A new piece of crystal art is born

I have just completed another Ice cave "Ice II".   ("Ice I" was sold at the February Cambridge Glass fair). It is a lead crystal cullet 10 x 9 x 8cm which I have drill engraved and sandblasted to create a small icy world.

It has so many faces and moods depending on the light. Small but mighty interesting.

Stare into it and be lost in the stillness and dappled light.

I intend to engrave another in this series later this year.

This piece willbe available first  at "The Store" Dial Glass Works, Stewkins, Stourbridge this September during the International Glass Festival.

Back to the main website Lesley Pyke Limited - Glass Engraving:  www.glassengraving.biz

The end of June 2012. Summer anyone?

It has been a few months. To be honest I have been reluctant to post in this blog as it has been so difficult to add photos, I had to fight with the mechanisms. I see that once again things have changed. I am very glad to see this, encouraged, and I hope things are going to be easier and actually work properly now.

(well in fact not.....I have just lost the last 2 hours of blogging....so I am taking a deep breath and will have one more go)

I have been making changes to my engraving setup. I now offer a glass and crystal on-line store including a commercial glass engraving service alongside my own personal engraving service. This means that if you require fairly simple glass engraving,  you can do this with ease. Choose your glass, your font, your wording, an image if you wish, or upload your own logo, payment is through a secure server. I have in the past been turning work away because I am too busy, but this is a service provided by a team of professional engravers of my choice who can deal with your order with wonderful efficiency and whose work has my stamp of approval. Please let me know what you think of this shopping experience and don't hesitate to ask me any questions you may have.

Chilford Hall and one of the paintings destroyed in the fire.

There are so many things happening, but that is life, some good, some bad. 

The terrible news of the burning down of Chilford Hall, our wonderful venue for the Cambridge Glass Fair, means that I do not yet know where or when the next glass fair will be, our organisers have said it will go ahead, so watch this space for this September fair.

I am battling against the annual grass pollen, wheezing and coughing and sneezing and have insanely itchy eyes. I live on a farm so this does not help, once in my workshop I calm down a bit. Roll on July!

Happy news is I have safely reached my 50th birthday and am content with life. I think I have always been 50 and love it. Still go to the gym at least twice a week and play my golf when I can. I have to defend my title of lady champion again this August....just need this pollen count to go down so I can get practicing again. I did manage to eagle our 18th hole, par 5, a couple of weeks ago, so it is still in there!

In the last couple of months I have had 2 lovely editorials for which I am very grateful:

Leading glass magazine in Brazil, Vidro Impresso

The first edition of Uniquely Away.

There are a number of glass exhibitions coming up this year and I will have pieces in 3 of them. More details to come. Here is a taste of one. Ice Cave II.

An interesting commission

I have added a new page to my website, showing a selection of commissions for royalty from 3 different countries and other VIP clients work.

Well commiserations to England footy fans, just been watching them lose by penalties, what a horrid way to lose.  Better luck next time.

Return to main website: Lesley Pyke Limited - Glass Engraving  www.glassengraving.biz

Engraved crystal bowl / Cambridge Glass Fair / the showroom grows again.

Once again it is time for the Cambridge Glass Fair, I cannot believe how fast this event comes around, but then I suppose I have been quite "busy" since the last one!! I have plans afoot, making this fair a little different to normal.

This is a large crystal bowl which I have had for some time and have been bringing out from it what has been hidden for so long. I wish to call it "Green Peace" and this will be available at the Cambridge Glass fair. Anyone wishing to purchase it or reserve it beforehand should contact me, but one way or another it will be there.
I have had a hectic weekend and Sunday was spent re organising my showroom...again! I was lucky to be able to purchase some display cabinets from a shop which had to close. There are too many shops closing and it makes me really sad. But these cabinets now are doing a fantastic job displaying beautiful crystal and glass. (The empty ones on the left I am talking about)


I also purchased a shop front cabinet from the same shop which now provides some more storage space and some of my Rock Tablet range inside the display case. It is all about the dusting! I aim to get all my glass behind glass one day !!!


Otherwise work / life is ok and I actually can't think of too much else to say about it, I have plenty of work and plenty of blank crystal staring at me waiting to be turned into something spectacular for my gallery, and of course for Cambridge Glass Fair. This is a day not to be missed, I know I am like a stuck record (for those of you who remember records) but it truely is!

For those who don't know, (as I am asked all the time), I also do very simple engraving, if you want one initial that is fine too! Here is a pretty little vase I did last week. This little vase with one name and this flower (will vary slightly) = £48.00

The Facebook engraving page seems to be a busy little place these days, it has certainly taken a load off my emails, budding engravers are making good use of the advice and are sharing their pictures more boldly now, I love it!!

Well that is it, I don't have much time, got to dash. I hope that New Years resolutions are still going strong.....hmmm, you can start again anytime you know :-)

A great engraving year ahead!

Southwold on a chilly day....

It is already the middle of January!!! Is that the annual cliche or what?! It is very chilly but I have to say I am delighted to have missed all the halabaloo of the December freeze, so this is no doubt mild in comparison (still too cold for golf though)...oh and the handicap secretary informed me that the computer decided to cut me a shot as I "overperformed" last year hahahaha so I am now off 15.6 (16) so I had better get out there soon with mittens, earmuffs etc etc to practice.

Mangawhai, New Zealand....

I am well settled back into work but of course am still looking sideways at my photos and wishing......sigh. But alas I have a lot to do here before I can think about escaping to the sunshine again,


So the next date for the diary is 27th February when it is the Cambridge Glass fair once again.
For glass enthusiasts this is the fair to attend! For the highest quality antique crystal and a diverse selection of contemporary glass with the makers/artists in attendance. A food hall, live lunchtime music, bar, special exhibition and much more.

Chilford Hall Vineyard is situated amid rolling countryside a few miles south east of the City of Cambridge with its colleges and lively arts scene.

The Cambridge Glass Fair is more than just that - it is an event which brings together around 100 exhibitors from across the U.K. and Europe.

I will be in the Contemporary hall as per usual, I must check how many fairs I have been at, this is the 17th and it happens twice a year. I was first asked to participate when it was still mainly antique glass and crystal, there was no "contemporary hall" , that was a number of years ago now. They interviewed me some years ago too, it is in the archives on the site and you can see it HERE.

OLD photo......(and I think they whitened my teeth) :-D

When I look at photos/videos of my stand it has changed considerably, both in content and display setting. CLICK HERE for a few of my old videos . I will make an effort to video this fair next fair....although still have my oldie woldie video camera....lol....hope it is still alive.

There is also a great general video of the fair taken in 2009. Watch it HERE.

Of course I am working on several pieces for this next fair, both small and large, I hope to have work for sale that will appeal to all tastes (how about a big ol' toucan on a chunky square vase just completed)....and to suit all pockets. Speaking of which I always have my mobile card payment machine with me and accept ALL MAJOR CARDS. I also have my order forms there for new orders.

I have been pushing it at the gym again, it really helps to motivate me for the rest of the day, well every second day.... my alarm is set for 5:15am in time for a quick coffee while I get ready....gym opens at 6am. I am delighted to say I can hear the birds singing when I come out afterwards, even though it is still dark, It is a lovely sound.

"alors"....(must be wishing for some Mediteranean sun....) it is Sunday evening and Real Madrid did not beat Almeria tonight, not good, what chance is there of Barcalona losing...hmmmm

My thoughts are with all the people suffering in both Brazil and Australia....

Please sleep safely and soundly.