My week in pictures.....

The week started with a delivery of a big bunch of flowers to make me smile I don't think I have had flowers delivered before, ever, it was a lovely surprise.

First school of the week involved decorating our mini beasts with under glazes and then covering with a layer of slip these wee beasties will adorn the entrance hall of a a school which we are turning into the enchanted forest....did I say I love my job sometimes.

The next day was Ancient Egypt with Cherryfold a stressful day with Ofsted in but we got outstanding results so all worth it and these are our cartouches with the completed River Nile on our tableau outside the classroom we seem to have taken over the whole corridor with work, oops.

Day three in school involved making our own Grecian urns with year 3s at Lammack Primary School. A good day was had by all, new techniques but ancient methods learnt by the children and then I got to play at after schools art and craft club well I couldn't resist constructing and creating this little creature.....

Away from work and we had a new addition to the Miles family, after losing our German Shepherd dog Max over 10 months ago my parents could not stand the empty nest much longer and plumped for a lovely dog called Charlie who is a cross breed from the RSPCA at Altham near where they live he is a cutie and very placid as he is finding his feet in his new home. Though he's found the cream sofas which my dad isn't to pleased about and he dug up mums onion setts as quickly as she planted them!I think with a face like that he got away with both misdemeanors and will love his new home!

And so to the weekend with Hannah's Hen do with a difference she wants willow lanterns to adorn the gardens at the reception and so we roped the girls in at my studios to create them well why not when you have willing participants.

 

 

And on to an evening of pink champagne, talk of the venue at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park over a takeaway curry, and Breakfast at Tiffanys, all good stuff. Sad to miss Joejoes birthday bash at the mill though as we went down too earlier and it hadn't started! Hoping they had good fun and the weather didn't spoil the evenings festivities!

a rare day off to look at pots.......

So after a week in schools I took Friday off to visit my fellow potter and friend Stephen Kingsford over in Mawdesley. Well it would be rude not to nip in to see Babs Taylor too at Cedar Farm Gallery and Studios along the road and guess whose work I spotted.......

in the window...Gwen Bainbridge and Emer O Sullivan 

Babs was on the ceramic tour of Lancashire which inspired my open studios last week and I hope some of you got to see some of the other works on display over the week. She was a mine of information regarding the struggles I am having with my bowls as they are cracking quite badly in the firing so it was a useful trip and a good place to visit with artist studios, an art shop, gallery and a cafe that serves brown sugar meringues to die for. Whilst over that way Stephen and  I went to visit the new Craft Gallery run by the Craft Guild of Lancashire at the newly opened Burscough Wharf with a special exhibition of ceramic work by local potters.

Stephens beautiful porcelain work

Christine Cumming raku dogs

We bobbed in to the Blue Mallard Restaurant for lunch and the sandwiches were amazing I recommend it and it is cheaper than the cafe downstairs in the courtyard but I am told they do a mean breakfast!

So back to work this week and three Curious Minds schools to content with I was working on putting up the 'Under the Sea' displays for the Year 1 entrance at Heasandford. We started on the jellyfish and starfish games with more to come.....

Today was Ancient Egypt with Year 3s at Cherryfold where we were looking at investigating materials through papermaking and feltmaking to create a tableau to go on display in the corridor outside the classroom.

Next week we are looking at making our own cartouche in clay I think the children can't wait! The last school this week is Lammack where we are looking at Ancient Greece through maths and exploring repeat patterns with symmetry it going to be fun as we are creating our own block prints too. Then hopefully I can concentrate on making the last few pieces for my Harrogate orders hoping to send then this time next week keep everything crossed for the bowls going in the kiln tomorrow night.

First Open Studios of the year.......

Royal Wedding offical pics

So the celebrations are over and so is the lovely four day weekend though I stupidly booked an open studio event in conjunction with the Craft and Design Magazine National Crafts Month. There are ten potters opening across Lancashire through out the week and you can find the times and venues if you follow the link off my website front page. I hope everyone has a good event I had a lot of interest and visitors on the Saturday but the Sunday I only had three people through the door. I also had a workstation for people to have a go at clay which was a success with some children going home happy with their creations. There was also some buzz from sales and I am thinking that my work is going to good homes too. Thanks for coming if you did and look out for other events going on through the week relating to ceramics and also other crafts throughout the month.

I did have some time off this weekend and I went to a friends barbeque on the Friday with champagne, veggie sausages and vegetable kebabs all good stuff. We also went to see a premiership footballers donkeys which live in the fields near my friends home. He used to put pictures up on Twitter but sadly no more. But the donkeys are gorgeous though we forgot the carrots and one did have a nibble of my top!

Inspirational days in the Lakes at Easter

Well back to school this week with two days done already. Enchanted forests with Year 2s yesterday and today a fun day introducing Ancient Egypt to Year 3s. All good fun with pics to follow. I know most people have a three day week this week with weddings and street parties to look forward to but a self employed artists job is never done and I am flinging open the doors to my studio this weekend to celebrate the Craft and Design Magazines Craft Month with Ceramics being the starting week. So if you are at a loose end this weekend I am opening 11 til 4 Saturday and Sunday at Higherford Mill, Gisburn Road, Barrowford, Lancashire, BB9 6JH. There could be some bargains to be had as I am tidying and organise my studio tomorrow in preparation.

new work on show

The first Bluebells

So this weekend the weather was lovely and it was too nice to stay inside especially as I will be in the cold studios all weekend so I though an inspirational few days in the Lakes would be a perfect antidote.

Buzzards nest 

Speckled Wood Butterfly I think with a 14 spotted ladybird

 

 

Windermere a perfect spot for a picnic

Scout Scar a perfect panoramic view of the lakes and Lancashire fells.

Inspiration in the garden - sketchbook pages

Well it's been a busy week but I am not sure what I have been doing to be honest. Lots of prep work and tidying up after BCTF, paperwork and I was actually in a school, probably the only one in the whole of Pennine Lancashire but hey it was a good day playing with clay for Y5/6s. I will share some photos later they are now drying waiting for a kiln firing so all good. I was actually inspired by a friend Hannah Kidds blog to write on mine about showing my workings out. She talked about how we get children in schools to show their workings out and how as adults it is quite a scary thing to do so I thought I would show you some of my thought processes here and how I get to draw the things I do and this week I have been out in the sunshine in the garden.....

It's my first attempt at planting veggies for a complete season and I was given some seeds for my birthday and some last year for sowing in winter but I never got round to it so I have radishes and broad beans starting to grown in my not so finely tilled soil but it's a start. I love gardening and use it as inspiration and a resource in my work as you can see here

We had a blackbirds nest fall out of the ivy last week with an egg and unfotunately a dead chick but hopefully she has time to make another nest.

sketchbook pages

 

 

I was also looking at drawing some different flowers for my vases and also for the table centres for a friends wedding so I have gone back to straight observational drawing to get back into the swing of it before turning it into a more stylised version that I feel comfotable to work with.

 

Queen if the Night tulips planted by me.

We shall see, there is still a lot more to explore as the garden is coming to life and as I have inherited a really nice spot I am still discovering what spring bulbs are exploding into life and colour.

Don't panic the foxgloves haven't flowered just yet I was just showing you what's to come am hoping they are white ones too.

And last but not least Hannah has just got back from her hols she has brought me a present. Her future husband wasn't too impressed to be honest that she picked it up whilst walking the fells of Cumbria but is an amazing find and I love it though I am sure you may find it a bit gruesome but I can add it to my collection that I have picked up along the way. Right off to fire a kiln, hope this is a little insight into what goes on in an artists head or explain some of the finished pieces you can see in my studio etc. Hmmm maybe not.......

Open Studios, Shows and more

So I have just updated my events page on my website so I thought I would put the new dates etc on here too. 

I will start the season with an open studios event which I have collated with members from Northern Potters and friends in conjunction with Craft and Design Magazines National Crafts Month. My studio will be open on Saturday 30th April to Sunday 1st May 11 - 4 and then through the week where possible or by appointment. There is a pdf I can send out to you if you would like to follow the trail across Lancashire.

http://www.craftanddesignmonth.net/

 

In June Higherford Mill Artists presents their annual Open Studios Event for the Bowland Arts Festival 2011
Higherford Mill artists will once again open their studios for visitors on the weekend of 4th and 5th June 10am - 4pm but please note I will only be open on the Saturday.

http://www.bowlandarts.co.uk/

 

On the 5th June  the Sunday I am going to be exhibiting at Holmfirth Art Market for the first time. It opens at 

10am to 4pm at Holmfirth indoor market, HD9 3JU with a £2 entry on the door which included free entry to their fantastic Art Raffle. There are over 80 selected artists and designer-makers all coming together over two weeks in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire to show their most recent work.  Come along and "meet the makers", talk to the artists, find about about them and their work, buy and commission direct.

.

http://www.artmarkets.co.uk/

 
The week after I will be at Potfest Scotland from the 10th - 12th June. Which returns to the Perth area for its 14th year in Scotland. This years show is Potfest at the Palace, in the wonderful grounds of Scone Palace, the home of the Stone of Destiny, the crowning site of former Scottish kings. This years show has a slightly different format, being held in 5 marquees on the lawns in front of the Palace. Entry to the show also includes entry to the Palace grounds and gardens, open 10am - 5pm daily 

 
http://www.potfest.co.uk/potfestscot.htm


And then on to July where I have again been selected to exhibit at Potfest in the Park 29th, 30th, 31st July 2011. Over 100 exhibitors invited from all over Europe and beyond....all with very distinctive individual styles ....all passionate about working with clay. The venue, Hutton-in-the-Forest, is a cultural destination in itself with it's walled garden, topiary terraces and woodland walks. The ceramics festival takes place in and around marquees in front of the castle, with the potters competition pieces on the lawn, juxtaposing ancient architecture and modern ceramics. Hutton-in-the-Forest lies 5 miles northwest of Penrith, Cumbria
(M6 junction 41) - on the edge of the stunningly beautiful Lake District National Park (Postcode CA11 9TH for sat navs )
Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday ...10am - 5pm daily

Adults £6. (includes admission to gardens)
Accompanied children free. Free parking. Refreshments on site

http://www.potfest.co.uk/potfestpark.htm

The last show I think I will be exhibiting at will be Nostalgia Meets Design if I get selected so cross fingers for that one I just need to get my new decals ordered for the photos of childhood memories. Watch this space for more details.

Tired now but I have survived BCTF 2011 woo hoo

Well its all over and I am very tired. It was amazing seeing old and new friends and I really enjoyed myself. I am really really tired though so this is a snap shot of those who I shared a room with, drunk g&ts with and who made it a pleasure to be there. Apologies if I have missed people off there are a few but I didn't take pics so maybe next year!

Red Currant Glass http://www.redcurrantglass.co.uk/

the lovely Stevie http://www.zumosilk.com/

Kate Durdy

 

 

Dylans mum

http://www.gwenbceramics.co.uk/

http://www.interludeceramics.com/

 http://www.arwynjonesceramics.co.uk/

http://seventyseventyone.blogspot.com/

My work.......

My new work was very well received and I was very pleased with the positive feedback from all. Thank you x