Rained off

A rainy Saturday that had been earmarked for studio visit, thunder and a lightning make this slightly less appealing (as does my wine induced swooshy head). But it's a good chance to photograph things, something that is so very easy to put off, the theory going that I can do it any time, the practice being that I rarely take the time to do it.

I rigged up a rather sophisticated studio affair in my bedroom - a professional photographer would be nowhere without the classic bed sheet/broom handle/cupboard setup. Having spent about twice as much time on Photoshop as I did taking the pictures (not because I am a perfectionist, but because I am pretty rusty) I need a bit of a rest before I tackle the web site. Here is a sneak preview...

Loose ends

I started the year with a to-do list. Ideas I've been hoarding, projects I've been waiting to start and quite a few did start that have then been neglected. Not every half baked idea or whim immortalised in charred lumps or grey slop of unknown content deserves to be wrestled into something complete - there are good reasons why most of these things never went anywhere. I do need to get into the habit, though, of getting things to the point of being 'done' so I can actually make them to sell. Before I get carried away with new ideas, many destined only to amount to nothing more than a shoe box full of test tiles, I need to wrap up some of the old ones.

The teacups I make (cousin of the discrete plate) have never had saucers and, as a result, they look a little lonely. My first task is to make moulds to cast said saucer. In the spirit of self improvement I'm making moulds by offsetting with slip, something I've never done before, using Sasha Wardell's indispensable book on slip casting.

First, I got to know the Whirler, which is a kind of horizontal lathe for plaster (potter's love giving things silly names). Plaster is poured onto the Whirler head (see) and the inside form of the plate is carved out while the head is turning, so it's perfectly symmetrical. The first time I did this I did not read the instructions properly and did it completely wrong, of course. Good practice though.

 

Once I'd made the inside form I poured another lump of plaster over it, so I had a negative of the shape. This is the first side of the mould - A slip casting mould is a negative of the object it makes, this means everything has to be reversed, which sometimes makes my head hurt. These are my positive and negative forms.

Then, and I haven't quite got the hang of this yet, I pour slip (liquid clay) over the first half of the form and allow it to form a layer to the thickness that you want the finished plate to be. This bit is messy.

I have managed to mess this bit up about four times so far, almost a record for me. Lots of slip on the floor (and on me), a few lumps and bubbles I tried to discreetly smooth out but ended up wonking up the whole thing. Fifth time lucky?

Silver bells....

I'm looking forward to an early dose of Christmas cheer at St Catherine's Artisan Market in Frome. I'm making some decorations as well as my usual fayre of Crytalline cups and Thermo Lanterns -  great those already-have-everything people, because who already has a glowing colour changing lantern?

With a mug of something mulled and mince pie in hand, I'd love to see some friendly faces (who can look after my stall while I go and buy stuff).

In the big smoke

My first mistake was to walk to Southville, that and bringing the axe.

I thought I had a pretty sweet deal going in the van to MadeLondon, it certainly sounded better than the five am megabus. Once I had trekked across town carrying a ten pound axe (for my dad's birthday) and carried all the stock down two flights of stairs I wasn't so sure. Once we got to London there was more carrying, then we built our beautiful stand (by far the best there, thanks Charlie).

The atmosphere at Made was great, and I got a lot out of talking with the other makers there and with the visitors, too. Despite the biting cold plenty of people came along, bought some of our lovely things and were genuinely interested in the work and it's making.

After three days underground and a diet of pret a manger sandwiches and coffee I was glad to see that van again. Now I've caught up on sleep it's back to the grindstone, making Christmas stock.

Well done to Sally, Alice, Bryony (and me) for bringing Bristol's best to the big smoke.

What to get me for Christmas...

Is it odd to be excited about a brush? Just discovered Harrop & Penny, purveyors or pleasingly utilitarian household bits and bobs. They have a particular knack for presenting their products as a little piece of art, each to be admired. They also have a very lovely tumblr, which cost a me a good half hour of last night in a reverie of enamelled cups and bentwood furniture. Drafting plate profiles will have to wait just one more day...

This video from Fort Ripper (found by chance on etsy's blog while looking for a knitting pattern, unsuccessfully) succeeds in being both very cute and testament to what a skilled hand can do for a neglected object.

'The beginners guide to the afterlife of an Ottoman'




I would love to make an animation of my making, I'm not sure a cup has so much anthropomorphic potential as this little guy, as proved by Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

Just a couple...

Deadlines have never really irked me, in fact I rather like them. With less than a month to Made London long studio sessions are becoming routine- the cat looks at me sideways when I get in, I'm becoming a stranger in my own home. But, oddly, this is all to the good. For months I'd been meaning to make cups with my crystalline glazes- the kind of job that feels to big to start and sits in my to do list getting dusty. Now, though, it's done! Here they are on their way to be glazed.

in Devon

I'm back home after a soggy but enjoyable day at in Bovey Tracey at the Contemporary Craft Fair. We were treated to a heavy downpour, a pork roll, half a pint of cider and some very nicely made things. Below are three of my favourite things I saw today.

Wren Brooch by Rachel Eardley. Rachel had a few of these brooches and other jewellery pieces on show, all made out of defunct coins, as well as some very sweet illustration and embroidery work. Dissecting the images on each coin is quite a neat and original idea, and pretty fiddly to do I would imagine. I particularly enjoyed the one with all the heads in profile.

Ecoh by Eiko Yoshido. There is never alot of paper work at craft fairs, I suppose its a harder sell than jewellery, but the colours of the paper flower really stood out for me.

Helen Noakes makes the most incredible jewellery in silver and resin. All of the little figures frozen in these miniature scenes are railway models from Germany. She said she ended up making them because she liked them so much she had to have some, why you would need a penguin on your railway I do not know, but I'm glad someone thinks you might. There is a bit of jewellery around using tiny plastic things, kooky mini ice cream earrings being a case in point. What I love about these pieces is that they are so humorous and endearing without compromising on the quality of making.

an outing

Please come and visit me at the Made in Bristol Spring Fair at Colston Hall this Saturday and Sunday. I'll be selling thermochromes, cosies and some other bits and pieces.

furniture-by-numbers

The toy like quality of the outdoor kitchen by Nina Tolstrup only increases its appeal, but the best thing about it is the fact you get to make it yourself! A blue peter worthy project indeed.

This is easily my favourite of the designs on the ten-plan website, available to download and make yourself, with contributions from familiar names in furniture. While some of the other designs seem a little throwaway, and at worst a little patronising, Tolstrup's design really needs the extensive instructions for us to re-create it. Its a real project of the kind that incites swearing, bleeding thumbs and genuine gratification.

As soon as I'm united with my own outside space, I'll be down the hardware shop.