work but not!

Pots well wrapped and wheel cleaned down ready this morning, before doing the laundry and dashing off to the Allotment Committee Meeting... meetings always take longer than you allow for!

I'd hoped to pick broad beans afterwards but it was raining.. but had finished by the time I'd arrived home...no, I wasn't going to tempt fate and return to the garden!!

I just managed to get an ordered mug in the post, but missed the collection. It will be on its way North on Monday. First step of the journey done at least, even if it is only four doors along the street!

After lunch I had an afternoon out with The Oily One. Not really an afternoon off, more leisurely work. We collected a small rubber car part, then headed for Craft in the Bay ...no sales yet, so we had a wander round to Herb and Ellie's Deli for a coffee and to see a friend.

That lifted the spirits, so we ventured to Cowbridge to see if there might be a shop that I could get my work into.....nothing as far as I could see. There is The Old Barn in Verity Street, a lovely building but unfortunately (for me) workshops for local makers and the local bike shop. I must ask someone living locally, but there was nothing obvious.

Home for supper as it started raining after a fine afternoon and posting more on Etsy.

kiln unpacking andCraft in the Bay

Well I did know one pot had gone, but why that one is so far a mystery. I need to examine the shards as it could be a "foreign body" or that Yellow Ochre again...as on this box lid. Of course the clay manufacturers found nothing!! They were sent a small mug, and a small sample...they don't realise that I want to work with them not against them. There obviously is a problem, we just need to sort it together.

Kiln unpacked. It doesn't look a lot like this. The damaged bowl is at the far end of the shelf, and a lidded box with a handle got chipped by flying debris!
Waxing feet tomorrow and sieving glazes!
The bowls for the next bisque firing have been set in the warm kiln to dry, and to keep them out of the way.

Then off to Cardiff this evening, to nibble nibbles, sip elderflower cordial and fizzy water (lush!) Listened to a speech , looked round the exhibition and the shop. I think I might be underpricing my work a little, but not too much on the whole.
Here is my display, taken from outside the gallery!
This is the view as I left, you can see the exhibition even when it is closed. The brick building is the old Pier Head. The large one on the left is the Millennium Centre, and I think you can just see part of the Assembly building between the two.
It was good to see a friend from North Wales who also has work in the exhibition. I must organise a visit - I'll need a week or two to see everyone!!

pottery progress

I'm just waiting for the first bisque to cool after yesterday's firing. I know there will be casualties...I turned the gas up a little as it reached 300 C , as the flame seemed to be going down- the gas bottle was nearly empty I had thought...and it went up too fast. Hopefully it will only be one large bowl....
The next batch is drying nicely with the heat of the cooling kiln, hopefully that will be another kilnfull, if not there are small things that need making that can fill it.
I need it all glazed to have things to send a examples with the application for the Aberystwyth Christmas Craft Market. I could just use work I already have, but it would be a pity not to get these in as the shapes are developing nicely.

The opening of the Craft in the Bay Summer Show is tonight!