stocking up

I've just increased the stock  with Gareth LLoyd Ceramics at St Ffagans Pottery in the grounds of the National Welsh History Museum near Cardiff.

The lamps and plaques are Gareth's work.

and course the sheep are there too!!

?!!

tired and more to do

By the time I'd reached St. Ffagans this morning, the rain had eased.

Back home by 3pm in the sunshine, but I'm finding commuting very tiring, even with jam avoiding tactics.

This little lot are now cooling a little more before I unpack them...ok, just an excuse as I'm tired! Then I'll re-mix the glazes as they cool properly. The clear glaze especially, needs to be not too thick on the pots otherwise it crazes, and warm pots soak up more glaze.

The Commission is looking good, I've cut the door and windows, and the roof is ready to be finished.  I know I should have discovered the dimensions of the lamp to be put in it before starting to make.....
I've made feet for it, but will not attach them. They will be fired in situ, which should allow the pot to shrink and move instead of sticking and cracking. I could just use placing sand, but the idea of fine silica dust about the place just does not seem very good.

Now it is just after 4.30pm, I've had a leisurely mug of coffee and a rest so here we go!!

an exceedingly wet day

So wet that I decided to go to work!  There was practically no traffic on the roads as I drove to St. Ffagan,  leaving at about a quarter to eight.

This old man greeted me, and this is where  he works...

The fire in the bread oven has been lit by 5am at least

The rain fell steadily most of the day

and even the rams stayed indoors!!

The Carpenter made the doors for this building when he was on Work Experience from school.  (about 2004)

On the way home after 2pm the motorway and dual carriageway roads were full of spray and cars on their way home from holiday,  so I kept to the old main roads.

mediaeval house, rebuilt

This is the latest addition to the museum at St Ffagan, a mediaeval house from the quay at Haverfordwest  in Pembrokeshire.

For those who can access I player, there is a programme about it...
Brick by Bricjk   (that should read Brick by Brick!!)

beech trees

The Flour Mill Cat

In St Ffagans National History Museum of Wales.

The Flour Mill Cat, busy mouse hunting one morning

new outlet

Today I delivered 25 pots to St. Ffagans pottery, within the National History Museum. You can see the pottery 1m 10s into the embedded video of the museum.

I'm back making sheep- bodies and finishing today- but I could do with time off from everything at the moment..the cough and cold has returned AGAIN. I think Friday is free, so that could be a day to visit the doctor, if there is a free appointment time...don't hold your breath!! I know it started as "just another virus", but I don't think coughing up Little Green Aliens is good!!
The weather turning cold has not helped because people in the village have been lighting their fires to keep warm. As many are retired miners, there will be the matter of a free coal allowance....and coal fires mean sulphurous smoke....cough, cough!

Tomorrow is saltkiln packing day. I'm looking forward to that- a day in nice clean air!!
I think we'll be firing on Saturday, which is forecast to be the driest of the next few days.

St Ffagans National History Museum

lambing time

Real ones this time!!

The Maypole by Cilewent farmhouse.

doors walls and floors

Trees at the Museum

sun through a nicely laid hedge
A sheltered corner in the sun
Hazel hedging
Dreams!
Beeches
The sun is bringing the smell of Spring out
Kennixton Farmhouse from Gower, with the barn being reconstructed. I would love a home like this!
The exhibition in Oriel1/Gallery1
At present the first part of the gallery contains exhibits and videos and slides about Italians in Wales, until May. Last year there were Indian Potters building statues in clay of gods and goddesses for a festival, held in Cardiff afterwards. Different nationalities that have moved here and helped to make Wales what she is today take turns here.
The remainder of the gallery is about heritage, culture, religion and education in Wales