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!