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!!!!

New Year - New Workshop

Well here we are at the start of another Year

and once again we are starting it by planning

our new workshop.

We have decided to give ourselves a good break

this year and we won't be open again until the 14th January.

But in True Paul & Marion style we were in the barn this morning

talking through some of our ideas.

The building work starts next week with the scaffolding going up

for the roof to be replaced & repaired.

there going to use the same roof tiles but hopefully

add some insulation and make it waterproof.

The far end is going to be the showroom, and Marion talked me

 through her vision this morning.

We can't wait to get started on it and Marion has set me

 the the task of sourcing some of the items

needed to make this showroom our best ever.

Does anyone have a spare 3ft Chandilier?

We are also on the look out for a second hand Log burning stove

it needs to be a big one to heat this space

so if you know anyone selling one

point them in our direction.

And I have to turn this end into a pottery workshop

This Barn will have 3 Phase electric

so I'm also on the lookout for a larger kiln.

We did apply for a grant but we didn't get it

so how we are going to pay for all of this we are not sure yet.

Anyway that's never stopped us so far!

We are going to look at some other potteries

next week for some ideas.

So if you have any suggestions we would be happy to hear from you.

Good luck and best wishes for 2013.

Paul & Marion

A Merry Christmas to One & All.

Well it's Christmas Eve and all is well

in the Barrington Pottery Household.

I haven't taken any pictures of this years decorations yet

but it's a bit like this in our cottage,

 this was last years picture.

It's been an Amazing Year

with the best bit being Marion Joining me

in the workshop back in May.

A few people questioned the wisdom of us both working together

but we know each other well enough, and it's been working out well.

Then in June we did our very first 

Earth & Fire show at Rufford, it was a great success for us

and I'm proud to say we have been offered a stall again 

for 2013. 

Then we had the article in the National Trust Magazine

along with us supplying the online shop.

We've sent three orders to the Restaurant in Berlin

and Marion spent three months making 1800 clay figures

with visitors as part of the Anthony Gormley Exhibition

It's felt a bit like we have been chasing our tale all year.

But now it's the Christmas and the end of the Year

and we are having a well earned break

We are closed now until the 14th January.

So we would like to take this opportunity to thank all

of our customers over the past year first of all

for supporting us, but most of all for being patient with us

and making our 2012 our best year Yet.

Have a great Christmas and a very special new Year.

From Paul, Marion and of course Cadbury.

Not a Very Christian Word was Uttered

Earlier this year we were given the great privilage

of being asked to make a Font bowl for 

  St Mary's Church Barrington.

 Three previous attempts had all ended up in failure. 

I added a deep foot rim to allow for the Lead plug 

in the base of the Font. 

I added a coil and then threw it  

I covered the rest of the bowl to allow it to dry evenly. 

Then I painted it with white slip on the inside

and Blue slip on the outside.

Not my choice, but the Churches.

When dry

Marion got to work on the decoration. 

We took some pictures and Marion set about

drawing the church from a picture.

Very hard work judging by the look on Marion's face . 

 But it was coming on well. 

I added the wording and rim decoration

 It survived the Biscuit firing

so we glazed it and hoped for the best. 

But as you can see it cracked yet again. 

 at this point both Marion & I 

said a few non Christian words.

But I am sure

you will forgive us.

after all it is the season of good will!

Some times you ask yourself WHY ?

First of all, We have been so busy, I haven't found time

to keep the blog up to date. So I apologize for that.

The weather has been horrible very, very wet and windy.

Barrington Court looks a bit like this all over.

 a couple of trees haven't been able to withstand the combination

of soaking wet ground and strong winds.

This is the top view of a walnut tree.

 The sheep don't seem to mind.

 and here is something I have never done before

someone asked me if i could have a go at making tea bowls.

 I've never made them before

so we shall have to see how they turn out.

 Now we have the freezing weather to cope with

 The consolation is that it's Dry

 But very cold.

 Once again these girls don't seem to mind.

 So we have so little stock in the showroom

that I had to cancel putting some work in at the 

Ilminster Art Centre Christmas show.

and we were going to not attend the Dunster Castle event.

But I convinced Marion we should go

more as a PR thing than anything.

This is all of our stock out on display!

I'm glad I said to Marion it was a PR thing

because we only sold about 6 pots in a five hour spell. 

and as it was last year it was blooming FREEZING!!

The worst thing is that today we are there again 

from 4pm - 9.30pm.

It's a great event and well worth the journey.

so come along and say hello.

They have forgotten the Christmas music so tonight I'm taking

my digital radio to put on smooth xmas.

It's not all bad, how's this for a view

and I think Marion worked out very quickly why I still wanted to go

the burgers just by our stand are just brilliant! 

Well you have to keep warm some how!

Potter Puppet Pals: The Mysterious Ticking Noise

I was looking back at my Blog

to this time 4 years ago

and I found this puppet show I added

I thought the cast list includes the following

I thought the cast list is as follows:

Doug Fitch

Nic Collins

Ron Philbeck

Hannah Mcandrew

Matt Grimmit

see if you think the same.