Cambridge Glass Fair pictures, work news and Harrods

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Cambridge Glass Fair was a great success. So many people, I have never seen such a crowd! I sold a few of my African animals and scenes and the rest I will be putting in my eBay shop very soon as I usually do.

I met so many new and interesting people and of course many of the regulars..... some I could only wave to over the heads of the crowds so I am sorry if I did not get a chance to chat. The engraving demonstrations went down a treat and worth the extra effort, though I was often too busy talking to show as many people the demo as I should have , so my apologies if you did miss out.

Many thanks to Paul and Christine for yet another perfectly efficiently run fair, true professionals! Till the next one in September!
what's next......a pile of work to catch up on, a fun golf game followed by a fashion show.....where I have to model ;-0 .....and more engraving at Harrods, both perfume (22nd March for Mothers day...possibly the 14th too) and a launch of a famous brand's new lipstick on various dates where I have to engrave the lipstick compacts. A different rather glamorous detour in my engraving journey like the perfumes, and that is life, hey, an interesting journey and I am enjoying the ride.... everyone must enjoy their own ride.
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Cambridge Glass Fair tomorrow (22 Feb) !

Just a quickie....here are some of the latest items I will have for sale at Cambridge Glass Fair tomorrow, 22 Feb.... see previous blog for Fair details. I will have with me some of my other major pieces (non African) with me, but not necessarily on display, just ask to see them.

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See you there!...with your pith helmet and safari suit ;-)

16 Feb 09 Cambridge Glass Fair on 22nd Feb

Firstly I must remind everyone that once again I will be at Cambridge Glass Fair this Sunday 22nd and will also be demonstrating as well as displaying and selling my work. I am always in a position to take orders too. Payment is easy as I have my mobile card payment machine with me. My main theme will be Africa. I will have with me some of my other pieces but if they are not on display just ask me if you would like to see them.
Do remember if I am engraving just talk to me, don't worry about interrupting me and ask me any questions too.



So now the Valentine's event at Harrods went off very well with 2 very busy Saturdays! Thank you to all the fantastic customers. You can see above a small selection of the perfumes I engraved. Such fun as usual! Next will probably be Mothers day....then Fathers day.



I am thinking this week of all those, including a very dear friend of mine, who have been made redundant. These are very difficult times for many. Stay positive always!!!!

Cambridge Glass Fair website : http://www.cambridgeglassfair.com/

9th Feb 2009 - Harrods engraving of perfumes

I had a great days at Harrods on Saturday in the run up to Valentine's day. It is a very long day too, I get up at 4.15am and catch the 6.30 train to London, after a full day (up to 7.30 pm) of engraving I head back home, 3 hours door to door trip. But it is still a surreal and exciting experience, even though I have done this several times now....and will be there again NEXT SATURDAY 14th FEB.

As a professional engraver with commissions from all over the world involving very complicated artwork on all shapes of crystal and a combination of hand engraving and sandblasting, sometimes also acid and stipple, which calls on all the experience of 25 years in the business full time that I can muster.....engraving perfume bottles in Harrods is still one of the most challenging jobs I have done.

One is presented with every shape and size perfume bottle there is, some of the "glass" is not even glass, often a colour is added in the way of a thin rubber coating, which is not good when approached with a drill. But I have been learning by experimenting on samples if they are looking troublesome, generally I manage to make a plan, mostly the glass is gorgeous to work on. Some surprisingly effective, one we thought was not engravable turned out to be easily engravable with a subtle and interesting effect. The customers are delighted at the idea of being able to offer something very different, that extra little surprise when openned.

The layout and engraving has to be decided and executed with great haste, balance of layout and neatness vital, often with many interruptions, but that does not worry me too much as I love the interraction with so many different people.

They all have things to do, trains to catch and parking times to stick to and each job must be perfect in my eyes. On seeing my serious examples of engraving I have on display along with a slideshow of my work, one customer commented how this was rather a "come down" .....it is an interesting comment, but as I have explained, no easy feat.

This week I will be designing and engraving a Dartington Admirals decanter with a lovely English woodland scene all around the body, a delightful subject.

Of course there is the Cambridge Glass Fair fast approaching ...22nd February...where is the time going?? I will be featuring African animals and demonstrating engraving.
http://www.cambridgeglassfair.co.uk/

At this point I would just like to pause for a moment to think about all those who have died, been badly injured and have lost everything in the fires of Australia.