Clare Gaylard Artisan Glass 

On a working hand.

Waterfront by the Het Scheepvaartmuseum, Amsterdam.

Antique Delft tiles in the basement kitchen of Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder.

Studio shot of 'Sol' a totem of ten, loose, wearable glass elements. Handmade murrini, 24 carat gold leaf, all forming and detailing done directly in the flame. Currently at the Suffolk Craft Society Summer Exhibition in Aldeburgh. I started on this theme during our very cold, grey, spring and it seems to have conjured the sun.

With the fields as dry as prairie - this old garage on the way out of town looks the part.

Behind my studio, a couple of weeks ago, rushing through but stopped for this!

Its not rained here since 2nd June and the landscape is transformed, the clouds that appear just slip over the horizon and the tar is melting on the roads. It's definately the time for painting - not sitting at a flame next to a kiln.

'I will arise and go now, for always night and day,

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep heart’s core.'

WB Yeats The Lake Isle of Innisfree

...

Having spent nine out of twelve days engaged in co-organising the SCS Summer Exhibition in Aldeburgh (not counting some months of planning) I'm ready to spend a bit of time inland. It's hot but my kiln is on and I badly want to do some making. It's been a lot of work but the show is up for six weeks now. Aldeburgh is such a special place and we are there at the Peter Pears Gallery until late August.

One of the three 'Stories' I have at the Suffolk Craft Society Summer Exhibition, all the colours of the Suffolk House paint with a mostly matte finish. Plus a Beach Belle, I made my first twelve years ago as a miniature response to Niki de Saint Phalle's vast and glorious Nanas but only make one now and then as they need to be just right.

At St Peter's from tonight until Sunday, some of my glass and some rather lovely Victorian stained glass.

I had a talk & demo to do for a lovely and involved crowd at Great Glemham this week, driving home at almost 10pm a peacock strolled out in front of me - at one point almost taking up the whole road. 

Peonies made me do it.

The peonies in our garden are 'not shy' this year.

The Goatsbeard is looking fine.

Scratched steel really. Having a dust and a sort before my next Open Studio weekend.