Taking some time away from markets last summer helped me to be free to play and experiment with glass in a way that I haven’t since my uni days. The results were a body of work that felt connected, and expressed my inspirations better than anything I had made before. This is the same sense of clarity I want for my business.

To reach this goal I will do several things. First I will make a list of all the things I no longer wish to participate in. Setting these boundaries on paper will be a reminder to say no to things that do not serve me and only distract me from getting to where I want to be. Secondly I will decide exactly what it is I want to aim for so that I can be more proactive in taking the right steps in my journey forwards.

So the idea is that I will be doing less, but working just as hard (if not harder) so that the things I am doing are better than ever and take me onwards and upwards instead of leading me round and round in circles.

The changes will be across the board, from the things I make, to the events I attend, to the places I sell my work. Everything is up for review and potential elimination. But the hope is that by hitting the refresh button in this way, I will open up an alternative way of working and ultimately discover new opportunities for me to push myself into.

If you are interested in following this journey and would like to hear more about the changes I will be making, then follow me on Instagram or Facebook where my posts will delve into the specifics and reasoning for my decisions.

Here’s wishing you all a fantastic 2024!

Many people pick up flyers at the various markets I attend and always ask if there is more information on my website. Well, I’m pleased to say that I have now added a new page which details what’s on offer. You can find it here or via the navigation bar at the top of the screen.

So take a look and please let me know if you think I have left out any important information. And as for new courses, what were you hoping for? Jewellery making? Working with enamels? Themed courses? Send me your suggestions at emma@stoppedclockglass.com

To capture the essence of the woodlands in which I regularly inhabit, wildflowers and leaves are collected and lightly pressed to flatten and minimise the moisture content. Glass powders are applied directly to the plants before being fired onto a base of sheet glass in the kiln. Whilst the natural materials burn away, their imprint is eternalised to be admired for generations.

The main differences between the two kilns are the size – my new kiln can fit almost double the work inside! – and the programmer, which instead of 9 available programmes, has 32. Both of these changes mean that I will save a lot of time in the studio and spend less time waiting for the kiln to cool so that I can put it back on. If I plan it well, it may also mean I put the kiln on less often, which is great for both my wallet and the environment.

This Cub-Fuser also has the GX insulation system, which means it is more environmentally friendly, using less energy to go to a full fuse than previous kilns of the same size.

The only drawback is I am yet to test all of my firing schedules and feel a little daunted by the immediate road ahead. Any glass artist will tell you that whilst there are standard firing schedules to refer to, no two kilns are exactly the same. This means that it takes time to ‘get to know’ each kiln, and I will probably have to do a fair bit of testing and tweaking before I can feel confident in my expectations from this new kiln.

Wish me luck!

This has been a joyous process and will continue for some time, however I am very pleased to have now found several new colour combinations that I am thrilled with. Their calming aura is just what I was hoping for, and match perfectly when paired with the botanical souvenirs I forage from the woods.