Winchcombe Visit.

 The great thing about giving ourselves some time off

at the start of the New Year, is that we are able to visit other potters.

.

So yesterday Marion and Me went to see our mate

 Matt Grimmit at Winchcombe. 

They have stock in the showroom. 

 and  a History of pot making that makes your head spin.

 Here is Matt next to the biscuit kiln with some fresh thrown mugs on the racks.

 Me & Matt

don't worry I'm thinking what your thinking!

 A slightly slender figured unfinished Ray Finch Pot

 and a finished but never seen Michael Cardew dish.

 one of the tools used to decorate the handles

I always wondered how they did that.

 This is the arse end of Ray Finches wheel with it's own wedging bench.

Thank You Ray I'm going to steal this idea

and build one on the back of my main wheel.

Such a simple idea.

and this rather quirky shot is of 

Michael Cardew's kick wheel.

I had to take the shot at this angle because there was a door resting on top of it! 

The back and the front of the old bottle kiln.

 These next shots are taken inside the kiln. 

 Great Jars

 Kiln shelves

 and a bit of both.

 We completed our day by having lunch in a Winchcombe tea shop

and visiting Toff Millway's Conderton Pottery.

it was raining by then and getting rather dark

so I didn't get to take any pictures here.

But we had a nice chat and his showroom is such a contrast to Winchcombe.

We had a great day and picked up some great ideas for our new workshop.

 I took Caddy for a walk this morning and the farmer was muck spreading

Phew!! what a smell.

but his tractor tracks made me think?

Which do you think came first? 

and some people are stupid enough to ask where we get our 

inspiration from.

I always just want to shout!

JUST OPEN YOUR EYES!!!!