All new for spring and available on my website. Please contact me if you are looking for something in particular.

• 2012 started off with the arrival of my new kiln which I have thoroughly enjoyed using. I wouldn’t have been able to complete a lot of the work that I achieved without it.

• In March I met BBC Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis and received my very own SBS (Small Business Sunday) certificate (hand signed by the man himself), and had my photograph taken with him – one of the highlights of my life as well as 2012! This was a super day, I’ll never forget it.

•  I gained four new stockists;

Studio 61 Gallery
Ashdown Gallery
Gallery 49
Pigeonhole Moot Hall

•  I developed a range of new glazes that have been used to decorate many pieces of work.

•  A screenshot of my website and a section about me and my work was published in a new book called ‘The Workshop Guide to Ceramics‘ by Quartz Publishing. I was extremely happy about this!

•  I also had a photoshoot in my workshop with a photographer from the Daventry Express, where a feature about my work was published in the Daventry Express ‘etc’ magazine.

• I attended four seasonal craft fairs and took part in the following exhibitions;

‘Kitchen Garden’ at Bilston Craft Gallery from February to April

‘Wolds and Coasts’ at Gallery 49 from July to September

‘Postcard Patchwork’ at Worcester Arts Centre in November

‘Christmas Decorations’ at Thoresby Gallery from November to December

• 2012 was my best year yet for custom orders. I enjoyed every minute of creating special pieces to the requirements of my customers, even during the nerve-racking moments patiently waiting for them to be fired.

• A selection of my work was professionally photographed by Matt Debouge, including the image below. Matt’s photography has always captured my work really well and I was pleased with the group shots and different angles that were achieved this time around.

• I introduced a brand new card range to my website, with over fifteen different designs to chose from. The images on the cards are photographs of my work which adds a nice little accompanying touch for someone buying a gift.

• I also introduced my new ceramic wall planters for the garden which were a big hit last summer. More have been made in preparation for spring 2013…

• My leaf bowl range was refined and developed, creating a striking collection of different shapes and colours.

• Lastly my dandelion designs were a huge hit throughout the year, and were always the first pieces to run out at exhibitions, fairs and online. I also had so many custom orders for pieces with dandelions on them. Watch this space for developed dandelion designs throughout 2013!

I can’t wait to find out what 2013 holds……

Some of the custom orders I completed before Christmas, and was very pleased with!

This set of six ceramic placemats and coasters above were a custom order from a customer at one of the craft fairs I was at a couple of months ago. Having never made large table mats before, I was pleased with the results of these.

A bathroom plaque in the shape of a shell. Can be customised with any shape and engraved wording.

Autumn leaf style bowl with wavy edges and a pool of frosted glass in the centre.

Hand built vase for a 50th birthday gift, with engraved dandelion design around the exterior.

Personalised Christmas tree decorations. These were a late trial idea so I will be taking orders for these next year now that I know they turned out ok.

One of my popular large heart plaques with engraved wording.

Overall, a successful batch of work Glad the customers were pleased too!

A selection of pieces were treated to a special trip away last week where they were professionally photographed by Matt Debouge. Photography is Matt’s passion – since getting his first digital camera he hasn’t stopped taking photos. His work is well known for animal, nature, abstract, artistic and travel photography. Having photographed my work on previous occasions, Matt was used to shooting still life objects but this time he faced the challenge of photographing pieces of my work in a group as well as individually, and did a fantastic job.

I love seeing my work photographed properly, it really brings out the detail.

My favourite images are the close up details of surface decoration… The textures have been brought to life!

If you are interested in having your work photographed, or need a professional photographer for any occasion or theme, Matt would be happy to help – just contact him with your requirements. He also offers IT support and web development.

I had another pleasant surprise opening the kiln this week, with no ‘happy accidents!’ It has felt good finishing off custom orders and getting lots of pieces fired over the last few weeks, but there is still a mountain of work piling up ready to be fired in the new kiln. The new kiln is being delivered in just over a week now, I am sooo excited to finally see it installed!

Fresh from the kiln this week is this pair of Landscape Stacking Bowls with matching surface design, colour and areas of melted glass. They could be displayed ‘stacked’, or separately as shown above. I like the effect of the dark colours, making these bowls appear as statement pieces.

It’s someone’s birthday coming up! One of my latest custom orders was for three of my ceramic gift tags, each with ‘happy birthday’ engraved. I wonder what gifts they will be used to decorate?

This popular Set of four green leaf ceramic coasters is now back in stock, along with a range of other coaster sets including some new designs such as this Set of four dandelion heart coasters below.

One of my latest orders for a personalised heart plaque included a date at the bottom. This is the first plaque I’ve made with a date on it – I think it is the date that the couple were married, isn’t it lovely?

Set of four square textured coasters

And last but not least… I couldn’t share a post without dandelions

Blow Away Dandelion Heart Dish ~ Blue Dandelion Seed Head Heart Dish

Which is your favourite?

I made these special His & Hers heart shaped coasters for a friend to give to another friend as a wedding present a few weeks ago. As well as gifts for weddings, they would also make great anniversary and Valentine gifts. I’m thinking about adding some custom His & Hers coasters to my website, what do you think? In the meantime if you would like any  specific coasters specially made, feel free to get in touch!

A few weeks ago I showed you some photos of a few ‘panels’ in progress (if you missed that post you can revisit it here). I have finally gotten around to glazing and firing one of the panels, which is this ‘Cowslip Meadow’ Decorative Panel ~ What do you think? I love the defined engraved markings and I think the little speckles of glass really finish this piece off. It would look stunning displayed in any room of the house as a feature piece, or even on a window sill. The panel comes complete with a clear acrylic display stand to enable it to be displayed standing up. I couldn’t decide whether or not to keep this piece for myself as it is so pretty and it is also one of the first I have made! I’m looking forward to seeing how the other panel will turn out. I might try a different glaze effect to see how the two contrasting panels look side by side. This Cowslip Meadow panel is available on my website (link above), and like many of my pieces, it is a unique one-off so there is only one!

Set of 4 Crystal Turquoise Heart Coasters

These coasters would make a great wedding gift for the bride and groom, or even displayed on the tables as tabletop accessories at a wedding or party.

The ‘Beside The Sea’ Ceramic Bowl above is my favourite item fresh out of the kiln this week. The colours are so vivid and it reminds me of the seaside.

Black Tea Light Bowl

Dandelion Mini Ceramic Art. This mini art complete with easel is another pretty piece. The seeds from the dandelion are being blown away with the wind…

The texture of this Blue Decorative Mini Vessel was created by rolling the soft clay onto a mould of tree bark.

Decorative Ceramic Heart Dish

And last but not least ~ Meadow of Dandelions Round Cream Bowl

I hope you have enjoyed my latest collection. All of these new pieces are available on my website. Please feel free to leave a comment, I would love to hear what you think!

I had an exciting email a few days ago telling me that my heart coasters had been featured in the ‘Asiana Wedding’ magazine. How exciting!