This is a quick post, at the end of Day 2 of PotFest, to say thank you to all new and returning customers. It’s been a delight to be back again in the Pens. Given how many business cards have been picked up today, I felt I needed to do a blog post to update the website. I do post sproadically, but please do check out my Instagram or Facebook pages for more updates. And if you are reading this on Sun 20 October – get yourself down to Skirsgill Auction Mart (junction 40 of M6) before we all pack up at 4:30pm!
I’ve been blogging even less than usual this summer, because I’ve been so focused on making. I’ve been working a lot of new ideas – some smaller swimming mugs, some beach bowls and lots of new raku items – and trying to keep up with my existing ranges. I’ve purchased a raku kiln (Oliver the Oil Drum) which is opening up the opportunities for raku, and I also attended an amazing workshop with the Korean Master Potter Moon do Bang last month to help me learn how to do bigger and better Moon jars.
So there’s a lot more to come hopefully – I’m looking forward to regrouping a bit over Christmas. I want to redesign my homeware range for 2025, and extend the swimming range to some new pieces. I also am desperate to practice my Moon jars! In the meantime, I need to focus on swimming mugs so hopefully I can have plenty in stock for Christmas.
Finally, it’s not my usual style, but just for fun I made a piece for the Potfest Competition. This year’s theme is ‘hybrid’ and so I cracked out the underglazes to do a Sir Grayson Perry inspired piece called ‘The Hybrid Brain’. I really worry just how ubiquitous social media is – it’s feels like it’s plugged into our brains (or at least, the brains of those deeply active on it) and I’m not sure how good that is for us. Here’s a few shots of my half and half brain – half a brain on healthy, outdoor things and the other half on social media!
