Tuesday 26 January 2010

Country Living Magazine - Campaign 2010

I have two things to say first, before I go on with the blog.
1. I still haven't got a new Digital Camera sorted yet, hence no pictures of work in progress or of how the new workshop is coming along.
2. If by scanning this Magazine article I have breached any copy write issues
I apologise now.
As a subscriber to Country Living Magazine I was very pleased
to see the new campaign for 2010
Your
Countryside
Needs
You!


Country Living have always been good supporters of Potters
over the years.
So I was especially pleased with the article that states as number 7
" The Local Village Pottery
should be a Priority Destination
for anyone with a love of
beauty in utility"
As for the new workshop, progress is slow.
I've spent the past week clearing it up, and I've lost count of how many times I have re arranged it's future layout in my head.
I find the more time I spend in there,
the more I get a feel for the space around me
and that's helping me to picture the working flow of the space.
I will get some pictures up here soon.

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Wassail Update

The Wassail on Sunday evening was a great success for all concerned
over 400 people attended and over 350 pints of Cider were sold
in a 3 hour spell.
I had made 8 of these small Wassail Cups
that came out of the kiln earlier in the day and they all sold on the night
and I took orders for 10 more.
This is Mathew Applegate, the chap that commissioned the Wassail Cup
and tonight was it's first outing

as you can see all sorts got their hands on it.
and put it to good use
and this was later in the evening, you can see my workshop
lit up in the background.
On Monday we were watching a programme on BBC 2 called
Escape to the Country, where people look to move from a city to the Countryside
They were showing a couple houses in Somerset this week and in one of the houses
was a set of my pots. great to see them on telly.
Looks like it's going to be a good start to the year.

Friday 15 January 2010

Barrington Court Wassail 2010.

I've broken my Digital camera, I found it in my coat pocket
with the Zoomy lens poking out at a funny angle.
I tried all sorts of subtle tampering, but it's Not going to work ever again.
So I've had to borrow Marions.
These pots came out of the kiln on Wednesday this is the second
glaze firing this year and a third is in the kiln tonight.
This is the black slip on the green slip, the glaze is a bit thin in places
so it doesn't have the richness I was looking for, But I do like it.
This store Jar is just plain black and white slip.

and this store jar came out a treat, I'll be making more of these.

I've got some small Wassail cups in the Glaze firing tonight they should be ready for the
Barrington Court Wassail
Sunday 17th Jan 5.30 - 8pm
Come along if you can.
We'll have the workshop open and there will be plenty
of Food and Cider if past years have been anything to go by.

Sunday 10 January 2010

What to do on a freezing cold Sunday ?

I know !
lets go and stand in a freezing cold workshop
and remove some calf pens.
I know Marion Loves Me, because she just said OK.
I'm leaving this section in for two reasons
first to keep the feel of the original use of the room
and secondly to keep the workshop separate from the showroom area.

So with Marion's help we set about clearing the space,
it's going to be a long job, doing bits as we can find the time.
And the work that is covered by the Planning consent
has to be agreed in advance with the planners giving 21 days notice.
But the National Trust are getting contractors in to do that bit.
So my first Pottery lesson due to start on the 9th February
may well have to be in the existing workshop, until all the other work is done.
Still, we made a start and I feel better for it and warmer.

Friday 8 January 2010

A Walk on the Wild Side

It was -9 oc here this morning, so I decided to walk to the workshop
via the back lanes, a much shorter and safer route
as the roads and paths are thick with Ice.
And I'm glad I did, a pure winter wonderland.

The sun shining through these leafs made me think about Porcelain.
I love the translucent quality of very fine porcelain,
but I find I just can't work with it.
When I got to the workshop I found the Night Storage heater had stopped working.
This ice was on the inside of the workshop window.
Luckily my plug in electric heater was set on frost control. and was still working.
but It has made for a colder than usual workshop today.
I have some pots to glaze in the next few days so I'll get kiln firing soon.
I've had my little helper with me today, but as you can tell by his expression
he'd rather of been at home with his Mum.
I've spent the morning putting handles on these Mini Wassail Cups
that I was trying to get ready for the Barrington Court Wassail
on the 17th of January.
I might have them Biscuit fired by then with a bit of luck.
so I'm back to the workshop now .

Monday 4 January 2010

A Positive Start to the New Year

My first day back at the workshop in 2010.
and as I have promised myself I was there Early.
The only way I'm going to find enough time this year
to make enough pots, is to get down the workshop early.
The early morning sun just catching some roof tops.
The shelves look a mess, but it's all work in progress.

I started by trying some new slip designs.
and I remembered the old tip. pour off the water in cold slip
and replace it with the same amount of warm water.
This is black slip on Green, something I've not done before.
and this is the same.
Once I had these done I got on with pugging more clay.
and it's only lunch time.

Harvest on the Farm TV appearance

It’s great to be back on the Blog! The most exciting thing that’s happening right now, is that I’ve been asked to appear on Channel 5’s TV s...