Helen Chong and Uranium Glass

Helen has been interested in all things vintage since childhood. In her loft you will find her collection of Pedigree Sindy dolls and clothes, her mum’s old Corona typewriter, and a much-loved toy Vulcan sewing machine. 

More recently, Helen received a treasure box full of vintage family jewellery. Among its contents was a pair of luminous green glass earrings, and research revealed that they were made from uranium glass (sometimes called vaseline glass). 

Uranium glass varies in colour and is fluorescent when exposed to sunlight. It also glows under ultraviolet light (i.e. it glows in the dark) so is perfect for the party season. It is not harmful or dangerous to wear; in fact, many people believe wearing uranium glass jewellery can have healing properties. 

Inspired by her original vintage acquisition, Helen now sources vintage uranium glass beads and combines them with sterling silver to make exquisite earrings and necklaces.

Yikes! Three weeks to go...

The flyers arrived last week and the brochures arrived yesterday so that's always the reminder that the Open Houses aren't far away.

As always, it's complete chaos from now until we start as I try to finish too many things in too little time in addition to tidying the house (always a challenge with three children and three cats). I have learnt over the years not to get too stressed about what I can't possibly finish in time but it'll be another two weeks before I put unfinished things away until the next Open House. So today, rather sensibly, I decided to cut out some more tops. I do prefer more lightweight fabrics but I do use some baby cords for winter and many of the dress and top styles I have created can be worn with layers underneath in the winter.

The Big Chill Begins

A slight exaggeration perhaps but the temperature suddenly dropped today and our heating decided to go on holiday yesterday so the air does have a certain wintery feel in our house.

Bearing this in mind, and the fact that it is now November, I don't feel so bad about introducing the "Christmas" word. I have been telling youngest child since July that she is not allowed to sing Jingle Bells until the Open House starts and I never used to do Christmas until after middle child's birthday (end of November) but I don't feel so bad about it this year as we did at least have a proper summer.

There will be various Christmas goodies on offer at the Open House. I do sachets of spices to make mulled wine, Christmas decorations and stockings (I will post pictures of these at some point) and we will have Christmas cards as well. Vicky and Del have some great cards - check out their websites http://www.vickysworld.co.uk/artwork and https://www.facebook.com/delthorpesdrawings?ref=hl - and here are some of Leonor's.

All Hallows Eve

It was hard to believe it's the end of October until it got dark before five. Just finished cutting the shapes in the pumpkins for the children before they're out trick or treating. I prefer the older traditions of Hallowe'en when it was still considered more of an end to the year.

Del has been creating some fantastic Hallowe'en pictures recently - check out this link https://www.facebook.com/delthorpesdrawings?ref=hl. And I'm not above using any excuse to post pictures of skulls and skeletons and other scary stuff so here we have a photograph of pumpkins, dresses and cushions made out of fabric appropriate to the season and Vicky's rather wonderful "Things that Go Bump in the Night".

And just in case you don't come across anything scarier than small children this evening (and let's face it, they can be quite scary at times), here's a genuine grave experience - clearly not for the faint-hearted.

A Bunch of Flowers

It was grey and gloomy all day today but the temperatures are more like the run up to the May Open Houses. I keep feeling I should be planting flowers rather than preparing for winter and Christmas so here's a bunch of flowers to enjoy.

The first three are my photographs. I've always loved foxgloves and I love the bee on the lavender but my favourite is the picture of the hydrangeas, a plant my husband hates (old lady flowers, apparently) but my late grandmother's favourite. The sunflower is one of Ruth's mirrors, a new piece I'm really looking forward to seeing, and the picture at the bottom is Leonor's bluebells. I love the intensity of the blue glass and the bubbles in the water. And, of course, they are bluebells...

Flyers have been ordered

Missed posting a few times over the last week but much has been going on behind the scenes. I was out all day today chaperoning for Bugsy at the Barn Theatre in Southwick and last minute buying of ties for Fat Sam's Gang. There are a few seats left if you're in the area and looking for something to do over the next week. Tickets are available from http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/citytheatreco. Opening night is tomorrow.

On the Open House front, the brochure has been proof read and will be available online at http://aoh.org.uk/home from early in November. The flyers have now been ordered and will be arriving this week so here's a sneak preview.

Definitely Autumn

Glad I finished the silk painting last week as today has been so chilly. It's time to get knitting and start thinking about the more Christmassy stuff although I'm not sure how much I'll get done in the next couple of weeks as my eldest daughter is in the City Youth Theatre production of Bugsy Malone over half term and I'll be doing a lot of chaperoning.

So, in honour of the changing season, here's a section of my photos and Margaret's collagraphs of autumn leaves.