Just put up the new dates on the website for victorian corsets, tiaras and fascinators. I'm already swamped with excited emails and phonecalls! I do intend to run some more- flat fronted corsets and pattern cutting too have been requested, but I need to find a weekend to fit them in! I'm just sooo busy!!!

polymer clay cruise

O.K. This is my idea of heaven. A whole cruise dedicated to playing with clay and living in the lap of luxury, who could ask for anything more? Polymer Paradise Clay Cruise.... leaves from New Orleans on April 19th 2008 and sails to the carribean. Without me. Hmmm, maybe I could stow away, sigh.

Just been to see "The other Boelyn girl". Wow what smashing costumes, all designed by Sandy Powell, a favourite of mine.

It was particularly nice to see the mens costumes being really padded and HUGE sleeves all round ;) with Eric Bana looking very regal too.

The Tudor corsets were flattering to all the actresses which surely must be a first for a costume drama. Who can forget poor Kiera knightlys expanse of bony chest bared in "Pride and Prejudice"? Come on designers, if the actresses don't have the cleavage cover it up with something pretty, please!

Easter weekend Polymer clay extravaganza!

Just had a great time playing with clay and creating my entries for the bead and button magazine "bead dreams" competition. I'm really please with the objects d'art but it's the first time i've entered anything for competition so we'll see...

I used kato clay liquid medium on some pieces, which is awsome, by far the most transparent liquid clay on the market, really good viscosity too, no air bubbles and a wonderful smooth finish, as you can see by the piece on the right. I shall definitely be using it again! Donna Kato's new book The art of polymer clay surface techniques...is awsome as well, very inspirational for those serious about clay!

New Article in Beads & Beyond

I was pleased to see my latest article looking very pretty in the April edition of Beads & Beyond. It was a commission to promote the "Egyptian Treasures" competition in the magazine, the prize is a trip to the Tutankhamen Exhibition at the O2 center in London.

The gorgeous artifacts are well worth a visit, although I've been told they don't actually have the original king Tut sarcophagus in the exhibition...I was fortunate enough to see it at the Cairo Museum whilst on honeymoon and it was deemed just too priceless to be allowed out of Egypt!

The article is called"Egyptian Treasures: Jewellery set inspired by the scarabs and gems of Egypt", and uses polymer clay as well as some gorgeous beads from my stash! I took molds from some of the smaller sculpty scarabs I made ages ago, and made them up to look like pure burnished gold, adding a bunny in faux-jade as a centre piece. The rabbit, in Egyptian hieroglyphics, means 'no'. Any excuse for bunnies :)

Black Meringue

Wow! What a super magazine...

Just received a copy of Black Meringue through the post this morning. For those not in the know this is a new "alternative" wedding magazine. It oozes style from every page, beautifully photographed and laid up, while covering everything individual and unusual; from Bollywood style ceremonies to Burlesque, Gothic and Disney. The spring issue even has an article on unusual acts you can hire as entertainment...

Obviously they wanted to use photographs of some of the gorgeous gowns from Bridal Originals which look fabulous in the mix of unusual and extravagant outfits. This bustle gown and opera cape was made for one of my lovely brides last year and is one of the featured outfits in the magazine.

It's so nice to see truly unusual and original wedding ideas being given their own glossy at last!

Polymer Clay at Claires Beautiful Beadshop

What a busy week! I've just finished leading a polymer clay workshop in the newly opened Belper store, Claires Beautiful Beads which was lots of fun. Everyone made wonderful things, it's always great to see how different things look when individuals bring their own taste in color and style to a project... we did millfiori, photocopy transfers and a few faux precious stone effects too. Not bad for an evenings 'play' :)

I'm off tomorrow to Stafford College to teach millinery to the HND students. we're doing "fascinators" loads of feathers and net, perhaps some Dior roses and ribbon manipulation, we need to pull out all the stops for their end of year fashion show! It's a great opportunity for the students to ask all those questions about working as a designer in "the real world".

It's a very tough and competitive world in the creative arts, no matter what area you want to go into. You have to be really focused and extremely hard-working to be successful. More so now than ever...