My New Studio
I am so excited, I have to share my news with all of my valued website customers.
I am opening a lampwork studio, I have been given studio space by a local jeweller from my home town of Tavistock, the jeweller is Purple Penguins. The studio will be part of a new shop which the owners, Dave and his partner Lynn, are opening in Okehampton in Devon. Customers will be able to walk through the jewellers to my studio, see me working and have the opportunity to buy or order commission beads.
This is a wonderful opportunity for me and I am delighted that David and Lynn like my beads so much. Dave designs the beautiful jewellery in Purple Penguins and is hoping to include some of my beads in his designs. I am really looking forward to working with him.
The studio is situated on the corner of Red Lion Yard, right in the middle of the high street in the town of Okehampton in Devon, so if you are in the West Country this summer please pop in I will be delighted to see you. We are aiming to be open by the end of the first week in July.
I am dedicating this page to a kind of ‘diary’ tracking the progress of the studio and jewellers shop and I will add pictures and update progress as it happens.
21/07/10
Finally, we opened this morning! Perhaps some normality can return to my life now. I managed to take a few pictures today, although I nearly forgot, it's been so hectic.
This is the front view of the shop from the main road, you'll have to excuse the reflections but the sun was lovely today.
Next is the view from the side of the shop
The jewellery shop is looking lovely, Dave and Lyn are still waiting delivery of the chairs and a display table for the centre of the shop but they should arrive any day.
More reflections below I'm afraid. This one is of me taking a picture of my window.
My studio up and running, it is a pleasure to work in. My OH has got the lighting just right for me. Not easy to achieve I can assure you.
Eventually the slat boards at the back of the image will be filled with findings. It has to wait a while though as I'm all out of funds now!
My sponsors, Dave and Lynn from Purple Penguins, without whom none of this would be possible!
Here's to a long and happy working relationship Dave and Lynn. And a great big thank you from me!
After looking at these images just scroll down to the very first image I posted, I am amazed at what has been achieved! That really is vision David!
10/07/10
The carpet fitters came today, I think I can see light at the end of the tunnel now, maybe we could be open for the end of next week
The gas is being fitted on Tuesday.
The main shop is looking very posh too! Unfortunately the decorators didn't turn up yesterday so there is still a bit of painting to do, they had better be careful where they're getting paint! That's my OH, doing some last minute checks of the electrics.
08/07/10
We should be up and running by the end of next week....hmm, we'll see. Picture of the inside of my studio today, the bench has been tiled and I have new lights in my cleaner windows
The bush across the alley is where the propane cylinder is going to be in it's cage.
06/07/10
My
bench was fitted today and the painters have started, can't wait to see it
tomorrow. All of my equipment arrived from Tuffnell's today, right on schedule.
Yesterday the people who were making the cage for the gas rang to say it was
ready. I went to collect it but was horrified when I saw it. It looked as though
it had been made from pieces of scrap, the hinges didn't fit properly, the welds
hadn't been rubbed down and it had been given a really bad paint job. I refused
to take it, bearing in mind this thing has to go in the middle of a shopping
precinct. Cage no 2 is on it's way.
27/06/10
I spent yesterday tiling the area where my bench will be, it looks good. The carpenter is fitting the bench this week so I will be able to tile it and the area behind where I'll be working. The electrician is also there all next week so things are really starting to move.
I found a really powerful and quiet air extraction system thanks to the members of Frit Happens Forum, thank you guys. And I have ordered all my equipment which will arrive on the 6th July courtesy of Tuffnell Glass. Thanks to Martin and his crew for all their help. I'm getting really excited now.
21/06/10
The problems I had with where to keep the propane cylinder have been resolved. The landlord of the building is keen for me operate from David and Lynn's shop and has come up with a solution. The cylinder will be stored across the alley in a tamper proof cage at above head height and behind a large bush. Seems like it will be a hassle changing cylinders but at least I will be able to operate. At one time it looked as though I would have to give up the idea a there was no outside space to keep the propane I can't believe there is not any mains gas in a town centre shopping precinct.
04/06/10
The following images were taken just as the builders were finishing partitioning off the studio from the main shop.
This is the view from the main jewellers shop. My studio is on the left
This is the view from the studio into the jewellers.
This
view is looking at my studio windows and door. The studio will be accessible
through the jewellers and vice versa. It also has its own entrance.