Flame Opal

It's been a bit of a year hasn't it? The Flame Opal website is going to take a break for a few months to be reassessed in light of the pandemic. I'll still be here playing with various bits and pieces so you can always stay in touch on the FB page. Wishing everyone a safe festive period and a much better 2021! 😊⁠ #flameopal #pandemicbreak #bitofayear https://www.instagram.com/p/CJCIlLsHJ9H/?igshid=1qxmx6lvu5i7z

Sometimes you just have to melt something... #flametherapy #torchtime #righttypeofmelting #ineedabiggertorch #andalotteryjackpot https://www.instagram.com/p/CEFcp2MHY2D/?igshid=r8kp1nws7r87

Back on the torch... 😁🔥 Spent the money I haven't used in petrol on some new glass colours from CIM. Not entirely sure anything will end up on the website as I suspect most of it will end up in my jewellery box! Must be more disciplined... like that's gonna happen! 😉😁 #flameopal #glassjewellery #creationismessy #nodiscipline #summerwardrobe #newglasstoplaywith #sorrynotsorry #fortheloveofglass https://www.instagram.com/p/CAjDe71HrZn/?igshid=41lrouktxxeg

When the piece of glass you are trying to cut decides straight lines are really not what it would like to do today.... grrrrrr! 😵 https://www.instagram.com/p/B5dxuv-nrAl/?igshid=137s3y4nbs8t7

At Kew Gardens today drooling over Chihuly's glass exhibition! This is 'the sun' one of my favourite pieces although I think I prefer the more yellow version that was here last time. Still fab to see glass displayed on such an epic scale - great inspiration and a nice walk in the late summer sunshine. :) #chihuly #kewgardens #summersun #flameopalonholiday #iloveglass #ifilickitcanikeepit? https://www.instagram.com/p/B2CZif8HM5u/?igshid=wcwag9pjjiud

A spring tide down on the South coast always guarantees one thing - LOTS OF SAND! If only I could scoop it up and turn it into glass... an endless supply would be very useful! I'll stick to scrunching it between my toes and enjoying the view for now... ;) #holidayview #beach #springtide #sandbetweenyourtoes #flameopal #glassinsperation #walkingmiles #seaview #beachcolours #nextstopfishandchips https://www.instagram.com/p/B16OJHhHK0i/?igshid=nhdkbe43onsx

Back on the South coast for a short break and pilgrimage to Eastbourne pier where my love of lampwork began. Great to see the pier back open after the fire but sad to see some of the damage that was caused. There were several of these lights showing how hot the fire must have burned to melt the glass. It looks like their restoration is underway but the eerie ribbons the fire created are a reminder of how quickly it can destroy as well as be used to create. I think I'll stick to the creating side! #flameopal #eastbournepier #firedamage #ribbonsofglass #restoration #meltedglass #createdbyfire #seagullsnotbothered https://www.instagram.com/p/B1v1CRJnTac/?igshid=1mlsz8r77b30t

For once I was very pleased to not be handling glass today - I was sweating from this distance! Always interesting to see how other artists work and spend and afternoon talking 'shop' with other glass nerds at the International Festival of Glass, even if I am melting in the process! ;) #ifog2019 #glassnerd #flameopal #kilnenvy #toolenvy #ineedacolddrink #glassporn https://www.instagram.com/p/B1miruyHa0M/?igshid=s24cgzig3znv

Another lovely review on the website for one of my favorite pairs of earrings published today - and a challenge for more gents jewellery - any ideas what might appeal? Chunky? Single colour? Metal/leather/elasticated? All thoughts welcome! 🙂 #gentsjewellery #inspiration #ideasrequired #fivestarreview #lovelycustomers #handmadeuk #glassjewellery #flameopal #handmadejewellery #handcraftedjewelry #glassearrings #lampwork #sterlingsilverjewellery #giftsforher #giftsforhim https://www.instagram.com/p/B0QWeeunC8h/?igshid=1bzq37f9bpley

Another lovely review on the website for one of my favorite pairs of earrings published today - and a challenge for more gents jewellery - any ideas what might appeal? Chunky? Single colour? Metal/leather/elasticated? All thoughts welcome! 🙂 #gentsjewellery #inspiration #ideasrequired #fivestarreview #lovelycustomers #handmadeuk #glassjewellery #flameopal #handmadejewellery #handcraftedjewelry #glassearrings #lampwork #sterlingsilverjewellery #giftsforher #giftsforhim https://www.instagram.com/p/By7pkoCnrGg/?igshid=ophik0rez2oh

It's funny how little changes can instigate bigger changes - a bit like chucking a pebble in a pond and watching the ripples head outwards in all directions. I've been blogging again - this time about castors and castaways - on my website (link in profile). Oh, and chair thrusting. That too. 😆 ⠀ #blog #chairthrusting #orphanbeads #newwheels #castors #handmadeuk #glassjewellery #flameopal #handmadejewellery #handcraftedjewelry #lampwork #sterlingsilverjewellery #giftsforher https://www.instagram.com/p/ByFi8mYH0bs/?igshid=93humzd58b7z

I have been blogging about colour and the rise of the rainbow on my website if you fancy a read (although if you like beige you probably shouldn't!) 😆⠀ #ihatebeige #rainbows #colour #colourrevolution #handmadeuk #glassjewellery #summer #riotofcolour #flameopal #handmadejewellery #glassearrings #lampwork #sterlingsilverjewellery #giftsforher #didimentionihatebeige? https://www.instagram.com/p/BxvXRrvH7Gq/?igshid=1it8hpzbj9gqu

Creative types often indulge in more than one field and I'm no exception! This is the result of the last two weeks of furtive creativity - a cake for my Grandpa's 90th birthday combining his love of fruit cake, Egyptology & jelly babies! Normal glass related service will resume shortly... ;) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxf-IionuLs/?igshid=1fzoxxtwiez4x

Happy New Year to all! Thank you to all my lovely customers in 2017 - your support really does mean so much! Here's to a happy, healthy 2018 for all! :) #2018 #lovelycustomer #lookingforward #plansinthemaking #flameopal #handcrafted #bringiton

May I be one of the first to wish you all seasonal greetings! May your toes be warm, your glass never empty and the sprouts kind to your insides! Many thanks to all my customers this year - here's to more experimentation and discovery in the New Year!⠀ ⠀ #merryxmas #seasonsgreetings #flameopal #everyonelooksgoodinearrings #sproutfreezone #passthesherry #warmtoes

Even the garden hasn't escaped having a few festive additions to brighten things up! If there's a chance to put something blue and shiny somewhere, it's going to happen in this household! Happy Christmas Eve all! :)⠀ ⠀ #baubles #xmas #iloveblue #festivegarden #anyexcuse #christmas #pretty #flameopal #mischiefmanaged

First rule of being a creative type - make sure you have the right tools - in this case the right tools to get every last bit out of the bowl (most of it ended up in the tins, honest...) ;) I've been cake decorating for longer than I've been glass/jewellery making but I only get my beaters out for special occasions now. The irony is I don't even like fruit cake! Licking the bowl is an entirely different mater though... :D #xmascake #christmascake #bowllicking #fruitcake #crafter #cakemaking #toomanyhobbies #noglasstoday #variety