Monday 29 March 2010

Barrington Court 2010

Work is carrying on at a pace in the Pottery.

My main problem seems to be getting pots to dry out prior to firing.

The daffodils are now out in force.

On Saturday two of my pint tankards were Auctioned for the Help the Heroes charity,

along with two John Leach pots and a Richard Dennis pot.

My Tankards raised £75 the Leach pots raised £550 and the Richard Dennis pot raised £250.


I've also been asked to provide some pots for the West Country Potters Association stand

at the Contemporary Craft Fair at Bovey Tracey on 11th - 13th June 2010.


I'm hoping to get some dates for lessons and taster sessions up here by the end of the week.

Friday 26 March 2010

The Strangest Post I'll Ever Do!

I thought long and hard about not doing this post
because I don't want you to think I'm loosing my marbles.
But I just wanted to share today's experience with you.
I was working away in the workshop yesterday morning
when John Leach came to visit me.
John was doing the rounds promoting his Picasso Exhibition
see poster now up in my showroom.
John Noticed my postcards of his Grandfather Bernard Leach on the walls by my wheels.
John started telling me stories about Bernard from
when John was an apprentice at St Ives. We chatted for some time and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

About 30 minuets later I was sat at this wheel throwing 1pint jugs,
I had made three when from the corner of my eye while I was concentrating I noticed the showroom door open and a slender figure in a dark suit walk in.
When I had finished my pot I looked up to talk to the visitor
but there was know one there!
I thought nothing of it until I started throwing the fourth jug and I felt as though I was being watched.
So I stopped in mid pot,
went and got a chair and sat it down next to where I felt I was being watched.
I said " Here you are Bernard have a chair".
and I went back to the wheel and carried on.
Later in the afternoon I was listening to the afternoon play on Radio 4
it was called
"Scummow"
About a man in Cornwall who could see the dead.
By this time I was beginning to question my own sanity.
But I carried on working.
to add to the days oddities there was a young Buzzard out side my workshop
all afternoon hunting in the garden and fields.
He kept swooping down in front of the window and sitting on this post.
So That's it.
It feels daft writing about it.
But that was my Thursday.

Wednesday 24 March 2010

First Kiln Firing in New Workshop

I had my evening class on Monday evening
and we glazed our pots and loaded the kiln for My first Firing in
the New Workshop.
A view of the top spy hole at around 960 0c
This is the kiln open this morning.

Most of the pots on this shelf are glazed with the Ash Glaze I made from the trees that were cut down last year.
This is one of Wendy's pots.
A* I think Wendy for your first time on the wheel.
This is another of Wendy's
And Wendy had thrown this pot and then added to it and carved in some decoration.

And this is another of Wendy's carved pots.
Wendy is very creative and is full of great Ideas.
I was going to show you a picture of a Cake Wendy brought in for us on Monday night but it didn't last long enough.
Thanks Wendy that was lovely and I hope you like your pots.
This is one of Marion's bowls.
with an interesting use of slip.

And a Vase slab pot made by wrapping it around a bottle of wine.
very appropriate I think Marion.

Sunday 21 March 2010

Pottery Workshop - Update two

Saturday the 20th March
The first full day of having the showroom open to the public.
The weather was miserable, but that didn't seem to stop people
coming in to have a look around.
It was still not very warm in the workshop, having not had doors on the building for the past 5 years, means it's going to take a while to heat up.
So I took my gas burner in and left that running for a few hours in the morning.
It's by no means finished
But by the end of the day I had sold 8 pots.
It's a glorious day today with blue sky's and sunshine
and it's also Bonus weekend at Barrington Court
which means it's free to get into the House and gardens
so I'm looking forward to a busy day.
This picture of the workshop was taken in the morning and I'm glad to say most of the mess has been cleared up now, and I ended the day with some pugging of clay.

Thursday 18 March 2010

It's Up - it's Down and it's Up Again.

I took this photo of what is now called the old workshop before I took it all down
and moved it across to the New Workshop.

The room looked a bit sad when I had finished
But it has served me well over the past year, and I am sure I will
never forget the memorable moments during my first full year as a full time potter.
But Onwards and upwards as they say.
I was sat in the New Workshop looking at the new space and wondering how on earth
I was going to have the showroom ready for Customers the next day
When Marion turned up having just finished a day's work.
We had a cup of coffee and set about sorting it out into some kind of shape.
Two hours later and it looked like this.
The stock looks a lot smaller in the bigger showroom
But I do like the plank of Pancheons
it truly is the best way to display them.

Monday 15 March 2010

Pottery Weekend of Filming

Just a quick post today, as I have to rush off to the workshop.
But we had an excellent weekend of Filming
Doug Fitch at Hollyford Pottery.
Nathan and Duncan have done a cracking job taking some stunning footage
of Doug and the whole making process.
We all had great fun and Doug tell's me the kiln finally hit temperature at 1.30 am.
More later....

Friday 12 March 2010

Pottery Worshop move - A Bit More

This is at the end of today.



Things seem to be moving along at a pace now.

I'm in the process of moving the big racking system I built last year

and the Kiln is all wired in.

I finished the wedging bench.

The doors may well get started on today.

and the plumber came yesterday to discuss water supply.

Thursday 11 March 2010

Pottery Workshop - Update

You Know how some times you can't see the wood for the trees !
Well, all is starting to look good. the Electrics are now all working.
I have installed a couple of benches and am in the process of building
myself a double wedging bench with breeze blocks
and 24" x 24" Paving slabs.
The building work on the doors can start tomorrow following the 21 days notice required by the planning authority.
So by the end of next week we should be in.

Tuesday 9 March 2010

So Close and Yet so Far.

I had put all sorts of stuff on this post earlier this morning, But I took Cadbury for a walk and whilst I was out I decided it was to negative.
I must think positively.
So I came back to delete it and while I'm just writing this,
someone just pushed £70 through my letter box with a very nice note
to pay for a pot.
There you go think positively!!!!

Sunday 7 March 2010

New pots from the kiln

I spent most of the day working in the new workshop
building two new benches and some wedging tables.
But I was also able to open another kiln load of pots from the kiln.
I was pleased with this load because I managed to fit lots in.
The Tall Jug here was fired laying on it's side which saved me some height
that enabled me to fit an extra shelf in.
Making this one of the most cost effective firings I have done.
More pics of the new workshop later when I've completed the wedging tables.

Happy Sunday all !

Friday 5 March 2010

Video Tour

A small video tour of the progress so far.

which includes the Electrician fast asleep in his van.

to be fair to him it was his lunch break, and carrying that shell around all day

must be very tiring.

but I just thought it followed up the last blog perfectly.

Thursday 4 March 2010

Snail & Co Electrical installations Ltd

I took these,
what I thought would be the last photo's of the showroom
before I took it apart to move it this weekend.
But talking to the Electricians today it became abundantly clear
that they were not going to be finished on Friday as per the original plan.
In fact they now think they will be finished a week on Friday.
They are on a fixed price job!!

So I'll be staying put this weekend.
Anyway I managed to snap a picture of the Electrician in full flight.

I think his tools are in the shell.

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