Kiln half empty

Good morning

It's about time that I updated this ever erratic blog.

I'm having a late start today as I was awake in the early hours, swallowing little pills to fend off a migraine attack and I've only just surfaced.

Life has settled down again into a new kind of normal since Luke went away to college. Thank you all for the comments that you left on my last post, they were really appreciated.

The fact that we hear from him so infrequently, tells us that he's having a great time.

With all the communication systems that the modern world brings, it would be so easy to bombard him with emails and phone calls, but tempting though it is to do that, this is his time.

As the killer line says in this poem that my Mum sent to me when he went, 'love is proved in the letting go'. I miss him though.

I've been fighting a bit with depression recently - not really terrible, I wouldn't be able to write this stuff if it was really bad, but unpleasant enough. It comes to me now and again, making my stomach churn with feelings of crippling anxiety and my confidence hits the floor. My day becomes a series of deep sighs that say everything that it is impossible for words to explain.

I need to get on top of it, the negativity is self perpetuating and I lose motivation and self belief. I can little afford for that at the moment, with deadlines looming. It just compounds the stress.

I've made quite a few pots, but all I can see are the spaces between them on the shelves that are still to be filled. Maybe I'm expecting too much of myself?  It's a tall order trying to make all the things that I want to make, in the time scale that is available. I only seem to be able to work by setting myself ridiculous targets, which means that I always set myself up to fail.

Life experience has taught me that I have to just keep on going and work my way through it to drive these feelings away. Replace the negativity with a positive mental attitude.That has always been my message to friends who have been in the same boat, so really I have to set an example and stick by it myself, difficult though it is. Sometimes it's much easier to give advice than to live by it, but I know it's either that or give up, so I have to keep going.

I know that I'm really fortunate to have this lifestyle and I appreciate that, so what do I have to feel depressed about? I work in a beautiful place and I'm lucky that people seem to like what I make, enough that they want to have it in their lives and that is amazing.

But this isn't about being grateful or ungrateful. Depression in my experience, is an irrational (and self-indulgent) feeling that casts a darkness over everything, however wonderful the circumstances may be.

Other sufferers will understand where I'm coming from and there will probably be those who don't understand, who will just think I should be happy with my lot and stop  moaning. The tough thing is, I know that the latter is true, but that doesn't seem to help.

There doesn't need to be a reason to feel this way, it is, just how it is, and therein is the problem, there is no root cause to treat. It doesn't make any sense.

I write this, not looking for sympathy, or even a response. Sharing it feels like part of the purging process, and writing it down is helping me think my way through it. I won't be defeated and it will pass, I've been here often enough to know. Don't worry Mum when you read this, I'm fine.

Tomorrow I might well be high as a kite, that is just how my brain works, which must be a nightmare for  anybody who is close to me. Thankfully they still love me in spite of it, I suppose it's just what makes me who I am, for good or for bad. I do try and keep a lid on it, I wish I had better control of it all.

Please excuse this stream of gloomy consciousness, I did say that depression is self-indulgent. This post was supposed to have been about the pots that I'm working on at the moment, but it's gone to a different place. Maybe I'll do that one tomorrow.

Marky Mark is coming up this evening and we'll work late. He's a great friend and over the years he has never failed to keep his eye on the long term vision of the workshop, when I so often lose sight of it all. This stuff is so hard to do alone. We'll turn the music up loud and have a good time.

I feel much better for writing all this down, thank you for listening, I hope I haven't made everybody miserable. It's time to put my muddy clothes on now and head to work and concentrate hard at finding the focus, energy and enthusiasm to pull myself out of this hole. I know that it's down to me to do it.

I might regret hitting the 'publish' button and sharing this with the world, but what's a personal blog if it's not about sharing the truth?

Ah well, here goes

Sunday waffle

Marky Mark couldn't make it after all, so I took myself off to work on my own this afternoon. The weather was vile and the air was damp and cold, I really didn't want to be there long, so I didn't bother lighting the burner and just kept busy to stay warm.

I thought a lot about Luke while I was there. It's going to take a while to get used to him being away - Sunday dinner felt very strange tonight with just the three of us at the table.

When we left him yesterday, I had one of those moments that I know will stay with me forever. We said our goodbyes in the communal kitchen of his new home. Just before the door sprung closed, his eyes turned away from us and he smiled his sweet smile as he introduced himself to his new house mates, then, with that, the door clicked shut. It felt like the door had just closed on his childhood, we left him standing on his own feet, an independent young man.

It's been tough seeing him go and I feel sad for us, but so, so happy for him. He's worked hard to get there and this is the start of a really exciting stage of his life - and a new one for us too.

So there we go, I just need to get used to it, which I will of course.

Back to the pots.

The dishes that I made on Friday were ready for turning and decorating today and encouraged by the results of the pressed dishes that came out of the kiln on Friday, I did the best that I could with my squirty style of slip trailing.

I'll probably not make many pots now for a few days as I'm going to have a big tidy up ready for the visit of the Japanese on Saturday. I'm looking forward to a really good sort out.





Here's a little film of dish making and slip trailed chickens.



And today's sloppy slipping

Good night all

Delivered

We delivered Luke to University yesterday. The car was full up with books and guitars and tins of food, a nervous Luke, a curious younger brother(his time is yet to come) and two sad but proud parents.

How times have changed since I was a student, his room is bigger than his bedroom at home and has an en-suite shower and loo - whatever happened to not washing for three years? It so was wonderful to see him meeting his new house mates for the first time, he's such a sweet young man.

I had a message from him this morning to say that the place is amazing and that his new friends are all 'cool'.

Off to work later with Marky Mark. I had some pressed dishes out of the kiln on Friday that worked well, I'll try and get a little film up later to show you.

First frost

It was noticeably colder this morning. The sky was blue and clear, but I wore two sweaters as I set out on my walk to work. A farmer’s wife, who was making her journey on foot towards the village, confirmed to me that this morning she had witnessed the first frost of the autumn.

By the time I’d reached the steep hill from Hollywater Bridge, I was regretting my extra layer. I paused to catch my breath and to survey the landscape through the gate at the top of the hill, one of my routine stops. From here there are open fields, to distant hills, with the village church set between them. It’s a terrific place to watch the swallows as they weave and dart just above the ears of barley, catching insects on the wing. Today they were nowhere to be seen and the barley was just stubble. A large group of them were gathering on the telephone wires outside the workshop last week, chattering away, preparing to head off to warmer climes - they’ve gone now until the spring.

A little further up the hill, some of the trees in the top orchard are laden with apples. There appear to be two varieties still on the branch, awaiting the mechanical harvester which will strip them bare. In spite of the wet summer this year, they are ripe, so they will be harvested soon I think. Earlier varieties were taken for cider making a few weeks ago (the small, hard ones with bitter skins). These are eating apples, large and red and juicy – a couple wouldn’t be missed, so I took some to eat later.

Today I will be decorating some small tea bowls that I made earlier in the week. I’m expecting a visit from a group of Japanese pottery tourists in a few days, so these were made with them in mind. Tea bowls are of course held in great regard in Japan and are used in the ancient ritual of the tea ceremony. This is a very different cultural experience from my ‘English tea ceremony’, i.e. a teabag steeped in a mug and then squeezed with a teaspoon before the addition of milk and the unhealthy sugar that helps to keeps my frantic body active throughout a long day.

I can only make the type of pots that I understand, so my interpretations of tea bowls are unashamedly English – simply a variation on the theme of the breakfast bowls I used to make a few years ago, when tableware was the staple production. They are, however, softer thrown on the kickwheel and I am much more aware of the qualities of the rim, which must be inviting to the lips – the same consideration when making mugs. In contrast to mugs, the appearance of the inside of the bowl is much more significant and I try to throw them deftly and with speed, so that the spiral that transmits from the centre captures the dynamic energy of the throwing process. I’m not sure if they’re any good really, time will tell; as bowls go, I really like them, but whether my Japanese guests consider them to be good tea bowls, remains to be seen.

The next day.....

Well the tea bowls are slipped and decorated. I’m a little unsure about some of them – it a matter of proportion – height, to width, to size of foot ring etc. I just haven’t made enough of them in my time to be confident - to have found ‘my own’ shape. I’m writing this from the workshop sofa, with the bowls on the shelf in front of me. Some of them just look wrong, but in making those, my eye becomes attuned to the ones that look right – they’re all worthwhile. I’ll see them through the firing process and the good ones will be offered for sale. The poor ones will go home with me and be used for porridge. Ah porridge! I must get some, it’s fine fuel for this time of year. My snack on the track this morning on my way to work was blackberries and Bombay mix – healthy and not so healthy – the balance of life. I love blackberries from the hedgerow – each one has a different flavour, a sharp one, a sweet one, a soft mellow roundness or an acidic attack on the taste buds – everything is about contrast.

Usually at this time of year I’m collecting wild strawberries – evidence if ever it were needed that bigger is not necessarily better. This year I’ve barely seen any, just the delicate, minute white flowers, awaiting the sunshine that this past summer has failed to deliver.

I met another farmer’s wife on my way here this morning. Anyone would think that it happens all the time round here, another day, another farmer’s wife. We spoke briefly about the artificial insemination of sheep before we went our separate ways. Life is never dull in the countryside.

I feel too tired today to make pots, although I know that I must. I want to get some shallow dishes made for the visit of the Japanese – I’ve left it all a bit last minute. I haven’t had a day off in weeks and the last two weekends were spent dashing around the country. Last weekend I was in Derbyshire selling pots, then I was in London, visiting the galleries with my son Luke the weekend before. He’s away to university in Bath tomorrow, to begin studying towards a degree in Painting. I’m excited for him and a little sad too as he takes this big stride towards independence. He’s a really good artist, I’m so pleased that he’s chosen this route, albeit perilous – not to explore and develop such skills would be such a waste. This world needs creative people.

Saturday

I went to work yesterday and spent many hours sticking little rolls of clay on to some of the jugs that I made last week, whilst listening to Exeter City's crushing defeat on the radio - I'm glad I didn't go now! 

Quite a few jugs are still tucked away under polythene, awaiting decoration. I'll work a long day tomorrow and try to get as many as I can all finished up. I'd like to throw the next batch of pots on Tuesday -this will be a number of larger, one off pieces, for a forthcoming exhibition with painter Adam Milford.

A five pound fat jug and a tapered seven pound jug.




I'm having the day off today. Perhaps Hil and I will take a trip to the seaside this afternoon if the sun keeps on a'shining.

Happy Sunday everybody, catch you tomorrow.

Friday handlage

Evening all. It's been a day of handle making today, slightly subdued due to the ill effects of last night's cider. I had a lovely birthday, I'm feeling my age tonight though!

Here are jugs in three sizes - the ones on the shelf are made from 5lbs of clay, the round ones beneath, 3lbs and the tapered ones, 7lbs. I'll try and decorate them all differently. Throwing the pots is pretty quick, it's the handling and decorating that takes the time. I think I'll probably work tomorrow, even though it's the weekend. I've a lot to do, with a number of commitments approaching in September, so I need to get these pots decorated and fired as quickly as I can.

The football season starts tomorrow and although I'm not a great sports fan, I do like to follow my local team, Exeter City.  I really enjoy working on a Saturday afternoon, while listening to the match on the radio, so maybe I'll do that - or maybe I'll go and watch it, then feel guilty for not going to work, just like I did yesterday.

Happy weekend everybody

Home again

Home again after a wonderful holiday in the Lake District. I needed the break so badly, I just hadn't realised how much. Now I feel fully refreshed and ready to get back in to making again in a big way. The Lake District is such a beautiful region - I love the countryside that surrounds my home and workshop in Devon, but it was great to see some different terrain - and to come back to my own again afterwards too of course. While we were away, I dropped off some more pots to the exhibition at the Castlegate House Gallery. The show runs until 8th September and is the first exhibition to be put on by new owners, Steve and Christine Swallow. It comprises of paintings and pots which they feel particularly passionate about, so it's a delight to have my work included, along with Hannah's and Paul Young's pots. I was pleased to be able to take some more pots along, as TNT destroyed a number of key pieces that I'd sent by courier a couple of weeks ago, with their careless handling, grrrrrrrrrrr. You can see all the work if you click on the gallery link above.

The workshop garden has been rather neglected this year but my blousey gladioli are giving me a bit of late summer colour. I seem to have been so busy this year, that I just haven't had the time to keep on top of it.

The apples in the orchard appear to be plentiful again this summer, they've certainly had a good drop of rain to drink in recent weeks. These will be used for making 'Irish' cider

A few more weeks and we'll be in to blackberry season.

'Lords and Ladies'

 I'll not bore you all with my holiday snaps, but if you're interested in seeing where we went to, here's a little film of our adventures in the Lakes. Luke has a job at the moment, so he opted not to come with us on holiday for the first time this year so we took Joe's buddy Albert along, to keep Joe company. It's less than a month now before Luke goes off to Bath and to art college - it seems like a blink of the eye since he was a baby.
.

This is a badly chopped together film I made yesterday of the day's making. I should have been at work today really, but I gained another year today, so had a day off with Hil and the boys instead. We're off to the pub tonight for my birthday celebrations, so I'll be handling pots tomorrow with a cider head no doubt!

Bye for now

Scrub up

No sooner do I get back in to blogging, than I have to stop again. We're off on our holidays on Monday, so I worked late in to the night on Friday night to get the workshop clean and tidy for when I return. I've got a stack of clay pugged and ready to get started as soon as I get back. The place was so desperately in need of a sort out, when the workshop is clogged up it doesn't function properly and as a result of that, neither does my head. I had a good day yesterday with a photographer friend of mine, Claire Borlaise. Frank came over too and we had some pictures taken for a publication we're putting together. I'm not sure if this will work, but you might be able to see the pictures here Off to set up a little stall in the church near my workshop at Stockleigh English today. They have a cream tea event every year - it isn't really a selling event, but it's a pleasure to be invited there as part of the community. There's one of my jugs in the church that I made a few years ago for the Flower Ladies - you can see it here in the film that Alex made, Hollyford Harvest. Well I don't know what's happened to my blog - I lost all my paragraphs a while back and so just changed my template in an attempt to get them back. Now I've lost all my links and my clustermap. Sometimes technology makes me want to curse. I need a holiday!!! Back in a week or so, take care, bye for now.

Thursday

Yesterday was a day of decorating and tidying up. Last year, on my trip to America with Hannah and Ang, Dan took us to visit Guy Wolff in Connecticut. Guy gave us some slip trailers that he had made. They consisted of a clay reservoir, with a goose quill, through which the slip flows. I've been wanting to have some fun with these for a while - I like the challenge of decorating, with the material slightly out of control. I need to come up with some new ideas really, the design that I messily trailed is a traditional one, used extensively by Michael Cardew. It fits these dishes well, as the moulds were made by the great man himself. My method of applying the design however is rather more haphazard than his. It'll be interesting to see how they come out, they'll either work or they won't. Today will be another day of tidying up. The place is such a state at the moment after all the chasing round the country in recent weeks - it's not been sorted out properly for ages. Joe, my younger son is going to come and stack wood for me this afternoon, which will be a great help. We're going away next week for a family holiday, so I want to have everything organized and in it's proper place, ready for when I get home. While we're away, I'm hoping to spend a few hours in the Castlegate House Gallery in Cockermouth, where I currently have an exhibition alongside Hannah McAndrew and Paul Young. Well I have to walk to work today as the car is in the garage for a service, so I'd better get out on those lanes - I think the sun might be shining - hurrah! Back later, bye for now

At long last!!!

Well at long last, this will bring my blog up to date. I'm just waiting for a new camera to arrive in the post as  my bag, including camera, was stolen from the train on the way home from Hatfield. The problem with blogging is that as soon as I get behind, I find it hard to catch up. Here is a whole string of films of what's been going on. Happy Tuesday everybody

The firing (a couple of weeks on)

Goodness me, I've managed to get very behind with this blog lately, life's been busy. Here's a bit of a catch up. Alex came down and together we packed the kiln On firing day we were joined by Ella, a potter who had completed an apprenticeship at The Leach Pottery in St Ives. The firing went fairly easily, I think it was about fourteen hours long. On the unpack, I was completely zoned out with a cider fueled migraine. We'd been to Blogger Paul's birthday party the night before and although I didn't drink very much,it was enough to do some serious damage. Blogger Andrew came to the unpack and so Hil, Andrew and Alex took the pots out while I reclined, moaning and blinded on the workshop sofa. Never again - ha! It was a fairly good firing - maybe a little underfired in places, I might fire a cone hotter next time, but it was all new glazes, so as a starting point, I was pleased. I need to formulate a decent dark honey glaze before the next firing to provide the entire range of tones and colours that I'm trying to achieve.

Firing time

It's firing time! Alex came yesterday and today we packed the kiln. There are a lot of pots in it this time, with a new range of glazes, so I'm hoping for the best. Marky Mark is going to light it up early tomorrow morning. I should write more, but I'm tired and it's late again, so forgive me for keeping this brief. Here's what's been happening in the last three days Sleep time, goodnight all

Good morning

Hello folks. It's been ages since I blogged, life's been pretty hectic and I got behind with it, so here's a whole string of little films to bring things up to date. Alex arrives tomorrow afternoon. We'll pack the kiln on Thursday and fire it on Friday. Before then, I have hundreds of pots to glaze, so today I need to get busy with that. Back soon with words and pictures. Bye for now

Tuesday and Thursday on Friday

Morning folks I haven't posted for a couple of days, so here's a quick catch up before I head off to work.

These are some 16lb jugs I made earlier in the week, each with a scroll handle, the likes of which are often found on the old traditional harvest jugs in this region.

Some little moneyboxes, with love birds, a cockerel and a bird on it's next with its brood.

My regular daily company - I think Mrs Duck must be sitting on eggs, she visits less frequently recently. I made this video on Tuesday.

And this one yesterday. Well this won't do, I'd better get to work, bye for now

Tuesday

Morning all Here's a little film of the Jubilee jug when it came out of the kiln last week. It's still sitting here beside me and it's destination is as yet unknown. Back in the workshop yesterday, I started off with a few dishes. I'm hoping to have a good throwing day today. I cleared the decks at the weekend and tidied the place up in readiness for one last big making session before the firing. My strength is slowly returning after last week's illness, it really knocked me out .

If you should happen to be in Devon at the weekend, my friend and inspiration, Clive Bowen is having a sale. I'm sure there will be many wonderful things there - I'll be going for sure. Off to work, have a lovely day all

The Diamond Jubilee jug

Good morning and a happy Monday to you all. It's a bright and sunny one here again today - the past few days have been scorching. Yesterday we took a family outing to Bath. Luke achieved the merit that he required to win his place at Bath Spa University, where he's going to study painting, so we took the trip out so that he could check out the city centre - it's a beautiful and vibrant place. I'm very pleased for him. Today is Joe's seventeenth birthday, so we're all going out tonight for curry to celebrate. Here are a couple of photographs of the Diamond Jubilee jug which my friend Jonny took for me last week. I seem to be having some difficulty uploading them, I think because they're large files, but you can see more of them here.

Pictures from a poorly potter

Hi folks I've been poorly :( I went to the doc's today and got some pills so hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow. It's only a sinus infection, but it's made me dizzy and feverish all week and above all achy and exhausted. Enough moaning about that anyway.

I managed to find the memory card for my stills camera, so I'm pleased to be able to post some stills again. I've missed having photographs on my blog.

These are 3lb jars. The grey will become green and the white, either yellow or honey.

This is the big jug I made a few days ago.

And here's Luke at his private view. Needless to say, I was very proud of him.

Well this is a good value blog tonight to make up for missing yesterday and this morning. Here's a film of what happened yesterday And here's one from today, when I took the Golden Jubilee jug to Jonny the photographer's place in Exeter. I'll be going back to collect it tomorrow, so no pot making, but I need a day or two to get fit again before a big push to make all the large pots next week, that I should have made this week. Sorry if this is a bit of a delirious ramble - it's because I feel a bit delirious :) Off to bed Goodnight all

Slip

Yesterday was a beautiful sunshiny day in Devon - today looks like it's going to be much the same. I still feel really run down at the moment, it's not easy being a man with a cold. No pots made still, but slip mixed and jars decorated. There are more to decorate today, then I can clear the decks and maybe get back in the swing again. I'm off to Luke's private view this evening. This will mark the end of his Art Foundation course, which is the stepping stone that will take him to university in September. I'm looking forward to seeing all his work properly hung - he's worked exceptionally hard. Well, it's off to work I go - have a lovely day all

Tuesday

Morning folks Yesterday wasn't as productive as I had hoped - I was still feeling really wiped out by the weekend's migraine and a couple of times, I had to take a lie down on the workshop sofa. That said, I got everything done that I set out to do, apart from making any big pots - I'll have to make double today. I think Mary Mark is coming over this evening, so I'll put some hours in. The Jubilee jug is now glazed and will go in to the kiln today. I'll be much relieved to see that come through the firing. Time to go to work Bye for now ps Here's the Olympic torch going past my brother's office at the weekend - see if you can guess which one is my brother. Hil makes an appearance too :-)

Monday

Morning everybody and a happy Monday to you all. Here's a video from Friday. I had hoped to get to work on Saturday, but all of the late nights and long days finally caught up with me and I was knocked out by a migraine attack. So I'm running a little behind, with catching up to do today. The big plan here is to make enough pots for two firings, back to back. The pots from the firings will be for Earth and Fire, Rufford and Art in Clay, Hatfield, then an exhibition in a gallery up north, with Hannah McAndrew and Paul Young. I want to be able to have enough to chose from, so that I can have fresh pots for each event. The Hatfield show is usually in August, but because of the demand of the Olympics on the supply of marquees and portaloos, it's been moved to a fortnight after Rufford, hence the necessity to work so hard right now. The Olympics is something I've never been excited about,as I'm not that interested in sport, so it seems to the uninitiated eye, to be lots of people running round and round and throwing things. I did however enjoy watching the Olympic flame go by on Sunday. Maybe it should inspire another commemorative jug collaboration with Frank? I got the sense that I was experiencing a little bit of history. Well I'll sign out now and head off to work. I don't know what's happened to the paragraphs in recent pots - the blogger software seems to have removed them all - I guess it saves them publishing a whole lot of gaps - it's a pity, negative space is so important, so please excuse these posts ending up being big chunks of text. Have a good start to the week everybody, bye for now.

Jarage

Morning all Hurrah! I got the jars and their lids made - six at six pounds, six at three and six at one pound. Today I'll be turning the lids and throwing the knobs on. It felt good to be back on the wheel again and really, really goo to have finished the pots from the last make. If I get time today I hope to make some really big jugs. I'm a bit slow this morning - a nasty dose of man flu is upon me, hopefully I'll survive :( Happy Friday everybody

Wednesday on Thursday

Good morning Hurrah, the sgrafitto jug came out fine - what a huge relief. I was feeling quite sick with nerves when I opened the door to the kiln - I think you can probably sense my trepidation and then my subsequent relief. I now have to get the glaze on to it and fire it again successfully, but so far, so good, it didn't blow up and the handle stayed on, phew. I still didn't manage to get on the wheel yesterday, once again it was a day of decorating, but today, at long last, I'll get started on making lidded jars. It's been nearly three weeks since I made any pots. The sun shone yesterday, the woods are now fully verdant, the hedgerows are exploding with Campion and umbellifers - Spring is here for sure. Got to fly, kiddiwinks to school, then off to work for another long day. I hope you all have a good one Bye for now

Tuesday on Wednesday

Morning all Marky Mark came over after work and we worked on, late into the evening. Just four more pots to decorate, then I start making lots of jars - I can't wait to get making again, although my poor tired back is aching this morning. I'd better get myself organized and away to work. I'll report back later on how the sgrafitto jug came out. Happy Wednesday all, have a lovely day.

Tuesday

It's in the kiln! Fingers crossed. Luke came to work with me yesterday and stacked all the wood in the woodshed, ready for the next firing. He's finished his art foundation course now and will be heading off to university to study painting in September, so I'm going to make the most of his youthful muscles while he's still at home! My poor body is certainly feeling plenty of aches and pains. The decorating marathon still continues, but I know for sure that it'll end today and then I can start the cycle all over again with a new batch of wet pots. Lidded jars next I think - and maybe a few more jugs - one can never have too many jugs. Marky Mark is coming over this evening, so I'll put in a long day. Bye for now

Road trip

Good morning and a happy Monday to you all. Here's a little film from Friday. I'm still struggling to get my pots decorated and still there are a whole lot of them waiting for me, safely kept damp under polythene. It's driving me a bit crazy! Hopefully I'll see them off today. As you can see from the video, the orchard is in full blossom at the moment, stimulating the senses with its beauty and delicate fragrance. The blossom inspired the decoration on the little jug at the start of the film. I spent way too much time on that little pot, but that's just the way it is sometimes. On Saturday, Marky Mark and I headed off over the border, to Cornwall, to visit Frank. While there, went down to near Land's End, to pick up a pug mill, which nearly broke our backs. Frank delivered it back to the workshop yesterday. We also brought back the Jubilee jug, which I have to bisc fire today. It's stunning, Frank made an amazing job of scratching it. Well, I must away to work and try and get all those pots decorated. I'm desperate to get making again, hopefully it'll happen today. Bye for now

Friday

Morning folks I didn't get as much done yesterday as I might have liked - I was feeling a bit rough, I'm not sure why, just tiredness - I feel great today thankfully, so I should get all the decorating finished off so that this batch of pots can be drying out over the weekend, ready for bisc firing next week. I intend to give the workshop a good clean-up before I leave this evening, ready to get started making again next week. Tomorrow I'm off to Cornwall, to pick up the sgrafitto jugs that Frank's been working on. Here's a short film he made of the big one while he was working on it - it looks even more remarkable now it's finished - what a clever man. Time to get these kiddies to school, I'll be back later with a progress report on today's decorating. Have a good Friday everybody.

Handley handley

That's all the handles done - hurrah! Lots of decorating tomorrow.

Juggedy juggedy

Morning all. Yesterday was another long day. The school bus broke down in the morning, so Joe needed a lift to school in Crediton and Luke, a ride to college in Exeter with all of his art works for his final assessment. He's done some amazing paintings, I'll blog about that another day. I had to wait for Luke for a while, so took the opportunity to visit the old pots in Exeter Museum, which is just near his college. They have a good collection there of locally made pots - the medieval ones and the later, North Devon slipware, do it for me of course. Anyway, the upshot of all that stuff meant that I wasn't in work until after lunchtime and had to work late to make up for it. As you can see from the little film that I shot on the way home from Exeter, the countryside is full of colour at the moment - the yellow of the Oilseed Rape in the fields and the pinks of the Campions against the fresh, bright greens of new spring foliage in the hedgerows. The views are from the top of Raddon Hill, which we have to traverse from here to get to town. It's always a spectacular vista from the top of Raddon, whatever the season, but in the spring it's just wooohooooooooooooo. The jug on the film took me hours to decorate - it was 11 pm before I was out of there. Decorating in this manner is a journey, which begins with vertical lines, that are then filled in-between, the design developing as I go along. It's inspired by the density of foliage in the spectacular high banks that line the lanes around here. I had an interesting conversation with the painter Simon Jowitt during our recent exhibition in Cambridge about the use of such geometry to create depth and perspective. This pot's also reminiscent of a carved porcelain cup that Adam gave me on his recent visit - I hadn't realized that until I was well underway, but looking at that cup helped me resolve some questions as to where certain lines should be - thanks Adam! Off to work then for another long day. I think Marky Mark may be joining me this evening. I'm putting the hours in at the moment as I would like as many pots as possible to chose from for the forthcoming summer shows. Also I have to make some big stuff for an order and need to be able to afford the time to get it wrong before getting it right, with the reassurance of a body of stock on the shelves. Many handles, much decorating and hopefully freshly thrown pots by the end of today. Bye for now, have a good day all.

Stuff from Monday

Morning folks Well yesterday may have been a Bank holiday - but it was certainly not a potter's holiday. Not that I minded a jot, I'm really enjoying myself at the moment. The holiday also enabled Marky Mark to come out to play. We started work bright and early, MM throwing and me decorating. Mark stayed until early afternoon and I ended up working on late into the evening. It was a long day and I got a lot done. All the pots that I made last week are starting to toughen up, so I have to get them all finished today. It'll be great to get back on the wheel and start making again tomorrow. Here's a short video of yesterday's progress. Have a good day everybody, back later

Weekend waffle

Well just as I was about to leave work at 5.30 on Friday evening, I checked everything that was being kept damp under polythene, only to discover that some of it was getting a bit dry and needed handling. So my hopes of an early retreat were dashed and I had to work on until late. There are still a fair few pots to handle in the morning. I think I must have made half a kiln load of pots during last week. There's still a lot to do with them - throwing is the relatively speedy part of the process, the finishing and decorating is what really takes the time. It's the decorating that I find the most difficult aspect of all this. I feel like I'm making good progress though and to be looking forward to getting to work in the morning is a good feeling. Marky Mark came over yesterday and we graded and stacked the delivery of wood that arrived last weekend. It should be good and dry for the next firing. It's a relief to get it in. Some still needs cutting - my friend and fellow Love Daddy, Cookie is going to come and chainsaw it for me this week. After that, it was off to the seaside at Charmouth in Dorset. Here we played a gig along with a wonderful 'Posh Choir' and some amazing classical musicians. An interesting mixture of styles - we certainly sent a few punters home as soon as we struck up! Marky Mark's coming to work again tomorrow for a few hours of jolly potting in the morning. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. Have a good start to the week everybody, bye for now

Friiiiiiiiday

Good morning Jug production continued yesterday, with a number of 2lb and 5lb fat jugs. These ones are based on old English medieval shapes, wide bottomed and low bellied. They'll look a lot more sensible once they have handles. Oh and some ridiculously large, wobbly tankards for the keenest of beer drinkers. On a Thursday and Friday morning I take some little kiddywinks to school for friends of mine. I love it, it's a long time since my boys were that age. I'd better go now and get them a drink before school time. Have a good Friday everybody.

Thursday

Things are starting to come together at last. I always find the winter months so difficult. The workshop's always cold, the clay freezing and the flora in the countryside from which I draw so much inspiration, dormant. Thank goodness Spring is here, bringing with it all that positive energy that it does. Yesterday was a beautiful day, what a joy to be able to sit out and work in the sunshine. The shelves are starting to fill up. I decided to just keep throwing while things are going well and store everything up under polythene, before a good session of handle making. I'm making all the medium and small jugs first. I was going to throw large pots yesterday, but the clay is a bit soft, so I'll toughen some up specially and get on to them next week. Of course, the throwing is the relatively quick part of the process, the finishing and decorating is the stuff that takes ages. The jug that Frank is scratching, continues to be ever extraordinary.

Well, work time. Mary Mark's been poorly, so our late night has been postponed all week - hopefully he'll be coming over this evening and we can turn up the dirty rock and roll and make some pots together. Have a good day all, back later.

Jugs

Good morning Here are yesterday's 8lb jugs in the making - more of these to make today, then on to bigger ones if my hands are doing things right. I think Marky Mark might be coming over this evening. This is a film my friend James shot at the exhibition in Cambridge. A short but sweet post, I must get to work. Back later. Have a good day everybody

Cambridge and back

Evening all I went to Cambridge on Saturday and took the show down. I really enjoyed the show and I'm looking forward to then next Rolling Structures event, which I'll blog about in due course. Thank you to everybody who came and bought pots. A special thank you to James and Samantha. I drove home afterwards and got home at 1am, completely wired from drinking too much Red Bull - lying in bed at 2.30 am, I was still awake!!!! So today I've been getting back in to making, with a batch of 7lb tapered jugs. 8lb fat jugs next. It's been crazy wind and rain again today - even more tomorrow, and cold too, I'm regretting that hair cut.

Happy weekend blogger friends

More mugs, more rain! Off to Cambridge in the morning, have a great weekend all

More mugs

Well Marky Mark wasn't able to come tonight and I didn't get any jugs made, so nothing much went to plan. Never mind. In fact I just ended up finishing yesterday's mugs and making some more. I want to have fifty mugs in the next firing, I must get on to jugs next week though.

I have to return to Cambridge this weekend to pack down the exhibition which finishes on Sunday. I'm going to take a few more pots with me to bolster the stock before the show closes

Tuesday and Wednesday on Thursday

Howdy folks

 It's a long time since there's been just me in the workshop. I started off with a good tidy up.

I've been getting back in to the swing of things this week, warming up with a few mugs.

It's been extremely wet all week, good weather for ducks some would say, although they don't seem to be very happy at the moment, I'm not sure what my feet have done that is so wrong. Jug making today, hurrah, my favourite things to make. I think I'm working late tonight with Marky Mark - I haven't seen him in ages, so looking forward to that. I'd better get to work, the day's almost half gone already - I've just spent the morning filling in forms - one of my pet hates. It's clay time Back later, bye for now

Sunday

Home again after a punishing schedule and looking forward to getting back in to the workshop in the morning. First job on the list, tidy up in readiness for full scale production. There's much to do, with Earth and Fire and Art in Clay, looming not too far in the future. It was great to catch up with Blogger Andrew, Jon and Blogger Matt Blakely, who came to the opening of the show in Cambridge. The show's on until a week today - I'll be heading back across the country again next weekend to pack up after it closes on Sunday. Yesterday I went down to Porthleven, near Land's End, to play a gig with The Love Daddies. There was quite a crowd there as it was a food festival which attracts 12,000 people - I'm sure we left quite a few folks feeling bemused - I certainly hope so! I met up with my old buddy Frank and his good lady at the festival - always good to see them. Frank and I have been working on more collaborative pieces - this amazing sgraffito work is a jug commemorating the forthcoming Queen's Diamond Jubilee which Frank is currently scratching. I'm sure you'll agree, he's a clever boy.

Have a great week everybody

Here's what's been occurring

Hi folks

Well life has been really busy lately. Since I last blogged, I've fired the kiln, taken part in a two day workshop on Dartmoor with Nic and Adam, said farewell to Adam and Hannah, driven to Cambridge and hung an exhibition and now I'm visiting my parents. Back to Cambridge tomorrow for the private view, home Friday, gig in deepest Cornwall on Saturday. Sunday, maybe I'll have a lazy day.

Here are some little videos and pictures of it all going on



This is a shot of the pack. Adam and I had worked long hours to get enough pots together for the firing, with a short deadline.




Here's a video of the firing. Hannah came down from the frozen North and Frank came up from the sunny South to help. It went really smoothly - it took about fourteen and a half hours.



It was all too much for one particular stoker.



I wonder if it was something she drank?



Frank scratching on a big puzzle jug



The obligatory post-firing sofa picture.

And here are the results. There were some very dark pots, but some splendid shiny bright ones too. It was a firing full of information - I had new glazes throughout the chamber which worked well and a number of raw pots, including 'The Cardinal', so named by Dixie - the big, raw glazed baluster jug that I'd placed in the hot spot. It's a very green Cardinal, if there can be such a thing. It fired really successfully, which bodes well for future kiln loads of large, raw pots, although I fancied it to become much more gnarly than it did - I must try harder to over fire next time.

We unpacked the pots, then headed off to Nic's workshop, where Adam gave a talk on Friday evening.

The next day we were there again, bright and early and Adam, Nic and I demonstrated our various and varied skills to a crowded workshop. It was quite daunting for me, sitting between these two amazing craftsmen. Nic and I were at college together over twenty five years ago and in spite of my nervousness, it was great to be doing this alongside him all these years later. His attitude and approach have really taught me so much in my relatively short career as a full time potter. The video isn't very good, as I was supposed to be working, not filming, but it'll give you a rough idea of what was going on.

This final film was made on Monday night and Tuesday in the gallery in Cambridge and the studio of one of the exhibiting painters, my almost lifelong friend, Simon Jowitt. It also features Jono Lloyd, another of the exhibiting artists. It's very unusual for a potter to get the opportunity to exhibit with painters of this caliber, I'm really pleased to be part of it all. The show opens tomorrow evening. You can find out more about the group here.

I'll report back from the show after the opening. Time for bed for a tired little me
Goodnight all

Thursday

Hi folks
We're coming to the end of the make. In fact we're not making any more - it'll take us all our time to finish what we have on the shelves. Everything we can fire in time will go through the bisc kiln, the rest will be raw fired. I haven't done that in a long time. Mastering raw glazing will free me from the scale restrictions of the electric kiln, so that I can make some much bigger pieces.

Getting the glaze on to raw pots is a lot more challenging than it is on bisc - there's so much of it that is about timing. I glaze mine when they're leather hard. It's critical not to touch the slip too early as it's easily marked or smudged - if they dry too much, they crack.

I glazed the big baluster jug today which was tricky as it has a lot of fragile applied decoration - it was a relief to get that done. It's going to be fired right in the hot spot, where the flame comes in to the kiln chamber. I'm hoping it will provide the most dramatic effect, hopefully earthy and reminiscent of old medieval pottery - it's an experiment, it'll either work or not, there'll be no middle ground. Wood firing is all about taking chances......and making seconds.



I really do keep meaning to take some still photographs, here's another film

Happy Good Friday everybody

Tuesday, early on Wednesday

It was another long day today. I came home tonight and left Adam working hard, late into the night. He has a lot of lids to make for the jars he made earlier in the week. It'll be nice for him to have the place to himself for a while, without me rambling on.

We're counting down the days to firing time. There's still a lot to do, but if we keep focused, it'll happen. Well it's time for me to get to bed and get some much needed sleep. Bye for now

Thursday to Monday on Tuesday

Hello everybody
Life continues to be very busy, so I've had little opportunity to keep on top of my blog. Here's a quick update, before I run away off back to work.



At the weekend, we went to visit a wonderful exhibition of work by Anne Mette Hjortshoj, at the Goldmark Gallery in Uppingham. Here's a beautiful film, made by the gallery, about Anne Mette's work.



And here are a couple of rather more randomly shot films of what Adam and I have been up to in recent days in the workshop.



In a week's time, we'll be preheating the kiln ready for firing, so we've been putting in long hours to get pots made. I'm very tired, but it will be worth the extra effort at this stage.

Well, please excuse the briefness of this post, I hope the films say it all for me, I must get to work.

Happy Tuesday everybody, back soon

Busy busy busy

Lots to report, but not enough time!!!

Had a great weekend,the demo went well, the conference was great, the museums, inspiring and the company fantastic.

I have videos of it all which I need to string together. Adam arrived on Monday and we're frantically making pots for a firing in a couple of weeks. We're having a great time. This is a really brief post as we're off back to work in moment, but here's a short video I shot yesterday so you can see what's been going on. I'll write more and post pictures soon.



Back soon

Bye for now

On my way

Another long day yesterday, getting everything finished off so it can dry while I'm away, then packing and tidying. I also had to prepare a good supply of clay for my demo at the weekend.

My friend Heather delivered her little caravan to Hollyford. Adam will be staying in it, just outside the workshop. We were going to have him to stay at home, but our house is tiny and he is allergic to cats, so he'll be more comfortable in his own space. I'm excited about meeting him on Monday.

So far 110 people have booked for the demo - that's pretty scary. I always dread these things, but it's good fun once it gets going and folks start to interact.

I packed a box full of pots to take along to sell. It's mostly bowls that were surplus to my requirements for Japan - I made so many. The box was too heavy to lift after a long day, with a tired back and in the dark last night I wasn't going to take a chance. I have to head off to the workshop shortly to load them in to the car, then I'll set off on my journey.

The motorway is such a contrast to the lanes that I drive on every day - I really don't like driving on busy roads, but it will do me good - it's too easy to become reclusive, much as that is my desire. I'm looking forward to seeing my folks later today.



Have a good day everybody, back soon

Out and about

Morning folks



Here's what happened yesterday.

I'll not be back in the workshop until Monday afternoon and I wanted to get everything finished up so it can be drying while I'm away. It was a long day, I got home some time after 10pm, tired and grubby. Tomorrow I set of on a lengthy journey, spread over the duration of a few days.

In the morning I'll be heading to my parents' place in Bedford, then on Friday, to Suffolk, to stay with friends. I'm going to Suffolk via Cambridge, picking Hannah up from the station en route. We'll spend some time, along with our friend Jon, in the Fitzwilliam Museum, which has a remarkable, historical slipware collection.

I'll also be checking out a gallery space in Cambridge, where I have an exhibition with two painters and a printmaker which opens in a few weeks time.

On Saturday morning we'll be heading in to London, to the V&A, where we'll be attending the Spring Conference of the Heritage Craft Association. Back to Suffolk in the evening and an early start on Sunday, to drive to North Norfolk where I'm doing a demo for the Anglia Potters Association. After that, I'll break the back of the journey home, stay in a travel lodge, then head the rest of the way back on Monday morning.



On Monday afternoon, Adam Field arrives - he'll be staying for about three weeks - exciting stuff.

Phew, I'm tired just thinking about it all - I'd better get motivated and head off to work, lots to do.

Bye for now

Here's what's been happening

Here are some short films from the last few days.

Back soon with words and pictures. Happy Monday all

Thursday

Howdy folks

Back in the workshop today after a trip to Plymouth yesterday with Luke, to look round the Art College.

The courier came today and took my boxes, loaded up with fifty of my pots, away on the first leg of their journey to Tokyo. It's a relief to have them on their way. The show is with Hannah and Clive Bowen - it's a big deal to be exhibiting with them. Clive is one of my greatest heroes and has had a very apparent influence on my work. Hannah and I have had many a panicky conversation in the run up to this show. I hope the Japanese like our works.



I gave the place a good clear up today, getting it ready to start making again. These four jugs have been hidden away under polythene for a while. In fact one of their siblings is fired, finished and on its way to Tokyo. I was surprised that they were still ok when I came to decorate them today.

The bird song at the end of this little film was so beautiful, I had to post the whole tune.

The pots I'm about to start making now are for an exhibition in April in Cambridge, more details soon. I'll need to work hard again in the next few weeks.

Have a good Friday all

Spring cleaning

Yesterday was Spring cleaning day at Hollyford Pottery. There were so many pots in the showroom that just didn't make the grade, so I decided it was time to take action and make room for the new ones.



That felt good.

A day in the city today, seeking out packaging ready to send my pots off to Japan and then for an eye test which is well overdue.

Late night working this evening with Marky Mark.

Have a good day y'all.

New pots

Hello all

Thank you for your comments on the last post. It's been a tough few days.



Here's a little film of the unpack. Some good pots, but too many losses. I'm still grumbling over the losses, rather than celebrating the successes as is often the way for a while after a firing - ah negativity. I have to get my positive head on tomorrow.

I have at least got all the pots that I need for sending to Tokyo, which is a huge relief, they'll be packed and dispatched in a couple of days.

A tidy up in the morning, a few minutes introducing some dodgy pots to a hammer, that'll feel good, then back on the wheel and on to the next lot.

I'll post some pictures of the pots soon

Happy Monday all

Fired and finished

Frank lighting the kiln

Well I'm glad that's done - it's been hard work and long hours leading up to that firing.

Luke called me during the day to say that Eric the cat wasn't well, so I had to leave the kiln in Frank's capable kiln gauntlets and rush home to take poor Eric to the vets. The vet just called a minute ago and he didn't make it, so it's going to be a sad house here this evening.

The firing seemed to go well - we finished stoking just after ten o'clock in the evening, although by the time we'd clammed the kiln up with wet clay and tidied around, it was approaching midnight that we finally all went our separate ways.

Here's the obligatory post-firing sofa photograph of yesterday's team. The chap on the left of the picture is Dave Smith, who is a brilliant glass artist and designer(take a look at his site and you'll be astonished at the quality of his work). He's just designed the artwork for John Mayer's latest album.

Now we have to wait until Saturday and keep our fingers crossed that there are some good pots hidden away in that chamber.



Here's a haphazard little film of the day.

Firing day

It was a late night, Marky Mark and I finished packing in the early hours.



Frank's here, we need to go and fire it - back later...............much later. Here goes.

Glazy day

Today's glazing went well - still lots to do, but it's well underway and I can see and end to it. I worked late and broke the back of it.



Tomorrow I have to make an early start to take Luke for a college interview in Bath. I'm expecting it to take all day, so I doubt I'll get back to the workshop until the evening. I need to crack on and get the glazing done, ready to pack the kiln with Marky Mark on Wednesday.

Time for bed
Good night all

Looking backwards, looking forward

Morning all

The weekend, visiting my parents was lovely, as ever.

We got back late yesterday afternoon, so I forced myself, grumbling and moaning, out of the armchair in the evening and went to the workshop. I needed to mix new batches of glaze and clean the workshop, ready to start the mighty task of glazing all of these pots today. This is probably the part of the process I like the least, although I'm sure it'll be fine once I get going - the prospect is always worse than the reality.

The light coming through the window this morning tells me it's going to be a lovely day. I'm ready for Spring and the energy that it inspires, I'm really looking forward to seeing colour in the hedgerows and in my little garden.

It's easy in the depths of winter, to forget that the flowers and leaves will return, so I was happy to look back over this footage as a little reminder. I strung it together into a short film to share with you. It's of some stuff I did back in September - pots that I made for my solo show in Nottinghamshire, and the beautiful, late summer blooms, in my workshop flowerbeds.



Happy Monday everybody, have a great week.

Happy Friday

Hello all and a happy Friday to you.

My brother picked me up just after eleven this morning and we're now at my parents' house in Bedford.

I had to make an early start at the workshop to get everything finished up to date before we set off on the long journey up country. Sometimes it's a good thing to be put under a bit of time pressure, because it forces me to decorate things rather than dithering an avoiding it, as I spoke of yesterday. It seemed strange to be leaving the workshop in broad daylight for a change.

Everything should be dry enough for the wood firing next week. I'll have to be selective when it comes to bisc firing, as I'll not get it all through in time - but it's good to be able to chose a bit of everything. The rest will either be put through the electric kiln, (which gives me a different range of tones and colours from the wood kiln), or saved for the next wood firing in a few weeks time.

Here's today's little film.

Happy weekends all, bye for now

Hollyford in the Springtime

Humph, still no camera, it didn't show up.

It was such a beautiful Spring day today. I was able to dry pots outside in the warm breeze for the first time this year. It's good for the head and the heart this sunshine stuff.

There are quite a few pots to finish off in the morning before I head to my folks', so it's going to be an early start. There are jugs and bowls to decorate and slip - who knows, maybe my new camera will arrive and I can take some pictures.

Well I'm going to go and scrub this clay off my aching body, then I'm going to go to bed, I feel dead beat. Goodnight all

Wet slip is the best

Morning blog folks

Today's the day when my new camera arrives, so normal service will resume at last.

Yesterday was a very, very long day. I had to get as many pots finished and drying, as I could before going home. Marky Mark came up after work, so I had company for most of the evening and he tolerated my cursing and moaning(of which there was much) as I attempted to decorate lots of pots.

Decorating is the thing I struggle with more than anything and I'll leave pots under polythene for days, keeping them damp as long as possible, to avoid the moment of having to decorate. I find none of it comes easily, although it may sometimes look simple. I aim to have everything finished and drying by 5pm this evening.

Today is my older son Luke's birthday - nineteen years old, where did that go? So tonight we'll be celebrating that with a curry and a beer. Tomorrow morning I'll be heading away up-country with my brother to visit my parents, as it's my Dad's birthday on Monday. I'm looking forward to seeing them.

Here's some footage from yesterday. There's a short clip in the film of beautiful, battered North Devon harvest jug from 1774, which somebody brought to show me yesterday - what a beauty.

Here's bit more film of the jug - ooooo, lovely.

Right, I must away to work. Happy Thursday everybody