Clare Gaylard Glass 

Last weekend among my visitors there was a first-time, Great-Grandmother to-be, who wanted to mark the baby currently known only as 'Bean'.

My studio will be open on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th December, 11am- 4pm for demonstrations, exploring and sales. Visitors most welcome. Flameworks, Unit 2, Yew Tree Courtyard, 21 Framlingham Rd, Earl Soham, Suffolk, IP13 7SG

A selection of 'Into the Woods' glass, with some new additions, is now at Great Walsingham Gallery and Frame. I'm also working through jetlag to have some of my glass at Laxfield Church December Market this weekend. There will be handmade, vintage and locally produced but come early - the market closes at 12:30! Totems: Company of Wolves and Folk Tale.

I was able to revisit Thailand for the latter part of November to stay with a friend I spent five years at Art College with - a street away from where we used to live. We lived in Bangkok for seven years from 1999 and its fair to say you leave a piece of yourself behind. An amazing way to find it.

I haven't been able to upload to my blog over the past couple of weeks but I have been recording a very lovely autumn.

All Saints Church is a lovely little medieval church in some need of maintenance. This weekend is the annual Art Exhibition/Fundraiser so the work of local artists on display and for sale from 11am - 5pm on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September. I have been developing my 'Telling the Bees' glass.

My parents had enough children to mean that I was once told that I was getting a sibling instead of a bike, but also a full shelf of 'Old Masters' art books. Carlo Crivelli was one of my favourites. These were the 'Disney Princesses' I grew up with. I was pleased to find a room of his work at the National, the Annunciation with all its wonderful perspective and an incredibly complex altar panel. I like the cheeky, immaculately painted fly on St Catherine's panel.

- are better when there is a kiln to unload.

Just saw Anthony Sher as an amazing Lear -  some lovely RSC costumes for light relief.

My youngest sister just got engaged and in the absence of parents we siblings wanted to mark the occasion. The proposal took place at a significant waterfall so we chose this fabulous chalice by Suffolk potter Christopher Soule, and asked local artist Jayne Stansfeld to dye us some satin ribbon with waterfall colours in mind. Jayne hadn't seen the cup so her colours were all the more remarkably apt.  Then we 'hand-fasted' the lucky couple together with the ribbon and make them drink a toast from the 'Loving Cup' without spilling anything - in order to judge their ability to co-operate and co-ordinate....

Four days on a barge and it took at least four to lose the sensation of being afloat. 

Actually I will accept anything made by Li Xiaofeng.......

We took in the BP at the National Portrait - which was inspiring but small, then wondered into the National. A staff member was singing out 'Last day!' so we went into what initially looked like an over-exuberant collection of chocolate box covers. On looking closer there were fascinating conventions, subtle skills, quirks, miniaturism and a sense of movement that made the work of some artists highly distinctive. Rachel Ruysch for instance.

Complex and powerful, and in her own words: 'When people read erotic symbols into my paintings they are really talking about their own affairs.'

 First visit to Kew Gardens, a bit of a grey day but the Tropical Greenhouse and The Hive were looking good.

We are doing a lot of shifting between London and Suffolk this summer and last weekend I happened across this  fabulous, Venitian millefiori demonstration set at the British Museum. I particularly appreciate the tiny eye sample on the lower left side.

The museum was crushingly full and suffocatingly hot so I'm going to have to go back for a better photo - but here are miniature portraits - in construction steps of: Garibaldi, Victor Emannuel II and Cavour, heroes of the Italian 'Risorgimento'. 1860s by G B Franchini.

One of our walks (small, three-legged dog) and a sturdier, larger than usual Dandelion clock that I tried to preserve but just ended up seeding along the route.

We walked into the British Museum without a plan (my preferred method) and stumbled across an AMAZING Aztec exhibition - iconic pieces I have only seen in books - and artefacts like this one that I didn't know and feel I should. Heading back soon for more in the way of sketches.