Category Archives: Workshop
Production Line…
Not bad for a days work at the weekend, and on a Sunday too!
The rain had finally cleared up for a couple of days at the weekend here, so it was nice to have the workshop door open with honey bee’s buzzing in and out. I’m pleased with the progress of some new pieces, in particular the new shaped vases, so will look forward to firing those.
I’ve been having fun ordering some new glazes today, the names of some of the colours sound good enough to eat! Vanilla Bean Speckle, Pistachio Spice, Fudge Marble, Mocha Cream… Look out for new colours introduced to my work very soon!
Giving the Workshop a Makeover
A couple of weeks ago I was making the most of the sunshine and gave the workshop a well needed lick of varnish. I’m glad this job was done now that we’ve had so much rain over the past week. I took some before and after shots… look at the difference!
This was Molly’s idea of helping…
I also had some exciting news a couple of weeks ago. If you are a ‘liker’ of my Facebook page you may have noticed me mention a new book called ‘The Workshop Guide to Ceramics‘ by Quarto Publishing in one of my updates.
I received my complimentary copy of the book in the post (which is a brilliant book, by the way), and guess what?! My website is featured in the Professional Practice section under ‘How to Promote Your Work’.
Amazing!
Preparing Work for my New Kiln
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 
Work in progress
The workshop is full of pieces of work in progress at all different stages at the moment. I love being able to choose what to work on, and swap to something else after a while. I’ve been going mad on bowls recently as they have been flying out of my website shop. What do you think of my new leaf shaped bowls?
I can see so many different shaped leaves while looking out of the workshop window, which influenced me to make a leaf shaped bowl last week, and then they just continued from there! I’m really pleased with them. They will be glazed today, ready for firing.
Stacks of Christmas pudding decorations are under way too, as the first batch completely sold out. This is only a few of them shown below!
I’ve had many requests for custom made pieces this month, and I’m currently working on orders for a bird bath, a large numbered house plaque, a clock with a mouse on the top, and a matching soap dish and toothbrush holder. You can see the toothbrush holder below, amongst vases, an unfinished plant pot and other bits and pieces.
Although the weather has been pretty chilly lately, I’ve been nice and toasty in the workshop with the heater on and I soon get warmed up once I start working and listening to music
This Sunday I will be exhibiting at the Contemporary Craft Shopping Experience at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre near Leamington, CV31 1XN. Now in it’s third year, this popular show is always one of my favourites and I can’t wait for all of the festive fun on the day, hopefully I’ll be able to finish my Christmas shopping too. There will be over 100 stalls jam packed full of handmade loveliness. Hope to see you there!
Don’t forget my last order date is 10th December for all custom made and personalised orders – don’t leave it too late! However if you do miss the deadline I will try my best to squeeze any extra orders in, but please contact me first.
Work in progress
Workshop tour
In the workshop…
Me in the workshop!
New workshop taking shape
You wouldn’t have thought that this time last week we had just moved house and everything was a bit chaotic, if you visited our new house now! Everything is in it’s new place, furniture has been put together, we’ve even made a start on adding plants to the garden. The house is in a lovely peaceful area, there is a canal and fields just over the road – got a feeling I will be taking a few walks there for some inspiration!
Plant Markers in progress
Production Line
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.
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.
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. My new Workshop in Action
