Clare Gaylard Glass 

To go with the array of hand-spun, knitted, woven and hand-dyed wool by Jayne at Magpie and Me in Framlingham. Engaging with a two pronged mandrel (the steel tool I wind the glass on) requires a practical adjustment of ideas and possibilities. 

A slightly tardy shout-out to my remarkable mother Kate Brown. Had seven children and a husband with a heart condition, yet was and continues to be an ever-abundant source of inspiration and creativity. To which it would be hard to do justce

The garden was calling out for colour.

My anthropomorphic wave. I looked at Hokusai's 'Great Wave off Kanawaga' for many years before seeing the boats rising on it. Now I'm not sure how I coud have missed them.

In 'Castaway', Magpie and Me launches its first pop-up shop. The exhibition features the work of local artists and is curated by owner and textile artist Jayne Stansfeld.

Work-in-progress for a sea-themed event coming at 'Magpie and Me' in Framlingham. 

Words fail me a bit when I look at Maskull Lassere's work, best just go to his website and gaze in awe instead. www.maskulllasserre.com

A splendid, unsolicited gift of a drawing and a bone (we exchange these things) from sharp-eyed and skilled young nephew Owen.

Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathederal in the same day. Between torrential bouts of rain. Two remarkable structures, and on that day we did enjoy the fact that one had a roof. A superb roof.

...And I am Marie of Romania.' Happy Valentines Day. My Blue Valentine. Thank you Dorothy Parker!

'The Gnostics took the serpent for knowledge and free-will rather than disobedience and temptation. I have just been sifting my 'Tres Riches Heures de Duc du Berry' and for the first time found an Eve, being tempted, by a serpent holding an apple, who happens to be half female.

The serpent (as woman) tempts Eve the corruptable female: '...It was the woman....'  

Love this, 'Tattoo and Taboo' Korean artist Kim Joon. I particularly like the fractured components and the pattern extending inside.

Being in Asia for so long we ended up knowing more about the Chinese Zodiac than our own. I'm a Fire Horse and have always quite liked the idea, this after all is my year! Well I just read (and hadn't known) that the Fire Horse Woman will neglect her children, waste away the family fortune and send her father and husband to an early grave. I have a LOT of catching up to do. This is a print collage I made during the last year of the horse, twelve years ago.

So my sister sent me this and called it 'Glasspunk'..... we grew up a bit.

A bit of bright glass on a dark day.

Well this won't mean much to anyone who hasn't rejoiced in having children over the last decade and a half or so....but we believe we tracked down the Gruffalo's ancestor, immortalised in stained glass at Ely Cathederal. There is nothing new under the sun.

 I did my teaching practice at the high school in Ely, that strange cathederal city in the middle of the fens. I then did an art residency at the school which meant going into the cathederal sketching for a couple of weeks then using the school facilities to make art. A very peaceful and fortunate time. I haven't been back in over a decade and find that now the rennovation of that imposing, grey place is magnificently complete. We went in on a splendid, sunny day between Christmas and New Year and the interior glowed.

Another piece of metalwork I made during my BA many years ago. I was looking at illuminated manuscripts, prayers and talismans and pierced the 'De Profundus' out of metal to make a necklace then wanted a wafer thin, glinting, gold bracelet. It ended up for unfortunate, practical reasons being a chunky 5mm thick with a scant layer of gold leaf that has since worn off. When people asked what the bracelet said I would say: Season's Greetings.

'Little Red Riding Hood was my First Love. I felt that if I could have married Little Red Riding Hood, I should have known perfect bliss.' -Charles Dickens

Some etched organic beads. We are getting morning frost now and colour is receding from the landscape.