Samuel Malkin I thank you

 But for the bluebells you could be forgiven for thinking that it is the end of February or early March at times here in the lovely south west of Scotland. It's been chilly. The evening tonight has been stunning, huge clear blue skies and fairly still but chilly chilly. The woods either side of the driveway down to the workshop are blue bell heaven still, tiny tiny delicate things and I had strict instructions this week to go and look at them for the shapes that I was wanting to throw.
The fields that were dark ploughed soil have overnight it seems sprouted their grasses and are now a short sea of green, the hawthorn at the side of the road are fresh green and the horse chestnuts are a million shades of bright lively green. I'm not shedding my vest just yet but the long johns are (for the time being at least) away in the drawer. Hopefully I have not spoken too soon.

 I showed you this little mold the other week, here it is fired, I took a couple of pressings off it today, the drawing is fairly nothingy, I was just doing a quick test but thank you Mr Samuel Malkin, I like your tricks. I'm going to make another larger mold, it's a completely new thing for my but I liked what I found out today so I want to do some more experimenting with that idea.

 I've been making tall jugs so far this week. I struggled and struggled to start with but after a very calm and sensible conversation with Doug (I know, it is possible you know) it all makes so much more sense. I couldn't get my head or my hands around it, and knowing that I've made the shapes before wasn't helping with the frustration I was feeling. How can I do it lots of times and then not be able to do it at all. Anyway I have done it now, thank goodness!At one point I was so annoyed with myself I slung a collapsed pot, I haven't done that in years, I am a red head I have to live up to the stereotype occasionally. Blimey did it splatter well though, in the afternoon I was looking at the shelves over my sink and couldn't work out why on earth there was a large piece of clay stuck to the underside of it - oops! Those on the second shelf back are 5lbs, the four on the left of the front row are 7lb and the one on the right on the front is 9lb 8oz. It didn't get much more height than it's smaller brothers but it did get more bulk, I don't think it's too fat for that though. I've been playing with Nic Collins' 'Doughnut Method' and I like it a lot.

This is the second of the little pressings. Good to see that even quite slight impressions are taken up by the clay when it's pressed. Interesting and exciting.
I'm whispering this bit so as to hopefully not jinx it, hopefully Paul is heading home this Thursday, fingers crossed, me and the cat are looking forward to having him back, it's been rather a long time this time. Shhhhhhhhh.