BLOG – 35 YEARS AGO BLOG 23

Thinking about what items to put on my website I decided to divide my glass items into categories, one of which I called “Quirky.” Reason being is this is the word some people used to describe my work. I don’t think my work is as it all seems so normal but hey ho!

The embryo in a test tube is all about test tube babies opening the door for childless couples. Hence, I put a door at base of test tube which is obvious to me and not quirky. Quirky would be not to have a door. How on earth would the baby emerge?

The figure in the white coat represents a vet dealing with a sheep and a cow. I can’t remember who this was for but again seem a logical arrangement of imagery.

I must confess though that I did make a figure with a tail, feet going in opposing directions a puffin’s beak instead of a nose and a dragon’s head coming out of the figures stomach. All added up I suppose one could call that quirky and many would agree.

The trouble with establishing oneself in a certain way that one gets labelled. Then it becomes difficult to break the habit and working outside your comfort zone. Many is the time I start working on a normal piece but succumb to temptation and turn a horse into a five-legged sideboard complete with a candelabra of tigers galloping across a motorway!

I started Glass Creations in 1990 with very traditional ideas as wanted to sell and make money to reinvest into my business. My late wife Maureen who started the business with me often criticised me when I went “off-piste” so to speak and made things that no one would buy. Nothing much as changed as I still love to make things first. Selling my work has always been secondary. Having said that I recognise I need to eat so in parallel with my quirky items have made some very traditional glass items that do sell and these supplements my desires!