My Creative Space

Preparing Work for my New Kiln

March 23, 2012 Charlotte No comments

Since the arrival of my new kiln a couple of weeks ago I have been so anxious and excited waiting to fill it up with new work. It is great to now be able to fire so many more pieces at a time, as my old kiln was so small. When loading the kiln yesterday I realised I had been a little too keen and made too much so not everything will fit, but the few left over pieces can go in the next firing.

The kiln was ‘broken in’ during it’s dry-out firing last week, and now that it is loaded with work it is ready to turn on this evening. So exciting!

The workshop is looking bare and a bit sorry for itself now that there is not a single piece of work in progress to be seen. But that will give me a chance to have a spring clean and tidy up before I start making more work and more mess!

In-between making new work while listening to music and drinking lots of tea, I managed to find some time to sit down and do a few sketches last week. I’ve wanted to make some wall planters for a while now, and these are the first few I’ve made below. I’m very happy with them so far, they will look great in the garden for summer. Can’t wait to see what they turn out like.

By popular demand, more mini ceramic landscape art coming soon. Many of these will be sent to one of my new stockists – Ashdown Gallery in Sussex, but there will also be some new ones available on my website next week too.

Sorting glass ready for melting… one of my favourite jobs!

And finally a snapshot of some pieces in progress last week… Come back soon to see what they turned out like!

Hope you all enjoy a lovely weekend full of sunshine! I’m away camping for the weekend so fingers crossed this sunny weather continues

Posted in: my creative space, work in progress, Workshop Tags: new kiln

Plant Markers in progress

January 21, 2011 Charlotte No comments

Plant markers are recently taking over my workshop! Because they need to stay flat, they need to be left to dry out on a flat surface. This means most of the surfaces in my workshop are currently covered in them, but I don’t mind, it gives me an excuse to take a break for a little while!

I really enjoy making plant markers and once I start, I can’t seem to stop. That’s probably a good thing though, considering I will be supplying a local flower shop with some plant marker sets soon.

My flower design plant markers are now back in stock, and I also have the pine tree, icicles and squares designs available. They make perfect little gifts and would also be a great addition to a gardening hamper. With spring coming up, it would be a good idea to label any plants you have planted. My plant markers can be written on in pencil, which can be rubbed off to change the wording if required. They are also frost proof!

It was my Nan’s birthday a couple of days ago, I gave her some of my plant markers and a bowl that I had made. I think she was pleased with them.

Posted in: ceramic plant markers, my creative space, work in progress, Workshop

October 28, 2010 Charlotte 4 Comments

Today I’m cutting and sticking foam, stamping, and tying ribbon.

Want to see what for?

I’ve got a new batch of coasters to prepare for the ‘Make’ exhibition in Devon, as all 14 sets need to be sent off next week. I find this job quite relaxing and satisfying, especially because it can be done in front of the tv!

I’ve still got many more sets of coasters yet to be fired. Here’s a peek of some in the kiln below. They are all resting on a tile crank – a great way to make the most of the space in the kiln!

My finished sets of coasters will look something like this…

See some other sets of coasters that I have available to purchase on my website here. They would make ideal gifts for Christmas!

Posted in: ceramic coasters, decorative coasters, my creative space, My Work

Production Line

October 14, 2010 Charlotte 3 Comments

It’s been another busy week in the workshop. I’ve got row upon row of work in progress at the moment – different production lines of work that either need to be smoothed, trimmed or glazed. I like having lots of different things on the go, so that I can change to a different job if I’ve had enough of another.

I’m really enjoying spending time in my new workshop, even if it is the odd ten minutes here and there to check on a few pieces drying. I’m mostly grateful for so much extra space which I wasn’t used to before, when I was using the shed in my old garden. More space means I can make more work!

My main working area is fantastic because I’ve got light coming in from the door to the right, as well as light beaming in through the window in front of me. I’m using the wall to stick design ideas, notes and orders up, but ideally I would like a pin board for this.

This is definitely my busiest year, especially over the past few months, and there’s still the Christmas rush to come!

I have sold a lot of bowls over the past few weeks, so I’m working on some more heart shaped bowls, and dishes with wavy edges.

I’ve also been experimenting with new glazes this week. I hope this batch turns out ok – half of my stock for an exhibition is glazed in it!!

The sets of coasters are almost ready for the ‘Make’ exhibition in Devon. They will look nothing like this in terms of colour when they are fired.

One of my regular customers who found me at a local craft fair earlier this year came to pick up a few pieces she had ordered last week. I enjoyed showing a customer around my workshop, it felt encouraging – much better than seeing everything cramped inside a small shed.

Although I do still have one ‘messy’ section of the garage. The shelf below the window hasn’t really got a means of use yet, it is being used for storage at the moment.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the little tour around my workshop and what I’m working on at the moment. I hope to show you some finished results next week!

Posted in: my creative space, work in progress, Workshop

What I’m working on…

September 26, 2010 Charlotte 2 Comments

Somehow (I’m not quite sure how!), I’ve managed to find some time to make some bits & pieces in my new workshop this week. I love it in there, I’ve got so much more space… although I suppose more space means more mess.

These little ceramic shapes are white because they have been glazed. The glaze is white when it is applied to the clay, and when fired it turns clear and smooth.

The shapes are going to form some new hanging decorations that I’m working on, a bit like this one, but slightly different! I’ll show you the results when they are finished.

I’ve also been working on a completely new product which I think could be popular at my craft fairs for Christmas – samples below. Can you guess what they are?

I’ll show you the finished pieces in a few weeks when they are ready

Posted in: glazing, my creative space, work in progress

My new Workshop in Action

September 22, 2010 Charlotte 8 Comments

Last week I showed you what the new garage looked like after it had been emptied and freshly painted. Now that I’ve moved all my stuff in and set everything up, it’s all ready to start making new work!

Theres still plenty of room for my car to fit in…

I’ve made use of the nails in the walls to hang some of my wind chimes up,

and there were also 2 nails conveniently positioned for my banner to hang up on a beam! It needs a bit of extra support in the middle but its ok for now.

I don’t use this banner any more, since I got my new stand up roller banner earlier this year. So I thought it would be perfect to hang it up in my new work space rather than not being used.

I’ve already spent some hours making a few new pieces, and organising work to be sent for an exhibition in Newcastle and a new stockist in Tyne & Wear (more details about these soon!) – It’s cosy in my new workshop!

Posted in: my creative space, Workshop

My new workshop

September 16, 2010 Charlotte 14 Comments

It started as a cold, dirty empty shell full of dust and cobwebs…

…but now with a thorough clean from top to bottom and a lick of paint, it is looking fresh and ready to work in.

There were some tubs of paint left on one of the shelves in the garage when we moved in last week, so I thought I’d make good use of them, even if it was a mish-mash of white, magnolia, brown & tea green! The brick work at the far end of the garage is quite old and some of the bricks are crumbling in between the gaps – so thats why you can still see gaps – I couldn’t paint over these bits which was a shame. I haven’t done half a job, honest!

The shelves were originally painted blue, and were full of layers of dirt and dust. Now they are sparkly clean and I painted them ‘tea green’.

The space is huge – theres still plenty of room to use as my workshop when my car is in the garage too.

Its nice to just step out into the back garden and straight into the garage side door. It also feels great being surrounded by actual walls, rather than wooden slats from my old workshop (shed). I’ll be spending today moving all of my stuff from the shed at my mums into the garage at my new house. I might even get stuck in and start making some new work once its all set up this afternoon!

Come back in a couple of days to see the garage properly set up!

Posted in: my creative space, Workshop

My Creative Space – Glazing

July 09, 2010 Charlotte 4 Comments

Hop aboard my spaceship (aka workshop with bubbly silver insulation lining), and find out what I’m up to today!

Yesterday I completely cleaned out the whole of the workshop, including sorting, tidying and hoovering, in preparation for a big glazing session. (I am more motivated to work when the space around me is clean and tidy).

Today I’ve laid out all of the work that I’ve been making over the past few weeks, ready to be glazed. To me, glazing is a chore and I don’t enjoy it much, I prefer the actual hands-on making process. But glazing is necessary so someone’s got to do it! I’ve decided that when I’m famous enough to employ an assistant, they can do all of my glazing

As you can see, surface space is a little limited in the workshop so I usually improvise with wooden boards and prop them up as shelves wherever there is space, mostly for the flat pieces to sit on such as plaques and coasters.

If anything, I do enjoy deciding which designs and colours should be used for decorating each piece. I never decorate 2 pieces the same, as all of my pieces are one-offs. Below your’ll see some plaques I made when I was in a fun mood. They aren’t the kind of designs I would normally use but I felt like making something different to my usual style. I’ll see how things go with them.

Some new buttons are also all lined up ready to be decorated…

And I’ve even resorted to using a large piece of cardboard as a shelf!

Off I go to complete my mission, wish me luck!

Posted in: glazing, my creative space, work in progress, Workshop

Hearts Galore

July 05, 2010 Charlotte No comments

I’m using a lot of hearts in my work lately!

Posted in: ceramic hearts, heart bowls, my creative space, My Work, work in progress

My Creative Space

June 24, 2010 Charlotte 10 Comments

My workshop is a little untidy at the moment – please excuse the mess!

What I wanted to show you are these tiny little clay bowls I made on Sunday whilst enjoying the sunshine. They have been made using the ‘pinch pot’ technique which can be found here. I’ve glazed them in a shiny transparent glaze, and will be melting different coloured glass in them from my new glass stash, to see what sorts of colours and effects they create.

No matter what they turn out like, I think they will definitely look cute and they would be perfect for keeping little bits & pieces in such as pins and beads, or they could just be admired as they are

If I’m happy with the results from the melted glass, I’ll be using the new bright colours on some larger scale work. I’ll show you the results once these bowls are fired, and might put some in my shops if anyone is interested.

Visit Kirsty’s to see more creative spaces.

Posted in: my creative space, Workshop

Glass Goodies

June 21, 2010 Charlotte 6 Comments

After taking my Dad out for breakfast on Father’s day yesterday, it was another nice day for sitting in the garden. I love relaxing and chatting in the sun whilst listening to all the birds in the trees and watching Molly chase bumble bees. I did sit out there for a bit too long though, and have had to smother myself in after sun today!

In the evening when the sun had started to pass over the garden, I decided to have a rummage through my new bucket of coloured glass which was given to me last week from a very generous craft fair organiser – Ann of Pennine Fairs. Her husband used to do a lot of lamp work with this glass, and had buckets full of leftover bits and pieces after toning down on his glass work. Ann knows I use a lot of recycled glass in my ceramic work and offered me a huge bucket full of scraps because they wanted to get rid of it. The glass may have seemed like unwanted rubbish to them but to me it was like a bucket of treasure! A huge thanks to Ann and her husband for being so kind and thinking of me.

Above: Frosted Lake Wavy Bowl & Earth Bowl using recycled melted glass

Some of the glass from the bucket is quite opaque rather than translucent, so I’m not sure how this will look when melted down in the kiln. The temperature inside the kiln may even be too hot for it, and the opaque coloured glass might burn, but I’ll try it out on a few samples first. I’ve made lots of tiny ceramic bowls as samples to melt the new glass into – I like experiments! I’ll show you those later in the week.

Whilst rummaging through the glass, “oooh-ing” and “ahhh-ing” at pretty pieces, we started making shapes with it, and Dave got a bit carried away…

I love the boats, but how good is the parrot!? I don’t think he realised he could be so creative

We are thinking about making a nice picture out of some of the glass and sticking it down in a frame to go on the wall when we get our new house.

This weekend my online shops will be on holiday mode while I’m at the Castle Ashby Craft Fair in Northampton (26th-27th June). This fair is run by Pennine Fairs so I’m looking forward to showing Ann my first experiments with the glass. Any fair organised with Pennine Fairs is an opportunity not to be missed – They are very strict with who exhibits, to make sure all crafts are genuine and of top handmade quality. This craft fair at Castle Ashby is set inside the walled garden of Castle Ashby House and visitors are able to browse the beautiful gardens as well as the 3 huge marquees full of crafts, and the tea room for refreshments. See you there!

Posted in: castle ashby, castle ashby craft fair, craft fair northamptonshire, glass, my creative space

Sketchbook Peeks Part 2

March 29, 2010 Charlotte 3 Comments

Continued from Sketchbook Peeks Part 1:

5. How do you feel with the prospect of starting a new sketchbook with lots of lovely blank pages?

It does excite me starting a new sketchbook, because there is that thrill of what exciting new designs and ideas are going to fill the pages. But it can also feel quite daunting. I prefer working in a sketchbook that has already been started. If a sketchbook is blank I sometimes feel stuck with what to fill it with, so I like there to be something already there to work with, even if it is a watercolour wash as a background.

6. When and where do you get your sketchbook inspiration?

If I’m ever feeling stuck for inspiration I usually have a flick through a book I own by Carolyn Genders called ‘Sources of Inspiration.‘ It guarantees to get some inspiration flowing every time!

7. How would you describe your sketchbook process?

I don’t really have an exact way of doing things; in fact I would say the process of my sketchbooks is very random. Sometimes I will open a sketchbook at a page right in the middle and start there, rather than following on from the last page. Some days I spend time painting coloured backgrounds on different pages ready to be drawn on, and others I will spend sticking things in. The great thing about drawing in a sketchbook is that there is no right or wrong way about doing things.

I will often find an image or a close up detailed texture in a magazine that I like, so I’ll stick it in a sketchbook. When I often look back through my sketchbooks to refresh my inspiration, I come across lots of these stuck in images and it is then that I notice something different about the image, and reuse it in my designs in a different way than before.

I love using different materials to layer up on top of one another to create a collage. My sketchbooks are full of mixed-media – I enjoy drawing with inks on top of torn brown paper, using wax resists, layering acetate images over drawings, tearing or cutting up prints and then piecing them back together in a different way, sticking down found objects such as interesting stones, shells or pieces of bark, using my own inspirational photographs, and simply just ‘making marks’ on the page – it is this particular aspect that my ceramics connects to.