13/01/2025
When I first started creating seaglass art, it started from needing a hobby to satisfy my creative urge during summer when most of the fungi I enjoyed photographing were all dried up waiting for the cool rains of Autumn/winter to come again.
One of my favourite things about creating the frames was my opportunity to meet new people, some friends have asked me why I continue to drive around delivering them for free, and honesty, I love handing it in person to the one who has literally paid money to hang my creation on their walls.
I have met some amazing people, and one of, if not my favourite of all time was The amazing Joanne Upchurch, I'm sure she must have had my page set up to buzz the moment I had a frame for sale because she was literally first every single time, and I wouldn't be exaggerating to say she would have 40+ of my frames, beautifully hanging in her lounge room walls.
Joanne invited me in on numerous occasions to view her growing display and it was sometimes overwhelming, but always a joy to go in, almost like a time captule of my work, from the early days to the most recent, you could literally see my improvements and changes as your eyes jump from one frame to another..
I got close to Joanne as time passed, she enjoyed showing me her gorgous bunnies in the back yard which she sent me numourous photos of as she nurtured them as timy babies, , her amazing fighting fish collection and her new fast growing sea glass collection, which she has organised so perfectly into sizes and colours etc whilst I loved her showing me, Deep down I was thinking hmm, I'm going to have some serious competition very soon, Joanne's passion for seaglass was growing fast and she would often quiz me for advice, tips and techniques which I gladly yet worringly gave.
Joanne knitted ( not the right term but im a guy so it will have to do.. ) my little boy a huge beautiful crotchet blanket and gave me a large shopping bag of clothes for him, right out of the kindness of her huge heart.
I got a message a few weeks ago from Joanne's husband to inform me that she had sadly passed away and even as I wrote this post, I am still in shock and very saddened to hear, I miss you Joanne.. my number 1 customer. Thank you so much 🥺