Glass Takes Over !!!

Well , April came and went and already we are half way through May. In the last year my focus has steered into the world of glass more and more, Experimenting with lampworking and flameworked glass has suddenly developed into an obsession with texture,sculture and most of all colour. For the past 15 yrs i have devoted my skills and creativity to silver and other precious metals - It's now all about glass, sure i still love teaching silversmithing and silver jewellery making from the studio in Hampshire but colour has just added a whole new dimension. For the past month i have been trying to put a collection together of unique lampworked pieces and fused glass art.

At this rate I'm going to be moving to a bigger studio . I think this will last for the rest of the year but 2011 I'll be looking at moving along the corridor.

This months studio open day was fantastic for those that don't know ~I hold a monthly meet for lampworkers,fused glass artisans and silversmiths, all free to come along but of course you must bring cake.After last Saturday I now have a cake mountain. There were a total of 27 came along throughout the day the furthest travelled was a little under 300 mile round trip, and thats the second time she's made the trip in the last 6 months.

The lampworking tutoring has now been taken over fully by me as my very good freind Denise has been very poorly of late and will have to give the torch a miss for a few months. I have to say teaching lampworking is incredibly rewarding and the people who are now queing up to come along certainly appreciate a decent commercial studio with all the facilities that it has to offer.
I have found there is a huge increase in those wishing to learn this great art. My studio is fully equipped and beginners can learn all the basics, I can even supply a decent starter kit for those that wish to proceed at a far greater pace. For those unsure or wish to rent torch time I can accomodate that too.
If you have the basics why not come along and learn how to make some encased twisties these can make the difference from a nice bead into a truly stunning one.

I've also been asked to produce 200 Pandora style silver cored beads for a retailer so I'm going to be extremely busy in front of the torch for the next few weeks completing that order.

The silver jewellery courses are really in full swing and over the last 8 months I have seen some great developement in some of the students, they are now really producing some fine pieces.

The fused glass is almost as popular as the silversmithing and the lampworking, I've recently added some stunning Dichroic work to my portfolio and there are soon to be some glass art on sale.

Anyway appologies for not blogging for a while and don't forget you can add me to twitter as well http://twitter.com/CarlMartinGlass

Finger Print Jewellery Course is Launched

Forever moving upwards and onwards the newest addition is the finger print jewellery course. Learn how to make superb finger print jewellery and earn extra income from a very rewarding and lucrative art skill.

Combine it with a silversmithing course and learn to make your bespoke settings in precious metals.

With the launch of the 5 day craft extravaganza this is just one more in the line up of superb courses and workshops that take place all under one roof. Very low student tutor ratio to make your learning experience that much better. Acredited tutors in silver clay ensure on the best tuition and advice is available every step of the way.

I am now supplying silver Clay, Bronze and copper clay and paragon kilns and accessories. i also supply glass and silver by request.

Keep on watching.

It will just get better and better.

CMJ Launches 5 Day Craft Extravaganza

With spring in the air and the poor euro against the pound more and more British folk are leaving thier suitcases well and truly under wraps and ignoring the call of the Mediteranean and trips to distant shores. With so many smart and talented people coming through my studio doors I have today launched a 5 day craft extravaganza which will be held at my studio deep in the Hampshire countryside.

So what is involved..well a different craft or skill will be taught on each of the 5 days ,we will cover silver jewellery making using sterling silver and cover all aspects including cuttingtting ,soldering, finishing polishing Day 2 will be spent Lampworking and creating glass beads from molten glass rods, Day 3 will be spent making fused glass pieces including dichroic glass to make elgant and very beautiful jewellery, Day 4 will be spent using silver clay, copper and bronze clay, Day 5 is spent exploring the wonderful world of handmade cards, from using cutouts to embossing and handpainting and much much more.

Come and see us soon.

Carl

Handcrafted - Definately the way to go.

Having now settled into the new studio, and may I say I have had some very favourable comments. It certainly feels like home. Alot warmer too compared to the old studio.

So handcrafted items made by skilled craftsmen ( and women too ) is definately the way to go. It has been very apparent over the last few years that the buying trend has certainly favoured value rather than quality. Imported goods that are then assembled in minutes hardly constitutes handcrafted, handmade yes but there little craft involved and certainly precious little skilled craftsman ship involved.

I have noticed over the last 6 months an increasing awareness in both those that wish to learn new skills and those that wish to purchase goods or products that are handcrafted. By handcrafted I mean where a person selects raw materials and using skill and knowledge turns the raw item into something elegant and in my case wearable, and dare I say in some cases valuable. It's what prompted my venture into the world of teaching so that these skills aren't lost in the midst of can sometimes be described as "crap". Can you imagine if the trend had continued what would happen to antiques and family heirlooms of the future, there wouldn't be any. Antiques roadshow of the future - doesn't bear thinking about

So the thought for this week is seek out local crafts, buy wisely and if possible buy handcrafted.

You know it makes sense.

Carl

The New Studio is now open for all jewellery, lampworking and fused glass courses.

Well the move is now complete the past week has been a bit hectic but it now done and I'm now all ready to start of with some new courses which start tomorrow.

I've realised that people appreciate good tuition and as such are prepared to travel some large distances. In the past year I have had people from all over the UK come along. They have travelled from the Midlands, Sheffield,Norfolk,Kent,Essex,Hampshire,Dorset numerous people from London and the home counties and tomorrows attendees are no different as they are both travelling across from Bristol.

Above are some pictures of the new studio in Droxford Hampshire.

Bye for Now.

Carl

Carl Martin Jewellery Moves to the New Studio in Droxford Hampshire

Over the weekend saw some frantic moving of all equipment and furniture to our new home in the heart of the Hampshire countryside. Since CMJ and Wibbly wobbly glass came into fruition in the early part of 2009 as a full time business we have literally gone from strength to strength.

The new premises at The Old Hambledon Race Course Centre , Wallops Wood , Droxford is certainly in keeping with the image that I wish to convey. Set in the beautiful Hampshire countryside callers can now not only experience exceptional standards of teaching in silver jewellery manufacture and design but also lampworking and dichroic fused glass all under one roof. I couldn't do this without the help of some very important people namely my family and Denise Thereza, who I work with on a daily basis. Denise's speciality is fused glass and lampworking and has perfected her knowledge an skill after graduating from university some 8 yrs ago.

My own expereience has been well documented from the silver and gold that i have continued to explore for the past 14 yrs for the last year or so I have been experiementing with glass both lampworking and now fused.

There is a studio open day set for the 24th April so it would be nice to see old friends and new.

bye for now.

Carl

Carl Martin Jewellery AKA Wibbly Wobbly Glass

Not sure if all my followers are aware but for the past year I've gradually got heavily into glass. By glass I mean flameworked glass both in soft glass fir making beads and small sculpture but also borosilicate glass. I have found working with glass as enjoyable as precious metals but with the added dimension of endless colour combinations. Alot of my work, both in the production of Jewellery and the teaching aspect of my business now combines both mediums. what else could one want for but the inclusion of glass and silver together.

I've recently become an authorised distributor for Lauscha and Reichenbach glass and the recent addition as an appointed distributor for Glass Alchemy products which is a borosilicate glass with a coe of 33. I am extremely enthusiastic with working with Glass alchemy as the colour pallette is really the best in the world, not only that but the company has done a great deal of research into the way in which their glass can be worked.

March 22nd see's a move to a brand new studio deep in the heart of the Hampshire countryside in a villiage called Droxford. The setting is more in keeping with my work and can see this as being a permanent home for Carl Martin Jewellery and Wibbly Wobbly Glass for some years to come.

The courses are becoming increasingly popular and somewhat due to the inclusion in the Daily Telegraph as one of their chosen top 50 UK courses in January 2010 has emphasised this. I have the pleasure in meeting some fantastic people and seeing them develop into not only superb designers but also jewellery makers in their own right.

In the months to come I will be writing a project for a top UK jewellery magazine so keep your eyes open for that one.

Bye for now.

Regards

Carl