Flame April 2017
Find us at
www.gbuk.org
Your committee
Colette Russ Debbie
Scarlet
Heather
Colette
Bertie
Heather
chairman@gbuk.org
secretary@gbuk.org
treasurer@gbuk.org
Martin
Scarlet
events@gbuk.org
webmaster@gbuk.org
Joy membership@gbuk.org
In this issue … Torchlight On… by Bertie Beattie Pages 6-9
Flame Off 2017
Page 10-12
Organic beads
Page 13
Organic colours
Page 14
Eye candy
Shards
Page 16
Page 17-18
Classes - Beyond Beginner’s - Trudi Doherty
Page 20
Classes - Win a class at Flame Off 2017 - Astrid Riedal
Page 21
Classes - Win a class at Flame Off 2017 - Taster Classes
Page 22
Upcoming events
page 25
GBUKmarket www.gbukmarket.org As a member you are entitled to a shop front where you may list your lampworked goods. You will need to register for a shop and wait for an administrator to check your membership is up to date before your shop is activated. Do make use of it, share it, advertise it, drive customers to look at the only selling site devoted to lampwork from lots of sellers (members).
Promote your shop and sell your beads – it’s there for you as long as you are a member.
Have a read through the terms and conditions to see what you can sell. We want to promote lampwork in its many forms and uses and don’t want it to be used for other types of sales so we will be keeping an eye to make sure that’s all that’s being sold. There may still be bugs and issues so please let us know if you come across any.
Annual elections It’s election time, and we don’t mean government. Each year all the committee posts come up for election. This is your opportunity to nominate yourself, or another member, on to the committee. There are no minimum criteria other than a desire to see GBUK succeed. The committee are responsible for the day to day running of GBUK. We do it voluntarily, in our own time, and meet regularly by Skype. Being on the committee is a commitment and the current committee are very happy to make that commitment to ensure GBUK is around for many years to come. But (there's always a but) we can't do it by ourselves. We need people to step up, join in and contribute to help us - time to cover the stand at Flame Off, send photos and articles/tutorials in for Flame or the journal and the most important of all, time to stand on the committee to help determine what we do and how we do it. Committee posts: Chairman The Chairman shall oversee all the meetings and activities and shall make sure that at all times the organisation is abiding by the rules and regulations set forth by this constitution. Secretary The Secretary shall be responsible for documenting all the paperwork of the organisation and will distribute the minutes from all meetings. In the absence of the Chairman the Secretary will fulfil the tasks of the Chairman. Treasurer The Treasurer shall maintain a correct balance of the funds of the organisation, shall keep track of the bank accounts of the organisation and shall regularly make available a written breakdown of the income and expenditure of the organisation. Membership Secretary The membership secretary shall keep an up-to-date list of all members, past and present and liaise with the treasurer re membership payments through bank and Paypal. Events Co-ordinator The events co-ordinator shall organise and co-ordinate any GBUK events and provide a list of GBUK and external upcoming events for publication in Flame. Webmaster The webmaster shall look after all aspects of the website and mailing list. Journal Editor The journal editor shall produce the annual journal.
If you are interested, please send any nominations (and you can nominate yourself) fill out our online nominations form HERE
Closing date is 14th April 2017 at midnight.
Torchlight On‌ Bertie Beattie My passion for glass started when I went on a family holiday to Venice as a child. Wandering around seeing all the amazing creations and watching the artists make magic with flames and melting glass. It ignited a passion in me. It never occurred to me that I could learn to do such a thing myself until around two decades later.
In 2004 I was given a hot head torch as a birthday gift. My first few attempts were incredibly frustrating, I was using MAPP gas and the beads i managed to make were sooty and disappointing. We were living in France at the time and I discovered I was pregnant again ... life happened and I didn’t get a real chance to try again for around five years. We had moved to Devon by then and to my delight I discovered Amanda Muddimer and the Mangobeads studio were on my doorstep. I spent a wonderful day there doing her beginners class.
After that I rented a studio torch on a Wednesday evening for a few months on and off. Then life happened again and we moved to Nottingham.
Finally in October 2015 I took the plunge and managed to scrape enough pennies together to set up my own studio. I called my business Specially Made because every glass bead is special and unique in its own way. I was 44 years old when I finally discovered what I wanted to be when I grew up.
I wouldn’t call myself a natural when it comes to glass. I’m stubborn, most definitely, I’m also ok with getting it wrong quite a lot but I’m certainly not a natural. I firmly believe that if you spend 10000 hours doing anything you become an expert. In the 18 months I’ve owned my own torch I think I have probably managed around 2700, so I still have quite a lot of miles to put on the clock before I hit that golden 10000. I can’t wait to be honest. There’s so much to learn. So many exciting techniques and colours to master. The subtle play of heat control, gravity shape and form. Those hours are going to be an absolute joy and adventure.
I make a lot of sculptural dog pet portrait beads. My customers send me pictures and I recreate them as best I can. Trying to capture the character and markings. Each dog brings it’s own challenges. Every time I make one I learn something new. Lots of my customers ask me to make beads of their pets that have crossed the rainbow bridge. It’s always so uplifting to be able to give them something tactile to hold and keep with them to comfort their loss. I have included pet ashes in some of my beads. I’m always honoured to be asked to do this. I often have a little chat with the dog as I make them asking if they wouldn’t mind helping me make something to remind their owners of their beloved companion. Many of the dogs I make are of pets that are alive and well too. I also donate many of these beads to dog charities to help them raise much needed funds.
I’m not all about dogs though. I make all sorts of beads. At least 50% of the beads I make go to make jewellery for terminally Ill children. A friend of mine in America makes them into bracelets and hair clips for the kids and their parents. This is a great way for me to give something back and I get a lot of practice making a huge variety of beads. I’m currently making 100 snake beads for her to make into various things for the girls and boys.
I love silver glass, implosions, sculptural, wild and whacky ... oh all sorts! I’m not sure I have really developed a style or even if I ever want to commit to one. I find inspiration absolutely everywhere. When I’m not actually at the torch I’m mulling over new things to try, or jewellery ideas, or pouring over books or YouTube videos. I’m not entirely convinced that there’s really such a thing as talent, don’t get me wrong there are people who have a natural aptitude but I feel that without desire a talent can’t get you very far. I’m full of questions and in awe of what other artists can achieve on their torches. I have bucket loads of passion for this amazing art form and I’m loving the journey it’s taking me on.
Bertie Beattie www.facebook.com/speciallymadecrafts
Flame Off 2017 Over the last nine years Martin Tuffnell and Teresa Blofeld have brought hundreds of glass beadmakers together to play with glass and fire. The best lampwork artists worldwide demonstrate in front of a camera and the hall, which seats 150 people, and has those images beamed onto large screens and LCD TVs making it very easy to watch the artists without missing any important details. Each artist demonstrates for 45 minutes each on both days. Downstairs there is a sales area with traders with lampworking supplies, a "lampworkers village", with the leading artists selling their creations, and a huge free taster area. The taster area has benches set out where visitors can sit down and play with the glass, make beads, pendants or just melt and blob. If you have never made beads or played with hot glass before, but want to, then this is the show for you as you have a chance to try out the torches, test glass, sit and play and get tuition from the stewards. If you like it you can buy all the kit to take home along with lots of other goodies. 2016
2014
2009
2010
2015
This years’ artists: Jennie Lamb (United Kingdom); Sabine Frank (Germany); Astrid Riedel (South Africa) and Elena Hernburg (Russia). Each of these artists will hold a full day class on Thursday 1st June and the classes can be booked HERE.
2013
2012
2017 Flame Off Timetable Friday 2nd June
Saturday 3rd June
10-45am - 11.30pm Astrid Riedel
10.45am - 11.30pm Jennie Lamb
1.15pm - 2.00pm Sabine Frank
1.15pm - 2.00pm Elena Hernburg
2.30pm - 3.15pm Jennie Lamb
2.30pm - 3.15pm Astrid Riedel
3.45pm - 4.30pm Elena Hernburg
3.45pm - 4.30pm Sabine Frank
New for the 10th Flame Off - Taster Classes Book a 3 hour "taster" class with all the 2016 artists plus more. Each class will be 3 hours , either 10-1pm or 2-5pm on both Friday and Saturday allowing you to take part in a short class and still enjoy everything else Flame Off has to offer.
2011 2008
Ticket prices: Limited access: entrance to the show , shopping with all the traders and bead artists ONLY. The perfect ticket for first time visitors, spouses and customers wishing to buy supplies and beads. Full access: entrance to the show , shopping with all the traders and bead artists , access to the torch benches and artist demonstrations
£5.00 per day One day £25.00 Both days: £40.00
All Flame Off tickets bought through the website, in advance, will receive a gift token to be exchanged, for a free gift, at the Tuffnell Glass stand during the event. Buy your ticket(s) HERE Tickets are also available on the door
This years' traders include: Astrid Riedel Blue Berrie Beads BlueKat Designs Celtic Glass Dragonfire Glass Elena Hernburg Enchanted Cobweb Glass Beadmakers UK (GBUK) Izzy Beads Lighthouse Glass Madeline Bunyon Lampwork Mango Beads Pegasus Tools Raspberry Rings Sabine Frank Shirley Giles Social Quirk Totally Beads Tracey Spurgin Tuffnell Glass
Organic beads Free-flowing, natural, no definitive design, earthy, the bead takes on it’s own form - all ways to describe organic beads. They are not dull and boring, can be colourful, and speak to people in different ways.
The properties of glass lend themselves to flowing together into wonderful patterns, unexpected results and unusual combinations. Glass can mimic wood, stone, minerals, can reflect the nature around us and can be tactile and abstract.
Organic colours by Heather Kelly
CIM eel green/pachyderm
CIM peridot/Van Dyke brown
CIM hemoglobin/koala Effetre new ivory
CIM refresh/Prussian blue Effetre new ivory
CIM peat moss/safari Effetre new ivory
CIM Van Dyke brown/ DH Okeanos
CIM safari/ DH Okeanos
Did you know: You have your own page in the Gallery? Haven’t got one? Email webmaster@gbuk.org with a short bio and up to 5 photos. Send a link to your own website so visitors to GBUK.org can find you. Photos of winning beads from past winners of our annual competitions can be found here too. There is a members only area with tutorials and techniques - please feel free to send us any tips, tutorials or techniques to share with our members. Do you teach? Let us know so you can be included on our ‘Classes’ page so prospective students can find you. Are you on Facebook? Come and ‘like’ our page. We have lots of non-members that show great interest in the content we post - your beads will be seen by them.
www.gbuk.org
Eye candy
Joy Porteous Joy Porteous
Joy Porteous
Colette Ladley Colette Ladley Joy Porteous
Colette Ladley
Bertie Beattie
Colette Ladley
Bertie Beattie
Shards … … pieces of very thinly blown glass. Of course you can buy them, but they are easy to make with the correct tools. Blowpipes are made of stainless steel, hollow in the middle and of different diameters.
Buy a blowpipie HERE
Melt a gather of glass and apply to the bare, heated hollow blowpipe. Build a bubble of glass by wrapping further layers, overlapping each layer slightly (no gaps) in increasing diameter then in again, finally closing the gap. Warm the bubble to even it out and when smooth, take the bubble out of the flame and blow very lightly down the tube. This will consolidate the air bubble at the end. Place a thumb over the end of the tube (to prevent all that air escaping again) and reheat the bubble to the point where it is beginning to droop. Take the bubble out of the flame and blow very gently down the tube again. It is important that you don’t blow for England, that the air you are pushing down is enough to inflate the glass but not to blow it to the point of it getting too thin and blowing out. Tissue thin glass is dangerous. The bubble will enlarge, and if the glass is even, blow into a smooth shape. Place in a metal tin to cool down - don’t be tempted to pick it up and break it, let it cool!
An alternative way is to melt a large gather of glass and put it over the hole of the heated hollow blowpipe. This method is akin to blowing a balloon. You haven’t got a starter bit of air to help so there is more resistance. Blow a bit harder to introduce air into the molten glass. Once the air is in the bubble the method is exactly as the first way.
Practice, practice, practice is the key. Don’t be disheartened if the bubble blows out too soon; either re-melt or dunk in water and start again.
Try different recipes, use frit, silver leaf, a combination of different glasses, let your imagination go!
GBUKmembership Keep an eye out for reminder emails when your membership is due to expire - or sign up for automatic renewals through Paypal.
Closing date: 30th April 2017 Themes: Song beads Japanese
A new challenge will be set in each issue of . There are no prizes, but we’d love to see beads made using this picture for inspiration. You can post them up on our Facebook page or send them to secretary@gbuk.org and they will appear in the next issue of Flame. The closing date is 20th June 2017.
Beyond Beginners Following on from the success of our Beyond Beginner’s Class with Ray Skene last September, we have pleasure in presenting
A GBUK class with Trudi Doherty One day course 13th May 2017 http://www.tuffnellglass.com/Trudi’s class Venue Date Time Class level Cost
Tuffnell Glass Studios, Rudston , East Yorkshire, YO25 4UD Saturday 13th May 2017 10am -5pm Intermediate with basic techniques Anybody can take part in this class although GBUK members will be charged only £75.00, non-members will be charged £150.00 11 students per class - ONLY 2 spaces left.
Trudi loves bright colours and shiny sparkly things! She has written many tutorials for Beads & Beyond, Bead and Soda Lime Times, is a full time lampworker and has been making beads since 2007.
Tea & coffee are provided free of charge throughout the day and there will be a 30 minute lunch break. Please bring your own eye protection, all glass , tools , mandrels and torches are provided. If you need a creation station or any other special tools please let us know before the class so we can arrange these items for you . This class is being is organized, hosted and promoted by GBUK.
Win a place on Astrid Riedel’s class at Flame Off 2017 Our members have the opportunity to win a place on the amazing Astrid Riedel’s Flame Off class on Thursday the 1st June 2017. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn some wonderful techniques from an amazing glass artist. Full details of the class are here: http://www.tuffnellglass.com/Astrid’s class
How to enter: We would like you to write a tutorial or glass research article for Flame, our e-magazine. Tutorials can be anything from ‘how to do a certain technique’, to a full blown ‘make this spectacular bead’ tutorial; glass research can be history of glass or some interesting glass related research. Simply send us your tutorial or article with good quality pictures to chairman@gbuk.org by the closing date: midnight on 30th April Terms and conditions on page 18
FREE to enter!
Worth £195
Win a place on a Flame Off 2017 Taster Class Our members have the opportunity to win a place on one of three taster classes, new to this year’s Flame Off. You can choose from Elena, Sabine, or Jennie’s Classes. You can find details of all of the Flame Off taster classes HERE
How to enter:
If you would like the chance to win a place on one of the taster day classes then all you need to do is agree that you would be willing to tell us all about your day, afterwards, in the form of a small article with pictures, so we can publish it online or in Flame our e-magazine. Simply send us an email entitled ‘Taster Day Competition 2017’ by April 30th to chairman@gbuk.org – please include your name and which taster class you would prefer to win a place on.
3 winners
FREE to enter!
Worth £65-£75
www.dragonfireglass.co.uk Adding additional elements to your beads with: Mica powder and flakes
Shards
Brass foil and mesh Copper foil, leaf and mesh
Petal tools
Glass sculpting tools
Mica glitter
Upcoming events: If you have an event you would like included, please email events@gbuk.org with the details. 22nd - 23rd April
Rock , Gem & Beads , Newark
20th – 22nd April
Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycrafts, London
23rd Apr 2017
Norwich Bead Fair
23rd April
Bead Festival , St Helen
27th -30th April
The Knitting & Stitching Show, Edinburgh
13th & 14th May
Rock, Gem & Beads, Royal Bath & West Showground
14th May 2017
The Devon Bead Fair
21st May 2017
Wetherby Bead Fair
1st - 3rd Jun 2017
Flame Off 2017, Uttoxeter Racecourse
3rd - 4th June
Rock, Gem & Bead , Kempton Park, Kempton
25th Jun 2017
Newmarket Bead Fair
30th June – 2nd July
Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycrafts, NEC
8th - 9th July
Rock. Gem & Bead, Royal welsh Showground
16th July
The Bristol Bead Fair, Bristol
22nd - 23rd July
Rock, Gem & Bead , Newcastle
5th - 6th Aug
Rock, Gem & Bead , Kempton Park
10th – 13th Aug
Festival of Quilts, NEC
12th - 13th Aug
Rock, Gem & Bead , Harrogate
20th Aug 2017
The Scottish Bead Fair, Perth
26th - 27th Aug 2017
The Stourbridge Bead Fair
GBUK Membership Form
First name Surname Address
Postcode Trading name (if any) Telephone number Mobile number Email address Website Membership fees and methods of payment.
Membership is valid for one calendar year from the month of joining. Overseas members: please use Paypal. PayPal
£16.00
www.paypal.co.uk to email address: treasurer@gbuk.org
Cheque or postal order
£15.00
payable to GBUK
Bank Transfer
£15.00
Email membership@gbuk.org for details
How did you hear about GBUK? (Please tick any that are applicable) Word of mouth
I’m interested in:
Website
Networking
At a show
Learning new skills
At a class
Writing articles
On a forum
Helping on the committee
Other (please specify)
Other (please specify)
Next issue: July 2017 Theme: Focal beads
Do you have a tutorial or article to share with members? Contact secretary@gbuk.org.
www.gbuk.org Cover photo by Colette Ladley