All sorts happening today.

I'm feeling much better today, as some of the things not happening have started to happen today.

The Planning application for change of use is being delivered to me tomorrow to sign.

We also went to see a potter called Jacky Duncan and she showed us her Cattle and Pottery collection which included two fabulous Michael Cardew pots, a Large black jug and platter with a stunningly simple white slip decoration,

and then these pots came out of the kiln this morning.

This new Casserole with a hollow thrown knob and sprig design.

I had three of these dip bowls come out of kiln two of which were ordered.


and this Jug made in the Branham Style.
I also had a meeting with the electrician today to discuss my requirements
in the new workshop.
we came across this sign that had been placed on the door leading up to the room
above my new workshop.
I was lucky they weren't roosting in the new workshop or we would have been
halted in our tracks.

These young visitors were busy trying to take my picture
asking me to stand still every couple of seconds,
so I got my own back and caught them in the act.
and a young lad came to see me today to see if I would consider
letting him do his work experience with me for one week next July.
So things are back on track and I've got some new pots to make on Friday.

Bare Shelves = Bare Mind

When I got back from our week away

in the Isle of Scilly, I decided that most of the pots on my making shelves were

just not good enough.

The unfired pots were thrown into a big bucket of water, The bisc fired pots were hit with a hammer and then I turned my attention to some of the glazed finished pots.

It did feel like a cleansing of the Soul.

But look what I am left with.....
Bare Shelves !!

Don't take any notice of the empty wine and beer bottles

I haven't turned to drink,

Well not in the workshop anyway, there just left overs from the private view.

But My mind feels as blank as the shelves at the moment.

Where has my inspiration gone ?

If anyone has seen it can they please send it back!!

I think I've got so much going on that's all just up in the air at the moment

that I think I now understand the phrase

" I can't see the wood for the trees".

Back in the saddle.

We have just come back from a restful weeks Holiday

in the Isle of Scilly.

These pictures were taken from the flat that we stayed in.

we were very lucky with the weather,

the idea was to give us a break away from the workshop

so that we can have space to plan the year ahead.

Unfortunately for me I've had a bad tooth ache for most of the week

and it's made it hard for me to concentrate on things.

Still, we have spent lots of time together and come up with some

good ideas.

Now I'm back and raring to go, we got back late on Saturday afternoon

and I've already had a biscuit firing on last night.

New Slipware Harvest Jugs.

I made a new batch of glaze up this week.

but when I was about to glaze a kiln full of pots, I felt that the

new batch was to thin.

So I decided to let it settle overnight

and skim some of the water off the next morning.

I'm glad I did because this thicker glaze came out a treat.

This is a simple sgraffito design.
and leaf resist

with words from the Eva Cassidy song.

and this very bold Horse Chestnut Leaf resist.

and a new design cooking / serving dish.

I love making the Harvest jugs, I'm going to try and make more but with the

fatter belly, to match my own.

The Workshop

I had a meeting today with a chap from

the National Trust, to discuss what facilities I need

and where I want them.

So Now I have to plan what I want.

a Blank canvas of a workshop.

I'm all excited but also very nervous.

As most potters would do at this stage I ask myself

" what would Bernard Leach do ?".

and so inevitably I turn to the

"Bernard Leach a Potters Book"

for inspiration.

and sure enough I find it

"An individual potters workshop means more to him than a mere setting where the routine of production can conveniently go on.

Here he has to seek and weigh new ideas, comparing them and his finished work with the standards of the past and the needs of the unborn future."

Man of Clay

It's the week after Somerset Art Weeks,

and I'm feeling shattered.

We had a great show and a big thank you to every one who

bought my pots.

100 pots sold in 16 days.

So it'll be no surprise when I say I've been finding it hard

to keep going this week.

I just folded over a lump of my pugged clay, when I thought

" that looks like a pair of legs"

within a flash I had created a new Super Hero " Clay Man".

well it beats wedging.

The Autumn colours are a real treat at the moment,
and Marion found these little chaps in the Garden.

Only 6 days until we go on holiday for a week

to the isle of Scilly, just off the Cornish coast.

I can't wait.

I haven't had a proper holiday for at least 10 years.

When Autumn Leaves Begin to Fall...

I've had a nice day away from the workshop today.

I went down to see Doug and we had a cup of tea and talked pots.

when I got back I took Caddy for a long walk up on the hills.
It's nice to see the Autumn colours.

very much my kind of colours, and it's nice to absorb these pictures

into the brain.

This intrigued me, it's the cattle track to a water trough.

Trust Your Instinct.!!!!

Instinct is a wonderful thing !

I just wish I had trusted my own on Saturday.

Last year I attended the Spillers Open day and had great Success.

This year I was invited back.

It co-insided with the last weekend of Somerset Art weeks

and the Chut Fest at Barrington Court.

Last year I had a stall in a very nice kitchen area, which this year had a French chef in it cooking Duck in a Red Wine and cherry sauce.

So I was put in the next room right next to this Kitchen which was the star attraction

of the show.

Not the type of Kitchen that my pots should even be within sight of.

Also in the room with me were three very nice girls from Millers Farm shop

in Kilmington, nr Axminster, doing their very first show.

This was their stand much later in the day. at the start of the day it looked fantastic

just like a harvest festival.

I was tucked away in the corner and knew as soon as I turned up that this was not the place for me.

I should have trusted to my instincts and just left my pots on the stand with some leaflets.

any way I didn't , I stayed all day and did not sell one pot all day.

and the girls from Millers Farm shop didn't stop selling all day.

Leaf resist drying out at the workshop
I had to put this picture in as an antidote to the kitchen picture.

Luckily for me Marion spent the Saturday in my workshop

and did rather well.

On the Sunday the Chut Fest at Barrington Court pulled in over

1,000 visitors. and I felt much more at home in my own workshop

which made a bumper end to the Art Weeks event.

But I did learn an important Lesson this weekend.

Trust Your Own Instinct