Niki Steel Glass and an encounter of the Uggly kind
London is awesome and there is a huge risk that I may be a convert to Uggs of a very specific variety. Also Rickshaws are dangerous, yet fun. These are the main lessons I have taken from my time away in the big smoke last week. Those of you who know the blog know that usually I am an ardent supporter of the stop wearing Uggs outside the house their slippers brigade. Although I still class many Uggs, mainly those that do look like slippers to be, to be, well, a hideous monstrosity to put it mildly I have become a convert to Uggs as an about the house near necessity for all women. People have told me this before but they are so so bloody comfortable.
How you may ask did someone so against the bizarre slipper craze that seems to be as popular as the legging lovelys. Well the answer is this. Nicola Steel. Long has Ms Steel, a glass blower by trade, tried to talk to me of the delights of the Ugg. I have berated her while explaining she is clearly confused and at times I have even been known to turn my bad ear to her protests. For more than a year I have ignored with vigor her comments on comfort and other kinds of Ugg boots one can buy that don’t look like soggy slippers.
Finally however I found myself at a point when my ears were more open, my feet were cold and I wasn’t prepared to take the bin out while simultaneously smoking, (a relapse I’m afraid), and so I reached for the nearest thing. A pair of unsuspecting Uggs which I had put on my feet before reading the tell-tale label.
The moment I put them on I could hear a thousand cries throughout the land of ‘I told you so’. They are unbelievably comfortable and when they don’t look like Uggs they can actually look really rather nice.
Now to the point dear readers of the blog itself for I am now ready to do so 300 words in to the post. My subject matter is this; my time in London and the discovery I made there, my friend, Ms Nicola Steel is an awesome glass blower. I have always knew she was good but in the past few years she got great. She has set up her own hot shop come studio and is now creating all kinds of things which are truly breaking the mold.
Everywhere I turned in the house was another museum worthy piece. There are dragonfly pendants, glass vases, carefully crafted decanters with colourful yet so far from typical twists and big rings with swirls and bangles which jingle with tiny beads inside which brings one back to the age-old ship in a bottle conundrum. Writing of which does anybody get that? Please, do share.
Anyway I am exceedingly proud of her work because she has established herself in an industry which is tough, high pressured and overflooded with unoriginal tat. So often we go for the easy option of plain but with Ms Steel’s work even the Janest of plains would not be able to resist the sparks of colour and twists and turns of the eye which her pieces mesmerisingly lull one into.
I am now sorted for Christmas and am happy in the knowledge that I will be able to treat some of my friends and family to pieces of bespoke glass and jewellery by an artist and designer who I am lucky enough to call my friend,even if she did trick me into wearing her Uggs.
If you want to know more go to http://www.nikisteelglass.co.uk/about-us
