Potfest in the Park 2010

So tomorrow I'll be off to Potfest in thePark at Hutton-in-the-Forest near Penrith, Bloggers Margaret and Christine will also be exhibiting and many other fab and grand potters besides. Do come along and see us, it'll be a great show.
I think I have finally decided what to do with my stand, I had some grand master plans but after getting in a tizz this morning when I realised that my plan wasn't actually possible (I am a potter after all not a joiner - thank goodness!) I have opted for the very simple and hopefully straightforward option. The boxes are packed, I might just have a couple more things to unpack tomorrow fingers crossed the kiln cools down enough over night. Then that's that, pack up the van and go.
If you are in the Cambridge area between now and September 12th then you might like to call in at Cambridge Contemporary Art Gallery to see the "A Breath of Fresh Air" exhibition which has some of my pots in it.

Hard days with really nice surprise bits

I had visitors on monday, two of them, first this little mite who accidentally ended up in the workshop, I think he was aiming for the bird feeder but missed. Very sweet he was, had to pick him up and take him out as he was utterly bemused by the whole experience, don't think he'd ever been in a pottery before.

Then this visitor who you may or may not recognise from the bad photo, sorry Dan! It was a very very brief visit, lovely to see him though for such a short time. I would have liked to have taken you on a tour to meet all my potting and otherwise arty / crafty and lovely friends and great places in the area but we had time for little other than cake and quick workshop tour and er, cake! Come back soon and we'll give you a proper taste of Galloway. It was a lovely visit though, thanks for the book, I started it last night and so far it's great, and watch this space and his space for plans that are afoot for 2011...

Frogs in mugs. I found this mold that I made for frogs for frog mugs, I made it when I very first set up the business and haven't used it for years. Until now.

Done! All One hundred and something mugs and plates are done and away and went off on time after all the chaos surrounding them. It was close but ended up just fine. I've been worrying about these for so long that now they are done and away I'm lost again. It's Potfest this weekend, set up tomorrow - how on earth did that appear so quickly? I still haven't really been able to do anything much for it so my head is not in a very good space for going exhibiting and being positive about what I do. It'll be better once I get there and set up hopefully, at the moment I'm a bit higgly-de-piggly-de. Today I'm going to set to with packing up and I think once I really set the pots out I'll realise that I have more and better pots than I think I have at the moment. Fingers crossed. There's a glaze kiln on at the moment but whether it'll be cool by tomorrow morning is anyone's guess.

I had made this for my competition piece for the weekend. It is now a pile of shards after I bisqued it too quickly in my tiny kiln yesterday, too distracted and unsettled and just wasn't thinking straight. Another one bites the dust.

Right off on a box hunt this morning and then back to work to start the pack up, oh and maybe make some new shelves if I'm feeling so inclined. Happy Wednesday.

Owl day

This morning I looked at the title of Ron's latest post in my blog feed and thought it said "A Few New Owls" and then clicked it but couldn't find the owls only to realise that it actually said "A Few New Bowls". I was disappointed not to see the owls but the lobed bowls are lovely, have a look if you haven't already seen them. So today I trailed my own owl instead. I like this one's long legs, they made me chuckle.

I could have spent all day today watching these wee fellows whizzing around all over the place. They are amazing are swallows, they're all very active at the moment, and there's a whole bunch playing around outside the window here where I'm sitting now. So fast.

I handled and cut the puzzle jugs today, not sure about the holes in the one on the right but it's a bit late now, I'll see how it looks when I decorate it.

I slip trailed the pierced mugs this morning, by the time I got to the seventh of the ten I felt like I was getting the hang of it. They are things that I like to put little details on, they're small mugs and they're a lot of work so they won't be normal mug price and I figure if I've gone to all that trouble to cut the shapes into them then I should give them special trailing too.

It's been a busy day, getting through the turning and handling of the pots I threw yesterday and slipping the ones that were ready. It's been a warm couple of days and I've had the little kiln on too so things were getting ready for their next stages very quickly.
I got the first 11 mugs and 2 little plates out of the tiny kiln, there were another 11 and 2 in there today, they're cooling down now.

Another go with the white trailing on the white background. There was a mug earlier in the year that started this off, and I've done just odd ones since. I think it'll work better when it goes through the wood kiln but it's interesting trying. I had meant to pour the background with the thin white slip to see how much more contrast that gave but completely forgot. Ang is making some really interesting tiles at the moment too, she's been playing with the white on white thing too.

Six Weeks On

Today it is 6 weeks since the little incident with the van. Today is the first day I've ridden my bike to work and enjoyed the ride rather than spending the journey trying not to over stretch or tweak my neck. Today is the first day I've actually had a good bought of throwing again - ok probably too good a bout but it didn't hurt until I'd finished which is better than hurting as soon as I start. The consultant told me it'd be 6 weeks at least till I started to feel properly 'normal' (well as normal as is normal to me) and I hoped he was over exaggerating but it seems he was right. I think I'll still need to just watch out but blimey it's good to be back. I threw some little Humbug mugs (orders) and some 1 and half pound jugs (a couple were ordered at Spring Fling) and then some mugs to pierce (I did get them pierced too) and a couple of puzzle jugs as I haven't made them in ages and I just felt the need. I also threw a "thing" which may or may not make it in time to be my entry for the Potfest competition. The chances are slim but I'll have a go. Yikes Potfest is coming fast, need to have set up my stand by a week today, I wish I'd been able to make all the new things that I wanted to make and I'd really hoped to have gotten the kiln finished and fired before this show but hey ho, it'll come in time.

All the mugs (100 of them) and the plates came out of the bisque today just fine so I spent a sunny afternoon glazing them all. The big kiln is packed and I think the little kiln will be carrying on firing the remaining mugs over the next couple of days. Fingers crossed for them.

I had a lovely phone call today from the person that first contacted me about using my workshop as the place to do what they did yesterday, are you following this? He said that the crew had called him to say how much they had enjoyed their day at mine and how much fun they had had and how grateful they were for everything I'd sorted out for them. He also said that they have already done one whole series of this and they're at number 20 of the 25 of this series and he's never had to ring anyone to tell them that before. I was touched that they'd said that and it was good of him to pass on the thanks and praise. Gives you a good feeling doesn't it.

I heard on the radio this morning The Beatles song Paperback Writer. I used to think when I was little that they were singing "I just wanna be a paper bag writer" and I wondered why because it wouldn't take long to fill a paper bag with writing and why not use a notebook anyway? Ah the way my brain works, amazes me sometimes.

Another Odd Wednesday

Well today I had to do this to my wheel, very artfully done I think, don't you? Just one swipe with a clay filled hand. It'd be advertising otherwise, so I'm told.

My workshop got taken over by what felt like hundreds of people. Quite a spread on the table, crunchy carrots, potatoes, crisps, dried banana and by contrast a fresh banana.

Light stands and microphone thingies and costumes - hmmm hope they didn't want to keep those clean...

Ah well, I'm not supposed to tell you what was happening, I had to sign a contact. Don't panic though I won't be being splashed all over your TV anytime soon. I'll drop some maybe not so subtle hints nearer the time it's being shown then you can see my workshop as it certainly never usually is, ie full of children and with a Nina but no neurons present - yet.

Just one more wafer thing mug sir?

It's what you might call a full kiln. That's every one of the Yacht Club prizes in for a bisque. That of course means that I've not a cat in hells chance of getting everything through in one glaze firing but I still have time, it's ok, don't panic, keep calm. Fingers crossed.

I flopped the slab that I slipped yesterday over the mould this morning. Hmm, not easy turning it over at the best of times, I'd forgotten that bit. Anyway tis done and I thought I'd amuse myself by impressing some patterns on the back. Takes me back in a different way to my usual manner of decorating the backs of things as a bit of a surprise. As I always say when I think about this again, I must do that more often. If I did it more often though would it be as special?

Slippy slippy days are back

I've been slipping pots this last week, trying desperately to be careful and not spend too long doing any one thing before stretching and moving about and trying not to hunch over and trying not to over do it. Any way, guess what! I over did it. There were so many pots desperately needing slipping, about 120 for the Solway Yacht Club. So now they are done and sat drying though in this flipping weather that could take quite some time and time I do not have at the moment. Hopefully I'll get them in a big fat full bisque tomorrow. This picture below is just a few of the mugs that have been slipped.

I tried throwing again today, I threw 3 lids for jars. That was plenty thank you very much. I'll try again tomorrow, I have some very soft clay sat waiting so that should be better and I'll use the electric wheel for the time being too.

I had a though this weekend as we were out and about in my van (chuckle chuckle), Paul says I'm just going to upset people if I don't learn to drive like the stereotypical white van person, he says I'm far too polite to drive a white van. Anyhow I thought it would be amusing to go to one of those really smart hotels, you know the ones where you drive up to the front and a member of staff parks your car while another takes your bags (I've never been to one but I've seen them on films). I thought we could put our clothes in builders sacks and drive up in the van and see what they say. I bet they're trained not to bat an eyelid but I think it'd be a funny thing to do.

Here's a couple more pictures from the civic reception last week in Dumfries. Looking out the window now I can hardly believe it was that sunny that day. This is myself and Jools Cox who was there representing The Orchard Project.

A photograph of our hand bags, just to prove that the three of us can "do" handbags. My hand bag trauma was almost none existence as I own a grand total of one so there were no choices needing to be made. The only problem being that you can't get very much in it and I do like to have things with me.

Here is the three of us at the start of the day, Natalie Vardey practising her curtsy while myself and Jools are obviously amused by something, probably it was the giddiness kicking in before we passed to the near hysteria stage later on. Next time we go to a 'do' (ha next time!) we are going to go in a chariot so that we can remain standing up so avoid creases in our clothing.

Back to that cloud with it's silver lining

I've wanted a van for blooming years, many girls crave sports cars with fold down lids, whatever they're called. Me I've always wanted either a Morris Traveller which Paul has expressly forbidden unless I can pay him to look after it for me, or a little white van. I now have a little white van to replace my poor written off Polo, thank goodness I've been saving pennies up. Yes Andrew I think it might be called Professor Yaffle (for no particular reason) though you have all been good at naming pots in the past with commenters being responsible for Harlequin and Humbug ones, (both the some person I think) so if anything more apt springs to mind let me know.
I can go to Potfest with all the pots I haven't been able to make in the back of my new van. Paul is so very jealous that wherever he goes the world turns a little green around him. Chuckle chuckle.

An odd surreal day

A few weeks ago I received this invitation. Somewhat of a surprise, I mean I know you won't believe this of me but it isn't every day I get a letter like this. As I opened the envelope it did cross my mind that this was a "very nice" envelope, very thick and juicy, in terms of envelopes. As much as I will happily blog away to my hearts content I'm old fashioned at heart and I do love to send and receive nice things through the post and I do like stationary and I can appreciate a good quality envelope. It came with a list of what one may wear, "lounge dress" was the dress code, though I still haven't worked out what that really means. I was relieved to learn that two other people I know had been invited so we went together which was great and made the whole day a bit less fraught.

Cameras were not allowed in the venue but I did get this quick snap of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth as she was leaving Castle Douglas this afternoon. There weren't many of us in the reception, I'd imagined a few hundred but not so, only about one hundred I'd say. We were arranged in groups of relevant people. I was with Natalie in the creative section. It was lovely to be asked, there were 7 of us in our group, someone from the Screen Commission, a film maker, silversmith, dancer and sculptor, a poet, Natalie Vardey chair of Spring Fling Open Studio Association and little old me. I must say it was very lovely to have been asked and a surprise as if it were me picking who from the region to represent the arts community there would be many far stronger names in the offing than mine.

We didn't actually speak to the Queen which was a little disappointing but she smiled and waved and seemed very bright and jolly and she looked a treat in her turquoise outfit. The Queen and Prince Philip met and greeted half of the room each and so our half met and briefly spoke to the Queen's husband HRH Prince Philip.

Not a usual sort of day.

My frock is ready, just cleaned the fust off my smart shoes (I don't wear my one pair of black heeled shoes all that often, I think it's probably been about 4 years now). I've had the oh my word what do I wear trauma. The invite states that the dress code is "lounge wear" whatever the heck that might mean. Must take photographic ID and the invite and I've already had to send in details of all my addresses for the last 5 years. Hmmm, bag, I suppose my usual rucksack isn't appropriate is it?
Thankfully it's not just me going on my own, there'll probably be a couple of hundred people there, I'm going to Dumfries with two other ladies that I know, all in their smart clothes too. Cameras are not allowed so no snaps of the two I've been invited to meet, that is a disappointment. Never mind, if you're lucky I might get Paul to take a picture of me in my frock before I go, or more likely I'll completely forget.
Now, where did I put that invite? It's definitely in a safe place...

Thank goodness for...

Thank goodness for a pair of fantastic blokes from the north east who came to help out a damsel in distress.

Andrew (top picture) and Michael (next picture) have been working together for twenty something years. They trade as Northumbrian Craft Pottery and were the two chaps who I travelled to Germany with the other week. I've known them a few years now but as with so many people when I first met them they scared the life out of me. They are a pair of very big characters, cracking jokes ten to the dozen, larger than life and they seem to be popular with everyone. They have I now know, hearts of gold and are a pair of gems.

They turned up at my workshop yesterday morning and after tea and a catch up blether they very quickly filled the little space up to it's roof with pots. They divided up the jobs, pugging / weighing / throwing / removing pots and off they went. They made short work of the one hundred and thirty or so pots that have been giving me many sleepless nights and did it with constant banter and good humour. Thank you so very very much you two. It was great having you around but I am now utterly exhausted!

These two throw, and by gum do they throw. I took a little, very bad quality video. This is Andrew making my mugs, bear in mind at this point he's made about 3, it's a wheel he's never used before, a shape he doesn't usually make and clay that's nothing like he uses. It took one minute, start to finish. Ok he wasn't impressed that I filmed that one as they got better from then on in but it'll give you a taster.

Thursday Slip Day

I slipped some pots today!!!! Woohoo!!! Earlier this week I'd taken my slip trailers apart and cleaned them and given some of them new corks and rewired them all so they were all like new and raring to go. These two mugs are an order that is pressing and they were the two mugs that I threw earlier in the week. They need quickly bisque and glazing, thank goodness for my tiny test kiln.

I had some money boxes under plastic too, waiting what feels like three years to be decorated but is actually about 5 weeks now, thank goodness for plastic! I slipped those too, I could feel the aches afterwards but it was good to do. Nice to see fresh things sitting on the shelves again.

It's been a bit of a yuck week. Our family dog Jess has been poorly on and off for a while and she was an old dog but a darling, the vet kept fixing her but on tuesday it was all too much for her and now she's gone to that doggy heaven. Hopefully budgies are allowed in the same place as my little blue friend Joe was poorly too this week and I took him off to the vet who said well you know nine years is pretty good going for a budgie. Anyway after him looking much chirpier (pardon the word) last night after his antibiotics he had died by this morning. Poor little mite, blimey the house is quiet without him. Not too jolly a week for the pet loving McAndrew family.

On a lighter note it's been ten years, give or take 3 days, since Emma, me and Deb (left to right) graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University. Can you believe it's ten years Alex? This was us outside the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. I don't think any of us had a clue what on earth we were going to do next apart from try to catch those expensively hired hats and not damage them in the process.

Thank you all for the great comments after that last post, they were gratefully received and much appreciated. I feel better for just getting it off my chest. Onwards and upwards!

Not moaning just explaining

This is my 501st post, somehow I hit the half centenary of inflicting my ramblings on you without even noticing.

I am frustrated and annoyed and impatient, thought I'd let you know. I don't always tell you when I'm not having a ball but here's what's happening at the moment. The first couple of weeks after the wee accident I was too sore to actually worry about anything else. Now is another matter entirely. I'm feeling better in myself but I'm not able to do all the things that I take for granted. I'm a potter, it's how I describe myself, but I can't pot, I made two mugs yesterday before the pain left me shaking and crying. Makes me feel pathetic, I know, patience is required but knowing it doesn't help me get it. What worries me now is the orders that I have that have deadlines. I've contacted people to explain and I know that they have all said that I'm not to worry and not to rush it but in my head I am worried. I pride myself on doing the things that are asked of me for the time they are asked for, I know it's completely an accident and nothing can be done about it and I know that everyone understands the problem but it doesn't make me feel any better. I just don't want to let anyone down, they are ordering special things for special occasions and it's quite a responsibility when you stop and think about it. That's my problem, too much time spent stopping and thinking. I should be spending the time making plans and thinking about the future but I keep getting coming back to the "ahhhh I can't do.....".

So I'm trying to stay positive and look for ways round it. I've been scouring my local potter connections and I think I've got someone or maybe some two who'll come and throw the big order for me next week, fingers crossed. I reckon that I should by then be able to decorate them, and though it's still pushing it time wise I think I can do it. There are some great people around you know no matter what the grim news tells us all day every day the world is not a bad place.

I don't want to make it sound a bigger deal than it is, in the grand scheme of things it's a tiny insignificant thing. I just thought that I would let you see this not so jolly side of potting along with all the fun and games that are usually going on. So that's that, end of fed-up-ness, as of tomorrow jolly jolly, think positive, chin up etc. Off to get the frozen towel to put on my neck for another 5 minutes, sticking to the osteopath's instructions, so far so good.