A Busy Day in the Workshop.

I've really enjoyed my day at the workshop today,

I've actually done what I set out to do.

"Now that's a rare occurrence".

I finally finished my Evening classes at 9.30 last night.

so that's the last of those until the middle of February.

They have all gone very well and all have said they want to come back next year.

The students have all been great fun.

I'm still walking to the workshop, I love it.

I'm working on four bread crocks at the moment and I've made the lids today.

and I've also made another 10 Tankards and half a dozen

small jugs.

I've also packed up some orders that are now completed

This Black slip bowl is one of a pair.

It's nice to pack up completed orders

for a number of  reasons.

1. the money comes in.

2. You can get on with making other things.

3. It's a nice feeling of satisfaction to complete an order with pots your very proud of.

And this is a shot of the showroom table

towards the end of the day. 

A Lady came and bought one of my soup bowls today, she said she couldn't wait

to get home and put some soup in it.

Small comments like that make you

 proud to be a potter.

As I am.

There is definitely something in the Air

Over the past few days there has definitely been something in the Air

as this picture demonstrates.

It's been so cold the Pajero will not start,

So for the past few days I have been walking to the workshop.

Something I should do on a more regular basis. 

These are some of the sights along the way.

I loved the colours of the trees, with the crisp morning sunlight.

We came across this deer, Well I did !

caddy didn't seem to notice him at all. 

But he did notice this little chap,

this foal was born earlier this year and he and caddy get on great.

but he looked a bit chilly today.

and when I made it to the workshop

it took on a magical look with the strong sunlight

 coming through the small windows at the back.

And Ice on the inside of the windows,

that reminded me of by bedroom as a kid

being able to write my name in the ice of my windows in the mornings

in winter.

It was 0 oc when I got in

so I have fired up the Raku Kiln minus the lid to warm it up. 

New Pots out today

New pots from the kiln today.

Lipped Pancheon.

and as it is getting colder I thought it was time to make

some more soup bowls. 

In various designs.

This is an order to match a jug they already have of mine. 

and I've made a number of these bowls as they sell well. 

Just a quick post

lots to do today.

Pottery & Kilns

I still have not resolved the issue of the second kiln not reaching temperature.

I've done something I know you shouldn't,

Open the kiln while the elements are still hot

just to check that they are all working.

Don't try this at home kids!!

as you can see they are.

The Game "You show me yours and I'll show you mine"

is not so much fun when they are both yours.

So I tried a game of spot the difference.

The only thing I can find that is different is the thermocouple wire

so It looks like that is the culprit,

but do you have to buy the whole thing or can I just buy the wire bit in the middle ?.

While all of this is going on I am still making lots of pots.

I'm conscious that I haven't put many pics up of pots recently 

So here are some pots in progress

Half pint tankards and Soup bowls.

and some dishes that are ordered. 

Fresh slipped pots. 

and these bowls are proving very popular.

And Finally some finished pots fresh from the kiln today.

Underfired ! - But Why?

In a bid to deal with the number of pots required over the Christmas period

I fired up the second hand kiln I bought on EBay a few months ago,

This was an attempt to fire two kilns one after the other.

But upon opening the Biscuit firing I found it was under fired.

We have had some bad storms and power cuts over the past week.

so I decided to fire the kiln again during the day while I was in the workshop

because all of the moisture had been driven out of the pots

I heated it up at 50 oc per hour up to 200 then moved it to 100 oc per hour

until 400oc, then it went on full power to 885oc.

the heat from 400 - 885 was incredibly quick, no more than 2 hours. 

A classic sign of under fire.

But when I opened it, it was no different.

when I reached temperature I switched over my bentrup controller

to check if it said the same temperature, and it did within 2 0c.

isn't it strange how when you try to push on, something slows you down.

The elements all look OK

and the under fire was even throughout the kiln.

The colours are all wrong and the pots feel as if they have reached about 500 oc

but I'm not sure.

stupid me forgot to put some cones in to check the temperatures,

a natural thing to do when firing a kiln that is new to you.

So any suggestions would be welcome.

I've taken it all out and re fired it in the original kiln and it looks fine.

My thoughts on this sign.

in the time it took them to install this sign,

maybe they could have filled in the pot holes.

or is that just me.!

Struggling with issues of self worth.

I'm in two minds about writing this blog today, but I have decided that

this is what blogging is all about.

When you are sat in your workshop as a creative person and you

don't feel a creative bone in your body.

It feels like my brain is an apple in one of these boxes

but which one.

 Why ?

I've been dealing with my bank who are charging me £100

for a £1000 overdraft facility, I fully understand the initial set up fee

which I paid last year, But to charge me the same amount this year just to

keep the same facility, is day light robbery.

Unfortunately I told the Guy exactly what I thought, and I was fuming, and still am.

 Dealing with these sort of robbing bastard's really does do my head in.

and effects how I feel inside, and thus how I feel about what I'm making.

The only way out of this I know is to not require an overdraft.

And I am determined to make this the case.

But they way they talk to you, made me feel like I was

a worthless piece of shit with a tin pot business.

You try finding a creative vibe when your made to feel like that.

It's Only an inner determination that is

going to get me working today.

There I did it,

sorry it's just how I feel today.

Oh and That is the loaf of bread I made on Wednesday.

New Improved Barrington Pottery.Com

We have added just a touch of Christmas Spirit to the showroom.

for the Sales run up to Christmas

Nothing to pretentious, just some natural greenery..

 The Court is Closed in the Week

but it is Open at weekends in November & December.

My Workshop and Showroom are open 10 - 5pm weekdays

and 12 - 4pm at weekends.
And I've been getting a steady flow of visitors, either
placing orders or buying pots.

I have a number of orders I am working on and I'm trying to make extra stock

for a number of Christmas shows.

I also spent all of Yesterday, sorting out the workshop.

I've cleared out my shelf unit, to make it more of a production area.



o

Lots of odd  bits and pieces were hit with the hammer to clear some clutter.

My Dilemma today is this.

I've been meaning to spend a day making bread using one of my pancheons

and Wednesday is my one day I am closed to the public.

So Do I take the day off and make some Bread

or do I come in and work which will also make me some bread

of a different Kind ?

Answers on a post card please!

It's obviously a time for sorting my life out as well.

is there something in the position of the stars.

or was I just living a world of a jumbled mess?

Because

My Web site designer Sam, has worked wonders on the

New Improved Web Site

We have updated the workshop page, the Sales page

and the Courses page.

Have a Look at

and let me know what you think.

http://www.barringtonpottery.com/

The Creative Mind is Kicking in - Watch out !!

It's the start of November !

Which means the Court House is closed during the week.

Which means I have the workshop all to myself.

I'm surprised how pleased I am to have my own workspace again.

The Autumn colours are at their best around the court.

and work is in progress, these harvest jugs have just been slipped.

This is what we call natural beauty, and it's nice to just walk around

and take it all in, as it sinks into the soul and then leech's out into the pots

no pun intended. 

The evening sun sets very early now that the clocks have gone back.

But work is progressing at a very slow rate,

and today I've decided to do something about it.

I've changed my potting shoes for some Pumps.

I've been wearing these for going out, and find I move with a bit more

of a spring in my step when I'm in them.

So I'm wearing them at the workshop and it seems to be working.

and because I don't have a flow of customers,

I've turned my telly around to face the workshop and brought in

My Beatles Anthology DVD

to play while I'm working.

It's great to feel like a real potter again.