Schools Work

I worked with two schools this week - Gorse Hill Primary in Worcester and Badsey First School near Evesham. Tile panels and collaborative pots successfully transported to the kiln room, drying out and waiting to be fired.

Three Counties Show

For the last few years, I've been asked to supply agricultural themed workshops for the Three Counties Show, held at the Malvern showground. These take place in the Discovery Zone, a marquee full of educational experiences linked to farming.

On previous occasions we've made clay sheep, cows, and chickens. This time we were challenged by the organisers to make collaborative farm buildings. Participants helped coil the structures and then made their own piece of barn decoration.

Seven hundred school children passed through the Discovery Zone on Friday - and it felt like most of them joined in with the clay! Saturday and Sunday were taken up with members of the public.

Just a few of the seven hundred school children from Friday morning.

New Service

In previous years we've operated a minimum order pricing structure for groups wanting to delight in a bit of pot making - unfortunately, this meant the cost of our wonderful workshops were prohibitive to small groups and individuals.

However, we are now able to offer individuals and small groups of friends, one and a half hour coiling workshops, at a bargain price of £15 per head. Pre-booking is essential, and you will need to telephone 01531 633886, to check availability.

Caroline, Helen, and Anne take advantage of our new one and a half hour workshop.

Full Bloom

The Pottery looks so nice this time of year, I thought I would take a few snaps of the exterior. The building used to be a domestic dwelling, before being derelict for some 15 years. The previous tennants must have been keen gardeners - when we cleared the weeds we discovered all sorts of plants and hardy annuals that flower year after year.

Toad in the Hole

Followers of this blog may have seen the Evesham Bread Oven entry for Thursday 14th May? This week I returned to the forest with the children to make and bake pitta bread in the oven.

The structure had dried out perfectly although the base bricks felt a little damp. Before building and lighting the fire I ran my hands around inside the cavern to see if the dampness would hinder the bake. My fingers brushed up against something cool and soft...and moving - seconds later a large toad (rather disgruntled from having been disturbed) crawled through the oven door and hopped into the undergrowth -phew, lucky I checked before firing!

So as well as rolling dough, baking and eating fresh pitta - the children were fortunate to experience a real live toad too!

Friends United

These five lovely ladies have been mates since their school days at Ledbury Primary school. In recent times the gals have taken to meeting up to try different activities - last week it was pot throwing at Eastnor Pottery. Got something to celebrate? Contact Jon the Potter on 01531 633886 or e-mail admin@eastnorpottery.co.uk to discuss the clay based options.

Mencap Oxfordshire Visit

Last week, we had a phone call from Katie who was accompanying a group of adults from the charity MENCAP. They were on holiday in the Hereford area and asked if they could come and do some pottery as one of their activities. We were pleased to accomodate Katie and her gang, and on Thursday nine participants spent a productive 1.5 hour clay session making coil pots. The group took their creations away with them to paint and varnish at home.

Pete and his 'Alien' head coilpot!

Cherry Orchard Aliens

Had a lovely couple of days working with Year 1 and Reception children at Cherry Orchard Primary School in Worcester.

'Earth and beyond' provided the inspiration for some amazing clay aliens. Once the children had constructed their aliens using pinch pot teqniques, they prodded, poked and squidged various bits and peices (supplied by Worcester Resource Exchange WRE) into the clay. If you've never visited WRE - its an aladins cave of extroadinary stuff - end of roll/off cuts etc supplied by industry and businesses - usually destined for landfill. It's a fantastic resourse for teachers, artists and families - well worth a visit! http://www.wre.co.uk/

Sam the Potter

Each year, around about this time, we are pleased to offer work experience placements to local high school students.

Sam, a YR10 student from The Chase High School in Malvern joined us this week.

As well as processing clay, mixing slips, glazing work etc, Sam joined myself, Sarah and Gemma on workshop sessions - working with children and adults at the studio and out on location.

Abby's Birthday

Birthday girl Abby with her fantastic clay elephant. The special workshop took place after school and each of Abby's friends made a colourful critter. The creations were then painted with slip and left with us to fire and glaze.

If you would like to celebrate your birthday at the studio take a look at http://www.eastnorpottery.co.uk/ and follow the links for birthday parties.

Tenbury Totems

Native American Art week at Tenbury Wells Primary School provided the challenge of producing a ceramic totem pole with year's 5 & 6.

As part of my research, google revealed a mass of information and facts about totem pole and why they were made - fascinating stuff about shaming bad debtors, commemorating significant occurrences and celebrating an individual or clan.

I encouraged the children to consider their own animal totem by asking a range of questions. After much fun and debate, the children created their own stylised totem in clay.

All the tiles and cladding will be fired before the end of term and stand guard at the entrance of the school's forest school area.

Check out the school's website: http://www.tenburyprimary.co.uk/

Out of the Kiln

Reby constructed this fantastic Thomas the Tank Engine for her son Jaden - the piece was made over a series of family workshops held at a Children's Centre in Birmingham.

Hay Fever '09

Last year at the Hay Literary Festival, we created our first storytelling mud sofa and armchair. It rained and rained all week, though the participating families enjoyed sloshing around in the thick mud (think chocolate smoothie!) modelling and adding their favourite children's book characters.



This year I was booked to work with older children and young people, exploring the delights of the potter's wheel and 'coiling techniques'.


Ned proudly exhibits his coiled clay dalek, as sister Dorothy works on her coil pot.

Spider in the Bath

The theme for our children's workshops in half term was inspired by those eight legged, generally unwelcome, bathroom guests. The participants all made a bath on the potter's wheel, then filled it with giant spiders and other creepy crawlies.


Izzy makes her bath on the potter's wheel - (we decided to break with tradition and use chocolate instead of clay!...It could be though, couldn't it?)









Insy winsy spider!















The next children's workshops take place in the summer holidays - 28 &29 July 2009. They are suitable for ages 4-12yrs and places can be booked by emailing : admin@eastnorpottery.co.uk, or telephoning 01531 633886.