Two New Pottery Videos and Ceramic Shows update.

Here is a link to our New Video

Shot and edited by Marion's Son Nathan

https://vimeo.com/130684985

I've put the picture here of the jug featured in the video

when it came out of the glaze firing a week later.

While Nathan was here we also updated  our previous video

to make one for the lessons 

in the Pottery school.

Here is the link to the school video

https://vimeo.com/130751269

The old workshop  it all started in 7 Years ago, is having an overhaul 

at the moment.

Not everything is going to plan

These 4 large pancheons made for a new customer

cracked in the biscuit firing.

It's a combination of me drying them out to fast

and the bottom of the kiln heating up to quickly

with deadly consequences.

Where the hell was He when I needed him?

After many years of me resisting the purchase of a rubber stamp

to print out own bags as suggested by Marion over two years ago

I finally gave in and let Marion order one.

I hold My hands up and bow to the superior Power

that is Marion Lewis

I love the new bags

and they have already proved a big hit with our customers.

The Day before we set off to the Earth & Fire show at Rufford Abbey

in Nottinghamshire, we had no idea what to do as a stall design.

We had been working so hard that I just hadn't had time to think about it!

So we went off to a coffee shop

it's much easier to think about stuff when you are away

from the workshop sometimes.

we drew up a sketch on a napkin

and designed a stall using stuff we had found in a skip earlier in the week>

This was the result

But in fact it didn't work to well, the top tray was too far back for customers

to reach the pots easily

and it proved to be our worst Rufford ever!

Back to the drawing board for the next show.

We at least gave our new tent an airing.

It's a stunning setting for camping and we do love the show.

We attended the Richard Godfrey Exhibition

in the art center.

It Proved to be a very emotional event, and made us all think about

our own mortality. 

The following day the event continued with the 

Potters Games.

always a great way to show the fun side of pottery.

and demonstrations

I especially liked watching Niek Hoogland's

demonstration.

he decorated this dish

and later that day when we were both clearing away

he wrote this on the back

and presented it to me.

Very Special.

in fact I was so over whelmed I had to have a nap in the shade.

Our banner proved to be a popular meeting place

for potters.

Our sales at Rufford were not great, but we both came away feeling

that we had enjoyed ourselves, learnt a lot

and were both very excited about what the future may still hold.

so in that respect it was a good event.

We were only back three days and then we were off again

 this time to Art in Clay

our first time as a stall holder.

and one of the boxes ticked on my Bucket list.

By the time we were set up we had behind us the moon rising

and in front of us the Sun setting.

New show = New Stand

We had learnt the lessons of our Rufford stall

This stall was all about letting people know who we are.

As a Kid I used to live in Stevenage which is only about

12 miles from Hatfield

and My old art teacher from The Nobel School

Mrs Thomas came to the show and wondered if she might see me.

I used to sell pots at pottery parties

when I was about 16 to fund my school and college pottery

Mrs Thomas still uses a pot she brought from me in 1978.

The one thing about being Me is that I do seem to be able

to say things to people and get away with it!

I'm told people are surprised I'm still alive with some of the 

stuff I've said to people, but my cheeky approach 

certainly paid off with my Cider beakers, 

I sold a lot to ladies that were looking at Them when I said

Up here there Gin Beakers!

SOLD.

We had a great show at Art In Clay,

My Demonstration on the Friday morning was well attended

and got rave reviews from those who attended

and it was very well attended.

To cap a great weekend Marion brought me this great book

from the Ceramic review book shop stall.

One Happy Potter
well Two Acually.