POTFEST in the Park

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We visited POTFEST in the Park this weekend. 

For those who might be new to POTFEST, it is one of the biggest ceramic shows gathering over 100 potters and ceramic artists from all over the UK and beyond. It is held in the park at Hutton-in-the-Forest, Penrith. You can see so many variety of ceramic work, get inspiration from, meet makers and of course can purchase some of your favourites directly from the artist. 

POTFEST in the Park has always been my favourite to visit out of many other ceramic events and we try to come every year. We had to miss last year due to my daughter’s operation, so it was very exciting visit for me. We have certainly developed our favourite makers over the years and enjoy adding little by little to our collection each year. 

The image on the top is a stand by Hilke MacIntyre who’s based in Scotland, originally from Germany. I absolutely adore her ceramic relief pieces. They are full of imaginations often come with quirky animals, creatures and human beings that she created. We are pleased that we got a little piece for our friend and a new addition to our collection as the image below. I see Hilke’s work on the wall every day and makes me feel so happy. 

We also stopped and chatted to lovely slipware potters Fitch & MacAndrew and finally met their little one Pippin! (baby in front of the photo)  I can imagine lots of us who may be seeing them on Facebook etc, cannot just resist smiling. What a happy charming couple they are and a gorgeous daughter Pippin is! It must be hard work keeping pottery alive as well as looking after such a little one, so I genuinely admire them. We have taken a beautiful honey glazed jug home and this was the first time for us to have Doug’s piece so I’m quite chuffed. Hopefully it will be one of many to come. 

I usually take more photos at POTFEST but this year it was a bit difficult to get into shooting mode with a threenager around my knees (literally!), so sorry I haven’t got many to show you here. 

There are many more wonderful potters to look for, so if you have missed this year’s POTFEST, you know what to do! m x

part-timer

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Timing is crucial. 

This is something I was aware of prior to going back to the studio one day a week, but it became so real this week after throwing on a wheel. Throwing pots require turning the base afterward and sometime assembling handles or decorating slip. Mine requires all of these. If you are not familiar with pottery, let me tell you, timing is crucial. If it’s too wet, it’s not ready to do so. If it’s too hard, you’ve probably missed the chance. You just have to get the timing right. Ideally you do things like this on the day after you thrown, but I am currently a “one day a week” potter. Just need to juggle to get it right as possible. With all the other things, like cooking dinner for family, doing laundry, bathing daughter and putting in her bed, or cleaning up her sickness at bed if worse.

Luckily my husband did her bedtime routine for the last two days, so I managed to sneak out to the studio to complete turning and assembling on one night, and slip decoration on the other night. Working night shift is not really my thing, as I tend to rush and make a mistake because of tiredness. But this seems to be the only way at the moment, so I just have to juggle it.

How on earth other mummy potters are getting their work done, I wonder? They must be super women. 

Anyway, enough of moaning! (Thank you for listening.)

I guess I just carry on and give my best shot. One day I may be better at it and be like a super woman. m x

Instagram

Instagram. Just started. Please have a peek if you are fancy. xm

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scraffitto

Once my daughter has gone to sleep, I have a bath and do a quick chore, then off to the studio for a bit, carrying a baby monitor with me. Lucky my studio is in the garden. 

Scraffitto on slip. Oh how much have I missed this sensation! m x

first firing

first firing since being back in the studio. lovely summer evening. unloading Christmas items (!) (once a week potter needs to work ahead, you see) m x

good bye terrible twos, hello threenager

How time flies seems to be accelerating even more when you are with a little one. Once a-tiny-baby-used-to-be now has turned into a three-na-ger. I know it’s an old cliché to say this but where has the time gone??? Honestly!

I am beginning to notice some changes in her already, in particular her attitude and way to cope (or not to cope) with things that you may think trivial. Of course, nothing is trivial to them. Silly mum. She seems to be obsessed with certain things, for instance, she bothers about a tiny splash of water or dirt on her clothes, and wants to change them so frequently. Obviously she is bound to get dirtier soon enough, so I’d say bad words like “it’ll soon dry” or “it’ll get messy again when you play outside”. Then she goes ballistic as if it’s the end of the world, demanding to change her clothes, crying, throwing herself and stripping her trousers off anywhere etc. Well, I suppose this isn’t that bad, considering all sort of worst case scenarios that I have heard, and after all I am hoping it’s just another phase. 

Nevertheless, the goodness and loveliness of our little one are still all around, making her mum proud. Her potty training is doing really well and her sticker chart now has gone to the second sheet. She keeps wearing the medal she was given for completing a half-mile charity run she did the other day. She enjoys bubbles like the bestest gift ever. I can still eat up her cute bum and her sleeping face. These are only a few of many reasons that I can still be here with a new three-na-ger. m x