Are we sitting comfortably?

Then I'll begin.
Firstly sorry for keeping you all in suspenders all day, the actually story will probably be a disappointment after the big build up.

Yesterday the Scottish Potters Association had arranged to visit Paisley Museum to have a close up look at the collection of studio pottery which had belonged to a lovely lady by the name of Mitzi Bales and which she has recently donated to the museum. She has been collecting British studio pottery since she moved to Britain in the 1960's and has now, at the age of eighty something I think it was though you'd never believe it to meet her, donated it so that the museum can use it for education and research purposes.
Paisley from here is about 80miles, not too far but the roads are a bit wiggly and windy and so it should take about two and a half hours by car. I looked at the train times thinking it was a waste to drive all that way on my own and that I should use the train and I do love train journeys but of course none of the times matched up even vaguely with the times we were to be at the museum and so I thought I'd be better off driving. Now considering I used to live in Bolton which is now really just a suburb of Manchester (big city for those not from these parts) and I used to drive in and around Manchester regularly well since I moved here I've turned into a bit of a country bumpkin. Now I really avoid driving to cities if I can at all help it and have a tendency to turn into a panicking wobbling Hannah if I have to.

So yesterday I set off in plenty of time with all my directions lodged firmly in my brain, and pootled off up the beautiful wiggling road towards Ayr calling into New Galloway on route to drop off some pots. So far so good. The sun was shining the skies were blue and I was fair enjoying the trip and excited about seeing these pots and about seeing my friends at the SPA again. Whilst meandering along it did cross my mind that the drill which I had on the back seat in a plastic box was rattling around rather a lot and making a racket and I should have remembered to leave it at home.

At Ayr I headed north for Glasgow and as I pulled out at the roundabout there thought there was a hell of a noise and then saw the big bus behind me and figured that it was him accelerating that had caused the roaring. At the next roundabout he wasn't anywhere in sight but the noise was most definitly still there. Hmmm, pulled into a layby, had a look round the car, couldn't see anything wrong but I'm a potter not a mechanic so what would I know. Set off again, and in doing so realised that the rattling was not sadly being caused by the drill but by the car's exhaust pipe, and that at 12miles an hour it sounded like a cross between a formula one racing car and a fart in a drain pipe (excuse the description but you know what I mean.)

Kilmarnock was the next place that I knew had a railway station so as I was only a couple of miles away I headed in abandoning the car at the first car park I found and then running to the town centre to seak out the railway station. Phew! Found the station, got the ticket, by this point I was beginning to have a bit of a head ache and starting to worry about being late and missing the excitement. Damn! Train delayed, bugger bugger bugger, got to Glasgow but because of the delay had missed the connection, bugger again. It ended up being the train I would have had to get if I had gotten the train in the first place. So I got there eventually and sadly had missed most of Mitzi's talk which was a real shame but at least I got to see the pots. I figured I'd worry about the car once I got back to it.

The pots were a great variety. The thing I found most interesting was that Mitzi had had a smallish budget when buying her pots so the collection wasn't the sort of big key pieces type of collection that you would expect but was a collection of smallish pieces, much like the sort of thing that I usually buy, mugs, small jugs and bowls. There was a tale about most of the pots and a specific reason for buying each one from a tiny Sid Tustin ramekin, little jugs by Colin Pearson and David Leach. A lovely collection of Ruthanne Tudball pots, they were obviously a favourite, a couple of Clive Bowens, a very early Mick Casson and a couple of Sheila Casson's, an Ursula Mommens jug and the Svend Bayer jug she treated herself to when she gained British citizenship. Mitzi said she always tried to visit a pottery on her birthday to buy a present for herself - I love that idea! Mike Dodd and Phil Rodgers rubbing shoulders with Aki Moriuchi, Ray Finch and Lisa Hammond. May and Harry Davis, Peter Dick, Toff Milway, Derek Emms, Wally Keeler, Edmund DeWaal and Terry Bell-Hughes. Phew! You get the idea. A fabulous overview of studio pottery during the time of her collection.

Mitzi is involved with the CPA and still buys and uses hand made pots every day. After the pots were finished with - we couldn't touch them which was oh so hard- a couple of us popped to the cafe for a cuppa and a chat with Mitzi. Fran our lovely chairperson introduced me and Mitzi said where have I met you before then? I said I didn't think we had met and she replied ahh, you've been in the CPA News publication haven't you. Blimey, there is no escape!

The other exciting thing at the museum was a case full of Jason Shackleton's pots on the staircase on the way up to the gallery, from way back back when. I took a couple of pictures, I'll show you tomorrow, they had a lovely collection of his there.

So back on busy busy trains back to Kilmarnock, to find the car, to start it up and see how far I could get before the exhaust fell off. I have a handy stash of clay bag ties in my glove box for just such occasions and I kept thinking as long as I can get to ... I'll be ok. For a big part of the journey over the hills through Dallmellington and Carsphairn there would be no mobile signal so I did feel I was chancing my luck somewhat. Any how I got back in the end, a little later than planned and in a much noisier fashion that I would like. It sounds like I've turned into a teenage boy racer but then you realise I'm not speeding up and down the high street at all hours and the analogy ends there.

As I say, not at all as interesting or exciting as you had probably been imagining but it was one hell of a day!

Been a beautiful day here today.

Why oh why. . .

Does even the simplest thing that I plan turn into some sort of epic adventure? What a day! Will tell you tomorrow when I've had chance to recover.

High heels and handbags.

Popped down to work this morning to pack a glaze kiln and then back home to make a Victoria sponge cake for my mum and dad's birthdays, we are going over to see them this afternoon. The puzzle jug is one that Doug threw last weekend and I made a hash of decorating with a dodgy slip trailer and some very runny slip. I know I know a bad craftsman blames his tools.
I've just been trying to do some research for a plate I have to decorate this week. A gentleman has ordered it for his wife's birthday and she loves high heeled shoes and handbags. So I was just searching for some pictures of said items being as I don't have much of either in my wardrobe but got slightly more than I bargained for when typing high heels into a well known search engine.

Today I just had to. . .

THROW!
I have been desperate to throw some pots for the last couple of weeks, some proper pots, not just the wee bowls I managed the other day. I've big big fat jugs on the brain all week too so today I just had to make some. I may well have overdone it as is my stupid habit as I'm now shattered and my finger is throbbing again. I'm always a bit wiped out after I've been ill so maybe big pots weren't the things to chose, blimey kneading was hard work, I could do with a wee gopher to do all that. Anyhow I made a whole lot of big fat bellies which will have necks thrown onto them maybe on sunday, a few 4lb bellies, two 6lb-ers and an 8lb-er. It was great, I loved it and then a couple of big plant pots for my trees that are getting too big for their little pots.

There you have them, fat bellies without necks and pots for trees.

The Galloway News

Myself and Zoe both made it into print this week in our local paper The Galloway News. I don't know if the picture will blow up big enough for you to be able to read it but the article with Zoe is about the latest exhibition at The McGill Duncan Gallery that she runs with her mum, keep an eye on their newly revamped website as you will soon be able to shop on line there. The wee piece about me is about the CPA membership, Spring Fling and my hmmm errr yes well shhh wood kiln.

From the weekend another couple of pictures for you. A little cluster of Fergus Stewart's salt glazed tea bowls. Beautifully faceted and then thrown from the insides to give them their full fat bellies. There was a marked difference between the working ways of Fergus and Doug, both throwing, both obviously excellent at what they do but far apart in their way of getting to their finished pots.

Yummmmmm jug.

Sprigs on a puzzle jug some fella from down south somewhere made this one, no idea who he was.

Meeester Fitch at work

Beautiful jugs even if he wasn't happy with many of them. I've never really had the chance to watch Doug work before now. I do find watching people throwing a little odd though. It feels like I'm watching something I shouldn't be, something very personal and intimate somehow. Don't know if that makes sense.

It was great to watch how he does his thing though. Makes everything make oh so much more sense having seen all that.

How tasty is the look of that tool cutting through the slip? It just looks fabulous. I think I'll be having a go of that, I've been thinking it might be nice to combine that sort of mark with some slip trailing. Watch this space though not too closely as it might take me a wee while to get around to doing that so what I mean is don't hold your breath else we might have a pile of blue faced blog readers.

New acquisitions

Lots of new pots in the house after the weekend. Two little Hannah bowls that Doug had kindly fired for me along with a Doug / Hannah collaborative mug of which there are a few more at work, a lovely Matt pressed dish, a whopper casserole from Doug and a big blooming beautiful specimen of a sprigged jug from Doug too. Lastly and by no means least, a fat bellied ash glazed Alan Gaff jug.

There we have it, Kindrogan without Alan. A little odd, lots of talk abut him though and I met Nicola who I felt like I knew already. It was good to speak to her as I hadn't really spoken to anyone else who knew Alan, there was a display of Alan's pots which Hugh and Nicola had fired just before Christmas and I was pleased to be able to bring home a lovely jug. I tried to buy one from him a couple of years ago but somehow in the chaos of the weekend we didn't manage to sort it out. Anyhow this one is a beauty.

So the intrepid duo made it to my workshop last thursday via a cow merry-go- round (don't ask!) Funny having them up here, I was tempted to clean everything and make it all spotless and shiny as I felt I had some sort of reputation to keep up. It's nice to be able to show off the area that I love so much to two of my very good friends finally.

Before they arrived I was rushing around trying to finish off the pots that I had managed to throw last week. Some pie dishes, money boxes, mugs and handled soup bowls, and I made a start on a big charger that has been sat under plastic for weeks.

There's lots to tell about Kindrogan, it'll probably come out via the three of us in the next few days. I always enjoy the weekend, but always struggle at various points, usually on the friday night / saturday morning and then when I get back too. Something I think to do with suddenly being overwhelmed by people and pots and shared enthusiasm for the things that I love. I seem always as Paul has taken care to point out, come home and be poorly. I was thinking I was just tired yesterday, late nights talking pots and the expenditure of energy required to swing Doug into a complete frenzy of utter confusion during a Strip the Willow (bless him his face was a picture.) It turns out though that my old demon the nasty sinus stuff is back with a vengeance, been fast asleep all day except for the parts where I was blowing my nose and nursing my sore head. I need to learn to look after myself a little bit more.

Here's Matt taking in our fabulous view. It's been great having you two up here. Come back soon, there's loads more to see.

Lemmy and Doug separated at birth?

I went away for the weekwend and I completley forgot to say where. It was the Scottish Potters annual weekend of potting related madness at Kindrogan. As always it was fantastic. Even better this year as we had Doug as star demonstrator and his glamorous assistant Matt.

Hmmm dodgy frock and even dodgier tash on this pic, 1970's theme fancy dress for the ceilidh on saturday. I'm exhausted and feeling a bit under the weather now from too much excitement and far too many late late nights and early mornings. I managed tostay at the workshop till half past one this afternoon afer the boys had left and then I came home and went to bed! Lightweight that I am. I'll tell you more later but just to say Doug and Matt thanks for comming up, it was really great having you here I had a great time. Hope you two did too.

T.P.A.I.T.S

The pots are in the sun,

The pots are in the sun,

Eee aye endio,

The pots are in the sun

Hurray!!!

Softly softly does it.

Dodgy photo, suits a rather dodgy bit of throwing really. Dodgy but at least I did some. Very very soft clay and I could just about manage but it was awkward as I had to try to keep my index finger out of the way as it doesn't quite move like it should yet. It took me a while to get to any shape that I was vaguely happy with and the clay was getting very tired by the end. I had a few wire mishaps too where I sliced up through the bottoms when I was trying to cut them off the wheel. I usually control the wire with my two index fingers but used my middle finger on the right hand which didn't quite understand it's job fully.
It's good to get something thrown, feels like it's been months. BCTF is in just over two weeks. Yikes!

A trailing we will go

What a day! Beautiful and sunny and warm and lovely. I cycled down to work (first time since the hand - thorn incident) where I slip trailed (first time since same said incident) a couple of bowls and some salt pigs that have been a sat sitting under plastic for many a long week now. Phew! I managed it sort of OK though I couldn't undo the bull dog clips on the end of the trailers with my right hand and at the end of the session my hand was very sore and still is but at least I could do it whereas a week ago I wouldn't have been able to contemplate it. It's much better than it was thankfully, though obviously not quite there yet, still tender on the back of my knuckles and still a bit fat. The big question is how much will it hurt during wild SPA ceilidh dancing next weekend? Oh and how much will it hurt tomorrow when I try to throw with some very very soft clay? No wide rimmed plates for me tomorrow then.
That big white pig sadly changed from having a startled "O" mouth to a sad "-" mouth before I left work. Oops! Oh and I made some cheesey scones this afternoon, sorry Doug there'll be none left by the time you get here, far too tasty to save.

A blustery day

New plate that I forgot to photograph the other day. I'm very pleased with it. I hope the recipients are too.

The cups and saucers based on the Cumnock pottery. They are very sweet, pleased with them.

Short and sweet post today, off to Barcaple tomorrow with my Cubs and Cubs from all over Galloway. It's an outdoor centre so I hope the weather is good, more for us leaders who will be standing watching rather than for the kids who of course won't notice a thing.

New pots = Happy Hannah

Well I got some pots out of a glaze kiln today. I thought it might be a disaster as there had been a power cut during the programme but if I could arrange with Scottish Power to do that at every firing I think I'd be on to a winner. Maybe it's just that I've been so away from pots for the last two weeks, though I've been down to work I haven't been able to do any proper potting and maybe I'm just so glad to see something new that I'm so happy with these. After all that I only managed to take a few pictures, spent the rest of the day packing up pots and dusting!?! I am really enjoying these bowls (above) with the lots of different decoration on them, they are very satisfying though I brought one home that I thought was sort of cereal bowl sized, and by heck it holds some amount of porridge!

These pasta bowls are my new Yew Tree Range, they are exclusively for The Shop at Newby Hall. Matt has the first version of this decoration and I am really pleased with how the decoration has developed. The hall has a double avenue of Yew trees on the drive so this is the influence.

Vases, these are about 25cm high, I like them too. I like the line of wiped away slip on the inside of the rim and I'm just rite pleased with them.

Little pots

A couple of my pots with some gorgeous galena on them. Hand much better, still sore and throwing is out of the question still but the infection is being banished as we speak. Had it checked again today, second opinion feel much more reassured now.

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I hate not being able to do things as I am used to being able to do things. It makes you realise just how much you take for granted. My hand is much less swollen now thankfully but it's movement is very limited still and there is no grip what so ever, too much pain. Any hoo, doc thinks it might be infected to I have started anti-biotics. I'm so frustrated, this was allegedly my last week of throwing before BCTF at the start of April. So it isn't so force drying of pots will have to occur over the coming weeks. Today with Paul's help I have managed to glaze a kiln load of bisque pots and get that set so at least something is happening. In the kiln are mainly pots for the new shop at Newby Hall which I am to supply, hopefully Daniel isn't having kittens yet about where the work is, there is some work for him though that I haven't yet been able to decorate but at least some of it will be there for the opening.
We went to two exhibition openings last night, the social butterflies that we are. Paul chauffeured me around the region, I could get used to this treatment. The first was Hazel Campbell's show "Mosses, Waters Slaps and Style" at the High Street Gallery in Kirkcudbright. It was very busy and the paintings are splendid, I always fall for the big landscapes, I think one would look fabulous above our fireplace. Ahhhh one day. I was introduced to a gentleman there and you know how it is instinct to take the proffered hand for the formal shaking of hands, well I did it slightly reluctantly but didn't want to appear rude and damn it if he wasn't a gentleman with a very strong handshake. After that I tried to keep my hand well hidden and safe.
Secondly we drove down to Dumfries to see Lizzie Farey's solo show called "Spirit of Air" again very busy although I did spot a number of people who seemed to be doing the same as us and flitting between the two. For there to be two shows opening at the same time by two good friends, well what are the chances of that? Lizzie's show is all of her new wall based expressive willow inscriptions and is very airy. It looks great too. Both though probably require a second visit in order to really see them properly, you don't get a proper chance to look at the private views.

Slow fresh pots

These pots have been sat sitting in the kiln since saturday. I managed to unpack the kiln today which was at best awkward and at worst damn painful with the scraping of the back of the swollen hand down the bricks. Ouch. Note to self - be more careful.
We had snow last night though I didn't realise for ages. You see in a morning I don't put my glasses on till I'm washed and dressed hmmm could explain why I always look a sight. Anyway I had noticed in my blind as a bat haze that it was white outside but thought it was frost. Imagine my squeal of delight when I got my vision back. It was oh so beautiful. The mountains over the back here are splendid with their snowy hats on.

Swooshes and dots.

These are more of the newly Christened "Harlequin Range" thank you anonymous I think it was for the name.

A Tuesday day.

I took the train over to Carlisle this morning in the spring sunshine to attend the funeral. I've never been to one quite like that before. A cardboard coffin which we were able to write messages on if we wished, pall bearers in football shirts and at the end, a pot of primroses, his favourite flower, each to take away and plant in a sheltered spot in memory. A lovely gesture I thought and right away I thought I would plant mine under the tree next to my new kiln.

I'm going slightly mad.

I've been home all day today because my right hand is swollen and is quite painful. I have loads to do at work but I can't even hold a pencil properly never mind take out pots and shelves from the kiln or decorate some salad bowls that need slipping or throw anything new. I think it is the fault of the rose thorn that impaled my knuckle rather than the cement mixing day, I decided to do a bit of weeding when I got home yesterday in our "flower bed", that description might be stretching things a little and in my enthusiasm for pulling up nettle roots I got jagged on the rose bush. How strong are nettle roots! These were as thick as my fingers. Anyway there were lots of tiny new nettles too which left my hands tingling for hours after. However on the positive side you can now see the green daffodil shoots.
I've been doing lots of computer work very slowly single finger typing with my left hand but even that list is running short now and I'm heading for madness. Heaven forbid the idea that I could ring the doctors and get an appointment for any time in the next three months! I'll be heading away to Carlisle in the morning to a funeral so if my hand is no better then I shall just go to A & E on my way home. I will have to remember not to shake hands at the funeral. How utterly frustrating.

What a beautiful day for. . .

making cement! Paul liked it so much he thought he'd swap his head for a cement mixer.

Thank you Alan so very much for the use of the mixer, it was fantastic. I don't think we'd have managed without it.

I can barely type my hands are so sore so that's all for today.