Clare Gaylard Glass 

Over the creative block and at the happy stage where I don't want to put the tools down.

Some of the artist/makers exhibiting at  'A Winter's Exhibition' Saturday 24th-Sunday 25th Feb 2018 at Great Glemham Village Hall, Low Rd, IP17 2DH. 10am - 5pm.

It's early days but we are making plans - The Quay Gallery at Snape Maltings, May 3rd-9th 2018; 'Glass, Print and Ceramics'.

These really take me back to the Scottish coast - there was an amber/ochre quality to the algae and the water was a cold, clear colour somewhere beautiful between green and blue.

After a week working with of bright colours I find I have unfinished business with inspiration, images and sketching found objects from the northern Scottish coast of last summer for my 'Selkie' glass.

It's not a colour that speaks to me very often, but I do enjoy these.

Most of my recent work has been eaten. My significant moment was getting a complete cake out of a new tin - after only managing (highly-edible) rubble. This weekend is about a household return to school, universities and work. Me to my torch.

All the best for 2018! A lot of cooking and baking for a series of feasts/guests here - lovely to be able to hand on jobs to offspring and have them done better than I might myself - see above.

Some winter glass - I don't know where it came from (imaginatively speaking) but since we are heading for Christmas I might say it makes me think of frost and hard-boiled sweets.

My 'Urban Fairy Ring' is looking seasonal.

These earrings are made one at a time, in the flame, directly onto a surgical steel post. As I put the first in the kiln I have to approximate the second in size and detail from memory - an engaging challenge with variable results...

At Aldeburgh Gallery until January 8th 2018, a lovely exhibition - I just added two cases of recent work. Yesterday the roads and fields were blanketed with snow and ice - today it all gone, it felt like a mirage.

I enjoyed meeting the folks that braved the weather to get to my studio - it WAS good to be at the torch and next to a kiln. Then of course there was this from my window, a ten minute convoy of tractors driven by Santas...

My doors will be open from 11am - 5pm for visitors and demonstrations - I think that having the glass is only half the experience, the making needs to be seen. Directions here.

I'm still unpacking and sorting from two hectic and inspiring weekends at Blackthorpe Barn - showing work for the first time in a new space - which happens to be medieval - is something of a challenge. I met some very skilled and talented makers and will be looking forward to staying in touch. 

The sun was shining very brightly when I took this photo and I was in a rush - but these 'Selkie' colours are based on deep, cold waters and waving seaplants from our visit to the far north of Scotland earlier this year. I was raised in Scotland - albeit as a sassenach, so every visit is medicinal. A Selkie is a seal-person that can present as human on shedding its skin, usually for love, but will return to the waves regardless if the skin is then not concealed sufficiently well.

My first day at Blackthorpe Barn's 'Best of British Crafts' today, a clear day with frost everywhere. The drive across country with the sun coming up was stunning, the medieval barn - filled with amazing things and not as cold as it might have been. The group above came from the plate below, found in the London sewers - by the simplicity and beauty of the object and the phrase.