 74 DIY Scratch Repair 78 DIY Chocolates 80 Easter Cupcakes 82 Fresh Tomato Soup
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FEATURES 34 Blog Spot 72 Dremel Competition 76 Shopping
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS + EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES PAGE 30 AMANDA CRAGO MIXED MEDIA JEWELLERY ARTIST Amanda is a Beading and Mixed Media Jewellery Designer, living in Cornwall. As well as creating bespoke and unusual jewellery, she is sharing her expertise in designing projects for magazines and teaching mini workshops at her local Hobbycraft. She is heavily influenced by Art movements like Art Deco, Art Nouveau and William Morris patterns. She also creates items based on history (like her Suffragette necklace) or even a theme like Christmas! She chops and changes to suit her mood and current fascination. CONTACT DETAILS E bowerbirdjewellery@gmail.com W www.bowerbirdjewellery.co.uk Blog www.blog.bowerbirdjewellery.co.uk Facebook www.facebook.com/bowerbirdjewellery Twitter @beadyozgirl
PAGE 14 SUE HARRIS - BLUE BOX STUDIO LAMPWORK & SEA GLASS ARTIST Last year Sue joined a ‘year-long challenge’ on the Craft Pimp forum to make something new every week for a year. She made it to the end of the challenge, somehow, then, on looking back, realised this had made her focus on being pro-active. Like many, Sue ended 2013 asking questions about life and about work. She is facing a world of job cuts, financial constraints and uncertainty. By ‘going public’ she has deliberately put herself in a position where she doesn’t want to fail for fear of losing face. Now she has to do it! CONTACT DETAILS E sue.harris@blueboxstudio.co.uk W ww.blueboxstudio.co.uk Etsy Shop www.blueboxstudio.etsy.com Hyperlinks Craft Pimp Forum www.craftpimp.co.uk A Hand Crafted Business Course www.ahandcraftedbusiness.com/4-weeks-to-success/ 6
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PAGE 20 BAZZA WEST MOUTH ARTIST At the age of 19 Barry West was involved in a car accident which changed his life forever. Bazza as he is known in the world of art, shares his passion for life and art. If you visit his website you’ll understand what drives this talented man to live life to the max! The MFPA (mouth foot painting artist) organisation helped to promote him as one of their student artists here in the UK.With the support of the MFPA, I hope that in time to become well know in other countries.
PAGE 8 JOHN EVANS SINGER, SONGWRITER, POET, FLIM WRITER & FLIM MAKER John Evans’ life and work are inseparable. He is seen as a tough, uncompromising, sometimes controversial figure, often in the public eye for the challenging nature of his work, or for his involvement in various campaigns on issues close to his heart. He is a self made man, highly regarded by his peers and internationally recognized as a singer, songwriter, poet, film writer and producer.The title of this magazine truly reflects the past and present life of this man. CONTACT DETAILS W www.johnevans.org.uk
PAGE 60 LINZI ALFORD JEWELLERY MAKER AND AUTHOR Linzi Alford is jewellery designer and creator and a trained silversmith who lives and works in the English Lake District. Formerly with a background in retail she is a relatively late-developer to jewellery-making and has been designing for over six years being predominantly self-taught. She runs the online designer jewellery business ‘MagPie In The Sky’ www.magpieinthesky.co.uk and has a penchant for making jewellery out of shiny pretty things. CONTACT DETAILS W www.magpieinthesky.co.uk 7
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FEATURE
“WELSH HERO”, “PUNK LEGEND”, “ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST”, “ONE OF WALES' MOST TALENTED AND ORIGINAL WRITERS AND FILM-MAKERS”. 8
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MEET JOHN EVANS John Evans’ life and work are inseparable. He is seen as a tough, uncompromising, sometimes controversial figure, often in the public eye for the challenging nature of his work, or for his involvement in various campaigns on issues close to his heart. He is a self made man, highly regarded by his peers and internationally recognized as a singer, songwriter, poet, film writer and producer. The title of this magazine truly reflects the past and present life of this man. After meeting John, I came away with the impression of a Welsh Giant. He actively stands up for what he believes in, his energy and passion is contagious and inspirational. I am proud to be featuring his story in our March issue of Creative Life Magazine. Joan Gordon
John Evans began his career in 1976 as the singer and songwriter for the acclaimed punk rock band, The Tax Exiles. By 1978 he had embarked on a solo career and was signed to Beggars Banquet Records. His musical career was halted following the release of his first single, Sister Soul (1981), when he developed glandular fever.When fully recovered he decided to leave the music industry to concentrate on a writing career and by the early 1990’s a number of books had been published to critical acclaim. In a review of his second poetry collection, Out (1990), leading writer Chris Torrance summed things up thus: “For 22 years I’ve waited for the emergence of this man.” At this time John also wrote, The Red Kite in Wales (1990), the first book published to solely concentrate on this rare bird. The book also became a part of his successful campaign calling for action to be taken to protect the
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species as it faced extinction. It was also soon followed up by a film which carried the same title. This mixing of forms and genres has been a constant feature throughout his career. His book, How Real Is My Valley? (1994), which documented the changing face of postindustrial South Wales, also became a film and a large scale community campaign. The BBC also worked with him to adapt the film for television. John Evans’ work was now coming to the attention of a wider audience and a leading literary magazine, The New Welsh Review, described him as “one of the most committed writers in Wales today”. The social decline in the former industrial towns of South Wales were to be to the themes of his next three woks, Industria (1995), G.B.H. (1996), and his first novel, Giants (2000). The trilogy would become a real tour-de force, causing excitement and interest within the literary world, media and wider public. The BBC commissioned him to write a full-length feature film based on the three books and John was now being hailed as “the leading figure in the
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New Wave of Welsh writing”. The Morning Star said, “John Evans is the voice of the disaffected, alienated youth of the south Wales valleys, the street voice of post-industrial Britain rattling to its death”. Best-selling author Iain Sinclair described him as “a hot and necessary item in an evidently grim landscape”. To try to help address the problems caused by deindustrialisation he also became immersed in various community projects. He held free weekly creative writing classes, which proved to be so popular they ran for ten years. He created Valleys Artworks, a community arts project where professional designers, fimmakers and writers, offered free workshops to pass on their skills. He became Chairman of Directus, a drop-in centre for young people who were homeless, or had drug or alcohol problems. He also became well known for campaigning on issues he felt strongly about and was often in the public eye speaking out about corruption in high places, social problems, or environmental issues. In 1998, John won a Whitbread Award “in
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recognition of outstanding service to the community. In the early part of this century, travel and teaching were to be major part of his career path. When not “on the road” he restarted his free weekly writing classes and was employed by Cardiff University to teach creative writing and contemporary literature. In, 2004, in recognition for the challenging nature of his work and his involvement within the community, he came twenty-seventh in a public poll to find “greatest Welsh men and women of all time”. In 2009, John brought out his long awaited new work, The Acid Real. It was an original and groundbreaking new work which saw him return to two of his main themes: the natural world, and his native South Wales. Reviewers were quick to comment: “These are among the pieces that confirm Evans as a vibrant as well as challenging modern writer. He won me over, and I began to understand why he made 27 in the largest-ever online poll, 100 Welsh Heroes ahead of Dafydd ap Gwilym and behind only Dylan and RS Thomas of the poets”, (Western Mail). A film, with the same title, was soon to follow and which also won praise, being described as, “something like a wildlife and planet earth documentary, meets David Lynch, or punk meets Zen Buddhism. It’s contemporary art, for contemporary Wales”, (Wales Online).
tourist information. From 2011 to 2013, John spent his time filming and studying Goshawks in South Wales The results appeared in his startling new book and film, Goshawk (2013), which again won acclaim from the critics and public. The film was described as, “Man meets bird…a spiritual journey into the heart of the Welsh landscape”. And, to help safeguard the long term future of birds like the goshawk, he set up Raptor Watch an organisation to protect all birds of prey in South Wales. In early 2014, Cullwatch, a short film he made as part of the campaign against the badger cull in England, was released.
In 2010, faced with the prospect of thousands of badgers being slaughtered in Wales he created Save The Badger, and, alongside former Queen guitarist Brian May, he was at the forefront of a high profile campaign which resulted in the badger cull being stopped in Wales. In 2011, Swiss airline company Helvetic Airways chose John to represent the “cultural face” of Wales in Europe and he appeared in all their 13
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CONTACT DETAILS For more information visit his website: W www.johnevans.org.uk March 2014
LAMPWORK + SEA GLASS ARTIST SUE HARRIS – BLUE BOX STUDIO
LARGE BEAD PENDANT ON MY HANDMADE + HAND DYED SILK KUMIHIMO NECKLACE 14
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A YEAR OF CHALLENGES AND CHANGES
Last year I joined a ‘year-long challenge’ on the Craft Pimp forum to make something new every week for a year. I made it to the end of the challenge, somehow, then looking back, realised this had made me focus on being pro-active, it had motivated me. I am running forward with a similar idea for 2014: my own personal challenge to move myself out of my glass work comfort zone, expand my horizons and make 52 different types or styles of bead in 52 weeks. Perhaps not one a week, perhaps not 52 brilliant things, but ‘52 in 52’. Or more! By ‘going public’ I have deliberately put myself in a position where I don’t want to fail for fear of losing face. Good; so now I have to do it! Like many, I’ve ended 2013 asking questions about life, about work. I know that 2014 will
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bring many changes and challenges; that my day job might or might not change and either way there will be challenges. I’m facing a world of job cuts, financial constraints and uncertainty. With all these thoughts in mind I decided that alongside my 52 in 52 challenge I needed to develop my business further. I feel, as many others may, that I am in a maze and can’t find my way forward; I don’t know what I don’t know. So I am taking a 5 week business course which hopefully will help me do just this. I make jewellery from the sea glass I collect from the beach or the lampwork glass beads I make in my studio, or both. I started working with the sea glass when I lived near the sea but as this became harder to find and the palette of colours diminished, I accidentally stumbled upon lampwork glass and this gave me the colours I craved for my work. I’m not a gambler, I don’t take risks, I am over-cautious so this is why 52 in 52 will be so good for me. I can’t retreat back to a pot of frit for decoration or stick to safe colours. Who cares if a bead comes out not as expected, it is (as a customer once pointed out) just made from sand, so I shall face the coming year brightly and head on, who knows where it will take me. If you’d like to follow my challenge please visit my website or link to the Craft Pimp forum. CONTACT DETAILS W www.blueboxstudio.co.uk E sue.harris@blueboxstudio.co.uk ETSY SHOP www.blueboxstudio.etsy.com Craft Pimp Forum www.craftpimp.co.uk A hand Crafted Business course www.ahandcraftedbusiness.com/4-weeks-tosuccess/ 16
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AMETHYST + GLASS NECKLACE March 2014
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HOLLOW BEAD PENDANT ON STERLING SILVER
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE RECYCLED GLASS EARRINGS 17
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READER GIVEAWAY
CREATED BY MAGGIE JONES: WWW.MAGGIEJONESDESIGN.CO.UK 18
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READER GIVEAWAY
TWO LUCKY READERS HAVE WON A BIRDIE KIT! FROM ‘SOPHIE’S CRAFTS’ UK AND THE WINNERS ARE...
SUE KREKORIAN + HELEN SILVERS CONGRATULATIONS! WWW.SOPHIESCRAFTS.CO.UK (*KIT COLOURS WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM)
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ONE LIFE - LIVE IT BRING IT ON!
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INTERVIEW
At the age of 19 Barry West was involved in a car accident which changed his life forever. In the following article, Bazza as he is known in the world of art, shares his passion for life and art. He is without a doubt one of the most inspiring people I have had the pleasure of featuring in Creative Life Magazine. If you visit his website you’ll understand what drives this talented man to live life to the max! Joan Gordon
“Life has its challenges but Life does not stop when you’re paralysed or have a disability. There’s no rewind button on Life so enjoy every minute of Life as best you can”. BAZZA WEST
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Hi Bazza thanks so much for joining us. I was absolutely stunned when I visited your website and saw your paintings. When did you discover that you had this amazing talent? Just over 2 years ago in 2011 was the first time I tried painting by mouth. At first it felt like I was seven years old splashing paint about and not really having a clue what I was doing. However, I enjoyed playing with the colours, blending and the mess I was making. Did you study art at college or are you self taught? I never studied art at collage. When I was at school I had basic art classes, but it wasn’t a formal lesson that I concentrated on anymore than any other subject. I was like a hyperactive chicken and could never sit down long enough to concentrate on anything for more than 5 minutes. I started teaching myself by watching ‘You Tube’. I liked watching ‘how to paint’ clips focused on different subjects. I’ve purchased lots of DVD lessons so I can watch them over and over and over again. I also engaged with an art tutor for several months to help point me in the right direction. As a mouth painting artist you must have had to face complex challenges that other artists wouldn’t even think about? Well for me this was the only way I knew as I had never painted by hand before my injury. When I see other artists paint I do think about how I can adapt their technique to do it by mouth, without the twisting of the wrist, and ways in which I could reach to work on bigger canvases. It’s more difficult with March 2014
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a longer brush as the control and steadiness is less and I tend to shake more. How long did it take for you to master control of the brush? To be honest I’m still learning but it took me year and half until I started feeling more confident with what I was doing and trying different techniques - getting brave. What is your favourite media? The media I use is acrylics I’ve never used any other. I tried one tiny background with oil but then it took forever to dry so I never tried it again. I do intend to try more media in time as I get more confident. Where do you show your work and how do you market yourself as an artist? To be honest Facebook has been the main place that I show my work. All the nice comments from people who see my work, inspires me to paint more and more. I have done a few exhibitions on my own at the Uckfield art trial and Maresfield art festival. I’ve also exhibited in galleries in Seafood, London, Buckinghamshire, and I’ve just taken on a Studio Unit in Hailsham Loom Mill, East Sussex. It’s a craft hall / market with tea rooms. I paint there and have my paintings up on show. The MFPA (mouth foot painting artist) organisation helped to promote me as one of their student artists here in the UK. With the support of the MFPA, I hope that in time to become well know in other countries. What have been some of the most challenging goals you have achieved? Well, where do I start? I’ve become a leader 22
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WITH MY FIANCÉE
MOUTH AND FOOT PAINTING ORGANISATION March 2014
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I LOVE BIRDS AND ANIMALS
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STUDIO UNIT IN HAILSHAM LOOM MILL
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and ambassador for a charity called ‘Back Up’.This charity is dedicated to supporting people with spinal injury. We encourage people to get back into the outdoors using adventure to boost a person’s confidence. I also passed my open water scuba diving course in 2011 and in the same year I conquered Ben Nevis and Snowdon with my dedicated team of ‘Westy Warriors’. Another realised goal was to carry the Olympic Torch during the UK Olympics. Do you belong to any art societies or organisations? As I mentioned I’m a student of the world famous Mouth and Foot Painting Artist www.mfpa.co.uk. I was offered a contract scholarship to become a mouth painting ‘Artist Student’ for the Mouth and Foot Painting Organisation. So this means now that I am one of 36 recognised Mouth Painting Artists in the UK and one of 800 in the World - in 83 different countries. Where do you gain inspiration for your paintings? I love colour and I love having a connection with what I paint as I feel I can paint from the heart. I love birds and animals so they feature a lot in my paintings. I also love the seaside and Brighton. But, when it comes to composition, I will have ago at anything. What do you love about where you live and the community you live in? I love my fiancée who only lives 5 miles up the road and my parents who are only 20 minutes away from where I live. My home is in the countryside. I am surrounded March 2014
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I PASSED MY OPEN WATER SCUBA DIVING COURSE (30)
HOW I LIVE MY LIFE
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OLYMPIC TORCH BEARER UK
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with fields and trees. I feel particularly lucky as I live in a close warm community with respectful people, there’s on through traffic, we’re only 25 minutes away from the sea and London is only an hour away on the train. Are there any new adventures on the horizon for 2014? Well at the moment my biggest adventure is to keep improving with my art as best I can. I want to focus on painting, painting and more painting. My mission is to get my paintings featured around the world in the form of greeting cards, calendars and prints with the support of the MFPA. But bearing in mind that as I’m still only a student, at the moment I have a lot of practice to do and to remain true to my motto - ‘Believe To Achieve’. I’m also planning on moving in with my fiancée over the next couple years so we have lots to sort for that adventure like adapting and building extensions. We will be getting married too! Wow that’s cool! I’ve never said that before in a article!! And we are going to be trying for a baby He, he... if that’s not enough of an adventure, wow, I don’t know what is? Separate from all that… I’m also wanting to conquer Scafell pike mountain in the Lake District. To view more of Bazza’s art please visit his websites, his details are listed below. CONTACT DETAILS BAZZA WEST - Student mouth painting artist W www.westyuk.co.uk W www.gallery.westyuk.co.uk W www.mfpa.co.uk E bwest@uwclub.net P 07860 805 829 F www.facebook/Bazza-westMouthpaintingartist T www.twitter@bazwesty 27
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COMPETITION
THE WINNER OF OUR DREMEL COMPETITION FEATURED IN CLM ISSUE 2 IS!
HEATHER WEB – CONGRATULATIONS! Spruce up your home! Dremel has the toolkit to give you a flying start! The cordless Dremel Multi-Max MM40 toolkit will give you the perfect cutting, sanding and scraping tool with lots of accessories and attachments to add to it, so you can rip up carpet, re-grout your tiling, cut through metal, wood, lino and plastic with ease, plunge cut into flooring or skirting boards, sand back wooden surfaces, scrape off old paint – and make your home shine once again. This Dremel Multi-Max MM40 toolkit comprises: the best in class cordless oscillating tool Dremel Multi-Max MM40 with accessories – a Quick Fit hook and loop sanding pad, six sanding papers (three for paint and three for wood), a wood flush cut blade, a wood & metal flush cut blade, a vacuum cleaner attachment (so you can keep your work area free of dust as you go), a DVD packed with useful information and a sturdy and spacious storage case. It uses the Quick Lock keyless accessory change mechanism to make changing over accessories really fast and easy. You can buy it online at www.amazon.co.uk, www.dremel-direct.com, www.tool-shop.co.uk or from most DIY shops. RRP £159.00 28
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COMPETITION
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MIXED MEDIA ARTIST AMANDA CRAGO
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Amanda is a Beading and Mixed Media Jewellery Designer, living in Cornwall. As well as creating bespoke and unusual jewellery, she is sharing her expertise in designing projects for magazines and teaching mini workshops at her local Hobbycraft. I like to incorporate other craft items into my work, so this year I’ll be experimenting with shrink plastic and Jewel enamels, as well as expanding my found object range of jewellery including fishing buoy plastic! Although I follow the trends of colour and fashion, I still like to create timeless pieces featuring pearls and semi-precious gemstones - particularly for the Bride-to-be who wants something unique. My love of beads will continue through this year and I can’t wait to sample all the different shaped beads from the Czech Republic – ‘piggy’ beads, twin beads and of course spike beads!
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Here, in her interview with Joan, Amanda chats about her current focus and where she gains inspiration for her designs. When did you first discover mixed media jewellery Amanda? Well, it was really through American magazines. I picked up a copy of Belle Armoire Magazine from the USA and it was in there that they advertised their jewellery version of the magazine. I bought a subscription and was bowled over by the quirky way these designers mixed different metals, incorporated images and used vintage items in their work! I felt that this kind of jewellery really spoke to me. It can tell a story and be personal to the wearer and I really like that. Do you work from home or do you have a designated studio? Yes I work from home. One of the spare rooms is used for my studio. It’s still a bit of a mess as I am forever trying to sort all my beads out! I have some Ikea furniture like my Pax Wardrobe which is tall and deep, so I can cram loads of containers of beads into it! I also have a desk with a clear glass section built into it, which I can use as a light box! Does music play a part in the inspiration process when you are working? If so, what are your favourite tracks that ignite your mojo when beading? Actually I don’t usually listen to music when I’m creating! I share the studio with my Artist Mother and she really needs to concentrate on painting! But when it’s just me in there, I will put on some classical music – I love all sorts of music, but if I have any popular music on, I would probably be singing and dancing to it and not concentrating – although that’s kind of a creative process too isn’t it? ;-) Where does the inspiration for your designs derive from? All over the place! I am heavily influenced by Art movements like Art Deco, Art Nouveau and William Morris patterns. But then I can create items based on history (like my Suffragette necklace) or even a theme like Christmas! I chop and change to suit my mood and my current fascination – could be nature, the beach or a particular conservation issue I am passionate about. That way I can highlight a serious issue and hopefully March 2014
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express it to the world – through beads and jewellery! Over the years your work has developed. What was the ‘Eureka’ moment, (the greatest breakthrough) in mastering a technique that you had struggled with? Crochet! An old friend of the family once taught me to crochet when I was a girl – it turned into a big tight knot! Then more recently, I went on a day workshop with bead crochet and that was fun! So, to learn more and be more confident I attended a few evenings at my (then) local knitting wool shop! That was my WOW moment, seeing the stitches in action really helped me to understand how to create those crochet stitches – I am a very visual learner! Now that I’ve mastered this, I’m going to go back to bead crochet and maybe the next goal will be crocheting with wire! Is there a specific technique or theme that is currently specific to your work? At the moment, I love to create jewellery with vintage images on – be that decoupage techniques, like my Art Deco fashion pendants, or using shrink plastic or other image transfer techniques onto other mediums like polymer clay, fabric or even metal! Will you be offering classes and workshops during 2014? Yes, I teach regular afternoon sessions at my local Hobbycraft in Truro and also I am looking for venues to teach full and half day workshops. I am also in talks with the CSACJ at Bodmin so I hope to be teaching there soon too! I’ve also sent my CV to Jewellery Maker TV, so you never know! I have just completed a level 4 PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector) and this has given me great confidence and insight into how to teach and how to plan a course! Where are you currently exhibiting and selling your work? I currently have some of my Art Deco pendants for sale at the Falmouth Art Gallery. I also sell online via both Etsy (www.bowerbirdjewellery.co.uk) and also Folksy as I wanted to support a British based online platform too – https://beta.folksy.com/shops/bowerbirddesigns. I am also looking for other retailers and galleries to showcase some of my beadwork and other jewellery but to be honest I’m finding it really tough to even get a reply back! This has really dented my confidence 32
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and it really makes you feel as if your work isn’t good enough! I think I’m just not finding the right market, so I’m going to look further afield throughout the UK. If you could take a class or workshop with anyone in the world, who would it be and what would you discuss? Hmmm, that’s a really tough one! There are two Teachers I would really like to take a class with. One is the American Polymer Clay Artist Christi Friesen – her work is amazing and the way she uses this medium to create quirky creatures is just brilliant! The other is a UK based Designer called Liz Welch. She works in many mediums but I think of her as the Doyenne of Friendly Plastic and Jewel Enamels. Her work is amazing and really different she also combines her expertise in textile art with other mediums and I really love her style! Obviously I would discuss techniques with both of them!
BLACK ART DECO EARRINGS March 2014
INTERVIEW
GOLDEN TORC
SPIKE RING IN AMBER COLOURS
ME AT ART IN THE CITY LANDER GALLERY
PENDENNIS FISHING BUOY ORANGE PENDANT
CONTACT DETAILS E bowerbirdjewellery@gmail.com W www.bowerbirdjewellery.co.uk FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/bowerbirdjewellery TWITTER @beadyozgirl BLOG www.blog.bowerbirdjewellery.co.uk PHOTO CREDITS AMANDA CRAGO 33
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March 2014
SPOTLIGHT ON YOU In the following section of our magazine you’ll find blogs from people who live their life in a creative way. If you have a story you’d like to have published that is relevant to living life creatively, email the editor and if space is available we’ll print it in a future issue.
IN THIS ISSUE JANNA TOWNSEND ARTIST • PHOTOGRAPHER
Janna lives on the East Coast of America. She is currently exploring Southern Italy with her husband. On pages 35 to 37 she shares some of her beautiful images titled Colours of Maratea. Janna shares with us her journey as she sees it through the lens of her camera.
RICHARD WALSH PHOTOGRAPHER
Close up photography, is the act of photographing objects such as flowers or insects in close range so the subject you are photographing fills the frame. In other words, it’s the act of photographing subjects close up. On page 38 you’ll find some of my top tips for taking better close up photographs.
YAN FAHEY WORLD TRAVELLER
I am on a ‘change of life adventure’, and since retiring I am exploring the world. This month my blog for Creative Life Magazine is about Australia. I’ve been back here for a few months catching up with friends and family and enjoying the beautiful beaches of the East Coast. Read about my latest adventure on page 44.
THOMAS COOK PHOTOGRAPHER
In this my first ‘Blog Spot’ commencing on page 48, I have taken a photo journalistic and photo artistic approach to my photography so that I can portray the essence of the people and the places visited rather than just their architectural and structural design. In this issue I take a brief look back at some of the places I have visited over the past few years.
ANNE + WILLIAM MCCORMACK ADVENTURERS
Anne McCormack is an Australian artist. She works in a variety of different mediums and gains inspiration for her work through her travel adventures. On page 54 you will find an extract from her husband’s travel journal. They are exploring South America and beyond.They have visited several exiting places to date including, Equador, Papalacta, Santiago, Easter Island and the Galapagos Isles.
DEBBIE DEW LAMPWORK ARTIST
Deborah Dew is our resident lampwork correspondent; this month she blogs about working with silver glass. If lampwork ignites your mojo, make sure you check out her article on page 58. Here you’ll find some beautiful beads that Debs has made and practical information about the techniques she used to produce them. 34
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March 2014
BLOG SPOT
THE COLOURS OF MARATEA & MARKET DAY IN OSTUNI Maratea is a town of Basilicata, in the province of Potenza. It is the only town of the region on the Tyrrhenian coast. Because of its outstanding scenery and coastline it is easy to understand why it is called ‘the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian’. The photographs of the Saturday market day were taken in Ostuni which is one of the most charming cities in Southern Italy. On the following pages Janna Townsend shares with us her images taken whilst on vacation in Southern Italy. Enjoy!
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CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
GET UP CLOSE + PERSONAL
Richard shares with us his latest photography tips for taking photos – close up, but not necessarily with a macro setting. What is close up photography? Close up photography, is the act of photographing objects such as flowers or insects in close range so the subject you are photographing fills the frame. In other words, it’s the act of photographing subjects close up. This is easily achievable with any lens, even a 300mm telephoto lens. Some camera systems label their close-up setting as ‘macro’, don’t be confused by this, there is a difference but it can border on the pedantic so for the sake of this piece I am dealing with close-up photography. Most photographers are very used to getting up close to flowers and they certainly make a great photograph when you fill the camera frame with colour. However I would like to
advocate thinking beyond the pretty flower shots. Don’t get me wrong, I love flower imagery and I have hundreds in my library (and a good few on my website too). What I would like you to do is next time you are out with your camera put it on the closeup or macro setting (usually a tulip icon) and think small. For example a typical beach shot is popular but I am suggesting you look at the beach and shoreline more closely and take photographs that focus on a much smaller area of interest. Obviously the ubiquiteous flower close-up will always have a place on anyone’s shotlist, I always try to carry or improvise a background card or paper to show the subject at its best. This can be tricky if you don’t have a tripod so try to get someone to hold the background in place while you focus and take the shot. Watch where you are walking on the hills or paths because sometimes beuty really is just beneath your feet…..you just have to spot it.
Feel free to contact me with any questions, I’m always happy to help. CONTACT DETAILS W www.rjw-photography.com PHOTO CREDITS RICHARD WALSH
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CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
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CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
Fruit and Veg. I know that this sounds odd but a visit to your local fruit and veg market really does offer some great opportunities for close-up photography. Look for vivid colours and interesting shapes and get in close to get a photograph that will impress. 40
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Rainy Days offer some interesting close-up imagery rain drops and water puddles are always good for reflections and getting close can make a shot with lots of added interest, Get out after the rain and look for water dripping and puddles, you can have lots of fun with this so give it a go.Yes water droplets look great on flowers too. 41
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CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
Hints and Tips Select Macro Mode – this is a fairly obvious first step but I’m always surprised by how many digital camera owners haven’t explored the shooting modes that their camera has. Macro mode is generally symbolized with a little flower and when selected it will tell your camera that you want to focus on a subject closer to your lens than normal (the minimum distance allowed will vary from camera to camera – consult your instruction manual to find yours). Macro mode will also usually tell your camera to choose a large aperture so that your subject is in focus but the background is not. Use a Tripod – in macro photography a tripod can be particularly useful, even if you’re just shooting with a compact camera. Keeping your camera still not only improves your shots (getting rid of camera shake) but it allows you to play around with different settings without losing your composition. Another tip is to use the 2 second self timer which will means your hands are off the camera and eliminate any potential camera shake. Aperture – once in macro mode some cameras will not allow you to make many other adjustments but if you are able to play with your aperture settings it can be well worthwhile to do so. Choose a small aperture (big number) if you want a large depth of field with everything in focus or a large aperture (small number) if you just want your main subject in focus with a blurred background. Focusing – I find that in macro photography it is helpful to have full control over focusing – especially when you have shallow depth of fields where it is all the more important to make sure the right part of your shot is in focus. If your camera allows manual focusing select this option and manually focus on the part of our subject that is the main point of interest. Flash – in many macro shots having some artificial light is important.The challenge with compact cameras is that most give you limited or no control of your flash. As a result choosing a good time of day when there is plenty of available light is probably your best bet to ensure there is enough light to make the shot. 42
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March 2014
MAKE YOUR OWN EASTER CRACKERS
Make your own Easter bunny crackers with this super-cute DIY kit.The set includes 10 flat crackers, snaps, hats, jokes, stickers as well as twine, ribbon and crepe paper to embellish each one as you choose. Just add a small gift for an extra surprise! Pack size: 33cm x 20.3cm x 2.5cm THE OAK ROOM This company is based in The UK and ships to all countries globally. W www.oakroomshop.co.uk Product price: ÂŁ15.99 43
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BLOG SPOT HELLO FROM DOWN UNDER MAGIC GOLD COAST BEACH
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EUNGELLA NATIONAL PARK
I’M BACK IN AUSTRALIA TO VISIT FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN BRISBANE, THE WHITSUNDAYS, SYDNEY, THE GOLD COAST AND TO BASK IN THE SUN! Brisbane is a vibrant city, it is the capital city of Queensland. It is a modern city with many riverfront restaurants which thrive with the lunchtime office workers, shoppers and tourists. A good way to see Brisbane is to take the ferry which stops frequently up and down the river. A few places that are well worth visiting include Southbank with its colourful markets on Fridays to Sundays and Riverside which offers Sunday markets and a myriad of restaurants. These areas of Brisbane can be reached by ferry or bus but one of the most enjoyable ways of getting to them is via the wooden boardwalks that span the length of the river. If you’re looking for great shopping, head to the Queen Street Mall. The mall is home to many of the famous brand names and some truly unique Australian designers. Just south of Brisbane you’ll find the Gold Coast, Australia’s equivalent to Miami. Surfers Paradise is a great place to relax, walk on the beach and boulevard, play in the surf and have breakfast or long lunches at one of the Surf Clubs overlooking the beach and STORY CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE 45
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? March 2014
BLOG SPOT ocean. My favourite place for lunch and live music is the Southport Yacht Club. My favourite place to stay is at Solaire Apartments right in the middle of Surfers. A short flight from the Brisbane airport took me to Proserphine, the gateway to the Whitsundays where tourists flock to Airlie Beach to soak up the sun, party and island hop. Here you can charter a yacht with friends, go on a cruise around the Whitsunday Islands or snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef. Angelina and Brad Pitt stopped by to mingle with the party crowd in Airlie last week, you never know who you will bump into in this stunning part of the world! If it gets too warm, as it can in the summer months, head up to the cool hills at Eungella National Park and look out for platypus and other Australian wildlife. When in Sydney (Capital city of New South Wales) one of my favourite places to visit is The Rocks.This is where the First Fleet landed and set up the first convict prison and early settlement in Australia. It is a vibrant area, crowded on Sunday with art and craft markets. I love catching the ferry from Circular Quay which is near the Rocks, to Darling Harbour or over to the North Shore of Manly for a seafood lunch. Hunter Street is where I head to for delicious curry laksa at Lees Malaysian. If you are planning a visit to Sydney make sure you take the coastal walk for breath taking views and enjoy a swim in one of the many rocky coves.The walk from Bronte to the famous Bondi Beach with all its beautiful scenery is not to be missed. I went to Cabramatta on this trip and it was like being in Vietnam with its many fish, meat, veggie markets and restaurants. This is certainly the place for enjoying a huge bowl of delicious pho - noodle soup. I like Sydney as it’s easy to get around on the trains and buses. Australia is a beautiful big country. The northern States are a great destination to get away from the winter chills or head down south to Victoria and enjoy the excellent ski fields and winter resorts. Hire a car or campervan and explore!
CIRCULAR QUAY SYDNEY
CATCHING UP WITH GOOD FRIENDS
Thank you for joining me. Till the next issue. Cheers Yan xxx 46
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CYCLING ALONG THE BRISBANE RIVER March 2014
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SEAFOOD LUNCH AT THE FAMOUS GEORGES PARAGON, BRISBANE
BONDI BEACH VIEWED FROM THE SURF CLUB 47
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SUNSHINE COAST. QUEENSLAND March 2014
BLOG SPOT THROUGH THE LENS PICTURE 2 BODO, THE CAPITAL OF NORDLAND
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BLOG SPOT Since my retirement I have travelled extensively to Europe, USA and more recently to Colombia and the Sierra Nevada mountains which I wrote about in a previous issue of Creative Life Magazine. When Joan asked me to write about my future travels, I was so thrilled I agreed immediately as I was just in the process of planning my adventures for the next few years.These plans include following the coastal roads of the UK with a long trip to Bavaria this summer. I am also planning to include a trip to South Africa in 2015. In this my first ‘Blog Spot’ I have taken a photo journalistic and photo artistic approach to my photography so that I can portray the essence of the people and the places visited rather than just their architectural and structural design. In this issue I take a brief look back at some of the places I have visited over the past few years. Picture 1 Nosey Cows Whilst travelling to Mid Wales I stopped at a field where some cows were grazing.When the cows saw me they came to the entrance gate I presume for food.Two of them settled under a tree and this is the picture I captured. Picture 2 Bodo, the capital of Nordland Taken from a cruise boat at dawn along the eastern coast of Norway. I was overwhelmed not only by the sight of the city of Bodo against the enormous mountain range hovering above, but because we had crossed the Artic Circle during the night.This became quite evident as we approached the most northern point of Norway as the weather was getting worse.There was much more snow on the mountains and the winds had turned to gale force which made it very difficult to walk on deck let alone take pictures. Picture 3 The Snow Hotel, Kirkenes On our last day of our holiday, we were taken on a sledge ride across the frozen fjords where we caught some King Crabs. It was strange that although it was the middle of the day it was dark so the journey was quite eerie.We were then taken back to a log cabin where the crabs were cooked and we had a meal fit for a king. Feeling well fed and tired we set off for our last adventure which was to be an overnight stay in the famous Snow Hotel at Kirkenes. Snow hotel at Kirkenes This was an absolutely incredible Arctic experience.The hotel was constructed entirely from ice and snow each year and conveniently located for enjoying Husky dog sledging, king crab safari and many other exciting winter activities. Inside the building everything was just bare ice, the walls, floor, bar, corridors, bedrooms and even the bed.There was a mattress 49
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TOM COOK
PICTURE 1 NOSEY COWS March 2014
BLOG SPOT of course to prevent one from getting frost bite.The sleeping procedure was interesting. From the store you collected a pillow,a large sleeping bag and a fur rug to stand on for dressing and undressing in the bedroom. The ambient temperature was minus 5 degrees centigrade, so you had to put your day clothes and valuables including camera gear inside the sleeping bag at the bottom for protection. So, keeping your first layer of clothes on, you eased yourself into the sleeping bag and closed it up with only your face showing. Well that was the theory anyway. I should point out that there was a conventional building next to the hotel housing a dining room, toilets, showers, coffee making facilities and some sofas for people who couldn`t manage to sleep in the ice bedrooms. Now here’s where the fun started. My travelling companion and I were flying home to the UK on the next day, so I set my watch alarm for 7.00 am. Unfortunately for me I couldn`t sleep completely contained in the sleeping bag and I had to keep my arms and hands outside of the bag. I didn`t sleep that well, woke up frequently and at some point decided to check my watch where I found the time to be 7.30 am. In a complete panic I woke my friend telling her to get dressed quickly while I checked what was going on with the other residents and to fetch some coffee. When I had dressed I walked to the coffee room which I found to be empty except for one woman who couldn`t sleep. I enquired where everybody was and she looked puzzled. “Why do you ask” she said,“It’s only 4.00 am in the morning”. “OH BOTHER” (or perhaps a more descriptive adjective) I said! My watch must have failed in the cold conditions. I rushed back to find my friend fully dressed and packed. I think it is an understatement to say that she was not amused. It was a very long day traveling home with three flights, the loss of one piece of luggage at Gatwick airport, loosing each other after I had gone back to retrieve the lost luggage and finally having to stay in a motel for the night because we were too exhausted to drive home. Picture 4 Smoking lady in France The tranquility of a lady in a square in the historic city of Perigueux in Southern France - baby asleep, cigarette in hand she is oblivious to the world. Picture 5 The Berlin Wall It makes me shudder even now to think of the utter despair caused by this wall to the people of Germany. Picture 6 Guitars in the Street - Bruges Street reflections through the shop window. Picture 7 Demonstrations in Copenhagen. During a short trip to Copenhagen I was sitting in a cafe drinking coffee when all hell let loose in front of me. It was a demonstration against Syrian oppression. 50
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Picture 8 Car Parking in Colombia. Whilst travelling over mountainous roads to Zapatoca in Colombia, I came across the strangest sight I have ever seen. I understand that the police put this car on the rock as a punishment for local thieves. Picture 9 The Nitro Caves of Colombia. When I got to Zapatoca I was taken to the Nitro caves. I love caves as you can find some wonderful pictures within. What do you see in this photo? Limestone and rock formations or ghouls and monsters? Picture 10 Visiting the Indigenous Tribes of Colombia. I have come to the end of my brief article on my recent travels so I thought it fitting to share with you my going away photograph with the Indigenous Tribes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Colombia. Safe travels, Tom
PICTURE 8 CAR PARKING IN COLOMBIA March 2014
BLOG SPOT PICTURE 5 THE BERLIN WALL
PICTURE 3 THE SNOW HOTEL, KIRKENES
PICTURE 7 DEMONSTRATIONS IN COPENHAGEN PICTURE 9 THE NITRO CAVES OF COLOMBIA.
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PICTURE 10 VISITING THE INDIGENOUS TRIBES OF COLOMBIA
March 2014
BLOG SPOT PICTURE 4 SMOKING LADY IN FRANCE
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BLOG SPOT PICTURE 6 GUITARS IN THE STREET - BRUGES
CONTACT DETAILS Tom Cook:Â Photographer E cookthomas.cook3@gmail.com BLOGS Toms travel blog W www.tom-cook-travels.blogspot.co.uk Thomas Cook Photo Art W www.thomascookphotoart.com 53
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ADVENTURES ABROAD BY ANNE + WILLIAM MCCORMACK
PENGUINS ON THE ICEBERG 54
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BLOG SPOT Anne McCormack is an Australian artist. She works in a variety of different mediums and gains inspiration for her work through her travel adventures. At present, Anne and her husband Maca are on an epic journey exploring South America and beyond. They have visited several exiting places to date including, Equador, Papalacta in the Andes, Santiago, Easter Island and the Galapagos Isles. At the time of writing this article they were on a ship heading into Antarctic waters. Maca has been keeping me up to date with their adventures so I thought I’d share two extracts with our readers – Easter Island and Antarctica as, having never had the opportunity to visit these places, I am fascinated with these insightful observations. Joan Gordon JOURNAL EXTRACT – WILLIAM MCCORMACK JANUARY 2014 EASTER ISLAND We had New Year here on Easter Island, it was a fairly colourful & rowdy affair Easter Island is also known as the Mystery Island and it certainly is not hard to work out why. It is a 5 hour flight from Santiago, situated in the South Pacific approx. 3,700 kms from Chile and it is another 4,000 kms ontoTahiti.The nearest land is Pitcairn Island which is where those successful HMS Bounty mutineers made it to before being relocated to Norfolk Island. Easter Island is part of Chile. It does remind us a bit of Hawaii here, they claim to be part of Polynesia. There are 5,000 permanent residents plus there are plenty of stray dogs here too! I would put it at about the same size as Rottnest Island which is off the coast of Western Australia. 55
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ANNE MCCORMACK WHALE WATCHING March 2014
BLOG SPOT There are 3 volcano craters, we visited two of them.The water that is in one crater supplies the community whilst the water in the other crater waters the livestock. The locals say these volcanos are “asleep”. The thing that strikes you most and would forever be in my mind,is to see those amazing statues.They are just simply awesome. They vary in size from 2 – 10 metres. We visited the “quarry”, where they were made, but you are left wondering, how on earth were they moved?! It is a bit like the Pyramids! There are a lot of myths and legends here about how it all happened. Everything comes here by boat from Chile.Once a fortnight,the boat comes in and there is a daily flight from Santiago in Chile.Back in the 60’s,when the USA started doing its moon shots,the US government built an airstrip here and put 4 big diesel generators in service, prior to that, there was no power or airstrip here. Those generators are now the main supply of electricity for the island. We did see some solar, but not very much. Tourism is the big thing here, without it, the island economy would collapse.You certainly know that you are on a South Sea Island. The weather is pretty good, around 25 each day and not too much less at night.We explored most of the Island on foot. Feb 2014 We depart Buenos Aries and sail south for 3 days. We are heading for the AntarcticWaters, however there is a stop at Ushuaia in Argentina.The further south we go, the lower the temperature becomes. By the time we get to Ushuaia it is 9 degrees Celsius. It was a very pretty town nestled in a large bay surrounded by extremely high snow covered mountains. There is a small naval base there, and most ships and tourists go through there en route to the Antarctic. The price of everything is very expensive.After Ushuaia,we head off once again for Cape Horn and do another lap around the Cape. 56
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The weather this time was a little unkind, but still very good for viewing the landscape etc.And then it is off through what is called “Drakes Passage” on our way to the Antarctic Peninsula. Out on the open deck it is necessary to wear gloves, a beanie, two jumpers and thermal ‘undies’ are obligatory! It is rather brisk on the open decks and there are times when the doors are shut and no one is allowed out, as it is considered too risky. We sail on through the Schollart Channel and wake on the morning of 8 Feb to 2-3 inches of snow on the open decks. It certainly is an amazing sight to see. It is very hard for me to express my recollections and observations. It was just simply awesome! We saw icebergs which come in all shapes and sizes. We also saw the Antarctic land. Let me stress that we did not set foot on Antarctica.The ship gets to about 200 meters from the rocky, icy shoreline. The glaciers came right down to the water’s edge. The mountains were massive and spectacular, all covered in snow it looked like fairyland. The bay we stayed in was called Paradise Bay where there were penguins by the millions and whales by the pod. We also saw seals, porpoise, sea lions and abundant bird life. We spent most of the day on the open deck, rugged up and did not feel the cold. We took lots of pictures and spent many an hour looking through the ‘binos’ (binoculars).Whilst having tea that night, through the porthole window we saw penguins frolicking on icebergs that were floating by.The temperature hovered around zero all day. It was truly a very special day.We stayed out on the open deck until around 6.30pm and were pretty close to last to come in. It was fairly easy for us to conclude that this was the BEST days’ travelling that we have EVER experienced. A bold call you may say, however, it was just “Simply THE Best”! Kind Regards to you all, A&M March 2014
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EASTER ISLAND
BUTCHERS SHOP ON EASTER ISLAND 57
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LAMPWORK ARTIST DEBORAH DEW
SHARING I struggled to find something to write about this month. I’ve been focussed on completing customer orders, this always seems to affect my creativity as I like to let the glass tell me what it wants to be when I’m sat at the torch. That may sound strange at first, but if you think about it, how many of you buy beads because they’re pretty and without an idea of what to do with them. Those pretty beads sit in your bead storage month after month and suddenly, out of the blue, you know what they need to become, that’s how I like to work with glass. The other thing that I’ve been dealing with quite a bit is the entries coming in for the GBUK annual Bead Competition. I’m very lucky to be the person receiving the entries this year, I get a sneak preview of everything and it’s really rather exciting. I wish I could share with you but I can’t just yet, all will be revealed at Flame Off which is taking place at Uttoxeter Racecourse on 11th & 12th April. Anyway, enough waffle, I’ll move on to the interesting stuff, let’s talk metal, mostly let’s talk silver. There are numerous ways of adding silver to beads, silver glass being the most obvious. Silver glass is manufactured by several different Companies and is expensive, here in the UK it starts at about £3.50 for a rod of Double Helix glass, available from www.tuffnellglass.com TAG also carries a nice range of silver glass, but it’s harder to find in the UK and you will get hit for import duties and VAT on top of the listed price. The colours of glass rods are obtained by mixing metals with the glass, hence the high cost of pink glass. Pink glass is manufactured using gold, the higher the gold
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content the more expensive the glass becomes. Anyway I transgress, back to silver! I have a few favourites when it comes to silver glass,Psyche, Triton and Aurea, each has its own unique features, if you want to read more about them, you’ll find it here .. http:// www.doublehelixglassworks.com PIC 1 Here, I started off with a very pale base bead using Lauscha Thuringen Salmon, let the glow of the glass disappear completely and wrapped it in silver leaf before heating it back up and rolling the bead in frit. PIC 2 This is what happens when I mix all of my favourite silver glass in one bead, I wish you could see this in real life, the metallic colours are truly amazing. Another way of adding silver to a bead is using leaf or foil. I use both depending on the effect I want to achieve. If you’re a beginner, foil is easier to use because it’s heavier and not so likely to blow away if you breathe in the wrong direction. You can encase it, burnish it onto the surface of your bead, add frit over the top or even use it for stringers to create an organic look to your work. PIC 3 The silver has completely changed the colour of the base bead and the frit and it also produced some beautiful blue and purple tones. PIC 4 You can see this again on these two beads, made in exactly the same way, this time I’ve made a base bead of effetre white and added a 104 CoE frit from http:// www.vickiesemporium.co.uk This particular frit is called twilight and it’s a brand new one I was testing, at the time of writing, it isn’t available for purchase, although it is due to be released soon. PIC 5 Gold leaf can be used in similar ways to silver, although its more expensive. I tend to stick to silver unless I’ve had a specific request for gold, as in the next example. In these beads, there are two different examples of using metals with glass. The focal bead has gold leaf burnished over one shoulder, while I’ve encased the gold leaf under clear glass in the smaller beads. There are other ways of adding metals to beads, experiment and have fun. Until next time, Debs xx
VIEW DEBS BEADS AT: http://79.170.44.81/silverartz.co.uk/ www.makeglassbeads.co.uk/Reviews.html www.britishlampwork.co.uk/tag/debbie-dew/ www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Glassmania March 2014
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March 2014
BOOK LAUNCH
JEWELRY FOR ALL SEASONS LINZI ALFORD
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BOOK LAUNCH Over the past few years I have had the pleasure of working with Linzi Alford in various publications that I have edited. Her ability to write clear and concise practical instructions for ‘how to make’ projects focused on the beautiful jewellery that she creates is consistently top class. Through the lens of her camera she captures nature at its best and then translates these amazing shapes, textures and colours into her designs. How exciting for us to be featuring her first jewellery making book in this issue of CLM! From cover to cover it is a feast of colour and stunning imagery. If you are a jewellery maker looking for inspiration or someone wishing to explore a new skill, this book is the perfect resource to fire your mojo and get you making. The stunning photography makes this a coffee table book collectors ‘must have’. Congratulations Linzi, it’s sure to be a winner! Joan Gordon
LINZI ALFORD
About the book : Jewelry for all Seasons, published by GMC Publications Ltd on 7th March 2014 in UK, 28th March 2014 internationally, available on Amazon sites and many other online retailers. FROM THE COVER Brighten up your wardrobe, mark the changing seasons and make your own fabulous jewellery using nature as your guide. In this imaginative new book, stunning photography provides the inspiration for 24 unique and stylish pieces of jewellery that capture the beauty of nature throughout the year. Most projects are easy enough for complete beginners but intermediate and advanced jewellery-makers will also be inspired by these strikingly original designs and gorgeous photography. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Linzi Alford is a jewellery designer and creator and a trained silversmith who lives and works in the English Lake District. Formerly with a background in retail she is a relatively late-developer to jewellery-making and has been designing for over six years being predominantly self-taught. 61
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BOOK LAUNCH She runs the online designer jewellery business ‘MagPie In The Sky’ www.magpieinthesky.co.uk and has a penchant for making jewellery out of shiny pretty things. Photography is also a passion and she likes to use her photos as part of her jewellery creations. Linzi has written several online tutorials and is proud to be part of the B’sue Boutiques Design Team and has had many projects published in UK magazines on jewellerymaking. Jewelry for all Seasons is her first book. “The idea of writing this book came to me after several years of taking photographs cataloguing the changing seasons and capturing the flowers and scenery around me. I always have my camera in my bag or pocket “just in case”. I am lucky enough that where I live there is no shortage of natural beauty for inspiration. I wanted to show the progress of the seasons by designing a range of jewellery that reflected the natural world throughout the year, complete with my photographs that influenced them. To me jewellery making is an obsession rather than a hobby and I never tire of dreaming up new designs. Translating these designs into something wearable, from the concept through to the actual construction and having the satisfaction of seeing an imagined piece made into an item to be worn or given as a gift is very gratifying. In my book you will find a comprehensive step- by -step guide and will learn how to master the techniques that will enable you to produce unique and fabulous pieces of jewellery as beautiful and exuberant as the natural world that inspired them.Tools, materials and basic techniques such as wire-wrapped loops are also covered. Different media used include ICE resin, Swellegant patinas and Apoxie sculpt clay along with beads and wire of course! Most projects are easy enough for a beginner to tackle, but hopefully will also spark the imagination of the more experienced maker. “I hope you will be inspired by your favourite photograph or the view from your window to make some beautiful jewellery.” CONTACT DETAILS W www.magpieinthesky.co.uk 62
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March 2014
BOOK LAUNCH
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March 2014
BLOG LAUNCH
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BLOG LAUNCH
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CREATIVE MAKES DIY PROJECTS
Take time out of your busy schedule to enjoy making something for your home or try a new recip
DISPLAY YOUR SPRING FLOWERS
DIY SCRATCH REPAIRS
TEA TIME FAIRY CAKES 66
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March 2014
pe and share good food with your family and friends.
SPRING OFFICE MAKE OVER
EASY EASTER TREATS
ZESTY TOMATO SOUP 67
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March 2014
PROJECT
FLOWER TROUGH DECORATIVE IDEA WITH SHABBY CHIC CHARM
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PROJECT
FLOWER TROUGH
Spring is the season when nature awakes and beautiful flowers appear. Try your hand at making this shabby chic trough or planter as an Easter table decoration or simply a nice feature to brighten up your kitchen. With a little skill and Dremel® tools it’s easy to make. Decorate with feathers, buttons, or anything else that takes your eye! Difficulty rating – 2 stars or less depending on your experience level YOUR MATERIALS AT A GLANCE From Dremel®: Dremel® 4200 EZ SpeedClic sanding disc SC413 and EZ SpeedClic mandrel SC402 Engraving Cutter 107 Dremel® Glue Gun 910 From home: Pencil Paper From a shop: Wooden basket Acrylic paint Big brush Optional: Feathers and buttons for decorating or other decorations STEP 1 Give a small wooden trough, planter or window box, an undercoat of white acrylic paint. Depending on how well the paint covers the surface and how much of the original wood you want to remain visible, give it a second undercoat and let it dry well. STEP 2 To distress it or give it that shabby look, sand the sides and edges carefully with a multitool, like the Dremel® 4200 fitted with the SC413 sanding disc. Set the multitool to run at its lowest speed so that you only remove a little of the paint. STEP 3 Sketch a regular pattern on a piece of paper and trace it onto the trough. Remember to run the line two centimetres below the upper edge of the trough to ensure that the pattern will still be visible when plant leaves trail over the edge. STEP 4 Fix a Dremel 107 engraving cutter to your multitool. It is ideally suited for working on wood. Depending how hard the wood is, set your cutter at the right speed and then carefully engrave the pattern into the wood until it forms a border that runs right the way around the planter. STEP 5 Let your imagination run riot when it comes to decorating your planter. Distinctive details in shades of brown, such as a large feather and a wooden button, can be really eye-catching. Glue your items into place with the Dremel® Glue Gun 910. The Dremel 4200-4/75 kit includes the Dremel 4200 tool with EZ Change, a cutting guide, line and circle cutter, shaping platform, 75 Dremel accessories for cutting, sanding, grinding etc, plus a sturdy hard carrying case.Along with the Dremel 910 glue gun, it is available online from stockists, such as,www.amazon.co.uk, www.dremel-direct.com, www.tool-shop.co.uk or DIY shops. 69
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PROJECT
MATERIALS
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COMPETITION
WIN THIS!
BENCH TOP TOOLS – WE HAVE ONE OF EACH TO GIVE AWAY THE DREMEL® MOTO-SAW SYSTEM VALUED AT £99.99 INC VAT
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THE DREMEL® FORTIFLEX SYSTEM VALUED AT £262.99 INC VAT The handy Dremel Moto-Saw system is a compact and easy-to-use two-in-one tool: a scroll saw and fret saw for cutting wood, acrylic, plastic, thin sheet metal and many other materials. It makes precise straight cuts with guide rails and a parallel guide to assist cutting up to 18mm, as well as complex curved cuts. Its lightweight detachable fret saw helps to cut where the bench top attached version can’t, such as for larger work pieces or around the house. This user-friendly two-in-one saw is not only easy to store and set up but also easy to operate with its ability to match its speed to your project (1,500 – 2,250 RPM). It comes with a range of different saw blades for different materials. The impressive Dremel Fortiflex system allows you to get very close up to your project for detailed cutting, engraving, polishing, grinding and routing etc. where a combination of power and precision at low speeds is required. It is a high quality precision tool, consisting of a powerful hanging motor (300W), a heavy-duty flexible shaft, an exchangeable precision hand piece, a foot pedal for handsfree work and variable speed control (0-20,000 rpm).This makes it the ideal tool for stationary projects, such as woodworking, jewellery making, sculpting, car restoration and so on. If you aren’t lucky enough to win either Dremel bench top tool, you can buy them online at www.amazon.co.uk, www.dremel-direct.com, www.tool-shop.co.uk or from most DIY shops. HOW TO ENTER EMAIL: creativelifemagazine@gmail.com Attach this code: DREMEL WIN – CLM 3 The lucky winners will be published in Issue 4 of CLM. CLOSING DATE FOR ALL ENTRIES: 27th May 2014 Conditions of entry: The winner’s name and address will be forwarded to Dremel for the distribution of all prizes. Creative Life Magazine does not accept any responsibility for the distribution of the prizes. The name of the winner will be published in issue 4 of CLM. Conditions of entry: Only one entry per household. No further correspondence will be entered. 72
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COMPETITION
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PROJECT REPAIR SCRATCHES ON WING MIRROR CASINGS
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If you park your car on the road, you may have come down in the morning to drive off to work and discovered minor scratches and paint scrapes on your wing mirror casings caused by poor parking from other cars! As irritating as this is, it’s quick and easy to make your car look as good as new. All you have to do is to check out the items listed below and then follow our instructions. It’s a fast and simple repair that you can do yourself, making a big difference to the look of your car and avoiding costs at the garage! MATERIALS WE USED Main tool: The top of the range cordless Dremel 8200-1/35, which comes with its own helpful accessories and Detailer’s Grip attachment, a one hour battery charger and a carrying case Dremel EZ SpeedClic Detail Abrasive Brush 473S
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Other: Pre-paint degreaser wax remover solution Cloth or towel Spray-on metal paint primer Spray-on factory colour-matched automotive paint Car polish and wax Brown paper or newspaper STEP ONE Apply pre-paint degreaser wax remover solution to the afflicted area to remove the wax from your car’s paint, as well as the paint from the other car. Use a cloth or towel to apply this solution, rubbing thoroughly. As you can see it comes off easily revealing the scratches beneath. STEP TWO Clean out the scratches with your Dremel 8200 with EZ SpeedClic mandrel and Detail Abrasive Brush 473S, moving it along the scratch to remove dirt and clean out the flaking paint chips in the scratch. It is best to use a speed of 15,000 RPM.
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STEP THREE Mask up around the affected area with brown paper or newspaper then spray on primer, before spraying-on your factory colour-matched automotive paint to the affected area. Let the first coat dry and then apply another one or two coats as needed.Allow to dry and then apply a coat of polish and wax to the vehicle to match your existing finish. The Dremel 8200-1/35 kit is available online from stockists such as www.dremel-direct.com, www.tool-shop.co.uk or DIY shops
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PROJECT
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SHOPPING
COLOUR THERAPY Add a splash of colour to your office or studio or give your creative space a complete makeover with these practical desks and accessories.
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SHOPPING
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1. Vintage Red Portable Transistor Clock Radio, £49.99 www.cloth-ears.co.uk, 2. Karenza & Co Linen Lady Bird Notebook, £9.95 www.karenzaandco. com, 3. Wafer desk, £195.00 www.loaf.com, 4. Perpetual Calendar, £16.50 www.blockdesign.co.uk, 5. Wild and Wolf 746 Telephone, £49.95 www. hintonshome.com, 6. Parsons Desk, £299.00 www.westelm.com, 7. Raffia embroidered bird storage boxes, £30.00, www.berryred.co.uk. 77
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March 2014
EASTER TREATS
DIY CHOCOLATES
Why waste money on chocolate eggs this Easter when you can make delicious truffles in less than 20 minutes. Handmade gifts are always so much more personal and appreciated. Make these treats and store them in a lovely jar that will make an elegant storage container for future use. INGREDIENTS 250ml/9fl oz whipping cream 225g/8oz dark chocolate 55g/2oz unsalted butter, cut into cubes and left to soften 2 tabs Baileys Irish Cream Whisky - optional Unsweetened cocoa powder, to dust the finished truffles METHOD OF WORK Chop the chocolate roughly. Then pulse in the food processor until it’s the consistency of breadcrumbs. Boil the cream. Turn on the food processor again and pour the cream very slowly onto the chocolate.You should soon have a perfectly smooth emulsion similar to the texture of mayonnaise. If the mixture does split, process for a couple more minutes until the mixture is smooth. Add the butter and Baileys Irish Cream Whisky, a little at a time and beat until it has been fully incorporated. Pour the mixture into a bowl or tray and leave to cool for about 25 minutes in the fridge. When it has set to the consistency of butter icing, it is ready to be piped or spooned into truffle sized portions. Place the truffles back into the fridge and cool for at least two hours. To finish roll each truffle in cocoa powder, coconut or chopped toasted nuts.
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SILVER CHOCOLAT JAR BORROWED BLUE BOUTIQUE £15.95 Silver Chocolat Jar – a fabulous mirrored jar with a vintage French style ‘Chocolat’ label – the label itself is coated so cannot be removed or peel off when washed and is very well printed.You could use them to hold all sorts of things, from cottonwood to cocoa. www.borrowedblueboutique.com 79
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March 2014
BAKING
EASTER CUP CAKES
These pretty little cakes would make any tea party special especially at Easter. INGREDIENTS For the cakes 100g unsalted butter, softened 100g caster sugar 2 free-range eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten 100g self-raising flour sifted 1 tsp vanilla extract Ÿ tsp salt 1 tbsp milk Icing 125g unsalted butter, softened 200g icing sugar, sifted 1 tbsp milk 1 tsp vanilla extract METHOD OF WORK Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and line a 12-hole bun tin with 12 paper fairy cake cases. Place the softened butter in a large bowl then beat with an electric hand-whisk until pale and fluffy. Gradually add the sugar and continue to beat until fully combined. Add a little of the beaten egg to the butter mixture, then whisk again. Gradually add the egg, little by little, whisking after each addition. Adding too much egg at once can cause the mix to split so add it in stages. If it does split, simply add a tablespoon of the flour and whisk until the batter is smooth. Sift the flour into the bowl. Using a large metal spoon or spatula, fold the flour into the cake mix. Add the vanilla and the salt and then stir to combine. Add the milk to get the cake mix to a soft dropping consistency. Fill the paper cases half full with the batter, filling each of them equally. Bake the fairy cakes for 15 minutes in the middle of the oven, until golden-brown and the cakes spring back when pressed lightly. (Bake cupcakes for 18-20 minutes.) When cool enough to handle, lift the cakes onto a cooling rack and leave to cool completely. To make the buttercream, place the butter into a bowl and beat with electric hand beaters until smooth and creamy. Sift in the icing sugar and work it into the butter, starting slowly at first, beating more vigorously once all the sugar is combined. Add the milk and the vanilla. Beat the mix until it’s creamy and smooth. If the mixture is too stiff, add a little more milk. Place the icing into a piping bag and create swirls of icing on top of each cake.
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PRETTY BIRDIES CUPCAKE KIT BORROWED BLUE BOUTIQUE ÂŁ9.95 Pretty Birdies Cupcake Kit - This stylish cupcake kit will have everyone chirping with delight. It contains 2 styles of cupcake case with striped patterns and 4 coloured bird toppers each with gold foil wings and raffia ribbon tails. Pack contains 24 cupcake cases in 2 styles and 24 toppers in 4 styles. www.borrowedblueboutique.com 81
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March 2014
HEALTHY EATING
FRESH TOMATO SOUP
Make up a big pot of delicious, zesty, tomato and basil soup for a simple lunch or light supper. This recipe freezes well so double the ingredients and store the excess in the freezer compartment for when you are pushed for time and looking for a healthy snack. INGREDIENTS 3 kilos large ripe tomatoes 1 bunch fresh basil 2 cloves of garlic 1 medium brown onion 1 teaspoon sugar Pinch of sea salt and cracker pepper 1 x large potato 1 litre vegetable stock Dollop of olive oil Sour cream METHOD OF WORK Place the tomatoes into a bowl of very hot water. Leave them for about 5mins. Pour off the water and then peel the skin off the flesh of the tomatoes. Chop the flesh into small pieces. Finely chop the onion, potato, garlic and basil. Place these ingredients with the tomatoes into a large metal pan. Splash in the olive oil and cook on a hob, stirring with a wooden spoon for about 10 minutes until the onion is clear. Add the veggie stock, sugar and seasoning. Let the veggies simmer for a further 20 minutes. Remove the pot from the stove and allow the veggies to cool. Pulverise the veggies with a hand wand or pour it into a blender and whiz till smooth. Reheat the soup and serve it in bowls with a swirl of sour cream in the centre of the soup. Team it with crusty bread and butter or grilled cheese on toast.
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EMILY GREY STORAGE BASKETS SET OF 2 BERRY RED £30.00 The decorative baskets from the “Emily” range are perfect for organising and storing – and the timeless colour scheme of elegant shades of silver, slate blue and light grey make them very attractive accessories. Whether in the kitchen, the bathroom or on your desk, they are ideal for storing bottles, utensils, tins, papers etc. Made of lightweight, handwoven plastic which is light, strong and waterproof. www.berryred.co.uk 83
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March 2014
JM TV GUEST DESIGNER MAGGIE Tune into SKY Channel 655, VIRGIN Channel 756 and FREESAT 807 where Jewellery Maker broadcasts 24 hours. Guest Designer Maggie Jones is featured at Jewellery Maker TV. Maggie arranges and delivers demonstrations for jewellery, sewing and general crafts. She also runs workshops and courses, particularly in the Lancashire and north Manchester areas and writes projects, on how to make jewellery and sewing projects, for various magazines. CONTACT DETAILS W www.maggiejonesdesign.co.uk F www.facebook.com/craftdemon 84
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PURCHASE UNIQUE IMAGES CONTACT RICHARD WALSH
CONTACT DETAILS
W www.rjw-photography.co.uk
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IFA EXHIBITION
UNITY Call for entries for an IFA exhibition. Brief: following on from the success of the ‘Leaving Your Mark’ exhibition, the IFA will launch a new exhibition in a similar format but with a new theme at Wonderwool in April. To link in with the First World War Centenary, the theme ‘Unity’ has been chosen which members can interpret in a variety of ways:What does unity mean to you? As people across the world reflect upon and commemorate the First World War, is it a coming together of our different nations or something more personal to you? Perhaps a sense of friendship or of place will influence your design? This is an opportunity to explore this theme in an individual way to create a small felt work. • Members are invited to submit one piece of work, primarily in felted wool fleece though small additions of other materials and techniques are acceptable. • Each piece must be less than 30cm square, unmounted, and be able to be displayed on a cord line with small pegs similar to bunting. • Work should be for sale with an artist price of £40 or less – 50% commission will be taken on sales. • There will be a small hanging fee of £5 to cover administration and return postage costs. • Unfortunately the work will be uninsured as the cost is simply too high so exhibitors will be submitting work at their own risk. Venues will be asked to insure the work whilst on display but this may not be possible when regions show the work at an event. • Overseas members will be required to cover any import duties. • Exhibitors will be required to remain members of the IFA for the duration of the tour. • Finished work must be delivered by 23rd April 2014 if arriving by post – please post to Mandy Nash at Model House Craft and Design Centre, Bull Ring, Llantrisant. RCT. CF72 8EB. Work can also be delivered in person to Mandy at the IFA stand at Wonderwool on Friday 25th April 2014. (If delivering by hand please pack in a jiffy bag). FOR ALL APPLICATION FORMS PLEASE EMAIL exhibitions@feltmakers.com 86
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Are you a member of the International Feltmakers Association? If not, why not? Join now to promote your work, network with talented people from all over the globe, exchange knowledge, learn new skills and share your passion for felt making.Visit their website now for more information and grow your international connections.
INTERNATIONAL FELTMAKERS ASSOCIATION (IFA) BACKGROUND TO THE IFA The IFA was formed in 1984. It has three aims: • to foster worldwide interest in felt • to promote members’ work • keep members in contact with one another for exchange of knowledge and ideas. It currently has over 700 members across the world, including the UK, Europe, Australia and the USA. The members are a diverse group, encompassing professional craftspeople and textile artists, art/craft/textile teachers and leisure feltmakers for whom feltmaking is a hobby.Their interests range from the historical and anthropological aspects of felt to felt as an artistic and creative medium. The principal benefits of membership are: • The quarterly journal ‘Felt Matters’. • Regional meetings and workshops in the UK; with an International Officer representing non-UK members. • Access to the members’ only area of the website and the IFA Facebook group. • Access to the IFA Certificate in Felt Techniques (Foundation). • Occasional supplier discounts and the chance to submit work to IFA exhibitions. More information about the IFA can be found on our website. CONTACT DETAILS: W www.feltmakers.com or Facebook/International Feltmakers Association. 87
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March 2014
DEBBIE DEW AD
I am often asked ‘where do I get my inspiration from? This isn’t an easy question for me to answer. Some people claim to get their inspiration from nature and the countryside around them. Others say it comes from a visit to the seaside but for me it isn’t so straightforward. Sometimes ideas pop into my head in the middle of the night, other times I look at an array of glass rods and a colour combination strikes me or inspiration might ignite from a conversation about something completely different and this sparks an idea. Maybe the right answer is; I get my inspiration from anywhere and everywhere! VIEW DEBS BEADS AT: www.79.170.44.81/silverartz.co.uk/ www.makeglassbeads.co.uk/Reviews.html www.britishlampwork.co.uk/tag/debbie-dew/ www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Glassmania 88
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March 2014
LEARN TO MAKE JEWELLERY
Short and Long Term Classes Fine silver, resin, glass, polymer clay and mixed media Workshops & Classes are on offer in the UK and Australia!
BOOK NOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE Wales UK: January through to December Llantrisant Wales For more information contact: Joan Gordon: enquiries@my-creativediva.co.uk NB: Class sizes are limited to ensure personal attention.
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ADVERTISE WITH US
PHOTO CREDIT CARMEL BUSSENSCHUTT - DONGARA WESTERN AUSTRALIA
CREATIVE LIFE MAGAZINE WE PROMOTE MAKERS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE AN ENTREPRENEURIAL AND CREATIVE FOCUS.
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ADVERTISE WITH US CONTENTS The magazine is predominantly a lifestyle magazine. It is visually beautiful whilst the contents are both inspirational and entertaining to read. In each issue we offer several interviews plus; Book Reviews, Shopping, Travel, Food and DIY projects. In our ‘Blog Spot’ section of the magazine, professional people contribute articles about their current research, their interests or advice on particular subjects that may be of interest to our readers. Some popular topics include photography, jewellery making and lampwork. Our interviews are designed for readers who find inspiration in reading about people who have used their creative talents to build a career that is both enjoyable and profitable. CLM has an international reach which is predominately the UK, America, Australia and Germany and, as it is totally online, we don't have the overheads other publishers have to carry. The current issue is free to view online. Past Issues may be purchased for £2.50 for a downloadable PDF. Our aim is to further our international reach with a strong subscriber and advertising base to ensure the magazine may remain FREE to read online and to promote creative people in their business. ADVERTISING We offer support to our readers who are creative people, working as either sole traders or owners of a creative small business. We make it possible for individuals, galleries and creative groups to promote their work, views and business through feature articles, interviews and reduced rate advertising. ADVERTISING RATES Small Business Owners, Galleries and Makers may advertise one or more; Products for only £12 per item on the shopping pages with a hotlink that will take our reader from the magazine website direct to your website. Classified ads may be purchased for £12 - these will be featured at the back of the magazine. This is the ideal space to advertise events, workshops and shows plus your website and contact details. Maximum 75 words with a small image. Each ad runs for two months. We offer excellent one page and advertorial rates to small business owners who support Makers and Creative Groups.
These advertising rates are on offer NOW! For Subscription or Advertising Information: CONTACT jgordon@my-creativediva.co.uk 91
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SUBSCRIBE TODAY! ENSURE YOUR COPY OF CREATIVE LIFE MAGAZINE BY SUBSCRIBING TODAY.
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SPECIAL OFFER! FIRST 6 MONTHS ONLY £9! SUBSCRIBERS WILL RECEIVE A DOWNLOADABLE PDF OF EACH CURRENT ISSUE. A FREE BANNER AD IN THE MAKERS ADS OVER THE NEXT THREE ISSUES. PROMOTE YOUR SKILLS AND BUSINESS, JOIN US NOW. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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ARTIST + PASTA DIVA MARY BURR
The influence in my art is drawn from daily life farming in Maine. With the financial and emotional support of my husband and best friend, Bob, I had the opportunity to attend University and achieved a Bachelors Degree in Visual & Fine Art with a major in Fine Art. I would consider my style to be ever evolving. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Mary Burr E bburr@tdstelme.net W www.blueribbonfarm.net PHOTO CREDIT MARY + BOB BURR 94
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ONCE WE WERE SOLDIERS AD
ONCE, WE WERE SOLDIERS Nicky Townsend is a jewellery maker and lampwork artist. Her work has been published in several magazines including Beads & Beyond, Making Jewellery and My-Creative Diva magazine. Since 2008 she has worked tirelessly with her partner,Andy Spiers (ArmyVeteran),to raise public awareness of the plight faced by service men who, after serving their country are left homeless or in need of medical, emotional and financial assistance. Welcome to Once, We Were Soldiers. We are a UK Small Charity founded in 2008 by Army veteran Andrew Spiers. Our purpose is to raise awareness and offer support to the homeless veterans of the British Armed Forces around the UK. Did you know that at least 10% of the UK homeless population is made up of ex-forces personnel? This number is only likely to rise as more and more serving members are forced to leave their Armed Forces career because of redundancy, government cut backs or for medical reasons. The number of military personnel now suffering with PTSD or other mental health conditions is rising rapidly. As our troops come out of Afghanistan these numbers are only likely to increase. Many, in fact too many, of these veterans find themselves homeless, with no hope, no support and through no fault of their own. They turn to alcohol or drugs or both to help them through each day, to block out the horrors they have
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persistent flashbacks of. It is estimated that in London alone there are in excess of 1000 homeless veterans! These men and women put their lives on the line for our country, they deserve better! WHO DO WE SUPPORT? Once, We Were Soldiers support veterans from ALL Forces Army, Navy and Air Force. If you have been proud enough to wear the British Armed Forces uniform then we are honoured to be able to offer you our support. Once, We Were Soldiers support veterans from ALL conflicts. If you served in WW2, Northern Ireland, The Gulf, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan or any other conflict we are here to help! Nobody will be turned away! TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE – PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT Find Us on Facebook: Once,We Were Soldiers
March 2014
CREATIVE LIFE MAGAZINE Inspired reading for creative hands
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PHOTO CREDIT LINZI ALFORD 96
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