Clare Gaylard Glass 

My sister-in-law Jane (AKA JaneMactats) made a special trip from the other side of the world and has left us with armfulls of the work of her hands, filigree tatting, hand-spun, hand-dyed and hand knitted  objects. We have watched with great pleasure as flowers and garlands seemed to grow from her fingertips.

Fairytales, Little Red Riding Hood, a Dragon's Eye ring, a Fool, some Probably Poisonous Leaves.

A unique, controlled (one of each) pillaging of wild autumn haws, hips, grasses and flowers on a regular walk.. We saw four dear and remarkable people die in the past year, one very recently so I elected to seize a brief but tangible reminder that the world still flowers and is beautiful.

I found the following Emily Dickinson poem myself, many years ago, and gradually hunted out (without money for books or the wonderful/terrible internet), her considerable canon of poetry. There is a special sense of ownership that comes with personal discovery.

After great pain, a formal feeling comes –

The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs –                                                                                               The stiff Heart questions ‘was it He, that bore,’

The last weekend of August find a sample of  my glass in the exhibition at and in aid of All Saints Church, Great Glemham.

Some of my glass, Magpie and Me in Framlingham this week.

Art by Lizzie Gaylard, I will declare an interest, we are related, Magpie and Me, Market Hill, Framlingham.

On an appropriately weathered hand.

I have always been fascinated by what goes on under the surface: substructure, intrigue, undercurrents, architectural underpinnings, skeletons and subtexts. So when I find an object like this partial rabbit skull, it feels like a treasure and a key Also because nature round here usually  so efficiently disposes of such items. It is beautiful to me.

To a new studio/workshop! Many reasons but amongst them the following conversation: 'Do you teach lampwork glass classes?', 'Not at the moment but leave me your contact details.' 'I did that THREE YEARS AGO!'. Plus numerous requests for sales hours, the option of renting torch time and etc.

Last time I taught flamework was in Singapore. My current studio in an ancient house has been lovely but not entirely practical. The idea of a purposeful working environment has a charm all of its own, So that's what I'm working on at the moment. If you are interested in learning lampwork then please leave me your contact details, I'll be getting back to you in around three weeks!

I'm liking art by Zachari Login.

Only one more weekend of Open Studios to go but I think the award for 'Most Disgruntled Trailing Spouse' is probably in the bag. While his wife having watched me flameworking, examined my glass a weary and bewlidered gentleman gestured round my studio and said: 'We see this stuff everywhere we go, who buys it all?'

It was clearly a cry from a troubled soul so I answered it gently and said that for some people a link or relationship to the creation/creator of a object, and an ancient craft had a particular value of its own. 

Pulling stringers, making handmade cane and my own millefiori, then demonstrating how I incorporate them int a focal bead.

Components waiting to be assembled.

My unusually tidy workbench. The jug of water is to quench tools or receive glass that has gone badly arwy. The stainless steel pot holds vermiculite, it permits small pieces of glass to cool slowly. I usually put my glass straight into the kiln, left to room temperature the core will continue to heat and expand while the surface will chill and contract, the glass will split. The funnel shape at the top right is my fume extraction system, I'm exhausting carbon monoxide, thoroughly.

'To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower'..Blake expresses beautifully the kind of miniaturism I get so caught up in. This encased, floral, focal bead contains two types of my handmade cane and is rolled in raku frit for texture and depth. Frit is roughly crushed glass and raku frit strikes different colours in the flame, giving a lovely dappled effect.

Thanks to everyone who came by, silversmiths, engineers, jewellers, students, parents, holiday makers, supportive spouses and innocent bystanders. Thanks for putting on the safety glasses, leaning in and asking questions. It was a pleasure to meet you. Three more weekends to go.

...all day.