Jars and lids

Good morning
The sun's shining again in beautiful Devon and the birds are singing their little hearts out, it's that time of year. Maybe I need to practice a little song for Hannah when she comes tomorrow? Maybe not! She'd be straight on the next train home. I am so excited about seeing her and I'm looking forward to enjoying a cup of tea together in the morning sunshine. It's a simple pleasure and one of the best. I know that I probably go on about it too much, but she's very cute and I love her a lot.

I worked another long day yesterday and managed to get the jars and lids made. They'll need decorating today. The dry weather speeds things up because I can dry pots in the sun between coats of slip.

Today if I get the decorating done, I might make some bowls. I keep meaning to, but then I get distracted and end up making jugs and jars instead.

Anyway, enough rambling, I'll get myself off to work. Have a lovely Sunday everybody, bye for now.

Friday blog

Good morning

It was a late night again last night, but at the moment I'm enjoying making pots so much that long hours are good fun and really not a chore.  I could have happily worked all night.

I'm counting down the days until Monday, when Hannah is coming to stay for a few days, I can't wait to see her. After that, we'll head back up to Scotland, via Nic's exhibition at the Goldmark Gallery. I love Hannah and I love sharing my life with her, every pot I make, I make for her - she's turned me soft in my old age!

Here's another talkie from yesterday. The sun is shining again and I'm off to work on some lidded jars.

Happy Saturday everybody

It's a talkie!

Morning all

The sun shone yesterday and Spring came to Hollyford, which inspired me to tell the world all about it!



It makes me feel good.

The big tapered jug with crazy decoration

Good evening
Thank you all for your kind comments on my last post. I'm back in Devon now and have just finished a very long day in the workshop. I'll not go on now as I'm tired out. I finished the big tapered jug today, here's a little film. Check out Bernard and his best friend Digger, they're so sweet together
Goodnight all

)

Monday waffle

Hello all
I'm away from the workshop for a few days at my parents' place. I'll probably be heading back to Devon tomorrow afternoon.

Fortunately I haven't got a very full calendar of events this year, which allows me to fit in these visits to see my folks. In some ways I should be worried not to be booked up, last year I pretty much knew my calendar a year in advance, but to be honest it's a relief.

Apart from anything else, it's wonderful to be able to take time develop my work, I just have to hope that I can sell it somewhere! I'm carrying on in the(possibly misguided!)belief that if I can make pots that are good enough, that somebody will want them.

Potting feels so much more enjoyable at the moment and I'm sure it must be visible in my work. Last year was crazy in so many ways, my personal life was a mess, I had to chase around the world and I only survived with the incredible support of good friends. I feel like I'm well and truly back on my feet again now and able to move forwards with strength and confidence.

Spring is coming and I've got through the winter, relatively unscathed! Of course my sweet girlfriend across the Border has a lot to do with it. She provides a constant source of inspiration and emotional support and makes me very, very, very happy.

One of my amazing friends is Andrew 'Frank' Grundon, artist, illustrator, poet, jug scratcher and signwriter extrordinaire. It was he that scratched the design on the beautiful Diamond Jubilee Jug. He has painted this fantastic sign for a pub in Somerset.

It's based on a photograph our photographer friend Claire took of us outside my workshop. It's brilliant, I hope to go and help him fit it and maybe sit beneath it to drink a pint of Westcountry cyder!

Here are three little films below that I made last week before I came to my folks'. One is a rambling talkie, the other two, just the standard quickies.










Back soon when I return to deepest Devon
Bye

Chubby jugs

I made fat bellied 8lb jugs yesterday. Off to Reading today to take Joe, my younger boy for a university interview, then to my parents'. Back soon