It is so nice having a workshop in the house now, at least if the weather is lousy I feel more inclined to go and do some work.  However, as the kiln is in the old workshop outside it is going to be a pain taking stuff outside to fire it.  Here are some pictures of my new workshop, I am very lucky to have a son who is a carpenter so everything is custom built for me.  Thanks Mike you are a master craftsman and a great son!

 The workbench is the correct height to stand and cut glass and the stools fit under perfectly when you want to sit.  There is also a storage shelf for each student under the workbench

 The storage on this side of the room is for all my card making supplies and rubber stamps in the drawers and inkpads in the revolving carousel on top.  I also teach card making and rubber stamping

 These shelves were designed to store small pieces of glass with all the liners, frit etc on the small shelves underneath.  Larger pieces of glass are under the worktop and cupboard.

I have lots of space to work and move around doing different things, which is the way I like to work.

My new baby - awaiting a name

Yesterday I promised photos. So here we are:

 Any thoughts on a name now you have seen him or is it her?

The all singing, all dancing new controller.  Just wish I knew how to work it properly!

The only problem now is learning all the functions, I am sure that it is simple but it is a bit like buying a new camera and then just using it on Auto cos that is the only one you are sure of.  I just have to get the confidence to experiment!

I bought the kiln second hand in September last year but had nowhere to put it then, so I paid for it and they kept it until my new workshop was ready.  Then my husband Bill and son Mike went to collect it finally in December.  It was really heavy and they had to take the back gate off to get it through because it was too heavy to lift over.  It is installed in my old workshop which is outside the house.  Being a guest house I don`t think the fire officer and insurance company would be very impressed if I put it in the new workshop which is next to my lounge in the house.  That has been completely kitted out for me by Mike who is a Carpenter and he has done a brilliant job.  I will have a tidy up and take some photos tomorrow.  If you want anything similar done he is the man for the job - have a look at his website at http://www.stivescarpentry.co.uk 

I decided that although the kiln had a perfectly good programmer on it, I need the super duper singing and dancing version, so have bought a new one.  I got it from Kilncare and got great advice from them and they also spoke at length to Bill on the phone to tell him how to install it for me.  My Kiln is a Kilncare one too and Lee and all the people there are exceptionally helpful and their products are superb.

I must find time to put the old one up for sale, to help with the cost of all the new stuff I am buying!

The kiln was finally ready but I had no time to play because it was Christmas and then we went away to Tenerife for two months and did not return until March!   Hence this blog starting in April, it is all very exciting!

I just hope that I can keep up with it, because life has become so hectic and I don`t know which way to turn as I want to experiment and try everything all at once!

First I have to test things out before I waste expensive glass whilst I learn to programme the kiln, which I keep getting the urge to give a name to!  Should I name the kiln?  And what should I call it?  Is it male or female?  Some names spring to mind: Barney, Kevin, Gavin, Jasper, Max, Toby, Oscar, Ollie, Riley, Kieran

Genevieve, Mathilda, Delilah, Bella, Lola,

I think it is male and I quite like Kieran – Kieran the kiln has a definite ring to it, what do you think?  Or maybe Frank? – my first teacher of fused glass was called Frank!

St Ives Glass Art

suppose it would be a good idea to start at the beginning, as many of you reading this will not know me and what has gone before!

I am Terri Bunn, Painter & Glass Artist, Wife, Daughter and Mother and Proprietor of a Guest House in St. Ives, Cornwall – I think that covers it all!

As this blog is titled St. Ives Glass Art,  you will realise that it is about Glass Art but obviously all the other things will creep in from time to time. I do love talking, I do love creating, and I love sharing – so yes it makes sense to create a blog to talk to you all about fused glass  and share all my pictures.

After a very full and busy life I finally managed to achieve my dream of going to college at the age of 52 and left in 2006 with a Foundation Degree in Fine Art Practice, and with letters after my name (FdA) happily slapped lots of paint and stuff around, had lots of exhibitions and even sold some paintings.  During my first year at college a little seed had been sown, when I happened to be walking past the ceramics department during a workshop on fused glass and I suppose this is where my Glass Adventure started........

I suppose it would be a good idea to start at the beginning, as many of you reading this will not know me and what has gone before!

After a very full and busy life I finally managed to achieve my dream of going to college at the age of 52 and left in 2006 with a Foundation Degree in Fine Art Practice, and with letters after my name (FdA) happily slapped lots of paint and stuff around, had lots of exhibitions and even sold some paintings.  During my first year at college a little seed had been sown, when I happened to be walking past the ceramics department during a workshop on fused glass and I suppose this is where my Glass Adventure started........