Market Day

Three sheep.


Ho hum. The low cloud/mist today was decidedly chill.

On the plus side, I was given a paraffin lamp to restore. The glass goes up and down , so does the wick, so that is a good start!!

That will come in handy for winter powercuts!!

Hay Today

Today for the first time I had to use headlights on the car as I started for Hay. Then over Llangynidr Mountain it was foglights front and rear going through the cloud! Down into the valley and I just left the sidelights on (it's a French Volvo....honest!!) Coming over from Llangors to Talgarth you could see that the Wye Valley was full of clouds of mist, and see the top of it 'boiling' in the sun.
By nine o'clock it had burnt away, but the locals were thin on the ground, and the Americans left over from the Ryder Cup were there in fair numbers, but not spending.

Total sales, two mugs, on their way to Pontypridd!!

However my weekly day at Hay gives me thinking and planning time. I am trying to work out how to price my work, as well as where to take it.

Not an easy task.

Meanwhile, Hay has some beautiful corners and lanes.

Fresh Pots

assorted bowls
puffin jugs, milk and cream size
pelican jug, 1 litre size
Blue!!!!! unfortunately all the small ones got over cooked
coffee time!!

I'm still struggling to fire evenly, and I tend to overcook the bottom back, and the very top front gets a bit underdone.

I'm experimenting with the secondary air, and still use a small pressure from the gas bottle.
I think it might be better to fire with two (47kg) bottles, but at £45 each.....I am getting two bisque and two glaze firings from each bottle so not bad atall.

Keep on learning.

I should be able to crack the door open late tonight and hopefully take some really fresh pots to market tomorrow!!

Hay on Wye- Y Gelli Gandryll

Hay Bluff, looking back across the Wye Valley from above Clyro

Brecon Market

Yesterday was the last time for me at Brecon Craftmakers' Market, unless I do a special occasion event there.

Not many makers did well, and we are into the holiday season. All that most of the visitors did was mooch around, and fewer than usual talked, so it was a long day.
It seemed that it was the day for Pensioners' bus trips to Brecon!

I covered fuel, stall rent, lunch and a few good tools from Roy on the tool stand.
A massive bargain and interesting to learn that six years ago he was on the same stall as I now have in Hay on Wye on Thursdays!

Ironing, baking and tidying done, so my conscience has been salved and I can go make pots!

Market Day

Tomorrow I do my first Market in Hay on Wye.

They are fighting to keep it going, despite obstacles placed in their way by beurocracy.

Fortunately the town has a charter giving it the right for a market to be run.
I'll try and find out more....

making more pots

The next kilnfull is on its way, as I start selling (hopefully) at Hay on Wye WEEKLY market this Thursday!!
My stand is looking better, as more new pots are replacing older ones.
Jugs and small vases. I use the latter for glaze tests- and then sell them!! They are quite popular.
Hanging posy pots
Mugs, cups and funnels.....and the sheep!! and lurking next to the top mugs, a dragon!!!!!

Brecon Craft Makers' Market went well- until the start of the local School Fete...which had everything, plus the Town Band. We found out afterwards, when we found the flyers under the windscreen wipers...so that is where all our customers went!

kiln firing!!

Up at 4.30 this morning to light the kiln-it should be cooler and damper today. Hopefully this means the kiln will go better and the workshop wont be scarily hot when the kiln is cooling!!

Abergavenny Market yesterday- all I sold was SHEEP!!!! At least I'm getting something right!

Abergavenny Market

Yesterday's display! The new pots are replacing the old, at last!
An interesting gate.

Today is a bitty day. I've done a bit of washing, a bit of gardening, had a bit of lunch, tidied the house a bit......

Now I need to tidy and clean the workshop a lot!!

Abergavenny Market

The weather was chilly and damp today, so the number of people visiting the monthly craft market was down, and many were not spending. I didn't do to badly, costs covered, but I was threequarters towards what I'd like as a minimum for a day's work out.

I did get an inquiry about commemorative mugs for a chapel, about thirty or forty....lets hope the committee approves!!

Market day!!

Today was the first day of a weekend Craft Market at the visitor centre to Cwmcarn Forest Drive.

I had a fairly successful day-roll on tomorrow!

The weather seems set fair again so sales could be good.

Now off to shut the greenhouse for the night while The Carpenter and the Oily One start on making supper :-)

Market day!!

But not a lot of selling.

People say that they want the markets to carry on, but they wont if they don't put their money where their mouth is.

Abergavenny Market

My pitch was right at the market entrance, so it was like standing in a wind tunnel all day!
On the other hand I was clearly visible to both those coming into (and leaving ) the market and those just passing by on the pavement. It was worth being in this windy corner!!

I have been invited to another monthly Craft Market next week and a two day annual one that is part of a Steam Fair at the end of May. Incentive to make even more pots!!
Hanging Sheep in the Market Hall
The Market Hall from the entrance. I think that it is a 19th century building, built as a market.