Flame Opal

In preparing the business for closure I found a review on my website which I hadn't been notified about. It's lovely and seems a perfect one to end a business which was all about bringing colour and happiness into what can be a very dark world:

https://flameopal.co.uk/blogs/news/a-nice-review-on-which-to-say-goodbye

It's time to hang up my Flame Opal hat and concentrate on other projects - all very exciting but also very time consuming! I will continue to work with glass but as a hobby rather than a business, at least until the crazy financial situation we find ourselves in has changed. I'd like to thank all my customers and encouragers over the years for their support. Flame Opal may reappear at some point in the future but for now the last trading day will be the 31st December 2022 online and in Hungerford. :)⁠
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New Christmas goodies are available in the Hungerford Arcade!

Well summer seems to be officially over - I've even had to put the rest of my legs on which is very unfamiliar as I've been strolling about in shorts for the past few months! Still, it makes putting the kiln on a bit more bearable. This is me sneaking a peek at 1320F. Yes, it's that time of year again - although I refuse to use the 'C' word out loud before October! ;) ?

It's been way too hot to have either of my kilns on but I did finally get around to finishing this experiment which I started a few weeks ago. It's made from a wonderful green, pink and purple glass. It's curved so it would sit nicely on a desk or windowsill but could also be wall mounted on a long hook. It also has a sweep mechanism so there is no annoying ticking! Currently available in the Hungerford Arcade or you can message me for more details.⁠
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Clocks seem to be a theme for me at the moment - I keep thinking of new ideas! This one is a real statement and makes telling the time a colourful affair. It’s a unique piece crafted from an opaque glass with a thin layer of metal particles on one side. This coating reacts during the kiln firing process to produce a matt, iridescent pattern in a range of metallic colours. The glass can be rotated and numbers/indicators can also be added on request. It's now in the Hungerford Arcade.⁠
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It is well known that dogs have owners but cats have staff! This silhouetted puss is surveying their surroundings in a swirl of colour. The handcrafted glass is a mixture of pinks, purples and blues with a hidden translucency which is revealed when light is allowed to shine through it. Each piece is unique and the glass can be rotated to provide a different look if preferred. It’s framed in a dark blue, stardust effect metal stand which is also handmade. Made in homage to all our feline family members! Now available in the Hungerford Arcade.

Blog time - and I'm in a contemplative mood...!
https://flameopal.co.uk/blogs/news/holes-and-health-warnings

Holes, risks, balance and perspective I had a bit of a clear out of the workshop last week which was well overdue. I'm great at piling things I might need under my workbench until there is so much I can't actually reach the workbench. So out it all came and non-essential items were relocated elsewhere, making a remarkable difference. In...

I've been experimenting! These are new handmade glass coasters with vintage themed adverts and they will be heading for the Hungerford cabinet next Friday. They are slightly larger than normal coasters (115mm) as I never find my mugs fit properly on the standard shop variety!⁠
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I've been experimenting! These are new handmade glass coasters with vintage themed adverts and they will be heading for the Hungerford cabinet next Friday. They are slightly larger than normal coasters (115mm) as I never find my mugs fit properly on the standard shop variety!⁠ ⁠ #coasters #unique #glassart #practicalandpretty #handmadeuk #handcrafted #vintage #bigcoasters #vintageadverts #uniquegifts

Something a bit different this week - I've been playing with some sparkly dichroic glass and made a fun wall clock. This has a sweep mechanism (I hate ticking!) and is very slightly domed to really emphasize the sparkly colours (which are far more sparkly in real life!). It's currently available in the Hungerford Arcade. ⁠
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New bunnies! This time it's boxing hares in the early morning mist under a beautiful sky. This unique piece is hand crafted from a special opaque glass which has a thin layer of metal particles on one side. This coating reacts during the kiln firing process to produce a matt, iridescent pattern in a range of metallic colours. It’s framed in a dark blue, stardust effect metal stand which is also handmade locally. It would look great anywhere either natural or artificial light can reflect off the multicoloured surface of the glass, creating an image of the outdoors, indoors! Currently available in the Hungerford Arcade.

There's a new bunny in town! Definitely for those who like their pink bright and vibrant, this moongazing hare has just hopped over to Hungerford. Reds, pinks & purples are the most expensive colours to work with because of the elements used to give them their colour, so this is not something you see often. Perfect for Mother's Day or for anyone who is unapologetically pink!

Well the first bunny sold within less than 24hrs of being on sale so I had to quickly finish the next piece to fill the gap in the cabinet! This is a fabulous iridescent glass with a silhouetted stag. It reminds me of a summer sunset looking over the Wiltshire Downs. Roll on summer!

The kiln gods were kind this week! This bunny is hopping over to the cabinet in the Hungerford Arcade tomorrow along with a friend. Definitely a one off piece from a special edition glass - it's always nice when everything goes to plan!⁠
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It's that time of year again and there are lots of lovely items on the Flame Opal website or in the Hungerford shop to keep you in the good books with your dearly beloved! 😉😁

Happy New Year folks! 🎆 Hope you have all had a safe and comfortable start to 2022. I've been busy setting up my new retail outlet at Hungerford Arcade Antiques and Collectables. I have a cabinet full of glass and silver goodies for your perusal - they're so much nicer in real life than online. If you're in the vicinity have a look and tell me what you think! :)

https://flameopal.co.uk/blogs/news/new-retail-space-in-january

New retail space in January! From January, Flame Opal products will be available in a real bricks and mortar store!

Clocks now added to the website! If you fancy something a bit different either for yourself or to gift to someone else, have a look - they're much nicer in real life than can be captured in a photo!⁠

I'm back! Did you miss me? ;) Been a bit of a year at Flame Opal HQ (although hasn't it for everyone?). Well, I've been talked into appearing in person (eeek) for a charity coffee morning to support the Prospect Hospice tomorrow (Thursday 4th November). It starts at 1030 and will probably run until 1200 at Westlecott Bowls Club in Swindon (SN1 4EU) if you would like to come along, support a great charity and see the new products. If you can't make it in person I'll be updating the website over the next few days so you'll be able to see what I've been up to there.⁠
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Please note there is limited parking at the bowls club - there are spaces available in multiple public car parks in Old Town and the club is easy walking distance (and you can buy coffee and cake to fuel you back to the car!)

Flame Opal updated their business hours.

I don't know why I put clean jeans on this morning - they are now covered in glazing cement! I haven't done stained glass for ages but lockdown is giving me the time to finally get to the transoms over the upstairs doors (currently sporting what resembles public toilet glass). Mucky but fun! ⁠
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https://www.instagram.com/p/CK9dbgRhBSP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I don't know why I put clean jeans on this morning - they are now covered in glazing cement! I haven't done stained glass for ages but lockdown is giving me the time to finally get to the transoms over the upstairs doors (currently sporting what resembles public toilet glass). Mucky but fun! ⁠ ⁠ #colourfix #timetogetdirty #thisstuffsmellsamazing #iloveglass #handmadeuk #flameopal

Happy New Year to all! The kiln gods were unusually kind with my experiment overnight - although the weather was too naff to get a better shot than this! Let's hope it's a sign of a better year to come! ;)⁠
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https://www.instagram.com/p/CJgzHjxniTO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Happy New Year to all! The kiln gods were unusually kind with my experiment overnight - although the weather was too naff to get a better shot than this! Let's hope it's a sign of a better year to come! ;)⁠ ⁠ #sodoff2020 #bringiton2021 #handmadeuk #flameopal #experimenting #kilntime

It's been a bit of a year hasn't it? The Flame Opal website is going to take a break for a few months to be reassessed in light of the pandemic. I'll still be here playing with various bits and pieces so you can always stay in touch on the FB page. Wishing everyone a safe festive period and a much better 2021! 😊⁠

Flame Opal added a Shop on Website button to their Page.

At Kew Gardens today drooling over Chihuly's glass exhibition! This is 'the sun' one of my favourite pieces although I think I prefer the more yellow version that was here last time. Still fab to see glass displayed on such an epic scale - great inspiration and a nice walk in the late summer sunshine. :)
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A spring tide down on the South coast always guarantees one thing - LOTS OF SAND! If only I could scoop it up and turn it into glass... an endless supply would be very useful! I'll stick to scrunching it between my toes and enjoying the view for now... ;)

Back on the South coast for a short break and pilgrimage to Eastbourne pier where my love of lampwork began. Great to see the pier back open after the fire but sad to see some of the damage that was caused. There were several of these lights showing how hot the fire must have burned to melt the glass. It looks like their restoration is underway but the eerie ribbons the fire created are a reminder of how quickly it can destroy as well as be used to create. I think I'll stick to the creating side!

For once I was very pleased to not be handling glass today - I was sweating from this distance! Always interesting to see how other artists work and spend and afternoon talking 'shop' with other glass nerds at the International Festival of Glass, even if I am melting in the process! ;)

Another lovely review for one of my favorite pairs of earrings -and a challenge for more gents jewellery - any ideas what might appeal? Chunky? Single colour? Metal/leather/elasticated? All thoughts welcome! 😃

https://flameopal.co.uk/products/rainbow-window-glass-925-sterling-silver-earrings?utm_source=stamped&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=widget&utm_content=WidgetFullPage&variant=16980466663495

"Rainbow Window" Glass & 925 Sterling Silver Earrings – Flame Opal If you like stained glass as much as I do then you'll love these! They are made from clear glass with a rainbow of bright accenting transparent colours. They are particularly lovely if you can see light right through them - the colours really stand out! They are just over 3cm in length including the...

Following on from my last post about small changes, it's always good to try something new. So this week I tried knife and axe throwing. A bit random perhaps but it was in honor of my brother, Dave's, birthday - and who doesn't want to pass up the opportunity to throw sharp pointy things at a target?

New blog on the website - and it's just as random as you might think! 🤣

www.flameopal.co.uk/blogs/news/angels-and-demons

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It's funny how little changes can instigate bigger changes - a bit like chucking a pebble in a pond and watching the ripples head outwards in all directions. I've been blogging again - this time about castors and castaways - on my website (www.flameopal.co.uk/blogs/news/castors-and-castaways). Oh, and chair thrusting. That too. 😆 ⠀

I have been blogging about colour and the rise of the rainbow on my website (www.flameopal.co.uk/blogs/news/the-rise-of-the-rainbow) if you fancy a read (although if you like beige you probably shouldn't!) 😆
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So many jelly babies...!

Creative types often indulge in more than one field and I'm no exception! This is the result of the last two weeks of furtive creativity - a cake for my Grandpa's 90th birthday combining his love of fruit cake, Egyptology & jelly babies! Normal glass related service will resume shortly... ;)

Creative types often indulge in more than one field and I'm no exception! This is the result of the last two weeks of furtive creativity - a cake for my Grandpa's 90th birthday combining his love of fruit cake, Egyptology & jelly babies! Normal glass related service will resume shortly... ;)

It's FRIDAY - hurrah! Something for the weekend perhaps? How about some darkly delicious earrings made from black glass and accented with a rainbow of colour? There is a tactile sea glass version of these coming soon which are arguably even more lovely! These and more are available on the website. 😀

The phrase "Get on with it!" has been used more than once in the last week, so here they are - the first set of new earrings has reached the website at last! 😁

https://flameopal.co.uk/collections/latest-arrivals

Latest Arrivals at Flame Opal Jewellery This is where you will find the most recent additions to the site - happy shopping!