End of August

Well last week my list was completely under control and now it's gone crazy. Crazy in a good way though. Last week I had about three lines of this page filled and now look at it, and another order from the USA has just popped in this morning so I'm going to be very busy for the next couple of months. It's great isn't it. I have spent today throwing and it was the first time I have thrown and felt comfortable doing it, a couple of twinges in the afternoon but really great otherwise. Yippee!!
What are you doing on sunday this week? Why not come to Lochinch Castle Food Fair, it's on from 11am till 4pm on Sunday 5th September. Local fine foods and fine craft and art and a beautiful setting to boot.

Clay and Blogs Online Gallery

I do hope that link on the big red button works. It seems like a long long time ago that I had an email out of the blue from Meredith Heywood at Whynot Pottery asking if I would like to be involved in an exhibition in America all about clay and blogs. Come to think about it it probably is a long long time ago. Anyway as time is prone to do it has been marching on and the physical show opens at Campbell House Galleries, South Pines, North Carolina at the beginning of October for those who live travelling distance of there. I know a lot of the potters concerned will be there for the opening and I wish I could be joining them but right now it just isn't to be I'm afraid. I am looking forward to seeing the pictures and hearing the travellers tales though.

For those of you who like me can't go to the show then the on-line gallery is for you. The on-line show is open right now and you can browse and buy pottery to your hearts content.

Meredith has done a fantastic job coordinating all these potters, I know what we can be like and I think you must have the patience of a saint and it's all going along so smoothly. Do go and have a look at the gallery there and enjoy the pots.

Oot and Aboot

We've been gallivanting the last few days, well actually we've been home a couple of days but the few days before that we were gallivanting. Blimey we both needed a rest, we haven't had time together where we have both been not working for ages and the last week I was finding I was trying to do too much at work and hurting myself still and getting very very frustrated. We both needed to stop and get out. So a trip to Sheffield to visit Paul's mum with a couple extra days either end to do other nice things. On the way down a stay at Whitby, fish and chips on the beach, lighthouses, seagulls and sunshine and showers.

Sunday we went from Sheffield into the Peak District to visit, for the first time together, Paul's favourite place. Kinder Scout. It was the site of the mass trespass in 1932 where ramblers aimed to highlight the fact that they were under law denied access to open land and to public footpaths, but the marches eventually led to changes in the law leading to all citizens being allowed access to public footpaths. Kinder sits in between the two industrial cities of Manchester and Sheffield and it a 600 or so meter plateau of gritstone with a layer of peat on the top which just rises straight upwards out of the moor all around, pretty impressive.

To walk across the top is pretty challenging and hard work, there are streams and rivers that have cut big trenches through the peat so sometimes you are climbing in and out of gullies that are 12 and 15 foot deep and the peat doesn't ever dry out so the bottoms of the gullies can be somewhat boggy. Needless to say I did fall in once or twice. It's the first time in a long long time that I've had to walk so closely on a bearing with a compass and map to find the places I wanted to get to. That was on the clearest sunniest brightest day, there are few features once you are on the plateau and especially not when you're dropping in and out of the dips, imagine what it's like in the mist and fog.

This was the heather laden valley that we descended through, perfect hiding place for another dragon, hmmm, I think Paul may be sick of my dragon tales after this week, maybe I should write them down.

On the way back north a stay in Settle for us and a visit to Malham, this time a limestone part of the country.

Completely different to the Peaks but equally fabulous, limestone pavement is a pretty splendid geological feature.

The morning we left Settle it was a little damp but it doesn't really matter does it, we don't shrink so we toddled off for a walk along the river before we left. It was a great break, I hadn't realised just how much I needed that.

Sitting in the Sunflowers and Thank You for Not Being an Estate Agent

This is part of the not always polite and orderly queuing system in operation by the myriad of birds that are faces at the feeding points in the garden. A lovely to place to wait your turn though don't you think. Reminds me of Jack in the Beanstalk.

Most of my time this week seems to have been spent in a sea of bubble wrap and boxes, pots heading off to new homes right left and centre. That reminds me, if you look to up to the right there near my email address there's a new link to Pots in their New Homes. It's quite a small category at the moment so if you have any of my pots in your house what are they doing? Where do they live? I'd love to add to that little gallery. Pots this week have gone to Cambridge, Dumfries House and to lots of special order customers, I hope they all have safe trips.

Busy busy sgraffito-ing some jugs today. They are maybe a bit deceptive in size, the picture below will show you how big they are. Sweeties.

Did you see that one coming. Thanks Dan!

Here's one of the pots about to go off on it's journey. I have a tendency to probably over pack things but I'd far rather spend the time doing that than the piece not get to it's destination safely. The legs and neck of this Beastie Oil Pourer are wrapped in strips pf bubble and that's it's head there between it's knees. These days I pack pots in bubble and then wrap a layer of corrugated card around them, the card is from the local framer in Castle Douglas and he uses some in his garden but he has lots of spare of it and it's great. Thanks Roger.

The latest Ceramic Review came through the door this afternoon so a cup of tea and a quick scan through it. There is a new editor there now, a Bonnie Kemske who has taken over from Emmanuel Cooper who had been there since the magazine began so it will be with interest that I watch to see what changes Bonnie Kemske will bring about. As a potter making 'proper pots' I do sometimes find it frustratingly empty of such things. It's not that I want only to see that sort of pot in there, I do find it interesting to see what else is going on in the world of clay but I do think there are people who in my opinion deserve to get some recognition in there but never do. Maybe then I should do something about that. Maybe I should start writing?

This is the only page that I have read fully so far though, the familiar face of Alex McErlain there, my tutor at college, the person that made me want to make pots, I'm so grateful you didn't say yes to being an estate agent.

Monday

Funny Little People are out on the slip trailed jug. They did make me smile when I took them out of the kiln. It's been a proper sunny day again today, summer is here in south west Scotland, for the time being at least.

Here is the plate that I slipped a couple of weeks ago with the white slip trailed on the white slip. I think it's come out well and it's being added to my list of "things that I must do more of soon", as with all my lists it's quite a long one.

Here's the apple loving dragon that the Funny Little People are feeding. In case you missed that part the FLPs are helping the dragon out, he loves apples but he can't get close enough to get them off the trees without scorching the trees with his breath. So the FLPs, who are good friends of the dragons, collect apples for him and throw them up in the air so he can catch them and then he gets to eat his tasty apples without burning the trees of the FLPs. He is a lucky dragon to have such good friends as these.

Also in the kiln that I unpacked this morning, along with lots of orders, were a bundle of slightly larger Humbug mugs including these three. Left to right: black slip straight onto the clay, white on white, white straight onto the clay.

This is the back of an owl plate, again white slip straight onto the clay body.

Friday

Where on earth has the week gone? I suddenly realise it's friday and I don't know what on earth happened to the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday bits. where did they go? I'm not entirely sure what there is to show for the week yet either, I threw some plates and a couple of teapots and two 4lb bowls and the plates and bowls are slipped, the teapots are joined and I've fired a bisque kiln and today glazed and packed that whole bundle of pots so they'll be out monday. I'm looking forward to getting this batch of pots done, they are mainly orders for the incredibly patient people that are my customers. I really hate to keep people waiting and this kiln load has mainly been on order since Spring Fling or just before but obvious annoying things happened that put them all on hold. That's partly what's been going on this week actually now I come to think about it, I've been a bit achy and sore so it's all been quite slow but still that doesn't account for all the hours. In fact what about the last 7 months? Where did they go? It's been crazy busy for a lot of it but it's not two minutes since the ice age that was this last winter was upon us and this morning as I headed down the road there was a distinctly autumnal chill in the air - impossible I know but it did have that certain feel that is so very autumn. Fingers crossed it's a just a blip, the day has been stunning after that so I can cope with autumnal mornings if they lead to fabulous days like today.

Something happened to my owl this afternoon, not sure whether he's more startled / stern / scary. Poor thing, none were the intention at all.

I've had a work experience lady in today, I've never had anyone for work experience before. I've mentioned many times in many places that at some point I would like to have an apprentice, at the moment I don't have the space to do such a thing at all and I feel that I don't know anywhere near enough to be able to do that either. Today I wasn't sure where to start so decided that I would just continue working through the things that needed doing and explain what I was doing as I went along. It's really weird doing that but probably very good for me, there are so many things that you just do and don't think about. It really makes you concentrate on what you do and why. Just the other day Sam, my accountant, highly recommended if you need someone by the way, called in and I was enthusiastically showing him the wood kiln which he's heard about in bits and bats from Paul (they're cycling buddies) I explained about where the pots go and stoking it to get it to temperature and where the flame will travel from the firebox through the chamber and out. He was a bit confused about how this big empty cuboid could hold the heat of 1060 degrees without it all escaping. It was only them that I realised that I'd failed to say that they doorway will get bricked up before I start the firing. Oops! Sorry Sam. Hope it's all as clear as mud to you now. So I have sent Rhona away with some clay to make tiles with and she'll have them at leather hard for when she next comes and we'll do some slip decorating techniques. I think it'll be good for her to have something to see quite quickly so even some simple tiles will be a good start to get the feel for working with slips I think. Any advice or suggestions gratefully received.

The exhibition at Cambridge Contemporary Art seems to be going down well, that's great news, thank you if you've been in there buying pots and huge thanks to the gallery for having my pots there. There will be some new ones heading down that way on monday so do pop in and have a look towards the end of the week for some fresh work there.

If you're not in Cambridge but happen to be in the York area then a new batch of pots have also just been delivered to Wild Hart on the Stonegate there, they have lots of jugs and a good assortment of money boxes.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Potfest and Dragons

This weekend I visited Potfest in the Pens in Penrith, I couldn't resist, another whole big bunch of potters and pots and in relation to most of the other shows so very close to home, I had to go. I picked up fellow potter Ben Fosker on the way south who kept me greatly entertained with stories during the journey. It was very odd being there but being on the public side of it rather than behind a stand, I've done that show for the last 6 years I think, maybe 7 even, I'm not sure now and then before that I'd done it with Jason and before that I'd had a half stand on my own with the awful pots that I was making when I left uni. It took me about and hour to cover the first one and a half rows as every few steps someone stopped to say hello, stand holders or visitors alike. I had two people ask me where my stand was as they couldn't find me and I met many others who I'd spoken to at the Park last weekend and where there for more pottery sustenance. Who can blame them. It did make me realise though just how hard it is for a member of the public going round something like that. I saw something I thought I would get for a friend's birthday coming up but by the time I got to the end I couldn't remember what it was never mind where it was, I had failed to write it down and so I still don't know what it was. However I did then find something that was I now think even better than the first thing. You need a lot of stamina and a lot of concentration. I was exhausted! I was nearly horse from talking and catching up with people. The lovely Geordie boys had done a great job of telling everyone about the accident bless them so all the ones that knew me were asking after me. There were a lot of new people there too, sticking in my mind was Mark Fitzgerald who Andrew Douglas has mentioned in his post about the show. I didn't get back to his stand for a second look sadly else I think I'd have come away with one of his pots. Andrew's pots were looking good though, I've never seen a whole bunch of them together in real life, keep at it Andrew, there were some lovely pots there on your stall.

Here is another little video of today's jug offering. The thing I like about this is the extra marks of the ink, when it's fired though that will all be away and the finished jug will be much cleaner. I like the painty lines though, I need to be on with some more testing I think, find a way to leave behind something similar, maybe brushed slip or coloured glaze that won't move, or will move. I know if I use any of the colours that I have currently of oxides or coloured glazes that they will move possibly too much under the honey glaze so maybe it needs to be something fired first in which case slips might work or would some copper oxide fired on during the bisque then sit still under the glaze? I will have to try. In the meantime the funny little people have been hard at work baking for one of their dragon friends.

For the last couple of weeks there's been a whole host of tiny baby blue tits coming feasting on the bird feeders that I have at work. It's suddenly the place to be if you're a bird, I can't believe how quickly they are going through the food. Today though there was a big clang and a clatter as the feeder slammed against the window and after I'd picked myself up off the floor from the shock I looked to see what it was and it was a wood-pecker! Clinging to the bird feeder and eating peanuts as if there was no tomorrow. Very beautiful and very different to what I usually see there.

Offerings to Friendly Dragons

One of today's happenings in the slightly bizarre world that I live in.

Sweet as sugar

Have a look at the trailing on this little sweetie. It apparently lives in Haddon Hall in the Peak District according to my friend Rob. Very kind of you to send me that pic Rob, thanks a lot.

I got a bit carried away this afternoon, I had started throwing little 12oz jugs in the morning and that went well so I thought well what the heck I'll make some 4lb ones next. These are for an order or at least one of them is for an order, wide necked jug request. They're not a shape I've ever made before but I think I'll try some more at some point. I haven't yet worked out how the decoration is going to fit on there but we'll see.

After that I threw a few bowls and a tall lidded jar. Then I realised that that was probably a bit too much for me at the moment but by that time it was too late and I really had enjoyed throwing them, and it's probably good to stretch it a bit over time.

I would also like to say a huge thank you to the Post Office for making these stamps that you don't have to lick that they do these days, I say that as I've spent the evening putting relevant stamps on 280 envelopes with the newest edition of the Scottish Potters Newsletter in them. Into the post they go tomorrow morning. Another one done.

New Pots in various guises

Here is a quick pic of the newest additions to the house. Left to right:
A huge James Hake tankard - a nice gift.
A small but brilliantly bright Richard Godfrey mug - from the mug swap.
A gentle Charlotte and Sigi Bohmer beaker - exchanged for iron spangles. Charlotte and Sigi live in Hohr-Grenzhausen in Germany where I did the show in June. He was contemplating scraping rust from old cars to put into his glaze to give him some speckles in it, we thought iron spangles would get him less odd looks about the town.
As I said last night they make an odd bunch but of course they are all great in completely different ways. All great additions to the house hold.

Today I worked on this jar, it is one of a pair, one is black with trailed thistles and this one has sgraffito thistles, they are both to go to Dumfries House up in Cumnock soon.

Just before I went to Potfest I had a kiln load of pots out, this money box was one, it sold straight away. The puzzle jug came out well, it didn't get much interest which was a shame for it.I've had to have a little chat with him today as his feelings were hurt, I think he's feeling better now though.

This plate came out too but didn't come with me.

This afternoon I delivered some pots to The Tolbooth Arts Centre in Kirkcudbright, they have been selling well there over the summer so this was to top them up. While I was there I went to visit the Glasgow Girls exhibition in the town hall.

Potfest in the Park 2010

Potfest in the Park, Hutton-in-the-Forest near Penrith. What a beautiful place, what a grand setting for a show full of grand pots and my were there some grand pots. Some of them took your breath away at first glance and some slowly sneaked their way into your heart. I've been thinking about one that is still sneaking now, hmmm, I might have to make a phone call to a potter to see if it's still there.

It was the first time I'd been exhibiting at this show. I was nervous anyway without the worry about not having been able to be making right up to the deadline as I would usually have been. Then I had my usual stand trauma but in the end went for a simple set up and tried hard not to put too many pots out at once. Looking at the picture now it still looks a bit cluttered but for me I think I managed not to put anywhere near as much as I have been known to.

It was a big blogger meet up and we added a newbie to our ranks, not new to the blogging world but new to us. Left to right Christine Smith, me, Dan Finnegan, Novie Trump from the USA and Margaret Brampton. Check all their blogs for more pictures and news from the weekend, especially Christine's. I won't tell you her news as it's hers to tell but suffice to say that I would have been up in arms if it hadn't come out like it did, no one was more deserving.

I took ridiculously few pictures, so very unlike me. I did however take this one of a beautiful gate newly installed in the walled garden at the house by a certain Adam Booth Artist Blacksmith with whom I am acquainted.

I spent the whole weekend talking to people. Lots of people that I know from Potfest in the Pens and who I had told I would be at this show this year and who had come to find me, lots of people from this area who had travelled down for a day out, lots of great potter friends old and new and lots of new people who were very interested in what I was making. I was so in need of a boost about my work, it was great to here all the positive comments. To all those who bought my pots, I hope you have many happy years of enjoyment with them and thank you for buying. It was lovely speaking to you all. Also isn't it great watching someone making their choice from a line of pots? I love that, when they have decided that they definitely are having one but can't make their mind up which and they are examining them all to make their final decision. I like the choosing bit when I'm buying someone elses too, weighing up each one and deciding which one will come home with me. I didn't buy any pots this weekend!! Shock horror! However I do have three new ones in my collection now, one from the mug swap - always such good fun, one from an iron spangles swap and one just being given me from another potter. They'll come in a post tomorrow, they probably couldn't be three more different drinking vessels!

As always there was one person who seemed to be unable to be even tactful and wait until they'd gotten out of earshot before commenting about how they didn't like "brown dull pots". Mind you compared to the comment a friend of mine got from a visitor to his stand I got off very lightly.

Ducks were a dabbling outside the workshop today. It's been a slow and gentle day today at the workshop, I've spent it easing the place back to normal and clearing all the pots onto shelves, bubble into boxes and boxes into storage. Everything is back to super slow again. The show did my body no good at all, I feel I've gone back a few weeks in the recovery, hopefully it's only temporary though and a few good nights rest will sort it out again. I tried to let Paul do all the heavy lifting but if course sometimes I just did it without thinking. The worst though was just standing, makes you realise just how heavy your arms actually are when they are just hanging from slightly not right shoulders. It was hard a couple of times to keep smiling rather than grimacing, the grimace sort of scares the punters off I think, not something I wanted to be doing really. Anyway it's feeling a lot less painful today, so another easy week here I think.