London Glassblowing

A few weeks ago I mentioned a trip to the Fashion and Textile museum on Bermondsey Street.

On the same day, I also visited London Glassblowing which is just across the street from the museum. It is a gallery space where glassworks are displayed throughout the year, but at the back there is a workshop where you can see the glowing furnaces and watch the artists at work. Visitors are encouraged to sit and watch the artists crafting their art as well as to browse amongst the display pieces in the gallery.

London Glassblowing was established by Peter Layton in 1976 and was among the first hot-glass studios in Europe. He produces individual pieces of decorative glass in sculpture and functional forms which are free blown, adding to the spontaneity and individuality of each piece. 

They offer classes at the studios and I'm very tempted to sign up for one....

When you walk in the door you're greeted by a wall of stunningly bright glass vases.

I was taken by the bird-shaped vases above.
I love the matte effect and the shot of colour on the inside.

The vases above are beautifully blingy and look like molten metal.

I love the colour combination of the vase above with the mixture of teal and red.

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday!

I hope a good weekend was had by all. Here in the UK, we have had another long weekend, which means the feeling of down time has lasted that little bit longer. Mine has been filled with a lot of pootling, a little sewing and quite a lot of walking, through the park and along the river, soaking up the sunny weather and generally enjoying the rejuvenation that spring brings with it.

My long weekend really started on Friday when I headed to Bermondsey Street in London to check out the Riviera Style exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum. It brings together a diverse range of clothing worn in and by the sea, with a key feature being the importance of fabric, from early examples of the perfect fabric that didn't bag or sag when wet, to the more recent technical developments designed to improve fit and increase speed in the water.

I love the posters from the 1930s (above left) and who wouldn't want to look this stylish (above right) on the beach, with a dirty martini?!

All of the above swimsuits look so stylish, but I'm not sure how stylish they would look after a dunk in the sea - worry of baggy bottom I fear!

I was taken with this colour combination of teal and red.

It wouldn't be a swimsuit exhibition without the obligatory rubber swim hat!