Christmas already?!

Well, last post it was summer, now it's Christmas.

I've had a less crazy season this year due to the cancellation of the September Trade show. It's been a great autumn with just enough work to keep my busy but not enough to stress me out!

I took work over to my friends Ondine and Lynne's new shop in Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh. Ondine (gorgeous textiles) Smith and Lynne Hanley have opened up the most gorgeous little place called 'Butterfly Blue'. Unfortunately they don't have a web presence at the moment but if you are nearby you should definitely take a look!



A couple of week ago I sold at the annual Marie Curie Ladies who lunch event and practically sold all my stock, these events are so hit and miss. Primarily I do them in support of the charity but it's fab when the 'ladies who lunch' turn out to be 'ladies who spend too'! These images are of that event...not great quality as they were taken with my phone. Still a little taster for you!

New Images :-)

Well things have been pretty busy although I haven't had chance to blog most of it.

I am working on some work for a new gallery in Kirriemuir, Angus called the Tower Gallery. Also thinking up ways to generate orders given the cancellation of this years Autumn Trade Show.

I have just had a set of new images taken showing some of the more recent additions to my range...they will soon be up on the website (which will be seeing a few changes in the near future!)

Here's a little preview....

New Gallery.

I am in the process of supplying a new gallery in Aberdeen which is due to open on the 4th July. It looks lovely.

It is the project of Fine artist Elaine Thompson, it is well worth checking out her work (see pick of the web) and I am sure it will be worth checking out her new gallery, Junction Art and Gifts. Good Luck Elaine!

One door closes, another door opens

I am coming to the end of my order list. Something I was aiming to do by last Friday! Now I have the summer to contemplate new work and get some new images and literature published!

I have been asked to create some exclusive baubles for the Scottish gallery for their Christmas exhibition so I will be turning my attention to that...among other ideas for new work.

The big blow of this year is that Clarion have cancelled the Autumn Trade show. This is where I get most of my Orders in the run up to Christmas. I am now thinking I will have to produce a catalogue to haul in the orders!

In some respects it will be nice to have the time to be more creative rather than just spending the summer trying to get samples of all my existing work together for the show. One door closes another door opens as they say! Watch this space!

Yesterday I made a couple of Teapots. Here are some images of them in progress!







I also had a bit of fun and made a variation on the baby pole pot...hearts are always a good seller!

Week 9.

Today was my last visit to the school.

Trudi and I grouted and added the few remaining border tiles. We ran out of grout and so had to make a dash into Girvan to pick up some more!

We then let the P1,2 and 3's place a few stones each. The colours of the stones really compliment to tiles don't you think!?

Everyone seemed pleased with the results, especially the kids who have been a pleasure to work with.


IT is finished!

School Week 8

Today was my last funded visit to the school. It was a drizzly wet morning and the job was laying the tiles on the cement foundation...which set brilliantly!

I also had some border tiles remaining for the P2/3 class, I decided to hand them over to their teacher to complete as Trudi and I really needed to get on with the tile laying.

We soon got into our roles, Trudi putting down the waterproof grout. I was putting in the spacers and placing the tiles. We worked quickly and decided to leave the kids indoors as it was wet and we didn't want it to impact on the grout too much. Here are some pictures of the nearly finished work! The colours look a bit washed out but that is the picture...so please turn up you colour in your imagination! I will take a better camera next week.

I will make one last extra visit to lay the remaining edging tiles and then supervise the younger children to put in the edging stones.

School Week 7

We were decorating the tiles today.
It is a great stage to be at as we can begin to see what the instillation is going to look like. Each of the pictures had been copied and cut into 16 squares. Each child had a square each to trace the outline onto the tile. We managed to get by with only a couple of breakages!

The P 4/5 class was first up. Firstly I gave them all the squares, posted the original on the wall and let them make the jigsaw! That took a little while, They all began to recognize the elements they had done and naturally wanted to do those sections themselves, For the most part this worked.


The P7's were away sampling the delights of Secondary school so I only had the P6's after break. It is a great wee class and they all did a couple of tiles each. These pictures are of the P6's after we had laid out the complete piece with all the outlines completed! It looks great!




I also took in some half sized edging tiles for the P1/2 and 3's to decorate as I discovered they were worried that they weren't going to get a shot. A few of them got broken so I will have to make a few more for next week.

Here's some pics of the tiles with the stains. Sorry they are a bit dark but it gives you an idea.

School Week 6

Had a great day at the school today. On the way down the M77 it was threatening to rain, I was praying that it didn't.

Fortunately the dull start blossomed into a fantastic day. As I drove into the village the view of Ailsa Craig was stunning. It looks so close.

The goal was to get the cementing done. Naively I thought we would get this done by break time leaving the second part of the morning to decorate some tiles. It took from 9-12:45!! Tile decorating next week then!!



Paul the P6/7 teacher had made himself available to help until break time, thank goodness. He was the experienced cement mixer among us. He had brought cement, sand and some chips to strengthen the concrete.

4 of the P7 boys were appointed to help and boy did they love it. They worked really hard all morning without a single complaint.

Trudi was there as reliable as ever expertly shunting and smoothing the concrete!

By the end of the morning we were all experts!!

We lay the mixing board over the cement on props to give it some protection. I just hope it sets well!

School Week 5

This was a less successful week at the school.

I had taken a frame for the hole, bought the hard core and Paul the P6/7 teacher was due to bring the cement with the plan that the P7's would help mix and lay the foundations.

I arrived early and the first thing I saw was that Paul was not in till 1pm (I leave at 12) It turned out that he had left 1 bag of cement and some sand for me though.

Then Trudy didn't appear- she was my other mine of foundation laying knowledge!

To top it all the P7's were out playing golf all morning, So I had the P6's.
There was a supply teacher covering the class who didn't seem to realise that she was meant to stay and supervise the class. When I went to get them she just sent them all out with me, including a new boy. He was in an electric wheel chair.

This was not what I had planned and with hindsight I should have turned them round and explained that I would need them all in smaller groups etc. This didn't happen though, and she soon disappeared, so I did what I could.

The kids were great as usual and we tidied up the hole so that the fame fit neatly. We filled the hole with hard core. I had bought twice as much as I thought we would need, it wasn't enough.

The wee boy in the wheelchair was desperate to join in and take part but I could not see how, it was impossible for the wheel chair to get very close to the hole (as it is on a grassy slope). He managed to dig out some of the earth when we lifted his front wheels onto the grass, but I could tell he was bored and unimpressed. If I had known he was going to be there I might have been able to come up with something more inclusive for him. It was very frustrating.

I turned out that there was some gravel in the the boiler room that the school had no use for so we filled the hole to the required level.

Trudy appeared, with a terrible cold, she was not well. We agreed to leave the cementing till the next week (much to the children's' dismay).

We still have plenty of time, 3 weeks. We will decorate the tiles over the next 2 weeks leaving the last week for the instillation.

School week 4

I was visiting the school today.

The traffic was virtually none existent so I arrived very early at 8:15.

The job today was digging the hole for the art work to be installed. I had no idea how this was going to work. The P4/5's were really into the task, they made a brilliant job of it! I had forgotten how exciting finding worms can be for children. Especially boys! Only one of them delighted in pulling them apart to make two. Eeewch

The ground was very hard and took a bit of digging.

Once the digging was done (Trudy the parent councillor who has been helping was a real whizz at edging!) we covered it with polythene to prevent it being used as a sandpit over the next 7 days..

FRAGILE-Please handle with care!

The weather continues to be stunning. The warm sun trying to persuade me to get the deck chair out and soak up the sun. Once in the work shop though, I soon became engrossed. I really needed to get some slip casting done. I really enjoy this process but it is one of the messiest and dusty jobs I do, beaten only to the post by glazing.

As you will see from the images i have all my moulds working concurrently. This can be a little hectic at times but it is the most productive way to work.

I use four different colours of slip, I was just working with white today!









It is crucial to be patient while slip casting. There is nothing worse than ruining a piece or turning out a second through impatience. Now I have a larger workshop I am able to work on other things during the drying and hardening up periods.







I spent quite a while packing up an order for Hobbs Cafe in Bakewell, Derbyshire. Once I had returned I got on with some hand building.

I was disappointed to receive a call from The Roundhouse of Horbury today. I sent their order out last week. They are delighted with the work but one of the teapots had arrived broken. The Tea pots are the most time consuming. It is also unpleasant for the receiver to have to call me and report the breakages.

It is so frustrating...does anyone out there have any advice or recommendations??

Here's what I do:

• I bubble wrap
• I bubble wrap again
• I put wrapped work in small box
• I surround by more packaging..foam, polystyrene, shredded paper etc.
• I put inside a larger box
• I try to ensure there is no movement
• I seal it up with FRAGILE tape
  

Having used a few different couriers I now only use the royal mail recorder 1st class or Special Delivery. (breakages have been fewer) I can only imagine that they play football with the boxes:-(

If any one has cracked this problem then please tell me your secret!

No work lots of play:-)

Ok. I have had a very busy weekend doing non potting stuff. I will be really busy tomorrow...and I will tell you all about it! I have to go and get ready for the class just now! Glazing tonight...

Day in the life!

Today I unloaded the kiln. I then spent a long time putting teeny weeny decals on all the work. Earrings, pendants, teapots, vases...you get the picture. Then I put them all back in the kiln again. It is quite a low firing for the decals, 770degrees, so I may be able to get them out tomorrow.

I also worked on a couple of orders that are due out at the end of May. Hand built pieces today.

It was another beautiful day. I was forced to take a few tea breaks to get the benefit from the sun;-) It is so nice to be able to sit outside. I must buy some garden furniture so I can work outside. That is a plan:-)

Artist in Residence

I am currently Artist in residence at a lovely little school right by the sea in South Ayrshire. It is a pilot scheme run by Artists in Schools, funded by NADFAS.

Today was my third week visiting the school.

The project criteria was for a tile project that is to be installed outside the school. I didn't know the theme till I arrived at the school and met the kids.....we wanted it to come from them.

The first week I spent getting the kids to draw what was important to them about their environment and life at Maidens school. Working with the P4,5,6 & 7's I got loads of material to work with.

We ended up with 4 themes that ran through most of the kids pictures.

The sea (there is a perfect view of Ailsa Craig from the village.) The beach. Sport and the school environment.

Last week we came up with 4 designs that will be the guide for the finished piece.

This week we made the tiles. Only a couple of kids could do this at any one time so I started the rest off on some small coil pots. Some of the results were quite impressive.

The kids are so excited about the project. It's great to be part of the school and to hear the kids enthusing about their involvement.

When I applied for this post one of the reasons I thought it was a great idea was that it is the ideal way to show kids that art is a real subject. You can imagine how pleased I was when one of them asked me 'Are you a real artist then- like you do this for a job?' 'Yes I do' I replied 'Isn't that great?' And it is...a great job.

Class n vino

Had a bit of a day off today. (Well in truth I actually fell asleep in the afternoon:-0)
Just the class in the evening.

Rachel brought her mum along. it was her birthday so I gave her the choice of activity.....she chose throwing.
As any of you will know who have ever taught throwing...it is just about the messiest thing in the world! I do encourage the use of aprons...after all it is only mud!

Ann and Rachel are getting much more proficient at throwing now though (we visit this technique every now and then) Ann made some fridge magnets with some cutters she had found (she is a champion shopper) while the others were at the wheel.

It was lovely and warm in the work shop due to the glaze firing yesterday. The wine was good and the time flew in!

Loch Lomond Blue

I whizzed through the job of glazing today. All done and in the kiln by lunch time (well late lunch time!) I was keen to try out the plaster board!
Here are the chopped up bits, ready to go! They look so good I hardly want to use them!







Lucie my daughter then jumped at the chance to help freshen up the paint on the recently revealed window. We worked together in a slightly haphazard way. (Only a bit of her hair is now blue and I am sure it will wear out after a bit of brushing before school!!)



We liked the colour so much we carried on and did the door too. A marked improvement on the peeling dark brown that formerly adorned the woodwork wouldn't you agree?





You will see from the picture there is still work to do but it's getting better!







Here's a picture of Loch Lomond for you Lesley! (see tiles comments) (now I see it..this is the blue I chose for the workshop!) Beautiful!

Soon to be tested miracle of Plasterboard

Made up all the card orders. It is very satisfying to see them all neatly packaged and ready to be sent out into the world to their unknown final destinations! It still blows my mind a bit when I think of all the things I have made and how far they may have gotten!



I called my much missed friend Lesley McInally today. She took the monumental decision to emigrate to Canada three and a half years ago. Since then she's set up 'Drift' a gorgeous gallery in Cookstoun near Toronto. She also still makes the most beautiful ceramic work. ( I will post some of her images at the bottom of this post)





I was contemplating the problem of drying tiles and coasters. My usual technique is to dry them between clean kiln shelves. This method really does the trick, just the right amount of pressure to allow the tiles to dry flat and smooth every time. My problem has been that it limits the number of tiles I can make at any one time. It also ties up my shelves! Of course Les had the answer...plaster board! Can't believe I didn't think of it, it's so obvious! The idea is that I can cut the board to size. Seal of the edges with Duct Tape then pile them high (cutting down on drying space) weighting the top. The plaster will remove the moisture evenly without warping or cracking the tiles :-)

Guess where I'm off to tomorrow? That's right B&Q.

Card tiles

First job today was to get to the post office. I had a couple of Papa Stour orders to send out to the states. It always takes much longer than you would like even though I managed to hit the post office with no queue!

I loaded up the big kiln with all my greenware, tidying up and sanding as I went. Another job that takes longer than it should! It is always worth it at this stage though as it's much easier to clean up BEFORE it's fired! I have spent many hours with the stilt stone and sandpaper having loaded my kiln in a hurry!

In the afternoon I was sorting out hundreds of card tiles. They are quite mischievous, No matter how careful I am counting when I make them I always end up with one short....a bit like the spoon in the bottom of the sink thing! What's that all about?

Finally when my head was sore from contemplating the various colour combinations a wee laddie can wear I left them to dry. I will make them up tomorrow!

Expect the worst!

I guess that even after all this time I still expect the worst when I open the kiln following a glaze firing, perhaps that is for the best as I am usually happy if only one or two pieces emerge as seconds. The load I got out today was mostly good, all the work needed for urgent orders was fine, but the pendants were disappointing, the glaze which was a new batch was too thick causing the pendants to come out too creamy. Not bad though as all my little dishes and baubles were perfect:-)

I got stuck into making a new batch of pendants. Then started on an order for 20-21 Visual Arts Centre this is a new outlet for me in North Lincolnshire. I'm making both my hand built and slip cast pieces for them. Today I worked on the porcelain Drawn Daisy bowls. I was in exactly the right mood to make these today. I also enjoyed the view out onto the garden.



I only moved into the workshop in December and have done a lot of work to the building since then. It didn't have power or insulation or anything. (A few very cold days in the winter months only survived by wearing 4 jumpers and fingerless gloves!) The windows were all covered over with mesh and were full of old spiders webs and untold dead things! I attacked it this weekend and gave it a good clean! What a difference....I can now see out!

First Post

I have spent far too much time setting this up today so I can't write much in this first post! I have to get out to the workshop and empty the kiln!