BLOG – 35 YEARS AGO BLOG 29

My glass studio is multi functioning. As I regard it being the focal point of my operations on this planet it is home to some of my non-glass activities such as Beaver Scouts. If you were to visit now you would trip over a flag, some hoops, and bags of badges. My showroom has evolved over the years to suit my tastes rather than my customers. Not a great business ploy and I certainly wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

There is an approach by some that promote the “take me as you see me” style. I too favour that as it stops me pandering to the fickle public. Having said that I have the greatest respect for those that show interest in my work as I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I drink coffee!

In the early days other crafters persuaded me or more likely my wife Maureen to sell their products through our sales room. I would shout out “WE ARE NOT A GIFT SHOP”! I am keen just to sell my glass as to why would I want to see others glass products. It’s of no benefit to me even with any commission. The risk of holding on to others work is not in my creative spirit. Yet, yet if one looks hard enough you will see paintings that artists have left with me following annual exhibitions and similar. Some work I have had the fortune to foster for years. I even have stored spare stands to support the screens for art annual exhibitions by the Society of Caithness Artists. No money is held overnight!

I have a garage at home where I anneal all my glassware in the kiln. I used to store a lot of glass related tools in the garage but felt the need to be kind to my car in the winter and make space so I could give the car a warm bed for the night. That lasted one day as thought the car old enough to stand on its four wheels and sleep outside!