Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Monday, 4 August 2008
Slipware potters
Here's a shot taken yesterday morning.
The lady on the left is the wonderful Mary Wondrausch, the queen of slipware.
It's always a pleasure to see her, she's a fine old lady and a remarkable character - eccentric to say the least.
Next to her is my very good friend Paul Young.
On the right is the great Dutch potter Niek Hoogland.
I'm not sure what the collective noun would be for a group of slipware potters - I know Hil calls a group of potters a 'bore' - any other suggestions appreciated.
Home again
That was a brilliant weekend, thank you so much to everybody who bought my pots or took the time to chat. It was good to meet people who tune in to read this rubbish! I hope you enjoy your new pots, your kind support is greatfully appreciated.
One of Ron's friends from North Carolina who was visiting England, came along and delivered me a package that Ron had sent for me. In it were two of his superb pots, a plate and a mug modelled here by myself and Blogger Andrew. It was good to see Andrew again.
Here's another shot of Ron's mug being put to good use by my friend Dylan Bowen, a potter whose work I know Ron is very fond. More pictures from Hatfield later.
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Hatfield here we come
Hil and I have just made a flying visit home from my parents' to collect our car and to ram it full of pots ready for Art in Clay at Hatfeild this weekend.
Much cleaning and polishing to do, got to fly, look forward to seeing anyone there who can make it. Bye for now.
Friday, 25 July 2008
Pics of people and pots
Here are my friends Johnny the photographer and Different Dave the electrician at the workshop yesterday. I'm looking forward to getting the pictures back that John took, he's a really good photographer. Great to have that kiln working too, it was such a good day yesterday, thanks chaps.
These are a couple of blurred pics I took - I'm not such a good photographer!
Off to my parents' place shortly, back Monday, have fun.
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Ron Philbeck
I've had a great day today, sorting through the successful pots that came out of the kiln yesterday. I've got over the ones that didn't make it, there are some really pretty ones, amazing oranges and smooth, semi-matt lemon yellows. My photographer came up and took some pics which I'll have back next week. I took some snaps myself but forgot to bring my camera home.
Also my mate Different Dave came over and wired in the electric kiln which I've had sitting in my kiln shed for a while. It'll make bisc firing a lot easier and I can refire the occasional pot that hasn't quite got hot enough. It's test firing tonight.
Marky Mark called by this evening too to collect his pots. He was pleased with some, disappointed with others.
We're off to my parents' for the weekend to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary with our extended family. I'm looking forward to seeing them all, some of them I've not seen for years.
It's such a relief to have got that firing all done and not to have to work until the early hours again for a while, I can just relax and enjoy the party.
Have a great weekend all
These pots are from my mate Ron's on-line selling site.
Check it out here and grab yourself a lovely bit of slipware
Also my mate Different Dave came over and wired in the electric kiln which I've had sitting in my kiln shed for a while. It'll make bisc firing a lot easier and I can refire the occasional pot that hasn't quite got hot enough. It's test firing tonight.
Marky Mark called by this evening too to collect his pots. He was pleased with some, disappointed with others.
We're off to my parents' for the weekend to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary with our extended family. I'm looking forward to seeing them all, some of them I've not seen for years.
It's such a relief to have got that firing all done and not to have to work until the early hours again for a while, I can just relax and enjoy the party.
Have a great weekend all
These pots are from my mate Ron's on-line selling site.
Check it out here and grab yourself a lovely bit of slipware
Pots
Hello World
Sorry it's taken so long to put these on, it's been a crazy day, trying to get the workshop sorted out and pots selected and priced for Art in Clay
The firing was ok although I did have a number of disappointing losses, damp wood and a bit too much reduction being the cause I think. I had a good chat on the phone this afternoon with Clive(Bowen) and he reached the same conclusion after I described the symptoms.
In spite of the losses, there are some really pleasing pieces, I'll take some photos tomorrow, these are the only ones I took today. Getting this firing through was always going to be a challenge, so by and large I'm pleased. A bit gutted that I lost two Harvest Jugs and some other stuff that was for an order - oh well, make some more tomorrow in my lovely organised, cleaned up workshop.
Sorry it's taken so long to put these on, it's been a crazy day, trying to get the workshop sorted out and pots selected and priced for Art in Clay
The firing was ok although I did have a number of disappointing losses, damp wood and a bit too much reduction being the cause I think. I had a good chat on the phone this afternoon with Clive(Bowen) and he reached the same conclusion after I described the symptoms.
In spite of the losses, there are some really pleasing pieces, I'll take some photos tomorrow, these are the only ones I took today. Getting this firing through was always going to be a challenge, so by and large I'm pleased. A bit gutted that I lost two Harvest Jugs and some other stuff that was for an order - oh well, make some more tomorrow in my lovely organised, cleaned up workshop.
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Monday, 21 July 2008
Job done
All glazed, packed and ready to fire in the morning, well done Marky Mark.
Middle of the night so off to bed.
Hope your week starts well.
Friday, 18 July 2008
Cheers Tom
Tom headed back to Bristol tonight after eight very busy days. What a top chap, you'll be hearing of him again in the future, I've no doubt about it, he has the determination and the vision to become a very fine potter.
Here are some pictures from our walk to the workshop this morning.
Still more glazing to do, but I'm having a day off tomorrow. I've got a gig with the Love Daddies (don't follow this link if you're easily offended)at a local bikers rally in the afternoon.
Glazing to finish on Sunday morning, Mark's coming up on Sunday evening to do his glazing, then we'll pack ready for firing on Monday.
Have a lovely weekend all.
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Thursday
All went well with the bisc. Tom and I unpacked it today and processed the glazes. We also got quite a bit of the glazing done, hopefully I'll get it finished tomorrow. Tom's off home tomorrow evening.
Here's one of the little flowerbeds outside the workshop. A few montha go this wa just a pile of broken pots and other junk, it's looking really pretty now. I enjoy gardening and get a lot of plaesure from watching stuff grow.
Tom fixed up one of the birdboxes that Brad made when he was here, to the telegraph pole in the workshop garden.
Packing the kiln on Sunday for a Monday firing. New pots by Wednesday. Off to the pub to buy Tom a well earned pint.
Here's one of the little flowerbeds outside the workshop. A few montha go this wa just a pile of broken pots and other junk, it's looking really pretty now. I enjoy gardening and get a lot of plaesure from watching stuff grow.
Tom fixed up one of the birdboxes that Brad made when he was here, to the telegraph pole in the workshop garden.
Packing the kiln on Sunday for a Monday firing. New pots by Wednesday. Off to the pub to buy Tom a well earned pint.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Done
Here's Tom 'helping' a pitcher to dry. He made it yesterday from clay from the woods opposite, I think it's a beauty.
Firing went well, many thanks for your help Tom and Mark.
Here's the obligatory 'chuck in some wood and pull the brick out' picture.
I enjoy firing days because it's all outside stuff and it gives me a chance to cut the lawn and tend my little flowerbeds, which are looking really pretty at the moment.
I need to shower and sleep now, it's been a long, hot day, I'm pooped, Goodnight.
Firing went well, many thanks for your help Tom and Mark.
Here's the obligatory 'chuck in some wood and pull the brick out' picture.
I enjoy firing days because it's all outside stuff and it gives me a chance to cut the lawn and tend my little flowerbeds, which are looking really pretty at the moment.
I need to shower and sleep now, it's been a long, hot day, I'm pooped, Goodnight.
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Busy, busy
Sorry I've not been on here much, we've been burning the midnight oil the last few days.
On Friday I hired a van and Mark, Tom and I spent the day collecting and stacking wood. Also got rid of a lot of junk to the tip. We've got lots of wood now - in the old woodshed of course, any building plans new sheds went out of the window this week as we were frantically making pots. As it turns out, the weather would have prevented any outside work anyway.
So today's firing was postponed until Tuesday. Everything's still pretty damp, in fact I was still handling and slipping mugs this afternoon that have since been packed in the kiln. As ever, Mark did a great job, helping set the kiln stack, well done M.M.
Anyway, all is packed, with a fan blowing air through the firebox to aid drying and it's set for firing on Tuesday. I've got to go to a local primary school tomorrow afternoon to do a demo, but I'll put the gas burner in on a gentle heat in the morning to start the slow, steady pre-heat.
It's been a mad few days, a mad few to come too.
Tom's been making some great pots. He's off to Ireland to study ceramics in September - he's going to be a very good potter, it's clear to see already.
Have a good week everybody, going to take a spin round the blogs now and see what's been going on elsewhere in the world..............
On Friday I hired a van and Mark, Tom and I spent the day collecting and stacking wood. Also got rid of a lot of junk to the tip. We've got lots of wood now - in the old woodshed of course, any building plans new sheds went out of the window this week as we were frantically making pots. As it turns out, the weather would have prevented any outside work anyway.
So today's firing was postponed until Tuesday. Everything's still pretty damp, in fact I was still handling and slipping mugs this afternoon that have since been packed in the kiln. As ever, Mark did a great job, helping set the kiln stack, well done M.M.
Anyway, all is packed, with a fan blowing air through the firebox to aid drying and it's set for firing on Tuesday. I've got to go to a local primary school tomorrow afternoon to do a demo, but I'll put the gas burner in on a gentle heat in the morning to start the slow, steady pre-heat.
It's been a mad few days, a mad few to come too.
Tom's been making some great pots. He's off to Ireland to study ceramics in September - he's going to be a very good potter, it's clear to see already.
Have a good week everybody, going to take a spin round the blogs now and see what's been going on elsewhere in the world..............
Friday, 11 July 2008
Speedy post
Just got in after a starlit walk home, got to crash out.
Tom's here, his eyeballs arrive tomorrow.
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
When will it stop raining? It's driving me mad!
What a nightmare this weather is, rain, rain, rain, all week, rain. Not the best when I'm in a rush to dry pots. Today it was torrential all day long, moan, moan, moan!
Sorry, what a moaner.
Mark and I have made a lot of pots this week. It's been mostly big stuff, show pots for the exhibition at the Imagine Gallery, Harvest Jugs for Bideford and everything else for Art in Clay. Tomorrow will probably be the last full making day. I'm doing homework tonight, modelling the chickens onto moneyboxes.
Tom, the student from Bristol comes tomorrow although we're still without a car so I've got to try and work out some way of getting him from the station. I think taxi is looking the most likely option at present. I've hired a van for Friday so that we can go and collect various things from various places, including the hardwood from my suppliers in Tiverton. They promised to keep some in the dry for me, I'm so pleased I rang them earlier in the week to organise that.
I think a Sunday firing is out of the question now, the kiln shed's full of mud, the wood shed's leaked, so it's looking like it'll be Tuesday now. That'll cut it fine for the glaze firing, but it's all achievable.
OK, I'll stop moaning now and get back to my moneybox modelling........
More decorating
More blasting
Sorry, what a moaner.
Mark and I have made a lot of pots this week. It's been mostly big stuff, show pots for the exhibition at the Imagine Gallery, Harvest Jugs for Bideford and everything else for Art in Clay. Tomorrow will probably be the last full making day. I'm doing homework tonight, modelling the chickens onto moneyboxes.
Tom, the student from Bristol comes tomorrow although we're still without a car so I've got to try and work out some way of getting him from the station. I think taxi is looking the most likely option at present. I've hired a van for Friday so that we can go and collect various things from various places, including the hardwood from my suppliers in Tiverton. They promised to keep some in the dry for me, I'm so pleased I rang them earlier in the week to organise that.
I think a Sunday firing is out of the question now, the kiln shed's full of mud, the wood shed's leaked, so it's looking like it'll be Tuesday now. That'll cut it fine for the glaze firing, but it's all achievable.
OK, I'll stop moaning now and get back to my moneybox modelling........
More decorating
More blasting
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