MCD 12th Issue 2013

CREATIVE DIVA ISSUE No.12

MY-

Inspired reading for creative hands

IN THIS ISSUE

TAKE BETTER HOLIDAY SNAPS! RICHARD WALSH SHARES HIS TIPS - PAGE 38

SHARING ARTICLES JEWELLERY LAMPWORK TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPY 1

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EDITOR’S GUEST - MEET LARRY LUCAS THE ASIAN ART INSTITUTE

PLUS 4 INSPIRING INTERVIEWS! VULCAN WOMEN’S CIRCUS LAMPWORK ARTIST LESLEY NIXON FASHION DIVA ABBY BOOTH DOLL MAKER HELEN CHAPMAN August 2013

UNFRAMED TIME TO DRINK CHAMPAGNE POSTER £10.00 (unframed) This great unframed print is perfect for party animals! Would make a good, quirky gift for mum, dad, boyfriend or girlfriend - we’re all guilty of considering it at some point!

COMPANY The Contemporary Home P 02392 469400 2

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JOAN GORDON EDITOR IN CHIEF

Hello, welcome to our BIRTHDAY issue of My-Creative Diva. I can’t believe that we have created 12 issues! It’s certainly been an exciting journey. I’ve interviewed so many talented people along the way but without my wonderful contributors it wouldn’t have been possible to keep the magazine so inspiring, fresh and exciting. To Rebecca Feldman and Jesus Ricardo Alvarez our talented magazine/ website designers and to our contributors; Anne MacLeod Crisp, Maggie Jones, Deborah Dew, Richard Walsh, Elizabeth Zernike, Yan Fahey, Kira Withers-Jones, Nicky Townsend, Jenny Rolfe, ClaireWolfe, Beth Forbes Simpson, Joe Warren, Rachel Ellis, Sharon Williams and Debbie Kershaw a super big THANK YOU for getting us off the ground and supporting us through-out the past year.

And to you our readers, your support has helped us to keep the magazine free to view online. Remember that if you like us on your facebook page you are helping us to reach out to more and more creative people.

This issue is packed with informative interviews; news, views and projects, so click on the red book icon to open our beautiful 12th issue.

Don’t miss your chance to win super new tools from our friends at Dremel, you’ll find the entry details on page 68. Plus check out their fantastic Decorative Sandals project on page 64!

Wishing you a creative month, Joan

INDULGE IN THE TREND BEACH SANDALS All website and magazine content is reserved: ©www.my-creativediva.co.uk ©www.my-creativediva.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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CREATIVE DIVA ISSUE No.12

MY-

Inspired reading for creative hands

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EVERY MONTH

INTERVIEWS

06 This Month’s Divas 12 Editor’s Special Guest 24 Diva Reading

8 Vulcana Women’s Circus 17 Lesley Jane Nixon 20 Abbey Booth 30 Helen Chapman

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DIVA PROJECTS 64 Beach Sandals 66 Scents + Perfumes 70 Sparkles + Spirals 72 Glazed Onion Bread 74 Cupcakes 76 Sweet + Savoury Treats 80 Prawn Risotto 82 DIY Dried Flowers

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FEATURES 36 Divine Information – Sharing 54 WeWOOD Watches 56 Divine Fashion – I Feel Like Me Again!

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THIS MONTH’S DIVAS VULCANA

WOMEN’S CIRCUS

Vulcana is about positive physical experiences and creative power through circus. Flexible and fun, challenging and definitely unique, Vulcana embraces diversity and provides safe spaces for disrupting the norm. We offer ongoing and short-term workshops, community programs, and dynamic performances in unexpected places, and we work with partners from government to corporations to advocate for positive change – all through the energising thrill and physical exploration of the Circus Arts.

Vulcana’s community performances provide Vulcademy workshop participants with an exciting opportunity to experience all aspects of performance development and production.

F www.facebook.com/circusvulcana T www.twitter.com/circusvulcana P www.pinterest.com/circusvulcana

LESLEY JANE NIXON LAMPWORK ARTIST

I have been making glass beads for 8 or 9 years now. I have explored many different styles over the years. I have experimented with colour, pattern and sculpure, but I have always returned to my favourite subject, our beautiful countryside and the animals which inhabit our landscape. I love to make amusing animal beads, especially cats, but my deepest fascination lies with the brown hare. I love to watch them. I love to paint them and I love making glass beads depicting them. I have recently moved to the Peak District National Park, so my love of nature can continue to inspire my beads.

E lesley92@gmail.com W www.madcatglass.co.uk F www.facebook.com/madcatglassdesigns ETSY www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MadCatGlass

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THIS MONTH’S DIVAS

ABBEY BOOTH FASHION DIVA

Love to Boutique is a fantastic and fresh concept for busy women who don’t want to skimp on style but find shopping a hassle. Owner and entrepreneur Abbey Booth offers her customers a unique shopping experience. She will bring to your home a beautiful range of affordable clothing and accessories for you and your friends to enjoy. This brilliant concept is ideal for home managing mothers and business women who are looking for an enjoyable unique shopping experience.

In this interview Abbey talks with Joan about her new business, future goals and plans.

F www.facebook.com/LoveToboutique E abbey@lovetoboutique.co.uk P +44 (0)7966406889

HELEN CHAPMAN DOLL MAKER DIVA

Helen runs a small business called Sunshine Dolls which she operates from her home in Caloundra, Queensland, Australia. She designs and makes a range of fabric dolls in various sizes. This has also led to a selection of accessories such as kids’ bags with a pocket for a doll, doll cradles, bunting and mobiles. These are all made from fabric.

The original range of fairies, ballerinas, brides and princesses is constantly evolving with new ideas and themes. The collection now includes mermaids, lifesavers, pirates, clowns and rock chicks among others.

W www.sunshinedolls.com.au E helen@sunshinedolls.com.au P 0416085447

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WELCOME TO VULCANA WOMEN’S CIRCUS

SARAH AND CHAIN BY ERICA FISH - OF TOPOGRAPHIES, 2006, BRISBANE POWERHOUSE PRECCINCT 8

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INTERVIEW

VULCANA WOMEN’S CIRCUS Vulcana is about positive physical experiences and creative power through circus. Flexible and fun, challenging and definitely unique, Vulcana embraces diversity and provides safe spaces for disrupting the norm. The innovative use of circus and physical theatre and high production values always amount to inspiring circus. Joan Gordon, editor of MCD visited the Vulcana office in New Farm, Brisbane, Australia. Here she shares with us information about this inspirational organization.

When did Vulcana originate?

Vulcana Women’s Circus was established in 1995 to counter a major discrepancy between women’ and men’s experience of circus, both in training and in the expectation of how and what they perform. Vulcana provided women with opportunities at all levels of circus production, generating a platform of experience for women who are now working nationally and internationally in all areas of the arts.

Who were the key people involved in the development of this organization?

Vulcana was founded by Antonella Casella together with other women circus performers in Brisbane.

It has been developed by a succession of women developing the artistic vision of the organisation, the very successful workshop program now called Vulcademy, its central community engagement activities, the financial management and marketing as well as the team of trainers, artsworkers, artists, technician and riggers who help deliver the creative program. The current team is Celia White, Acting and long-term past Artistic Director, Rebecca Jones, Community Engagement Coordinator, Kitty Carra, General Manager, Chae Lindeman, Workshop Program Coordinator and Belinda Daw, Marketing Coodinator.

What is the Vulcana mission and what are Vulcana values?

Vulcana’s mission is Strong Women: Strong Communities.

Vulcana works with the Circus traditions of inclusiveness, strength, excitement, and daring to transform and empower women and communities. Vulcana values circus as a transformational tool, which is ideally suited to engage, empower and inspire communities.Vulcana 9

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BY JEN DAINER - OF GRAVE EFFECTS, 2011 AT TOOWONG CEMETERY

ACRO BIKE BY CHAE LINDEMAN OF REVOLUTION, 2008, FESTITALIA AT THE EKKA SHOWGROUNDS

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INTERVIEW

values women as leaders, role models, and agents of change and holds that empowered women are essential in building and shaping strong communities. The feminist principles of equity and inclusion are central to all of our work and form an effective foundation for engaging diverse and under resourced communities.

How do the workshops and performances empower the participants?

Circus, with its rich history of welcoming the “outsider”; the disabled, the disenfranchised, the unusual or unheard, has a vast array of options for engagement.

Nearly every BODY can participate meaningfully in circus, because of the diverse activities available.

Circus, as an artform, is highly accessible and exciting and successfully crosses cultural and language barriers.

It provides a basis for a shared physical language that can bridge cultural and language barriers. It creates excitement for both participants and audiences. It contains the ideas of freedom, transgression and risk.

And within the structure of circus activity is the physical reality of cooperation, exploration, trust, strength, and daring.

Participants workshop, devise, rehearse and perform new circus works.They may be new to performance or emerging performers.The opportunity for participants to collectively devise their own performance makes tangible the aspirations and experiences of a particular group as well as giving them access to new experiences and additional skills through the process of taking a production through to performance.

Is it difficult to attract funding for these events and programs?

The funding climate continues to change and funding opportunities are constantly shifting. Vulcana attracts fluctuating levels of funding from local, state and federal funding bodies as well as some philanthropic and sponsorship support.Vulcana is currently aiming to shift to a social enterprise model to ensure the most diverse range of income generating partnerships and developing our income generating activities. Vulcana is aiming to use social media more affectively to publicise our activities and outcomes to continue to raise our profile nationally and internationally.

Where will your Circus be performing over the coming six months?

Vulcana will produce two Ladies Lounge cabarets over the next 6 months that will profile local professional 10

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and emerging performers from circus and other artforms.Vulcana is also partnering with the Women in Performance Conversation group who are presenting a forum and performance night to highlight the current and persistent invisibility of women in the arts in Australia. All of these events will be held in our home at the Brisbane PowerhouseVulcana. We will also be presenting the outcomes of a project called Stronghold with members of Access Arts and the Cerebral Palsy League at an event in the Visy Theatre at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

Do your members perform internationally?

Members of Vulcana, Fright or Flight and Twisted Hitch, are two small performance companies that have emerged from Vulcana’s Vulcademy program and are performing at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Fright or Flight’s show Three’s a Crowd is currently showing at the Roxy, Assembly.

Who can join your organization and what are the benefits of becoming a member?

Anyone can join. Women get access to women only training space. Men can join as supporters and can join the training sessions once a week. All members are encouraged to be involved as volunteers, as trainees and to vote each year for the new Board of Vulcana.

BY REBECCA JONES - OF STRONGHOLD, 2012, STORES STUDIO, BRISBANE POWERHOUSE

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INTERVIEW

What plans are on the drawing board to ensure sustained growth of your organization?

We are currently writing our next 3 year plan. We will deliver a community engagement program which has an ongoing impact on communities; we will offer a comprehensive and high quality workshop program; we will provide professional development pathways; we will produce high quality and stimulating performances; and we will contribute to the development of the arts, community arts and cultural development sectors. In 2014 Vulcana will produce a major performance project called Small Change. This production will investigate the rich history of women in the workplace through the cultural and creative exchanges between older women and younger women, between Indigenous and non-indigenous women, addressing wage disparities, unpaid labour and the issue of stolen wages. Small Change will be a meeting of circus, theatre, and sound with live video creating intimate spaces for close ups, alternative perspectives, or quiet story telling. The presence of older women on stage, sitting or dancing, marching or sharing their stories will make the invisible visible.

How can our International readers support your Circus and its members?

Vulcana is very interested in exchanges with organisations doing similar work, through innovative use of circus to engage communities, or advocating for increased involvement of women in the arts.We would love to hear from you and if you are visiting Brisbane to come and chat. We are always keen to organize master classes with visiting artists.

If you would like to learn more about Vulcana please visit their facebook page or follow them on Twitter.

CONTACT DETAILS F www.facebook.com/circusvulcana T www.twitter.com/circusvulcana P www.pinterest.com/circusvulcana LOCATION Brisbane Powerhouse Level 2/ Stores Building 119 Lamington St, New Farm, QLD PO Box 2312 New Farm, QLD 4005 P +61 (07) 3358 1888 F + 61 (07) 3358 1887 E admin@vulcana.org.au 11

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BY ERICA FISH - OF SLINGBACKS, HIGH HEELS AND SENSIBLE SHOES, 2009 AT BRISBANE POWERHOUSE

NIRVANA LIFTS LINDA

August 2013

ASIAN ARTS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

4 CHINESE DRAGONS 12

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EDITOR’S GUEST ASIAN ARTS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA The Asian Arts Institute of Australia (AAIA) was founded in Sydney, Australia in 2008 by Larry Lucas and Allan Rae. As Editor’s Guest this month in MCD, Larry shares with us his passion for Asian Artefacts and information about this fascinating organisation.

LARRY LUCAS

GREEN TARA GILT COPPER WITH STONE INLAYS, NEPAL, CA. 16TH C 13

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Larry, when did you first become a collector of Asian Art? My interest started when I was only 8 years old and a friend of my father gave me a book of about 80 original Japanese woodblock prints from the 1860s. It was completely different from western books and opened up a new world of art for me. I still have it and it still dazzles me today.

I started collecting blue and white Chinese ceramics when I was at University in Cambridge back in 1968. I started going to a local auction and I found some Chinese vases and bowls form the 19th and 18th centuries. I still have the very first Chinese vase I bought, sadly damaged and badly restored but a valuable memory and inspiration.

When I started working in newspapers in London in the 1970s I used to go to the British Museum every couple of weeks in my lunch break. I remember there was a display on one of the staircases of Chinese ceramics that had some 13th century Song Dynasty bowls in a beautiful blue Jun glaze with purple splashes on them – very spectacular but way beyond my price range at the time – about two year’s salary I found out!

I travelled overland from the UK to Australia in 1976 and going through India and Nepal purchased a few examples including a Tibetan Thangka, - a Buddhist painting – which I still have.

I had less than ten pieces until about 2006 when I began buying the occasional piece of blue and white China again at markets in Sydney. The real turning point came in 2006 when I visited an antique market in Sydney and fell in love with a small Chinese brushwasher dish. This was again from the Song Dynasty, about a thousand years old, a Qingbai piece which is a fine porcelain type in a light blue glaze. After that I started to learn more and collect some older pieces.

Where do you source your pieces from and how do you know that they are not forgeries?

Pieces usually come through dealers or through auctions.

Occasionally I have found a piece in an antique centre. There are so many forgeries of Chinese ceramics that it is difficult unless INTERVIEW CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE August 2013

EDITOR’S GUEST

you specialise to know what you are buying. I would not trust descriptions at auctions as they are often incorrect and you have to handle a piece to see what it is so I would never buy from a photograph on an auction site. Apart from forgeries you have to be careful of damage and repairs.

There are some excellent Asian Art dealers in London who are part of the annual Asian Arts in London week.

I know several good dealers in Hong Kong but there are also many fakes on sale in the shops there. Conversely you can sometimes find pieces that are not identified correctly and are real bargains. I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for bargains in Asian Art though – generally you get what you pay for. If you want to learn how to identify pieces that are genuine I suggest you visit Bonham’s, Sotheby’s or Christie’s specialist Asian Art Auctions in London or Hong Kong or New York and examine the pieces, you must handle them to learn. You can also visit reputable dealers.

There are some great collections in the UK. The Percival David Collection at the British Museum has to be one of the best collections of Chinese ceramics in the world and anyone in the UK would find the finest pieces here.

Do you collect a variety of different media or are you specifically interested in one discipline?

I am interested primarily in ceramics of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) but I have a few pieces dating back to 5,000 BCE as well as modern pieces. I also collect bronzes, mostly Buddhist pieces and I have some early jades. I am interested in pieces for both their intrinsic beauty but also for their cultural significance and links to history which I find fascinating.

What inspired you to create this institute and what challenges did you face during its development?

I became very friendly with Allan Rae who is one of the most knowledgeable people in Australia about Chinese and Asian ceramics. Allan lived for many years in Hong Kong. Allan is now the Research Director of the Asian Arts Institute and curates our major exhibitions and writes the catalogues. We both thought it would be good to share our interest and knowledge with others. One thing we try to do is to let people handle selected items. Although we have talks at some meetings we encourage everyone to contribute and we have collectors’ meetings when everyone brings along pieces that interest them. We have been lucky to have a meeting space and exhibition space in Sydney free of charge sponsored by my organisation Centre of Leadership at the Frontline Management Institute (www.frontlinemanagementinstitute.com.au) so 14

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that was not a challenge.We have also been very fortunate to have built up an excellent network of interested people who contribute to our events. The real challenge is that we have decided to make most events free and we have no funding from government so we don’t have a big budget for publicity and everything is done by volunteers. However we all love being involved and are very passionate about Asian Art so we get back far more than we give.

It’s five years now since the institute was first initiated.

What have been the aims and goals that you have realised to date?

We aim to share appreciation and knowledge of Asian Art and I think we have done that. We generally have about two exhibitions and six presentations a year across a wide range. We haven’t aimed to attract huge numbers but we have aimed to provide good examples of quality pieces both old and new that people can see and learn about.

We have also published a few catalogues and we intend to eventually provide these as eBooks. We try to avoid a dry academic approach and are interested in the creative aspects of Asian Art as well as the history and technology behind it.

Amongst the wide range of events and exhibitions that have been held at AAIA, what has been the most exciting?

Well a talk we had on how to beware of fakes was exciting in that people brought in pieces they had bought to check if they were genuine. Most were genuine but unfortunately some, costing tens of thousands of dollars, were fakes.This is probably not the kind of excitement you had in mind!!

Some outstanding AAIA events included an exhibition of ceramics from the tomb which covered pieces from Neolithic times through the Shang, Zhou, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan and Ming Dynasties. This was amazing to see the development and changes over such a long period from 4000 BCE to the sixteenth century but also to identify some of the underlying themes that remained unchanged.

This exhibition encouraged me to learn more about the development of culture over thousands of years which is very daunting at first but fascinating once you start to understand it. The most beautiful exhibition we had was probably one on tea bowls from Japan, Korea and China from the 3rd to the 15th centuries curated by John Freeland.There were some stunningly beautiful pieces.We also had a splendid exhibition of Buddhist pieces from across Asia which was both interesting and engaging.

Is there anything special on the drawing board that our readers may wish to attend?

If you are in Sydney we have two events coming up that August 2013

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are going to be great. On 25th August 2013 we have an exhibition on Figures in Asian Art – People, Gods and Animals. On the weekend of 12th and 13th November we have a major exhibition on Song Dynasty ceramics. The pieces in this are as good as any you will find in any major museum. We will have a catalogue for this.

If you could time travel, where would you go, what would you like to witness and who would you enjoy sharing time with?

Good question! I’d like to visit Dr Who to share his Tardis so I suppose I’d have to vist Cardiff where it’s filmed! Having a time machine would be marvellous to see how pieces of Asian Art were both made and actually used. Going back 3,000 years to the Shang Dynasty in China I’d like to see how the large bronze vessels were used in alters to worship the ancestors.

Since I have a jade Bi Disc from this time (which is a circular flat disc with a hole in the middle) I’d like to see how these were used in religious ceremonies as no-one really knows. I’d enjoy sharing time with the Chinese Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) since he was a great collector of antiques and was inspired to write poems about them. The Imperial Collection was started in the first century so he had a pretty good base upon which to build up on!

For our readers who live across the pond from Australia, how may they become more involved in your institute?

Please visit our website which lists our events.We are about to update this in the next few months and start a blog which will be a useful source of information about Asian Art. Also do send us an email and we will put you on our free email mailing list. We will then keep you up to date with what we are doing.

We are also interested in receiving information and catalogues from other organisations and individuals around the world. In the future we may list items for sale through our website. In the future we would like to set up a Museum of Asian Art in Sydney so anyone interested in helping develop or sponsor this would be most welcome to discuss this with us.

ALLAN RAE SETTING UP AAIA EXHIBITION

5 JAPANESE WOODBLOCKS AT THE MASUDA GALLERY, SYDNEY

For more information about the AAIA please visit their website or refer to the contact details listed below.

CONTACT DETAILS: W www.asianartsinstitute.com.au E asianartsinstitute@gmail.com P +61 2 9660 0199 Asian Arts Institute of Australia, 459 Harris Street, Ultimo, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia 15

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LAMPWORK ARTIST LESLEY JANE NIXON

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LAMPWORK ARTIST LESLEY JANE NIXON

When I’m sat at the torch‌ I usually pick up the first colour I come to and wait for the light-bulb moment to hit me.

FAIRY TOADSTOOL

I first came across lampworking about 9 years ago, whilst on a prolonged sick leave from my rather stressful job.

I began to make some basic pieces of jewellery to relieve the boredom.Whilst hunting the internet for interesting beads, I stumbled across some American Lampwork articles and features and I was fascinated. Back then, information was pretty hard to come by in the UK, so I bought a beginners book from the USA and hunted some basic kit down and gave it a go. I was immediately hooked. Thankfully, I seemed to have discovered lampworking just as it was taking off in this country, and the wealth of suppliers and information just grew and grew, making it much easier to explore the craft.

Are you self taught or did you attend lessons?

Initially, I was totally self-taught. After about a year and a half of experimenting at home, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to study with Larry Scott in America for 4 days. This taught me so much about the way that molten glass behaves and how it works with certain metals. A few years ago, I was also fortunate enough to take a class with Anouk Jasperse, learning to work with silver glass.

What is going through your mind when you are creating in the flame?

In all honesty, when I am melting glass, my mind is often 17

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wandering out on the moors. I often lose myself for hours whilst I am making beads. I find the way that the colours change and swirl about in the flame are almost hypnotic, so I allow my mind to wander and more often than not it has a direct influence on what I happen to be making at the time.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

My biggest inspirations are my Peak District roots, and colour. I love the way that the colours in the landscape change with the seasons. I also love the way that rock faces and heather relate to one another.

I adore stormy skies and try to capture that by mixing and layering the glass. Sometimes a bright colour scheme just pops into my head from nowhere, and I just have to try to turn it into something tangible.

Whether it be an orange and turquoise cat, or a green and yellow chicken.

Are you predominantly a bead maker or do you use other techniques for making glass artifacts?

When it comes to glass, I only make lampwork beads.

I love the possibilities of glass fusing, but I don’t have a kiln that will get hot enough to do this, so I stick to beads.

How do you market your work?

I almost exclusively market my beads over the internet. My biggest platform is Facebook. Almost all of my sales are a direct result of advertising via my face book page.

Now that I have moved house and studio, I am beginning to look at getting some of my work into local craft shops and galleries.This is very different to internet marketing and is definitely a steep learning curve for me.

Is there a lampwork artist that you would love to meet and if so, who is it and why do you admire them?

There are so many artists that I admire for a variety of reasons.

I’d have to pick two artists to list here though, as I really can’t pick one over the other. I admire Andrea Guarino-Slemmons for her beautiful use of organic shape and etherial colour. I also love the work of Jennifer Geldard. I love the muted colour and whimsy of her work.

WE THREE OWLS

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What is your favourite tool and what do you do with it?

I think my favourite tool (apart from the heat itself), would have to be my dental pick. I make so many minute pulls, tweaks and alterations to the glass as it’s melted in. I would be thoroughly lost without it.

When planning to make a collection of beads do you sketch the initial designs or work from an image?

I tend to make basic sketches of a brand new design. By blocking in basic shapes, I can mentally ‘fit’ the design together and plan the process of laying the design down on the bead. I am always taking photographs whilst out on walks. I use these as a springboard to creating a bead, rather than a concrete plan of the finished piece.

Do you use your beads to make and sell jewellery?

I rarely make jewellery with my beads. Making jewellery is a skill that I am hoping to build upon over the next year or two. I’d also love to be able to incorporate some basic silver smithing into my work.

What are your favourite bead forums and social networks?

My favourite forum for all things lampwork related is Frit Happens (www.frit-happens.co.uk). There is a wealth of information, support and friendship for fellow glass artists on there. I predominantly network on Face Book. I have a business page and a personal page. Many customers have now become dear friends thanks to Face Book.

Why did you name your business Mad Cat Glass?

I originally started selling my beads under the name of Flame Born Beads, but as my interest in making critters and cats took over, I decided to re-brand my shop to reflect my love of making quirky cats.

I don’t make cats as often as I used to anymore, but everybody still associates me with my ‘signature’ cat beads.

MOON GAZING HARE

To view or purchase some of Lesley’s stunning beads check out her contact details listed below.

CONTACT DETAILS W www.madcatglass.co.uk E lesley92@gmail.com F www.facebook.com/madcatglassdesigns ETSY www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MadCatGlass 19

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DIVINE FASHION DIVA

ABBEY BOOTH

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DIVINE FASHION DIVA

ABBEY BOOTH LOVE TO BOUTIQUE

ABBEY BOOTH

My background is in advertising and commercial marketing for a newspaper so after having my children I wanted to utilise my existing skills but in a more creative way. I have always been quite artistic, so I re-trained to become a visual merchandiser, which I really loved and was fortunate enough to win contracts dressing a fabric shop in London’s Berwick St and several local boutiques.

I had often thought about owning a boutique but always assumed it was an unachievable and very expensive dream so the window dressing was a good way to learn about the retail business.

I was offered a few days a week working within a local boutique and it was this which I really loved. Whilst working there I was fortunate enough to learn a broad variety of skills including stock management, customer service skills and all of the behind scenes work which goes into running a successful retail business. When a friend said to me “Sometimes you have to be brave, what are you waiting for?” This comment struck a chord within me, so I got in my car and drove around London finding suppliers. ‘Love To Boutique’ was created a few days later.

Abbey, what was your career before you decided to become a stay at home Mum to two children?

I was an Advertising & Commercial Marketing Manager for Trinity Mirror within their Sports Division. Primarily I was looking after the Racing Post. My second love after fashion and style is horses!

How did this shopping from home concept develop?

I have always wanted to own a shop since I was a little girl and after re-training and working within a local boutique I discovered what I really loved was building a relationship with the customer, understanding why purchases were made and of course why they were not. Buying clothes is an emotional journey and many women today are too busy, have young children and/or don’t enjoy going shopping and it’s this whole concept which lead me to create Love To Boutique.

With creating ‘Love to Boutique’, what challenges did you have to overcome?

Lack of time, juggling family life, financial constraints and ultimately just deciding to be brave and going for it!

What can your customers expect when they book a home shopping experience?

They can expect a professional and beautiful boutique experience created in their home or garden and the opportunity to try on a range of clothes and accessories INTERVIEW CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE

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at a time convenient to them with the added fun of having their friends and family with them. Home experiences are always great fun for the client and for me too!

Women are often looking for advice on how to dress to best suit their figure type. Do you offer suggestions on designer details and colours that are flattering?

I do offer a styling service and am currently working on a commission for a client going to Ibiza who wants to look great and keep cool in the clubs whilst having a unique look. I am sourcing vintage pieces, one-off’s and customising existing outfits for her; so it’s a very exciting commission! I am equally happy suggesting ways to wear the Love To collection as I like my outfits to work hard for my clients. I advise how each item can be used in various ways to maximise their life.

Do you sell high street labels, retro or upcycled clothing?

I ensure I buy clothes and accessories of good quality and which compliments the existing range. Our jewellery is designed in New York and we are one of only a few stockists in Hertfordshire so customers can be assured of excellent quality and unique items to compliment their Love To Boutique clothes.

Is there a specific age bracket that you market your garments and accessories to?

I am very happy to offer clothes and jewellery to all ages and have sold outfits to 12 year olds and to 72 years young!’ I like to think I have something suitable for every stylish girl/lady.

Private in-home shopping events are obviously your current focus. Do you plan to expand your business by retailing through pop-up shops or fairs?

I am currently attending two to three fairs a month from local markets in Rickmansworth to ladies events in Berkhamstead. However, I am very keen on the idea of a pop-up shop and just need to find a forward thinking landlord who can see the potential of my business. Watch this space!

What advice would you offer to other women who would like to enjoy motherhood yet still run their own business?

Make sure you are very clear about what you want to do and why you want to do it as it can sometimes seem like a very thankless task when you haven’t seen your friends for ages and have had very little sleep!

You need friends and family support – mine have been a constant inspiration to me and have totally believed in the Love To concept which has given me the strength to keep going even when things seemed tough. Asking for help can be hard and it’s not something I have ever found easy, but this experience has taught me it’s ok to ask for help and I have found that people do enjoy helping when they can see you are really passionate about what you’re doing.

Where would you like to see ‘Love to Boutique’ in five years time?

I would love to have a bricks and mortar shop with the opportunity of a second on the horizon and a thriving business.

How do you balance your work with family and a little ‘Me Time’?

At the moment as the business is so young and there is always so much to do, there is very little me-time!

I know this will change and things will settle down.

I am really looking forward to that day!

Will you be selling your range of clothing online in the near future?

I am looking into a website, although a large part of the unique service and look/feel of the boutique would be lost to a degree online. I think it’s something which needs to be carefully developed. The Love To facebook page is updated every day with new products, offers, style advice and inspiration and I can take card payments over the phone so I can take orders via email/telephone and mail out so at this stage I am happy with this.

At the end of a busy day what makes you smile?

My children putting on a show for me with wonderful singing, dancing and puppetry! And… when they’re safely tucked up in bed, sharing a glass of rose´ with my lovely friends and family.

If you wish to book a shopping experience or view more of Abbey’s collection you’ll find her contact details below.

CONTACT DETAILS F www.facebook.com/LoveToBoutique E abbey@lovetoboutique.co.uk P +44 (0)7966406889 22

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Five fabulous books to entertain and inspire you.

By Jennifer Schembri.

The Hundred Dresses

by Erin McKean, £17.95 Published by Bloomsbury ISBN 978-14081-9050-0

The Hundred Dresses takes its inspiration from the children’s book of the same name, in which protagonist Wanda Petronski is bullied for saying she has a closet filled with a hundred dresses. She is persecuted by the other girls who don’t believe that anyone could have that many, until they realise that Wanda’s imagination is bigger than any closet.

In this book Erin Mckean, with a little help from talented illustrator Donna Mehalko, details one hundred dresses that she deems the most iconic styles of our time. Some are labelled by style – the bandage, the bubble, the wrap – some by the women or designer that made them famous – the Marilyn, the Mouret, the J-Lo – and some by the event for which they are appropriate, from a garden party to the Oscars.

I love how dresses range from casual to formal; they are an entire outfit all in one garment and can be transformed through your choice of accessories.

Information on background, accessories, related items and the people who made it famous accompany each dress in the book, and there is a healthy dose of humour too. For example we are told that the Baby Doll is accessorised with Mary Janes, copious false eyelashes and the propensity to call unrelated grown men “Daddy”! This would make a fantastic gift for dress lovers of any age.

Art Doodle Love

by Dawn DeVries Sokol, £9.99 Published by Abrams ISBN 978-1-61769-012-9

This little book doesn’t constitute reading material as such; instead it is an art journal in which you can unleash your thoughts and feelings by way of both words and doodles.

I actually think it’s a pretty good idea, because when faced with a blank page in a sketchbook I feel that I have to create a masterpiece, and a blank page in a notebook requires my neatest handwriting. But here there are no rules and no blank white pages in sight.

There are verbal prompts and various starting points for doodles that encourage you to relax and be creative without overthinking things, and it’s really quite therapeutic! It takes me back to my school days, when every notebook and folder was decorated with doodles that represented my life at that time. Art Doodle Love gives you permission to do this again.

Dawn believes that not only will art journaling provide you with a more creative document of your life than simply writing a diary, but also that looking back over it when you are in a creative slump can help to spark new ideas. For anyone who feels that a blank page is only deserving of a masterpiece, I’d suggest giving this book a try..

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The Vintage Pattern Selector

by Jo Barnfield Published by Bloomsbury ISBN 978-1-4081-7181-3

The Vintage Pattern Selector is a great resource for anyone who wants to make their own retro inspired clothes. It explores key styles and garments from the 1920s to 1970s and combines them with modern styling ideas, offering advice on choosing the right fabrics, colour palettes and styles.

The book contains easy to follow sewing instructions and diagrams, while the accompanying CD includes 15 printable patterns.

For the less experienced sewer there are chapters on dressmaking basics and construction, including pattern annotation, adjusting patterns, guides to darts, hems, pockets and much more. The other chapters are devoted to dresses, blouses, skirts, trousers & shorts, suits & coats, lingerie, headwear and gloves.

Each chapter looks at the key styles from various decades, such as 1920s flapper dresses or 1950s circle skirts, and compares the traditional fabric, length, style and colours with those used today. It is educational, practical and clearly yet beautifully presented. What makes it stand out from other similar books is the inclusion of less obvious items like the pillbox hat and French knickers – I now want to make both!

New City

by Alec Forshaw Published by Merrell ISBN 978-1-8589-4598-9

This is a book for fans of contemporary architecture or anyone, like me, who is interested in how London has evolved as a city over the years. I am usually more interested in older architecture; it is something that I love about exploring new cities, as it is a tangible part of a place’s history.

New City however focuses on structures from 1986 onwards. It briefly outlines the city’s main architectural stages since its creation, including its sacking in AD60 by Boudicca’s Iceni hordes and the Great Fire of 1666. It then moves on to various areas, from St Paul’s, Bank and Mansion House to Broadgate, Barbican and Moorgate. You are taken around the city looking at each area’s development and the key pieces of architecture to be found. Some sights are instantly recognisable, such as the infamous Gherkin, but there are other buildings that I knew nothing about and would now like to see.

Typically I feel that contemporary buildings lack the heart and soul of the intricate, older architectural gems, but this book has made me look at a city I know well in a different light, and appreciate the architectural triumphs of more recent decades.

Paper Clay

by Rosette Gault Published by A&C Black ISBN 978-0-7136-6827-8

Have you tried working with paper clay before? It seems to be a material that people either love or hate, but one that is definitely worth a try. Paper clay is a half solid, half fluid plastic modelling mix of clay, paper pulp and water that can be fired in kilns. Part of the appeal is that it is very strong and can be worked in multiple layers of wet over dry and altered at nearly any stage in the forming process.

Starting with a history and overview, subsequent chapters explore preparation, types of paper clay, forming methods, surfaces, firing and lots more.The sections are very thorough and offer technical information alongside practical advice.The appendix even includes quick references such as firing schedules, template shapes, methods summaries and recipes.

Some of the photos are a little dated and not all of the finished pieces are to my taste, but if you are interested in working with paper clay then this is certainly a practical guide and a good starting point for your own creative journey.

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NEW FEATURE

INSPIRATIONAL FACEBOOK LINKS + WEBSITES Welcome to our new feature article ‘FACEBOOK & WEBSITE LIKES’.

Each month we will publish facebook posts and websites that we think are really helpful, inspiring or bring a smile to our face.

FUNKYJUNK INTERIORS – DONNA Hi, I’m Donna, and I author the blog, Funky Junk Interiors! My blog is all about creating unique elements for your home out of reclaimed finds. Affordable, creative, ultra unique and easy to do! I’m also a HomeTalk Ambassador so I look forward to seeing what everyone else is up to right here on HT! Blog - funkyjunkinteriors.net Facebook - Funky Junk Interiors VISIT: Blogger Canada: www.funkyjunkinteriors.net COPYRIGHT FUNKY JUNK INTERIORS KAREN – THE GRAPHICS FAIRY Karen is a full time Blogger and a former shop keeper/Antique Dealer (at Lucketts Store). “My style is Vintage, I love mixing old things with new. I’ve always loved decorating and now that I’ve closed my shop space, I’m having so much fun working on projects for my own home again”!

VISIT: www.graphicsfairy-diy.com COPYRIGHT KAREN THE GRAPHICS FAIRY SLOW TEXTILES GROUP If you love textiles, fashion, embroidery and creative design this is one group to follow.

They are totally inspiring!

ABOUT: Inspiration and sharing for slow textiles VISIT: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Slow-Textiles-Group COPY RIGHT JENNIFER MORRIS EMBELLISHED COLLECTION

CRAFTSY WEBSITE Do you like to bake, decorate cakes, knit or sew? My-Creative Diva magazine is now following Craftsy. The Craftsy community are dedicated to providing the best education and resources for crafters. Check out their courses in quilting, knitting and more!

FREE online cake decorating classes, like Modern Buttercream with Joshua John Russell or Basic Fondant Techniques with Elisa Strauss!

VISIT: www.craftsy.com COPYRIGHT NICKOLAS LODGE 26

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NEW FEATURE TRISHA RENEE Trisha, shares links that she finds interesting and helpful with others.

Below is one such link that we think is great for gardeners!

TOPIC - GARDENING Many of us deal with tree stumps and try many ways to get rid of them.

Tree Stump Removal - Get rid of tree stumps by drilling holes in the stump and filling them with 100% Epsom salt. Follow with water, and wait. Live stumps may take as long as a month to decay, and start to decompose all by themselves.

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/trisha.renee.5

ELENA HERNBURG Elena Hernburg has worked at Lampworker and studied at Saint Petersburg State University.

For a feast of colour and dazzling lampwork visit Elena Hernburg’s facebook page you won’t be disappointed.

VISIT: www.facebook.com/elena.hernburg.3 COPYRIGHT ELENA HERNBURG

JILL KILN FIRED ART I call myself a ‘kiln fired artist’ as most of my work involves firing in the kiln, or some other form of heat work. I work with a range of media and techniques including: •Overglaze painting on porcelain •Glass fusing •Lampwork bead making •Metals including sterling silver, fine silver, copper aluminium and bronze •Ceramics •Enamelling If you are into kiln fired art and inspirational travel photos check out the amazing images at this site.

VISIT: www.facebook.com/KilnFiredArt COPYRIGHT JILL KILN FIRED ART

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24 25 26 31 August & 1 7 8 September 2013

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54 Stafford Road Seaford BN25 1UB MY-CREATIVE DIVA

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artwave

2013

11am - 5pm

www.artwavefestival.org

August 2013

2013

artwave

www.artwavefestival.org

Alison Harris Anne Pickering Ann Mason Bazza West Cecily Tucker Celia Chic Cat Brown Christian Dormon Diane Costello Karen Hall Liz Cottingham Marion Prentice Mike Howard Penny O’Neill Richard Walsh Robin Shell Sarah Gregson Sandy Gray Suesie Seedpod Tegan Sharrad

Paintings, prints & colourful hand-made cards Textile art from paintings to decorated gifts Sterling silver and vintage cutlery jewellery Handmade ceramic art and gifts Bags created from vintage and recycled fabrics Unique photography with a twist

PLUS: Vinyl music from the 50s, 60s and 70s Seated massage to melt away tension Workshops for both adults and kids Silk painting Printing Ceramics Felting Needle felting Egyptian dancing AND …… home made cakes in our tea tent!

For info staffordroadopenhouse.blogspot.com or call Robin 07956 555688 29

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DOLL MAKER DIVA HELEN CHAPMAN

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INTERVIEW

atmosphere and location have been the inspiration for the business name and many of the designs. Her love of fabrics, passion for creating and childhood love of dolls have been the driving force in producing a variety of dolls and accessories which are designed to delight children and adults alike. Helen recently shared her thoughts with Australian correspondent, Elizabeth Zernike.

DOLL MAKER DIVA HELEN CHAMPMAN Helen runs a small business called Sunshine Dolls which she operates from her home in Caloundra, Queensland.

She designs and makes a range of fabric dolls in various sizes. This has also led to a selection of accessories such as kids’ bags with a pocket for a doll, doll cradles, bunting and mobiles. These are all made from fabric. The original range of fairies, ballerinas, brides and princesses is constantly evolving with new ideas and themes. The collection now includes mermaids, lifesavers, pirates, clowns and rock chicks among others.

Could you give us an overview of how you make the dolls and the materials that you use?

I make the doll bodies using calico and stuff them with polyester fibre filling. Their faces are hand drawn using waterproof pens. I use a variety of fibres and fabric for the hair while the outfits are fabric and lace.

What have been the experiences and training that led you to start making dolls?

I have no formal training but have been sewing since about eight years old when I made clothes

Helen has created an extensive range of fabric dolls and a selection of accessories that she markets under the label, Sunshine Dolls. She and her husband live on the Sunshine Coast where they enjoy the relaxed lifestyle. Her two adult sons live in Adelaide, South Australia.

Helen lives in an apartment in Caloundra with views over the bay to Moreton Island. The beachside 31

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INTERVIEW

for my dolls. After several years teaching, followed by a period in retail selling fabrics and fashion, I chose to change direction and follow my creative side and set up the business.

How do you market your products?

I attend weekly local markets and occasional events in Brisbane and other nearby locations. I have some stock in local retail outlets and have a website and Facebook page.

What has been your greatest challenge to date and how did you resolve it?

I have had several, the main one being marketing and the internet, not being familiar with this environment. Another is the variable weather at markets which can be damaging to stock and quite stressful. Finding the space to spread out and work in our small apartment can also be an issue.

Do you have any tips for people who are trying to create a business from arts and crafts?

You will need to be patient, passionate and look to create something unique.

What are your future plans for your business?

To avoid the uncertainties of street side markets, I would like to expand the internet or retail outlet side of the business.

Do you have friends or family who support you in your creative endeavours?

I have a very supportive husband without whom I could not run the business. I also have some close friends who have been very helpful and encouraging.

What is the next challenge for you personally?

Balancing the business with more leisure and holiday time for us as we head towards retirement is certainly a challenge.

CONTACT DETAILS W www.sunshinedolls.com.au E helen@sunshinedolls.com.au P 0416085447 PHOTO CREDIT TRACY FARR (7-10) ROB CHAPMAN (1-6) 32

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WHAT’S ON

Victoria and Albert Museum THE WORLD’S GREATEST MUSEUM OF ART AND DESIGN Opening times 10.00 to17.45 daily + 10.00 to 22.00 Fridays

AUTUMN EXHIBITIONS AT THE V&A The V&A’s autumn exhibition, Masterpieces of Chinese Painting 700-1900, will be the most ambitious survey of one of the world’s greatest artistic traditions. It will gather together the finest examples of Chinese painting created over a 1200 year period and will show more than 70 works including some of the earliest surviving Chinese paintings as well as other exceptionally rare works loaned from the greatest international collections. From small scale intimate works by monks and literati to a 14 metre-long scroll painting, many of the paintings will be shown in Europe for the first time.

26 October 2013 - 19 January 2014 Presenting one of the world’s greatest artistic traditions, Masterpieces of Chinese Painting 700 - 1900 will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see rare surviving works of art drawn from collections around the world. Explore over 70 of the finest examples of Chinese painting, from smallscale intimate works by monks and literati through to a 14 metre-long scroll painting, many of which are shown together for the first time.

Charting the evolving styles and subjects of painting over a 1200 year period, the exhibition includes figure paintings on silk for religious sites, landscape painting and the introduction of Western influences. A significant number of these masterpieces have never been exhibited in the UK before, from banners, albums and scrolls created for a variety of settings to the materials that reveal the traditional process and techniques of painting on silk.

For more information visit the V&A official website.

TITLE Nine Dragons (detail) ARTIST Chen Rong DATE 1244 CREDIT LINE Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Photograph © 2013 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

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WHAT’S ON

TITLE A Monkey ARTIST Mao Song DATE 13th century CREDIT LINE Tokyo National Museum, Japan, Image: TNM Image Archives

TITLE Saying Farewell at Xunyang (detail) ARTIST Qiu Ying (1495-1552) DATE 1st half of 16th century CREDIT LINE The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City Photograph: John Lamberton

TITLE Four Pleasures: Music, Chess, Calligraphy and Painting (detail of Calligraphy) ARTIST Attributed to Ren Renfa DATE c.1500 CREDIT LINE Tokyo National Museum, Japan, Image: TNM Image Archives

The V&A is open daily 10.00 – 17.45 and until 22.00 on Fridays. The nearest underground station is South Kensington (Piccadilly, District and Circle lines).

For general information call 020 7942 2000 or visit www.vam.ac.uk For advance bookings for activities and events call 020 7942 2211 or visit www.vam.ac.uk 35

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DIVINE INFORMATION

SHARING In the following pages we offer practical and interesting articles from professional artists, designers and business owners who have generously offered to share their experiences, knowledge and skill with our readers. This month we welcome......

PHOTOGRAPHY DON RICHARD WALSH Have you become intimidated by the possibilities of your camera? You don’t know where to start?

Richard shares with us his latest tips for making sure our holiday snaps perfectly record our treasured memories.

JEWELLERY DIVA LANZAJEWEL ANNE MACLEOD CRISP This month Anne is featuring some of her jewellery made during this year and last. Anne says that so many people have helped and influenced her that she would like to give credit to some of you.

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DIVINE INFORMATION DESIGNER DIVA JOAN GORDON Joan shares her most recent visit to the Chiltern Open Air Museum which is a museum of vernacular buildings and a tourist attraction located near Chalfont St Peter and Chalfont St. Giles in the Chiltern Hills, Buckinghamshire, England.

TRAVEL DIVA YAN FAHEY Our travel Diva Yan is on her personal adventure exploring the world. In this issue she shares with us her most recent visit to Scotland. Yan loves the countryside, the friendly people with their singsong accent, their music, their laughter, not to mention their whiskies and the men in kilts looking absolutely gorgeous!

GLASS & JEWELLERY DIVA DEBORAH DEW Debbie shares with us an article about Frit which is fragments of crushed glass. As it’s been too hot over the last few weeks to spend much time in her studio she’s been doing some frit testing amongst other things!

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TAJ MAHAL

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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TAKING BETTER HOLIDAY SNAPS

On your last holiday you may have seen some of the most beautiful things this world has to offer — but maybe you wouldn’t know it by your photos…..if you have any that is.

I have put together this straightforward list of things to help ensure the next holiday has a better memory record of what you did and what you saw.

BEFORE YOU GO Charge batteries and pack charger with adaptor if necessary. Make sure you know your camera and its settings, especially self-timer and macro. Do you really need to shoot at maximum resolution for your snaps? Lowering the resolution will enable you to fit more images onto a memory card and allow for faster download when back home. Memory cards, take more than one especially if your camera takes high resolution or RAW images. Decide on what lenses to take if you have more than one, remember weight and bulk on flights. Make sure you take your camera everywhere, plus accessories like tripod if you can manage it (there are very compact ones available to fit in your camera bag).

KANDY IN THE EARLY MORNING

TAKING THE PHOTO Composition should be varied, don’t always place people in the centre, you can half press the shutter to focus on main subject then move the camera to place them to the side. Centre can work however, especially if you fill the frame.

Angles should be an experiment, try to get a viewpoint from above or below, don’t be afraid to try the unusual. Places of interest can always be found, sometimes they are obvious (like my shot of the Taj Mahal, 39

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CHERRY PIE August 2013

DIVINE SHARING nobody could visit India without snaping this) and sometimes less so, go to the tourist centre and get local information and look at local postcards for ideas.

Timing can be an issue if it is very hot, try to take the majority of shots early or late when the light is often softer and golden. People shots can work well especially if there are different clothing or customs to record but respect people’s privacymost will not be offended but some will so hold back if that’s the case…if in doubt, ask “is it ok?”

Close up photography is always interesting and different so try to get close to unusual detail and make a feature of food or local flowers etc.

This shot of the cherries reminds me strongly of a great time in Spain.

Self-timer is always necessary on holiday at least once so give it a go and get in on the photos yourself.Always be ready for an opportunity, keep the camera on auto….just in case it’s needed at short notice. Night time is another great opportunity; you will need a tripod of some sort or a stable case and read how to increase the ISO setting which you can try at something like 1600 or higher if necessary.

DELHI STREET COBBLER

Obviously no holiday is complete without the ubiquitous sunset, (mine was in Malawi and I handheld the camera which you can often get away with for this type of low detail image).

Particularly with digital there should be virtually no limit to the number of shots you take, put them together and make an action packed montage, it looks great on the wall.

Feel free to contact me with any questions, I’m always happy to help.

Cheers Richard AFRICAN SUNSET 40

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BACK OF A BIKE

EASTBOURNE PIER AT SUNRISE 41

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY-CREATIVE DIVA JEWELLERY DIVA LANZAJEWEL - ANNE MACLEOD CRISP

This month I am featuring some of my jewellery made during this year and last. So many people have helped and influenced me that I would like to give credit to some of you. To Joan, without whom, I would not know how to professionally create wrapped loops or decorate a shop and much more.

If you have any beading or jewellery making questions or wish to view and purchase any of Anne’s beautiful jewellery, you’ll find her contact details below.

CONTACT DETAILS E lanzajewel@hotmail.com W www.lanzajewel.com F anne.macleodcrisp@facebook.com RESOURCES: Beads Direct Co.Uk BLOG www.beadbarmy.com PHOTO CREDITS ANNE MACLEOD CRISP

To Lynda Harrison Twells who gave me the greatest gift teaching me to work with seed beads, to Joanne Lockwood of Beads Direct with her inspirational makes, especially the hugs and kisses bracelet and to Debbie Dew who sent me two lovely hand blown glass beads, and to Tracey Gwilliams for her fabulous tutorials which have totally taken me out of my comfort zone.

My birthday wish is that more of my Facebook friends read this wonderful magazine!

My final tribute is to Jesus Ricardo Alvarez, Lanzarote’s best Computer expert, and to Maggie ‘Mag’ Jones without whose help, I doubt if any of my articles would have passed muster.

Enjoy a Creative month!

Anne

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INSPIRATIONAL WORK

MY ATTEMPT AT JO LOCKWOOD’S ‘HUGS & KISSES’ BRACELET TAUGHT AND INSPIRED BY THE VERY TALENTED LYNDA HARRISON TWELLS

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ONE OF DEBBIE DEWS BEAUTIFUL GLASS BEADS MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE INSPIRED BY KATHY LAKE

August 2013

DIVINE SHARING

GO WALK ABOUT

WITH JOAN

BY JOAN GORDON

On a recent trip to England I was taken by my family to the Chiltern Open Air Museum. If you live in England or are visiting this country I can certainly recommend this museum.

From the minute you walk through the information centre you feel as if you’re walking through a time warp.

Throughout the 45 acres of garden and wood land you can explore homes that have been expertly renovated to depict life as it was lived during various stages of British history.

Apparently throughout the year, the museum holds outdoor events for families and visitors, so it’s well worth visiting their website for an up to date diary of what’s on and when.We visited the museum on the ‘sweets and treats day’, in July 2013 on a warm summer’s day. Several local farmers and food producers were selling their wares from inside several old barns and attractive, purpose built stalls including a gypsy caravan. Purchasing homemade cakes, chocolate, preserves and locally sourced honey was a real pleasure, as was finding the well stocked plant stall selling herbs, veggies and planted flower boxes. On this particular weekend we enjoyed not only the market stalls but also 44

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TOLL HOUSE OVEN, LAUNDRY AND BATH

ROLLS ROYCE August 2013

DIVINE SHARING

TIN CHURCH AND THATCH CONVERTED BARN HOUSE

a rather spectacular vintage car, bike and didn’t manage to see the whole estate. In caravan display. fact, it was so fascinating and historically Towards the back of the grounds there’s interesting that I decided to pay a full a brilliant playground for children where membership so that I may visit again with my grandson escaped into the world of my family and participate in some of the ‘knights and the round table’ with several outdoor events when I’m next in this region other children, whilst his parents sat on of the UK. the lawn enjoying the warmth of the sun.

After several skirmishes, exhausted from his various battles we found refreshment in the outdoor café. A glass of old fashioned lemonade served with a slice of homemade cake was just the remedy for re-energising our young hero.

The following information can be found on the Chiltern Open Air Museum website.

I thought I’d share it with you over the following pages, as it gives a succinct description of some of the buildings that I enjoyed exploring.

Till next month,

Whilst I spent several hours wandering Safe travels, through the grounds and buildings, I still Joan 45

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DIVINE SHARING Chiltern Open Air Museum is a museum of vernacular buildings and a tourist attraction located near Chalfont St Peter and Chalfont St. Giles in the Chiltern Hills, Buckinghamshire, England. The museum was founded in 1976 and aims to rescue and restore common English buildings from the Chilterns, which might otherwise have been destroyed or demolished.

The museum’s collection includes 16 buildings that are in storage and due for re-erection as and when the museum’s funds permit. Recently, the museum has undertaken reconstruction of a Wychert style farmhouse.Wychert or witchert is white clay mixed with straw to make walls and buildings, usually then thatched or topped with red clay tiles.

The Toll House was originally built in 1826 for the Collector of Tolls on the London to Oxford road at High Wycombe. It’s a tiny house, but was home to a family of five in the 1840s.The building is currently presented as it may have been furnished in 1860.

The forge was originally built in the back garden of a house in Garston, Hertfordshire in the 1850s. Many of the bricks are marked ‘JC’ showing they were made at John Chapman’s brickworks in Garston.

From the 1860s until 1926, the forge was worked by members of the Martin family.

IRON AGE HOUSE

An18th century barn in Leagrave, near Luton in Bedfordshire was converted into cottages in the 1770s. These have enabled us to present one cottage accurately as it would have been in the 1920s. The other side is presented as it might have been in the 18th century.

The replica Iron Age House was constructed in the 1990s. It has been furnished for the period c. 50 AD during the Roman occupation of Britain. The floor is made of rammed chalk and flint creating a hard surface, similar to roundhouses excavated in the Chilterns.

RESOURCE W www.coam.org.uk PHOTO CREDITS JOAN GORDON THE FORGE IN ACTION 46

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DIVINE LAMPWORK ARTIST DEBBIE DEW

JOIN ME AT THE FOLLOWING BEAD FAIRS THE BONDED WAREHOUSE, STOURBRIDGE, WEST MIDLANDS, DY8 4LU Sunday, 25th August 2013 10.00 to 16.30 THE NEW FOREST BEAD FAIR Highwood Rd, Brockenhurst, Hants SO42 7RY Saturday August 31st 2013 10am - 4pm THE MIDLANDS BEAD FAIR Location: National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham Sunday 13th October 2013 10am - 4pm WELSH BEAD FAIR Sunday 6th October 2013 The Village Hotel, Cardiff 10am - 4pm My work is also available for sale online at: W www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Glassmania

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August 2013

TRAVEL DIVA YAN FAHEY - SCOTLAND

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August 2013

DIVINE INTERVIEW YAN FAHEY

TRAVEL DIVA YAN FAHEY Many locals out enjoying the sunny day!

The first time I visited Scotland in 1986, I loved the countryside, the friendly people with their singsong accent, their music, their laughter, not to mention their whiskies and the men in kilts looking absolutely gorgeous! I felt I’ll be drawn back here.

And so I have as here I am in Broughty Ferry, Dundee UK, July 3013, staying at a house at the top of the hill with beautiful views of the town,Tay River and the castle.The town is a short picturesque walk down the hill.There is a nice sandy beach where families flock to and bask in the sun on sunny days and also a pebbly beach where you can watch kids & not so young ones throwing pebbles skimming them along the top of the water.The riverfront is a great place for a stroll, sit on a bench watching the antics of passerby or have a picnic on the rolling green lawn.

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DIVINE INTERVIEW YAN FAHEY I was fortunate to join in the festivities with about 4000 locals at Castle Green during the Gala week which is held in July each year. It was fun sipping beer, watching the excited children, many with painted faces, listening & tapping my feet to live music including the pipe band.

I’ve counted 15 pubs in this small town of which my favourites are the Royal Anchor, the Royal Arch, the Fisherman - where there is live traditional music every Thursday - and the Ship Inn where my favourite black pudding and haggis is served. On sunny days, people are seen enjoying lunch and drinks on the sidewalks.

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DIVINE INTERVIEW YAN FAHEY The town centre in Dundee is great for shopping and strolling around. There is always street entertainment. I love the old buildings and the beautiful spire of St Paul’s church. The public transport service in double-decker buses is handy and the train to Edinburgh or Aberdeen takes just over an hour.

There is a direct train from Kings Cross station London.Well worth a visit.

Cheers Yan xxx

CONTACT DETAILS E yanfahey@gmail.com F www.facebook.com/yan.fahey 51

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August 2013

DIVINE SHARING excited when a parcel lands on my doorstep and can’t wait to rip it open to see what new blends are inside.

LAMPWORK DIVA DEBORAH DEW

TESTING FRIT It’s been too hot in the last few weeks to spend much time in my studio and I’ve had no inclination to spend an hour making a single bead in the heat, instead, I’ve been doing some frit testing amongst other things.

Frit beads are quickly made and the end result is a pretty, usable bead without hours of work, this also means that frit beads are often cheaper to buy than other handmade lampwork beads.

I test CoE 104 frits for frit-addiction. CoE 104 frit is fairly new to the market still, traditionally lampworkers have used 96 CoE frit but there can be compatibility issues and you need to be careful about how much you use. It’s great fun trying out new blends, seeing how they work and how the colours react differently, dependent upon the base glass used. I get 52

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Testing frit isn’t just about getting free supplies and making a few random beads.

I try out each frit on different bases.I encase it, leave it on the surface of the beads and stretch it inside implosions amongst other things. I’m also honest about how each one performs, sometimes I might suggest using less of one colour or more of another and other times I could be saying that the final results are too similar to other blends in the range.

There are advantages to using CoE 104 frit, I can use as much as I want and layer it to create depth within the beads and I can encase without fear of the beads cracking months from now, so testing frit is a challenge, yes, but a challenge I enjoy.

If you want to try out 104 CoE frits yourself, you can find them here: http://www.vickiesemporium.co.uk/fritaddiction Have fun, Debbie xx VIEW DEBBIES BEADS AT: http://79.170.44.81/silverartz.co.uk/ www.makeglassbeads.co.uk/Reviews. html www.britishlampwork.co.uk/tag/debbiedew/ August 2013

DIVINE SHARING

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August 2013

WEWOOD A UNIQUE FASHION ACCESSORY

Winshport LTD

Stylish and eco-friendly – a unique accessory for the fashion conscious WeWOOD’s eco-friendly wooden watches are the chic way to accessorise with chunky arm candy in 2013.

Made from 100% recycled or reclaimed wood, the unique unisex watches not only look super stylish, they are lightweight, hypoallergenic and completely free of toxins. They even feature a quality Japanese Miyota mechanism for precision timekeeping.

Being eco-friendly is no barrier to style or luxury as the Italian designed timber timepieces are bang on trend and have graced many famous wrists such as Colin Firth, Rihanna, Ke$ha and APL of the Black Eyed Peas.

WeWOOD’s watches come in a range of 23 styles and colours, so there is something to suit everyone. And at a great price, at less than £100 each, they won’t break the bank so they also make perfect presents.

What’s more, WeWOOD partners with American Forests and Trees for the Future to plant a tree for every watch sold!

Prices start from £88.99 and all watches come with a two-year warranty. For further details, call +44 (0) 1202 901626 or visit www.we-wood.co.uk to view the full range.

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August 2013

WeWOOD WATCHES

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August 2013

DIVINE FASHION

I FEEL LIKE ME AGAIN!

By Bernadette Warren Be honest, have you been working too hard, spreading yourself thin and not taking any ‘divine time out’ for yourself? Plan a TLC date and mark it off in your diary. Get out and about with your loved one or friends and enjoy a change of scene. Make the most of the occasion and dress to please yourself, whether it’s a pretty dress or casual jeans, it doesn’t matter as long as you feel comfortable.Try out a new wine bar, fine dine at a posh restaurant or settle for a simple meal at the local café. Where ever you decide to go, beat the work day blues and live in the moment. The new mulberry shades that are on trend for autumn will lift your spirits and wardrobe. Splash out on something new, if anyone deserves it you do! Too often we caught up in our work and daily lives and forget the fun we had when life wasn’t so complicated. Add a few ‘Me’ dates each month to your diary and you’ll soon notice that before long, you’ll be seeing the world through brighter eyes.

LEFT Mark Heyes for Marisota GBP 35.00 Mark Heyes designs his first collection for Marisota available at www.marisota.co.uk sizes 12 - 32

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1. Get The Label 2. Penneys $2.00, 3. Boticca £105, 4. George at ASDA 5. Dunnes Stores £25, 6. Dunnes Stores £20, 7. Dunnes Stores £25, 8. Radley £99, 9. Next

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DIVINE SHOPPING 2

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CELEBRATE!

Make your party sparkle with sweets and treats!

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DIVINE SHOPPING

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1. WeLuvSweets, 2. Wedding in a Teacup £5.50 3. Just Slate £27, 4. Paper Tree Roses 5. Sisters Guild £18.90, 6. The Oak Room £34.99, 7.

Emily Pickle £2.25, 8. WeLuvSweets £1.79 9. GettingPersonal.co.uk £7.99 59

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August 2013

DIVINE NEWS

WOOD AWARDS 2013 ANNOUNCES SHORTLIST The Wood Awards is the premier award for wood in buildings and furniture.

A shortlist of just 30 has been selected from a record entry of 318 British projects in the Wood Awards 2013, the UK’s premier award scheme celebrating excellence in design in wood.

The Wood Awards is a flagship for wood in the best of British architecture, furniture and design. This year’s 30-strong shortlist features unique private houses, stunning small projects, outstanding restorations, impressive public buildings and extraordinary bespoke and productionmade furniture, ranging from the traditional to the cutting edge.

The winners of the Wood Awards categories will receive the coveted Gold Award - the winner of winners - will be announced on the 19th November at a reception hosted by the Worshipful Company of Carpenters.

The Wood Awards 2013 shortlist will be showcased for the first time at 100% Design in London from 18-21 September, and at Timber Expo, now at the NEC in Birmingham from 2425 September.

As the flagship for wood in the best of British architecture, furniture and design, the Wood Awards is made possible by the major sponsorship of AHEC, Canada Wood, the Carpenters’ Company,TRADA and Wood for Good. Other sponsors include American Softwoods, BRE and the Forestry Commission.

Sponsors of the Wood Awards 2013 include the American Hardwood Export Council, Canada Wood, Carpenters' Company, TRADA, Wood for Good, American Softwoods, BRE and the Forestry Commission.

Full details of all sponsors and information on the Wood Awards can be found at www. woodawards.com.

Find ‘Wood Awards’ on Twitter @woodawards, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

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DIVINE NEWS

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MADE BY HAND!

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DECORATE YOUR SANDLES WITH DREMEL TOOLS

MAKE YOUR OWN SIGNATURE FRAGRANCE

SEE HOW MAGGIE JONES MADE THIS!

PERFECT YOUR BREAD MAKING SKILLS

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August 2013

DECORATIVE SANDALS, PERFUMES & SCENTS, JEWELLERY, BAKING, COOKING + FLOWER PRESS

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MELT IN YOUR MOUTH CUP CAKES

SWEET & SAVOURY TREATS

TINGLE YOUR TASTE BUDS

DRY FLOWERS IN A MICROWAVE OVEN

MY-CREATIVE DIVA

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August 2013

DIVINE MAKE MATERIALS Dremel® Engraver with Carbide Engraving Tip 9924 and the creative engraving templates (supplied with Hobby Engraver kit) Dremel® Glue Gun 930 Dual temperature and high temperature 7mm clear glue sticks Leather strappy sandals Metallic velvet ribbon, the same width as the straps you want to decorate Embroidered mirror and sequinned decorations Cup shape sequins Flat-backed gems Soft pencil Eraser Scissors STEP ONE Position your Dremel blue plastic engraving template on the insole of the sandal and draw through it using a soft pencil.

Repeat as necessary to build up the design. Invert the template and mirror the patterns on the opposite insole. If you don’t have a Dremel engraving template, buy something similar from your local hobby or craft store or online.

STEP TWO Using your Dremel Engraver with carbide engraving tip 9924, engrave along the pencil lines marked. Remove any remaining pencil marks with the eraser. Repeat on the other sandal.

BEACH SANDALS Indulge in the trend for beautiful beach sandals…

This year, the trend for summer sandals is to wear big jewels and other glamorous decorations on your gold or silver leather sandals. Almost too good for the beach, you’ll be wearing these sandals from dawn to dusk – and quite possibly on into the evening. So, buy a few pairs of the same inexpensive sandals and decorate them differently so you have an entire wardrobe of summer sandals created in minutes using your Dremel® Glue Gun. Simply follow our step-bystep guide and use our images to inspire you!

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STEP THREE Using a 7mm high temperature clear glue stick, set your Dremel Glue Gun 930 to hot to stick the metallic velvet ribbon along the strap of the sandal, threading it through the loop on the T-bar if necessary and trimming the ends at an angle where the ribbon meets the insole. Repeat on the other sandal.

STEP FOUR Take your Dremel Glue Gun 930 and 7mm high temperature clear glue stick, dot hot glue to stick a flat-backed gem in the centre of a cup sequin, then another dot to glue the sequin to the centre of the mirror on the embroidered decoration.

Prepare two more decorations. Glue the first decoration centrally on the loop at the top of the T-bar. Glue a decoration either side. Repeat to complete the other sandal.

Indulge in the trend for beautiful beach sandals…

AVAILABLE FROM Dremel tools are available from all good DIY shops or online at www.dremel-direct.com and www.tool-shop.co.uk

August 2013

DIVINE MAKE

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DIVINE MAKE

SCENTS + PERFUMES We’ve had several requests for more perfume recipes. After considerable research and experimentation, we thought these recipes were real winners.They’re not difficult to make, the fragrance is appealing and the ingredients are easy to resource.

EAU-DE-COLOGNE 16 drops bergamot 15 drops petitgrain 2 drops orange 15 drops lemon 5 drops lavender 5 drops neroli 10 ml orange flower water 230 ml alcohol/vodka Place the alcohol/vodka base into your glass mixing container, add the oils in the order listed and mix well. Bottle, cap and leave the mixture for 4 days and then add the orange flower water and re-cap. Leave the mixture for at least two weeks, giving the bottle a gentle shake every day.

CITRUS ZING 4 drops sweet orange 10 drops lemon 6 drops tangerine 8 drops frankincense 5 drops neroli 1 drop myrrh 11 ml alcohol/vodka or 11 ml jojoba oil for a oil based perfume.

Place the base into your mixing container and add the ingredients in the order listed and mix. Bottle and use.

COME HITHER 5 drops coriander 6 drops bergamot 4 drops neroli 1 drops jasmine blend 3 drops rose blend 10 ml jojoba oil Place oil base in mixing container, add oils in the order listed and mix. Bottle, cap and leave one week before using.

RESOURCES www.essentialoils.co.za

Store your perfume in these beautiful bottles.

COMPANY Who's It For? W www.whositfor.co.uk PRICE £12.00 Three assorted designs of crystal perfume bottle with pretty little charm on neck

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DIVINE MAKE

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DIVINE COMPETITION

WIN THE ENTIRE HOBBY RAN TO CELEBRATE MY-CREATIVE DIVA’S FIRST BIRTHDAY, DREMEL HAS OFFERED US ONE SET OF ITS ENTIRE HOBBY RANGE OF TOOLS TO BE WON! This set is the ultimate crafter’s dream list of a dual temperature glue gun with plain and glitter glue sticks, a multi-function soldering iron, a corded multi-tool and 15 accessories, an engraving kit and a cordless multi-tool with cutters and stencils.

The Dremel 930 is a dual-temperature glue gun especially suitable for detailed gluing. On its low temperature setting, the tool is ideal for a variety of creative hobby applications, such as scrapbooking, decorating, colour gluing on glass, etc. The 7mm glitter sticks will help you add a sparkle to your projects and make beautiful decorations. For light DIY jobs around the house, such as gluing ceramics, wood, plastics or glass, use the high temperature setting. Thanks to its drip-controlled precision tip you will not spill glue on your project.

The Dremel VersaTip is a cordless soldering iron which comes with 6 interchangeable tips. It has a variable temperature setting for maximum flexibility for the multitude of applications you can attempt with this tool.This easy-to-use butane tool is perfect for heat embossing, pyrography, hot fixing, soldering and much more.

The Dremel 3000 is the most popular corded multitool. It’s perfect for projects that require more and longer lasting power. It has fully variable speed settings to match your hobby application and it fits perfectly in your hand because of its ergonomic design. Use the Dremel multitool accessories, included, for decorative projects like engraving pots and jewellery making but also customizing furniture and woodworking.This is a versatile multitool to match your creativity!

The Dremel Engraver is ergonomic and light enough to handle all of your engraving projects with ease and maximum precision.The kit also includes some special engraving stencils allowing you to engrave special shapes precisely, in any material that you want, such as: glass, ceramic, metal, plastic, wood and leather.You can easily create great personalised gifts, such as, decorative wooden plates, candles, picture frames and champagne glasses.

The cordless Dremel 7.2V NiCad dual speed is the ideal multitool for first time Dremel users. It’s really easy to handle, lightweight and you can use it anywhere to suit your hobby projects.Try glass and wood engraving, scrapbooking, card making and pumpkin carving. Discover the numerous possibilities indoor, as well as outdoor, with the cordless 7700.

HOW TO ENTER EMAIL competitions@my-creativediva.co.uk.

For your chance to win, simply tell us the name of Dremel’s range of tools for crafts?

The lucky winners will be published in Issue 13 of MCD. CLOSING DATE FOR ALL ENTRIES – 30th September 2013 Conditions of entry: Only 1 entry per household. No further correspondence will be entered into the competition.The winners name and address will be forwarded to Dremel for the distribution of all prizes. My-Creative Diva does not accept any responsibility for the distribution of the prizes.

The name of the winner will be published in issue 13 of MCD.

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August 2013

DIVINE COMPETITION

NGE OF TOOLS FROM DREMEL

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August 2013

DIVINE JEWELLERY REVIEW

SPARKLES AND SPRIALS MAKING UP THE KIT MAGGIE JONES

This kit is simple to make up, requiring only basic skills. The trickiest part is making the links but after doing a couple, it is much easier. I followed the instructions exactly; they are well written and easy to follow. (PICS 2,3,4,5.)

I enjoyed learning a different technique, which resulted in a very wearable piece of jewellery. The findings are, as ever, the high quality we expect from Beads Unlimited.

This month’s review is a jewellery kit from Beads Unlimited who retail online.

The kit is cleverly constructed using jump-rings to form links, and some resin focal beads, which come in a mixed pack.

All components, apart from tools are included in the kit. Maggie Jones talks OVERALL RATING you through the process.

I would give this kit 9/10, as I felt it was great value for money. Had there been MATERIALS + TOOLS • Beads Unlimited, ‘Sparkles and Spirals’ a choice of colour on the beads I would have awarded it 10/10. At present the necklace kit • Two pairs of pliers – snipe-nosed, flat nosed colours are a random selection - I would have liked this in, for example, all or round nosed blue beads.

PRESENTATION Each component in the kit is separated AVAILABLE FROM in its own little bag and the whole This product is exclusively available kit is packed in a larger self-seal bag. from Beads Unlimited on their website, Comprehensive instructions with kit reference PRBLOG1305 and it photographs of each step are printed on retails at £6.00 an A4 sheet. (PIC 1) RESOURCES COMPONENTS The kit comprises 10 enamel ovals in W www.beadsunlimited.co.uk varying colours; 100 x 8mm jump-rings, W www.beadbarmy.com gold plated; 44 x 5mm jump-rings, gold plated; 1 x large trigger clasp, gold- PHOTO CREDITS MAGGIE JONES plated; 10 x eyepins, gold plated. (PIC 1) 70

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August 2013

DIVINE JEWELLERY REVIEW

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August 2013

DIVINE BAKING GLAZED ONION BREAD

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August 2013

DIVINE BAKING

GLAZED ONION BREAD What could be more delicious than freshly baked bread? This savoury bread recipe is perfect for a luncheon treat topped with cheese and relish. Serve it on a slate board to create an air of country hospitality.

INGREDIENTS 1 large onion finely chopped 1 bunch salad onions diced 2 tbsp olive oil Salt 4 cups flour 1/2 tsp salt 25 g fresh yeast 250-300 ml warm water Milk and egg beaten to make glaze METHOD OF WORK Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium high heat. Cook the onion for about 6 minutes until soft.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking until golden brown. Add seasoning then set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, mix the flour with salt together. Place the fresh yeast into a container and dissolve it in the water. Once dissolved add it to the flour mixture. Mix everything thoroughly together then add the caramelized onion and chopped green salad onion.

Knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the sides of the bowl. Cover the dough and let it sit for about 1 hour at room temperature. Allow the dough to rise until it’s doubled in size.

Preheat your oven to 240C (470F) 30 minutes before baking. Spoon one tablespoon of flour into a small baking tray. Place the dough into the tray and glaze the top with a mix of milk and egg yolk.

Place the bread tin into the oven once it has reached temperature.

Put an empty baking dish in the oven ten minutes before baking. As you put the baking dish in the oven, add a cup of hot water.The water will instantly boil and create steam. Bake for about 25-30 minutes. Remove the bread from the baking tray and cool on a wire rack.

SILVER SLATE RECTANGULAR SERVER - LIFESTYLE ÂŁ27.00 Clean lines and an ultra smooth surface combined with the unique mottled patterns make our Silver Slate range a stand out in our collection. The rectangular server is a staple of any range. Ideally suited to multiple purposes this item works just as well as a platter cheeseboard if required. 30cm x 22cm COMPANY Just Slate W www.justslate.co.uk P 01592 654 222 73

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August 2013

DIVINE BAKING CUPCAKES

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August 2013

DIVINE BAKING

CUPCAKES Try these easy to make vanilla cup cakes. They will melt in your mouth!

INGREDIENTS 110g butter or margarine, softened at room temperature 120g caster sugar 2 eggs, lightly beaten 110g self-raising flour 1-2 tbsp milk 1 tsp vanilla extract ICING 140g butter, softened 280g icing sugar 1-2 tbsp milk METHOD OF WORK Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases.

Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale then beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Using a large metal spoon, fold in the flour whilst adding a little milk until the mixture is of a dropping consistency. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until they are half full.

Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until golden-brown on top. Test that they are cooked by inserting a skewer into one of the cakes. If it comes out clean they are ready. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack.

ICING Beat the butter in a large bowl until soft. Add half the icing sugar and beat until smooth.

Add the icing sugar with one tablespoon of the milk, adding more milk until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Spoon the icing into a piping bag with a star nozzle. Pipe the icing in a spiralling pattern onto the cup cakes.

Place the cakes in these vintage lace cupcake wrappers and serve.

VINTAGE LACE CUPCAKE WRAPPERS £5.95 Description: Delicate white Cupcake Wrappers with an elegant lace design. It’s like wrapping them up in vintage white lace. Each pack contains 10 cupcake wrappers. Each wrapper measures 20cm in width and 9.2cm in height.The Vintage Lace Cupcake Toppers shown in the image can be purchased from ‘Just Bake’ separately.

COMPANY Just Bake View product on company website: www.justbake.co.uk 75

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August 2013

DIVINE FOOD

SWEET AND SAVOURY TREATS Make platters of finger food on elegant trays and enjoy an alfresco afternoon with family and friends. Here are some simple yet tasty suggestions for you to enjoy.

LEGNOART SOMBRERO $110.00 Fine porcelain removable dish. Central cone made of solid natural Ash wood. Ideal for aperitifs, tapas, sweets & candies. small: 240mm large: 280mm Small = $110.00 Large = $132.00 View product on company website www.optocoonline.com COMPANY OPTOCO PTY LTD

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August 2013

DIVINE FOOD YOU WILL NEED Pre-made short crust pastry cases Pre-made savoury pastry cases SWEET & SAVOURY TREATS FILLINGS Fill short cut pastry cases with high quality egg custard. Decorate with strawberries and dust lightly with icing sugar.

Spoon Nutella chocolate and hazelnut spread into the short crust pastry cases. Top with piped chocolate stripes and a sprinkling of toasted hazel nuts.

Readymade caramel is ideal for a sweet sugar hit. Fill the tarts with spoonfuls of caramel and top with a swirl of cream.

Tomato and basil pesto mixed with chopped cashew nuts is delicious when topped with sliced olives or feta cheese. Fill savoury tart shells with this combination and you’re guests will be asking for more.

Finely chop a red onion. Mix the onion with a mashed avocado, and a tablespoon of fresh mint.

Spoon into tart cases and top with sour cream.

CHOCOLATE APRICOT BALLS INGREDIENTS 1 cup of chopped organic apricots ½ cup of chopped roasted pine nuts 3 tab spoons of powdered cooking chocolate 5 wheat breakfast biscuits (Wheatabix) crushed 1 tin of condensed milk 1 cup of coconut – for decoration METHOD OF WORK Mix all the ingredients, except for the coconut, in a bowl. Stir until completely mixed. If the mix is too wet add another crushed wheat biscuit.

Roll small balls in dampened hands to about the size of a walnut.

Place the coconut into a shallow tray and roll each apricot ball in the coconut.

Refrigerate for two hours before serving.

Store the balls in the fridge in an airtight container for up to one week or freeze for up to three months.

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August 2013

DIVINE FLOWERS

DIVINE FLORIST BETH FORBES- SIMPSON

BETH FORBES-SIMPSON

Forbesfield is a gorgeous florist, specialising in a modern, classic style. We offer bespoke floristry for all occasions which caters to your budget.

You’ll find us in Cardiff City centre on the balcony in the Castle arcade where our shop is brimming with fabulous fresh flowers and unique gifts set against a backdrop of vintage and antique furniture. We are not like any other florist you will have seen...

RESOURCE INFORMATION Wedding & Funeral Specialist Location The Balcony Castle Arcade, Cardiff City Centre, CF10 1BW PARKING Street Car Park P 07963 369582 E forbesfieldflowers@hotmail.co.uk W www.forbesfield.co.uk F www.facebook.com/Forbesfield 78

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August 2013

LEARN TO MAKE JEWELLERY

Short and Long Term Classes Fine silver, resin, glass, polymer clay and mixed medium Workshops & Classes are on offer in the UK and Australia!

BOOK NOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE Wales UK: August 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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August 2013

DIVINE FOOD

BENTO LIME LUNCH BOX $34.95 With the green and white Bento Lunch Box tucked into your bag, you’ll never have to face soggy sandwiches, boring salads or soy sauce-flavoured books again.The modern design includes a clip-on fork and snug lid, all made from BPA-free plastic to keep creative meals such as prawn risotto safe and fresh within the ingenious container.

You can even carry different dishes in the one container, keeping them apart with the handy separator, and adding flavour from the in-built sauce pot.

RESOURCES COMPANY Zanui W www.zanui.com.au

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August 2013

DIVINE FOOD

PRAWN RISOTTO Lunch time needn’t be boring. Forget soggy sandwiches and limp salads. Add a tingle to your taste buds with this lively prawn and capsicum, creamy risotto.

TIP: Double the ingredients to make a delicious dinner for four.

INGREDIENTS • 1L (4 cups) salt-reduced chicken or vegetable stock • 600g large green prawns, peeled leaving tails intact, deveined • 1/4 cup chopped fresh continental parsley • 125ml (1/2 cup) extra virgin olive oil • 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 1 large leek, finely chopped • 320g Arborio rice • 100ml white wine • 4 roasted capsicum, cut into strips • 20g butter • 1 lemon, rind finely grated METHOD OF WORK Bring the stock to the boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to low and keep the stock gently simmering.

Combine prawns, parsley, 2 tablespoons of the oil and half the garlic in a glass bowl then season to taste.

Cover the prawns and place them in the fridge to marinate until required.

Heat the remaining oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the leek for 4 minutes or until soft. Stir in the remaining garlic for 30 seconds or until aromatic. Now stir in the rice for 1 minute or until coated.

Add the wine and simmer for 2 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.

Add 80ml (1/3 cup) of the stock to the rice mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until the liquid is absorbed. Continue to add stock, 80ml (1/3 cup) at a time, stirring constantly ensuring the liquid is absorbed before adding more stock. Continue to stir whilst adding the capsicum halfway through cooking.

Cook for a further 20 minutes or until the rice is tender yet firm to the bite and the risotto is creamy. Stir in the butter and lemon rind plus a sprinkling of salt and pepper.

Cook prawns in a pan, turning, for 2-3 minutes until they change colour.

Spoon the risotto into your lunch box, top with the prawns and sprinkle with extra parsley. Store the excess risotto in the fridge for up to 2 days or place it into freezer proof containers and freeze for up to 1 month.

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DIVINE MAKE

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DIVINE MAKE

DIY PRESSED FLOWERS

Pressing flowers can be a slow process if you use traditional methods.Why not make today’s technology work for you? Try this method for pressing them in a microwave oven. It’s fast, simple and the results are delightful.

GATHER THESE ESSENTIALS Flowers Paper towels Blotting paper Flowers and leaves to press Heavy flat microwave plate METHOD OF WORK Lay three to four paper towels on your removable turntable in the microwave. If you don’t have a removable tray, use a flat plate.Top the paper towels with blotting paper. Use flowers that aren’t too full of water and avoid succulents.

Place the flowers you wish to press on the blotting paper. Be sure that they don’t touch each other.

Place another sheet of blotting paper over the flowers followed by four sheets of paper towels.

Ensure that all the flower stem and petals are covered.

Open the microwave oven and place the plate containing the paper and flowers carefully inside. Place another plate on top of the paper to keep it flat whilst the drying process is in action.

Turn the microwave onto medium heat and set the timer for 1 minute. After the first minute, check the flowers carefully and then continue to microwave them for 2 more minutes. The flowers should feel dry and rigid to the touch. The drying times will vary according to the flowers being dried so some experimentation is required. Large flowers or flowers that contain a lot of water may need to be dried for a further minute.

Once the flowers feel dry or nearly dry, leave them in the microwave for a few minutes with the power off. The paper may still be damp but the flowers should continue to dry out. Test that they feel dry and crisp before removing.

RESOURCE W www.ehow.com Display your pressed flowers in this lovely glass frame. Make a feature wall of flowers from your garden or mementoes to remind you of adventures past.

W www.deepuddy.co.uk MINI PHOTO FRAME 5cm x 5cm - Perfect for displaying pressed flowers and DIY home decorating.

COMPANY Dee Puddy Garden & Interiors 83

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August 2013

Hand woven textiles, hand spun yarn & all things gorgeous ...

Hattie Rae hand woven textiles.

Exciting, elegant and sophisticated style fused with timeless fashion.

A blend of rich yarns, contemporary design and traditional techniques.

Beverley Hicklin graduated from Winchester School of Art with a degree in textile design, specialising in weave. As a freelance textile designer she has sold her designs to fashion houses, including Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and GAP.

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Beverley launched Hattie Rae for those who appreciate stunning, fine quality textiles. Each piece is a unique expression of colour and texture.

At Hattie Rae we only weave from the finest fibres including Merino wool and silk.

We hand spin our textured yarns with our customary blend of colour to create the most scrumptious, unique, one-of-a-kind yarns you can knit, crochet, weave or simply wear as is. And what would be the point of loving yarn if we didn't love colour too?

We carefully select our yarns ... silk, cashmere and lambswool, and then hand dye them to achieve a palette of rich colour.

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Wrap it, twist it, tie it, layer it - meet the new Coco Ruffle from Hattie Rae. Available in a number of styles: long ruffle - enough to wrap, drape and twist - or short neck wraps, perfect for framing that special outfit - see our Yarn page for current styles.

Each Coco Ruffle is hand spun using combinations of Merino wool, silk, cotton, angora and mohair in colours we hand blend in our usual Hattie Rae style.

They are often finished with additional touches of hand dyed silk twists and hand made felt.

hattierae.com 84

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Hand woven textiles, hand spun yarn & all things gorgeous ...

At Hattie Rae we love yarn. Using top quality fibre including silk, Merino wool and cashmere, we hand spin our textured yarns with our customary blend of colour to create scrumptious, unique, oneHattie Rae hand woven textiles. of-a-kind yarns you can knit, crochet, weave or simply wear as is. We Exciting, elegant and sophisticated fused with timeless fashion. also offer a batt and yarn making service for thosestyle who themselves A blend of rich yarns, contemporary design and traditional techniques. spin or work with felt or textiles.

Beverley Hicklin graduated from Winchester School of Art with a degree in textile design, specialising in weave. As a freelance textile designer she has sold her designs to fashion houses, including Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and GAP.

What would be the point of loving yarn if we didn't love colour too? We carefully select our yarns using quality fibres including silk, cashmere and lambswool, and then hand dye them to achieve a ............................................................................................. .......................................... palette of rich colour.

Beverley launched Hattie Rae for those who appreciate stunning, fine quality textiles. Each piece is a unique expression of colour and texture.

The process of makingAtour hand woven cloth is a lengthy one. From Hattie Rae we only weave from the finest fibres including Merino wool and silk. raw fibre through spinning and dyeing to the final woven product, We hand spin our textured yarns with our customary many procedures are involved.

Work starts with visual research and blend of colour to create the most scrumptious, unique, one-of-a-kind yarns you can knit, crochet, the selection of a colour palette. The warp is then designed when weave or simply wear as is. And what would be the of loving yarn if we didn't love colour too? different combinationspoint weave structures yarns are selected We of carefully select our yarns ... silk, cashmere and and and then hand dye them to achieve a before welambswool, wind palette of rich and colour. then thread the warp. ..........................................

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it, twist it, tie it, layer it - meet the new Coco The prospect of commissioning handWrap woven may seem Ruffle from Hattie cloth Rae. prohibitively expensive. This is not necessarily theof styles: case we can Available in a number long-ruffle - enough to wrap, drape and twist - or short neck wraps, perfect weave you a piece of cloth made especially to that your for framing specialspecifications outfit - see our Yarn page forand current styles. we love to work with clients to help achieve their vision. We offer Each Coco Ruffle is hand spun using combinations of wool, silk, cotton, angora and mohair in a bespoke service, colour matching to Merino complement your existing colours we hand blend in our usual Hattie Rae style. furnishings and designing an original, unique piece.

They are often finished with additional touches of hand dyed silk twists and hand made felt.

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CREATIVE DIVA

CREATIVE DIVA

ISSUE No.2

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PACKED PAGES of Inspiring Reading, Events, Fashion, Beauty Business, Travel, Reader Offers, Food, Jewellery, Floristry, Sewing PLUS DIVINE EASY MAKES

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ISSUES 1-12 OF MY-CREATIVE DIVA ARE NOW ARCHIVED. THESE ISSUES ARE AVAILABLE TO SUBSCRIBERS FREE OF CHARGE. EMAIL ENQUIRIES@MY-CREATIVEDIVA.CO.UK FOR YOUR FREE PDF COPIES.

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PACKED PAGES of Inspiring Reading Events, Fashion, Beauty Business, Travel, Reader Offers Food, Jewellery, Floristry, Sewing

DIVINE CAKE DECORATORS Jill Collins + Natalie Saville

HAPPY NEW YEAR! MEET DIVINE MILLINERY DIVA GET INSPIRED!

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TO BOOK A RESERVATION www.londonresivation@laportedesindes.com 89

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MAKERS ADS

ADVERTISING SPACE FOR MAKERS + SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ONLY! Only £10 per entry (per issue) to advertise your products, tools, materials, workshops, events and classes. Reach your target market.

For more information email: enquiries@my-creativediva.co.uk.

Support a Maker or Small Business Owner for tools, materials, products, special commissions or workshops. Together we can make a difference!

ANNELYSE TAYLOR CREATIVE LAMPWORK DIVA & CHOCOLATIER If you’d like to view some of Annelyse’s work visit her website or send her an email.

CONTACT DETAILS E info@crescendochocolate.co.uk W www.crescendochocolate.co.uk www.annelysetaylor.co.uk/index.htm FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/pages/Au-clair-de-la-lune-Lampwork-beads/348577015159043 https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoChocolate JILL EGAN CERAMICS DIVA I gain inspiration for my work from the things I see around me every day, I live in the countryside and I’m inspired by nature and her moods, wildlife and textures. If you would like to book a workshop or view more of Jill’s work you’ll find her contact details listed below.

CONTACT DETAILS E eganj11@googlemail.com W www.kilnfiredart.co.uk FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/KilnFiredArt HAROLD DOWSE BAKING DON “My passion for making bread began when I moved away from my home town of Albany, NY for the first time and found I was at a loss for Real Bread”. If you wish to learn more about bread making you’ll find Dusty’s (Harold Dowse) contact details below.

CONTACT DETAILS P 207-717-4578 E dustydowse@aol.com FACEBOOK www.facebook.Dusty Dowse CLARE JOHN RESIN DIVA “My interest in resin has evolved since I discovered resin at Art College in the 1970sresin has changed so much since then”. To learn more about resin, to book into a class or to purchase product you’ll find Clare’s contact details listed below.

CONTACT DETAILS E info@resin8.co.uk W www.resin8.co.uk FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/resin8

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MAKERS ADS OCEAN VIEW ESTATE A PASSION FOR WINE AND TOURISM Ocean View Estate is a stunning destination. It’s based at Mount Mee a picturesque rural area about an hour drive north of the city of Brisbane in Australia. If you would like to visit Ocean View Estate in person or online, all the contact details are listed below.

CONTACT DETAILS P 07 3425 3900 E info@oceanviewestates.com.au W www.oceanviewestates.com.au FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/oceanviewestates A WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY OF CERAMIC ARTISTS New Conference - Altered Approach to Clay September 13-15, 2013 Presented by Potters Council. Hosted by The Clay Lady’s Studio, Artist Co-op & Galleries and Mid-South Ceramic Supply. Limited Space Available CONTACT DETAILS W www.ceramicartsdaily.org/potters-council

GILLIAN CORCORAN CREATIVE DIVA “I draw inspiration for my work from my local surroundings and my very vivid imagination”! If you would like to view more of Gillian’s work you will find her contact details listed below.

CONTACT DETAILS E gilliancorcoran@gmail.com W www.etsy.com/shop/ResinRoad T twitter.com/ResinRoad FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/ResinRoad B gilliancorcoran.blogspot.ie/ SANDRA YOUNG LAMPWORK DIVA “My greatest pleasure in life is bringing a creation into being from the ideas that crystallise in my mind during the quiet hours, just after dawn, when ‘magic is in the air’.’’

CONTACT DETAILS E sandra@firecreation.com W www.firecreation.com FACEBOOK firecreation.com

THE BEAR INN LLANTRISANT On your next visit to Wales, come and visit us at The Bear Inn. We’re at the top of the hill opposite the Bull Ring and Model House Creative Centre in the charming historic village of Llantrisant.

CONTACT DETAILS P (01443) 222271 A Heol-Y-Sarn, Llantrisant CF72 8DA, Wales

BEADS UNLIMITED For all your jewellery making and bead supplies look no further.Visit our website and shop online, we have a fantastic range of products!

CONTACT DETAILS W www.beadsunlimited.co.uk

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MAKERS ADS MARY BURR ARTIST & FOOD DIVA Without discipline a diva won’t achieve success. A diva needs to be passionate about what she does.

CONTACT DETAILS Burr and Blue Ribbon Farm. E bburr@tdstelme.net W www.blueribbonfarm.net

SAMARIE DESIGNS ARTIST & YOGA DIVA Use your hands, enjoy the process, live life, eat well, be strong and use loads of colour.

CONTACT DETAILS E sarmarie@sarmarie.com W www. sarmarie.com

MANDY NASH JEWELLERY DIVA I enjoy making jewellery and accessories that people actually buy! Join me for workshops in aluminium jewellery and felting.

CONTACT DETAILS W www.mandynash.co.uk

DEBBIE DEW LAMPWORK DIVA I make glorious glass beads in amazing colours and designs. Check out my website for what’s currently on offer!

CONTACT DETAILS E debbie@silverartz.co.uk W www.silverartz.co.uk W www.etsy.com/shop/Glassmania

ANNE MACLEOD CRISP JEWELLERY DIVA My favourite quote is ‘live to love and love to live.’ None of my pieces are ever repeated so the buyer is guaranteed a unique piece from ‘Lanzajewel’.

CONTACT DETAILS E lanzajewel@hotmail.com W www.lanzajewel.com F anne.macleodcrisp@facebook.com

MOSAIC DIVA SUNNY VICARS My inspiration stems from nature and a love of colour, texture and reflective light. I live in a mini rainforest that is as colourful as my work.

CONTACT DETAILS E enquiries@my-creativediva.co.uk

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MAKERS ADS SEWING DIVA WENDY GARDINER I have a passion for sewing and I love to share, inspire and get others as hooked on sewing as I am!

CONTACT DETAILS E learnmore@isew.co.uk W www.isew.co.uk T -23 92 261338

NATURES DIVA JOLENE MCLELLAN I decided I wanted to help protect nature’s treasures that provide me with so much peace and pleasure.

CONTACT DETAILS E jolene.mclellan@nprsr.qld.gov.au W www.rymich.com/girraween/ W www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/ parks/girraween/camping SHOP Girraween National Park,Via Ballandean Q 4382.

P +61 (0) 74684 5157

LEIGH ARMSTRONG CREATIVE DIVA Metal Clay is an amazing medium, fabulous on its own or stunning when utilising other mediums. I make to sell and teach metal clay and mixed media workshops from my home studio.

CONTACT DETAILS E info@magickminx.com W www.magickminxproductions.com

MICHELLE GRIFFITHS ARTIST DIVA The Resist Gallery/Studio facebook page is a good link for people to view as it’s got the most up to date information as to “What’s On”! Beginners are very welcome.

CONTACT DETAILS F www.facebook.com/pages/Resist-GalleryStudio/310300432358252 W www.shibori. co.uk

CAROLYN SCHULZ JEWELLERY DIVA I am a freelance craft designer, teacher and businesswoman. I love creating jewellery for so many reasons.

CONTACT DETAILS E carolyn@schulz.co.uk W www.carolynschulz.com

VICTORIA CONSTABLE JEWELLERY DIVA I take a lot of my inspiration from nature and my surroundings. I am registered with the London Assay Office and so all my pieces are hallmarked where appropriate and stamped with my makers mark.

CONTACT DETAILS E milajewellery@live.co.uk W www.milajewellery.com P 07788 131466

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MAKERS ADS LESLEY MESSAM CREATIVE DIVA Lesley has been making Jewellery for over 15 years. She also has her own studio in Chichester where she teaches a variety of jewellery classes.

CONTACT DETAILS E lesleymessam@btconnect.com W Silverwithlesley.com P 01243787829

DEBBIE KERSHAW DESIGNER DIVA Debbie is a jewellery designer. She absolutely loves her work and is passionate about jewellery!

CONTACT DETAILS E Debbiejkershaw@googlemail.com W www.angelsanddaisies.com P 07739 533752

ROBIN FOLLETT DIVINE JOURNALIST I’ve been writing since I was ten years old. I love the peace and tranquillity of the woods as this is where I draw my inspiration.

CONTACT DETAILS W http://robinfollette.com E robin@robinfollette.com P +207-214-8512

CATHERINE POVEY CREATIVE DIVA Catherine Povey is a Welsh milliner whose work is sold and displayed around the world.

Her creative talent has been recognised by both the National Museum of Wales and the Cardiff Story museum, where she has pieces displayed in their current collections.

CONTACT DETAILS Catherine Povey Millinery W www.catherinepovey.co.uk E cpmillinery@hotmail.co.uk P +44 (0) 777 281 7714

MAGGIE JONES FASHION DIVA MaggieJones, (Craft Demon), arranges and delivers creative workshops and demonstrations in crafting activities in Lancashire /Greater Manchester’.

Upcoming demonstrations and workshops can be found on Craft Demon’s Facebook Page.

FOR MORE INFORMATION F www.facebook.com/CraftDemon

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NEXT MONTH

DON’T MISS THIS! A BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM US TO YOU. NEW FOR MAKERS ONLY! WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON CREATING A SHOPPING CATALOGUE + CART. THIS WILL BE FEATURED IN OUR ‘MY-CREATIVE DIVA’ WEBSITE. Our aim is to make it possible for Makers to feature their work FREE of charge and sell it through our website for a small commission fee. Once your work is sold we will only charge 25% of the sale price which makes selling your work both profitable and possible.

Realise your potential, sell within your own country or broaden your focus and sell to an international market. Galleries and retail shops can’t offer you this discounted rate! It’s a piece of cake to make more sales! We do the work and you reap the rewards. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

We will keep you up to date with further developments in issue 13 so make a note in your diary – Issue 13 will be live and online on the 10th of September. © MARUSHIN | <AHREF="HTTP://WWW.DREAMSTIME.COM/">DREAMSTIME STOCK PHOTOS</A> &<AHREF="HTTP://WWW.STOCKFREEIMAGES. COM/">STOCK FREE IMAGES</A>

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If you are interested in this offer please contact us by email.

E: publisher@my-creativediva.co.uk August 2013

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