Thursday 4 December 2014

Diggin' Design Fair

It has been a while since I updated my blog! Busy time of year for everyone! 

Since coming back from my residency in Guernsey I have been busy settling into my new Studio space at Wimbledon Art Studios. Where I share a Studio with a great potter Patrick Nash.  It has been quite a shock coming back to the UK and getting straight back into work and trying to carry on with the work I developed in Guernsey but I have been loving getting in the studio and making new bits!

Last Sunday I did the Diggin' Design Christmas Fair at the Garden Museum in Lambeth. It was in a really beautiful old church and had such a lovely atmosphere and great mince pies! It was a great success and a lovely festive day! There was some really great stalls with a great mix of prints, jewellery, cards, candles and lots more!

Just a few pics of my Stall below.





Wednesday 8 October 2014

Photoshoot

In-between the torrential rain today I managed to grab a little bit of sunshine at the right time! I took some of my work down to Cobo Beach and tried to capture the pieces back where the ideas started! 






Sunday 5 October 2014

A week to go!


So this week was my final week of throwing to ensure all is dried and ready for the last bisq on Tuesday. I have been turning the bottoms of these vases (below) to make sure they are all neat and tidy. Looking forward to getting them glazed as well!

It was Elizabeth College open day today so lots of new students and parents wondering round and seeing what I was up to and got the kids involved and making some pinch pots.


Lots of glazing to get done! Trying some new bits out as well to see how they work before the last glaze firing on thursday.



Some finished mugs! Trying out a few varieties of colours but for me these are a winning combo but I shall see how the others come out first. I am a sucker for a nice blue!


Wednesday 1 October 2014

Students work


Some of my students finished work. They were very excited to see the finished pieces, especially when none of them believed me that the dark grey and odd colours they were putting on would come out like the test tiles alongside.. but they did! Some lovely coil pots and slab built items. They are getting really stuck in now and keen to carry on though so thats great but sad we only have a week left!



A couple of pictures of some finished bean jars, lots more been glazed today and in the kiln so will have a big selection of colours and styles so that they are all different and unique! 



A full kiln today of lots of exciting glazed pieces. Glazing always takes longer than I think it will and its not something I like to rush having spent all that time working on them. Looking forward to seeing how the mugs come out with their different coloured handles and some taller pots with barnacle textures. Like waiting to open your presents on christmas day!
I can't believe how fast the time has gone by either! Trying to get everything thrown and turned by the weekend so that it can be fired and glazed all in time before I leave next Sunday.. eek! Each time something comes out the kiln I want to add or change or develop on to something else but need to concentrate on completing everything ready to come back to for my exhibition next year!



Sunday 28 September 2014

Runs with gorgeous views

I haven't been doing as much running as I was hoping to do but when I get the chance it has been just gorgeous! I went for a long run this morning and it was so sunny and the beach was already filling up with surfers and swimmers. Such a contrast from running in London! Should hear soon about whether I have got a place in the London Marathon ballot… exciting!




Yummy Porcelain

I have been working a bit more on some commercial bits, really enjoyed making these mugs and can't wait to glaze them! Working in porcelain is so lovely and this will defiantly be what I carry on back in London. Just when you look at it next to another piece in stoneware for me the porcelain is a clear winner every time! 


 Below are some little vases I have been experimenting with. I think the textures have worked well and my plan is to glaze the similar to my rock pots with a shiny transparent glaze all over and highlight the barnacled with some darker glazes and oxides.


Below are some glazed pieces which I put in the kiln last night so they should be ready to take out monday morning! A combination of matt and shiny glazes with a stripe of gold, so looking forward to seeing the results!


Finished Pieces

I LOVE opening glaze firings! Especially when all seems to look in one piece and fired how I intended! A few of my larger pieces and my first set of porcelain rock pots which have come out better than I expected so very happy! Cant believe how fast my 6 weeks here is going! Only 2 weeks left to go now which means I need to get everything made by the end of this week so that it can all be fired and glazed in time before I leave.