Clarification

Waiting to be painted and backed with leaf.

I realize the last blog may not have been very clear. The pics of the paperweights showed them waiting for painting. Without paint all you see is the engraved gold and the cloth they are lying on.

Producing at last

Drawing into the gold

There is nothing quite like getting the bum on the seat.  Getting into the work is not so easy if there are a zillion distractions, BUT, once the ice is broken and you can actually sit down for a while, and produce, it is a great feeling.
So, not only are the pw's beginning to pile up (6!) but they are quite good. By that, I mean I am doing my best to draw them as well as I can.  What more can I do? And I think they will be nice.  Whether they will sell, I will have to trust.

Meanwhile, the building goes on. Stefan has just come back from a week in Poland where the foundations have been laid for our little house (not so little, actually). There will be pics. The chaps will be starting the walls this week, so it is going up! Incredibly exciting.

The renovation on the flat here  had a tiny hiccup with one of the Polish builders (the full time one unfortunately) turning out to be unable to control his drink, (only 1 out of 5 in all, not bad) and Stefan wasn't here to handle it. I could see it when it was obvious, but not when it wasn't, and I had no idea what to do!  No experience running a project like that. I just wanted us all to be happy. The minute Stefan walked in and saw what was happening he took control and now all is better.  It shows what is involved with such a job, and how you need to be completely on top.  So we carry on.
Have a good week!

Close up

Creeping along

As ever progress very slow in the studio but the discipline of the blog is just what I need. How to start?
Well, we should have some pictures, 1, 2, 3 and some text.

1. Blank paperweights ready to be gilded

A series of British animals; I have forgotten what this creature is, but he is nearly done. Having a bit of trouble with the fox, but more about them later.

So, what news.  The renovation of the flat is taking longer than expected, of course, but then the amount of work to do in 62 sq metres is enormous! As our first such project I think it is going very well, with only minor hiccups. As we are not so experienced, things like forgetting to match tile, wall and floor without forgetting the countertop for the bathroom can all be counted in the steep learning curve. And running a cornice along a wall/ceiling that is half tiled along its length, only, presents an 

2. Gilded glasses

3. Furry on a branch, drawn and ready to be painted.
All on the back of the paperweight, so will be reversed.

interesting problem.  Similar to laying out the page of this blog, with pics where I want and text to fit!

Laura and I are preparing for Pure London and in the process have made contact with Julie-Anne Dorff from Harpers Bazaar. She is being most kind and helpful and is going to feature the cufflinks in December and February in the online editions. Cool, or what.  Let us just see what happens next.

No 4 is the back of our house, another ongoing project to keep us occupied, and No 5 shows some front garden. Pics of the finished

4. The house is on  a corner so it tapers.
The front garden is large, the back reduces to a point.
This shows where an extra room is to be added to the back.

back extension will come later.

Back to the studio to grapple with the fox.

More soon, f

5. View of front garden

Getting more regular!

Well, I am getting into the habit of at least writing something each week!
I have some more drawings but there have been too many other demands on my time so the gilding will have to wait. Next week there will be progress and I should have some more pics of the exciting stuff.
I am ready to head off to West Dean for the Gift Day, followed by a nice weekend with visiting son and grandson.
I am thinking constantly about the show, see below. My first grown up Trade Fair and I want it to be a success..... however you care to measure that.
So that is all for now, got to get on.
If you have been, thanks for reading.

The story so far

As I have mentioned, progress is painfully slow on the 'work' front.
'Work' in quotes as I refer to any results from the studio, rather than other activities.  So I get in there when I can, in between other things that have to take precedence, like the aged 'p's who are getting frailer by the day. If they need something, then it has to be done, and other stuff has to wait.
Likewise the flat renovation, which is going great guns, and is going to be splendid, but if we have to go to choose floor tiles, then it has to be done! One day, not too long, tenants will be all settled in and I can get back to life.
Meanwhile, I continue to make drawings for the paperweights...  here are some. The pics are a bit fuzzy.

Getting sorted for West Dean Gift Day with samples and books.