Sunday

I really didn't want to go to work today, it being Sunday, but once I'd got there I was really pleased that I'd gone. I managed to get a lot done. I mixed glazes, a job that I've been avoiding. I always put it off, but then feel good once I've done it - and it's never that bad a job really - no doubt I'll put it off as long as possible again next time.

The sun was shining, after a couple of days of crazy storms. (Frank got home to Cornwall safely the other night by the way, but by all accounts it was a fairly hairy journey.)

The view from my workshop window looks out to the woodland that has now lost much of its foliage.



Here is my latest little flower bed, I made it last week. The torrential rain, running off the roof washed some of the plants right out of the ground. The wind had been so strong, that it burst my doors open. Fortunately a neighbour jammed a pallet against them. They don't seem to want to close properly now, I think perhaps the shed may have twisted a little during the storms - maybe it's time to hammer in a few more screws - maybe bend them over this time for extra strength.




These are some small jugs, made from a pound and a half of clay. I put the handles on today. I've been making a lot of bigger pots recently and it took a while to get back into making smaller pots.



I made a few mugs, just simple cylinders and some moneyboxes onto which I'll model birdies tomorrow if they're dry enough.



Pots drying in the kiln shed.



I did a lot of decorating today too, drawing through wet slip with a rubber tool, the bare structure of the trees and finding their way onto the surface of the pots.



Yum, shiny wet slip.



Combed black slip. I really like to work through wet slip, it's such a direct approach to decorating.



By contrast, the decoration of this sgrafitto jug is a much slower process.

Baluster jugs tomorrow.

Have a good week everybody.

It's Friday!

I've been playing signfitter this afternoon, helping my mate Frank put up the signs on a pub at Teignmouth, by the seaside. Unfortunately I was supposed to br navigating and as I have no sense of direction, it took rather longer to get there than it should. By the time we arrived at the pub the sky was growing darker by the minute. It was crazy weather and the sea was crashing against the sea wall - not great weather to be up a ladder, holding up big signs.

The wind and rain has got worse this evening and we had to drag a tree off the road that had blown over on the way back. Frank insisted on driving home to Cornwall, I wish I'd been able to persuade him to stay. Next door's fence has just ended up in our back garden, it's really wild out there.



This is some of the stuff going on at the moment. A lot of it is for a group show I'm part of in Exeter, I'll post details later.



I'm going to sgrafitto this puzzle jug. I'm also working on another large sgrafitto harvest jug, it's taking ages, but will be pretty when it's finished.



This is a Tyg.

A Tyg is a large English mug with three or more handles dividing the rim into sections for several drinkers. These tall, black-glazed, red-bodied drinking vessels were produced from the 15th century through the first half of the 17th century, peaking in popularity during the 16th and 17th centuries. Some were made with as many as nine handles.

The multiple handles also allow hot drinks to be passed around without pain.

Tygs were made in large quantities at Wrotham in Kent and in many Staffordshire factories. Examples have surfaced at 17th century American colonial sites, as well as in the UK. (Wikipedia)




And some little jugs. I made these two days ago and they're still too soft to put handles on. Maybe tomorrow.

Happy weekend all

Alex McErlain and Alice Kettle

Here are a couple of pictures you may find interesting. Remember the pots Alex McErlain made from Hollyford clay that were then decorated by Alice Kettle?



Well here they are at the Knitting and Stitching show at Alexandra Palace.



Alex took to the sewing machine as this was a collaborative project and stitched that beautifully embroidered fabric - stunning, I love it.

Here's what he said about it,

'The stitched elements of Knit and Stitch images includes some of my efforts at sewing where I made stitched drawings, mostly of jugs.

Some large fabrics have been machine stitched by computer from my real drawings of pots, this is something Alice has been exploring stretching the boundaries of that machine technology (its amazing how much like my drawings the work is.)

And some of the stitching was done jointly such as the stitched cloths which are made for the pots to stand on.'

The work will be shown again at Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show next week (Thurs - Sun) .

Tuesday

It was another soggy day at Hollyford Pottery today, although it's mild for the time of year. At the moment I haven't got a wood burner in the workshop, so it's taking ages for pots to dry - I'll need to get that sorted out in the next week or two, before the hard frosts start.



This is a large harvest jug I decorated today, it's about 15" high. I decorated bowls too, but didn't take any pictures.



Freshly applied scroll handles on last week's 8lb jugs.

That's all for now, panto rehearsal beckons.

A trip to Plymouth

I went to Plymouth today to deliver my pots to Plymouth Art Gallery and Museum. Here they are displayed in one of the new cabinets that the Museum have recently installed.



Different Dave came with me and was really helpful when it came to arranging the pots.

We were lucky enough to be given a tour of the Museum(which is closed to the public on a Monday). This included a chance to handle some of the beautiful, ancient pots held in the reserve collection. Many thanks to Alison for giving us that opportunity, it was an unexpected treat.

Back to making tomorrow for an exhibition in Exeter later in the month. I'll get some pics up of work in progress if I get time after panto rehearsal.

That's it for now, cheers all.

Rememberance Day

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
WE SHALL NOT SLEEP,
THOUGH POPPIES GROW
IN FLANDERS FIELDS.

8lb jugs

I made 8lb jugs today, I haven't made them in ages so it took a little while to get my hand back in.



I have to go out in a few minutes because I foolishly said I'd take a part in the village pantomime and tonight is rehearsal night. Fun fun fun!