Category Archives: My Work
Fresh from the Kiln ~ Custom Orders
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!
Fresh from the Kiln ~ Leaf Bowls
I really enjoyed making these leaf bowls, and glazing them was fun too. I’m pleased with the results, I think the areas of melted glass gives them a nice finishing touch. I absolutely love the outcome of the layered glazes and green glass in the Gloriously Green leaf bowl (top left). The striking shape of the Blue Ice leaf bowl is also quite attractive. Which is your favourite?
You might remember a previous post a couple of weeks ago showing these leaf bowls in progress. It’s so nice to see the before and after stages. There are a few more yet to be fired – I couldn’t fit them all in the kiln as custom orders took priority.
My Creative Space
It’s nice to see everything finally coming together after spending long evenings out in the workshop. I’ve worked hard to complete as many custom orders as I can, and will be firing the kiln next week. I can’t wait to see the results and hope my customers are happy. Unfortunately I will not be taking any more orders before Christmas as I won’t have the time, but there are still plenty of unique items and gift ideas in my shop.
This is where I’ve been hiding out most evenings!
I’m particularly excited to see the results of these place mats. It’s an order for a set of six from a customer I met at the Lamport Hall craft & gift fair last month. Having never made place mats before, I hope they turn out ok.
These leaf bowls are coming along nicely. Each leaf shape is individually hand drawn onto sheets of rolled out clay before forming into a bowl. I enjoy drawing the shapes and experimenting with new forms.
Once glazed and fired, the bowls will look something like this below. These are examples of previous bowls I have made with melted glass in the bases. I’m hoping to achieve more colourful results in the next batch, although that doesn’t always go to plan when the kiln has a mind of it’s own!
My autumn leaf dish and botanical green leaf bowl are currently available in my shop. Watch this space for my latest work coming soon!
Happy Friday!
Here’s a selection of items available in my shop.
This weekend only… receive a FREE ceramic magnet with all orders! If you see something you like please grab it now to avoid disappointment as each piece is a unique one-off, and I never make two pieces the same.
I’m still taking a few last minute orders before Christmas, if there is anything specific or personalised you are looking for I would love to hear from you.
What’s New…
A taster of what’s new on my website this week…
If you see something you like head over to my online shop to find out more information on these items. While you’re there feel free to browse my other handmade ceramic pieces ~ everything is completely unique and handmade with love!
As autumn approaches…
I’ve been enjoying the last of the last of the summer sun this week, busying away in the workshop with the door open, preparing for the cooler autumn days to start.
As well as working on new stock for upcoming fairs, I have also enjoyed making some one-off custom pieces for customers. Although I love receiving all orders, custom requests are my favourite because I know a specific piece is being made especially for someone which makes it even more special.
Alongside keeping busy out in the workshop this week I have also been on a lovely (but super long) bike ride where I was able to view lots of stunning countryside. The bike ride started along a local canal with the intention of stopping off at a pub for a drink and then cycling back, which didn’t quite go to plan…
As we arrived so far at the end of the canal we had to change direction and go over a bridge, following what we thought was the direction to the next village, until we realised we had turned the wrong way about 5 miles in the wrong direction! But it was good fun finding a different route home.
A lot of the inspiration for my work comes from trees, so it was interesting to climb the ‘tree top walk’ in Salcey Forest last weekend. It was a little scary looking down but I managed to capture a few good photographs.
Hope you’ve had a good week!
Ceramics Photo Shoot
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.
Fresh from the Kiln
It was an exciting day opening the kiln last week, I couldn’t wait to see how my new glazes had turned out. As well as some new coloured glazes I also now have a new transparent top coat glaze which gives a lovely shiny look and feel.
I like playing around with contrasting surfaces – Such as the textured & matt leaves against the smooth & shiny body of this new Tall Glimmer Vase with Raised Leaves.
I am completely in love with this new dandelion vase… So much so that I haven’t brought myself to sell it as yet. I think I’ll keep this one for myself and try out some others soon. Just need someone to buy me some flowers to put in it though!
There have been lots of new additions to the bowls section on my website. Feel free to have a browse and see if there’s anything you like. As well as making fresh new additions to the home, all of my ceramic pieces make ideal gifts for birthdays, weddings and house warming presents.
With the dedicated garden section on my website, your garden won’t feel left out this summer. From plant markers, wall planters, ornamental pots and hanging decorations, you are sure to find something to add a bit of character to your garden. These two wind chimes above are new to my website this week.
You will find lots of new vase designs added to my range too, including the popular Sea Line and Sky Line designs above.
My favourite of the new bowls is the Seaside Bowl above, with impressed shell designs and a striking pool of melted blue glass in the base it makes a very attractive piece.
Which is your favourite?
New Glazes
It’s a good idea to make some glaze sample tiles to refer back to when planning colour themes for certain pieces of work. My new glazes arrived last week and I’ve had some fun trying them out. I incorporated areas of texture onto samples so I can see what each glaze is like on different surfaces. I also applied one thin coat on half of each sample, and a thick coat with about 3 layers on the other half to compare.
To test how much a glaze runs it’s best to dip an upright standing clay sample into each glaze and check if it ‘moves’ during a glaze firing. This way it’s easier to gauge where to glaze up to around the base of a standing up piece such as a vase – i.e. if a glaze runs quite a lot, I leave a gap at the base of a vase when applying glaze to allow for it to run a little and cover the unglazed section.
I couldn’t wait to test my new glazes (I don’t have much patience!), so I went ahead and glazed a few pieces to try them out before referring to the samples… Luckily they turned out ok with pleasing results.
Here’s a couple of pieces showing my favourite of the new glazes, which I am calling the ‘Ocean Sand’ range. This glaze has a gorgeous smooth matt finish and also picks up hints of burgundy in some small areas. If you would like a particular piece glazed in this new colour feel free to contact me with your requirements.
Fresh from the Kiln in April – Part 3
If you missed parts 1 & 2 of this ‘Fresh From the Kiln’ series, click on the numbers to be directed to each post.
Wow, another post full of fresh new work. I hope you like it!
I was particularly pleased with the surface decoration of this Natural Seashore Bowl above, oxides have been used to highlight the textures perfectly. This bowl is quite large, approx 30cm in length and it has a pooled area of my ‘signature’ melted glass in the centre which has added an element of depth.
This snapshot of vases is part of a new rustic collection. You will find similar shapes and designs available in the vases section on my website. My favourite is the tall vase at the back with navy pine leaves engraved onto the surface.
Back by popular demand, a brand new selection of collectable mini ceramic art landscapes (also known as ACEO’s), complete with mini wooden easel for display. I never make the same design twice, making each piece completely unique.
This new beast was fired beautifully, I love the tree bark texture trailing around the exterior of the planter. It has a bumpy surface, so this piece is very tactile. This ”Tree Trunk Planter‘, like many of my pieces, is suitable for use outdoors as well as in the home.
Is that the time? …time for tea and cake
I enjoyed playing around with impressing a sheet of lace into this navy clock above, it has created a lovely elegant pattern. Even now I still love experimenting and trying new things, it makes working more excitable! Dandelions seem to be cropping up on more and more pieces of my work, the latest being this Dandelion Clock.
And also a wavy dandelion dish! The edges of the bowl are wavy to give the impression of a flower head.
Hope you’ve enjoyed my tour of new pieces. Which has been your favourite? I would love to hear your comments
Fresh from the Kiln in April – Part 2
If you missed Part 1 of this months ‘Fresh From The Kiln’ series, you can view it here!
I’m enjoying sorting out the pots in the garden recently, I think that’s what has given me the inspiration to make more pieces suitable for outdoors. Especially now summer is fast approaching, it’s time to start making the garden look nice ready for barbecue’s on (hopefully) warmer days! This textured turquoise planter is suitable for the garden but would also look lovely displayed on a window-sill in the home.
One of my favourites – this blue lily pond flowers dish is a pretty little new addition to my collection.
I enjoy making these panelled hangings, they look great hung up in a hall way. This oak wall hanging is a new design and is limited addition – only one available!
Another one of my favourites, a set of new dandelion coasters.
And last but not least, sorry about the poor photography… I LOVE this new landscape clock. A combination of different glazes and textures have been used to create the fields and sky. All of my clocks come complete with the required battery so they are ready to hang up straight away.
Hope you’ve enjoyed part 2 of this months ‘Fresh from the Kiln‘ series, come back tomorrow for part 3!
