Autumn Gardening Show

This is the fourth and final Three Countie's Agricultural Show of the season.

At Countrytastic, I provided make and take, drop-in workshops for the thousands of visitors.


At the Spring Gardening Show, we created a mud sofa in the learning garden, now blooming with a riot of wild flowers, see the blog entry: http://www.eastnorpottery.co.uk/blog/2009/05/spring-gardening-show.html.

At the Three Countie's Show in June, I worked with 500 school children, helping them to build several collaborative farm buildings, see blog entry: http://www.eastnorpottery.co.uk/blog/2009_06_01_archive.html.

The Autumn Show provided the opportunity for families to make individual autumn inspired coil pots. Participants took them away with them to paint at home.

Pheasey Clock

Prior to the summer holidays, I spent a day working with gifted and talented children from Palfrey Primary school in Walsall. We made a tile panel in the shape of a huge circular clock - see previous blog entry for Thursday, 23 July 2009.

Students from neighboring Pheasey Park Farm Primary were invited to participate with the intention of Palfrey students returning the favour, and helping Pheasey make their clock in September!

So it was that I tootled off to Walsall on Tuesday, to work with different children from both schools.

Hereford Courtyard Theatre Exhibition

I have been challenged by the visual arts board at The Courtyard Theatre in Hereford to produce an interactive ceramic installation. The 'piece' will be exhibited in January/ February 2010 as part of their ongoing exhibition programme - and to coincide with 'panto' season - lots of families milling about the place!

H'art gave me a reason to be based in Eastnor for the week, and I purposely didn't take on any workshop commitments. So I spent a rewarding 9 days doing something that I haven't done in years - pure unadulterated making!

I've been working with brick clay kindly donated by Baggeridge- a Hartlebury based brick company in Worcestershire. In order to get the right qualities for throwing on the wheel , I've been blending the brick clay with a Valentine's red. I just love the chocolate butter icing effect of the two clays as I begin the mix.

Lea 1st Brownies

Having whizzed back from two workshop sessions in lovely Brum, there was just enough time to accommodate a group of Brownies at the Pottery all before close of business. The girls turned up at 5.30pm, and made crazy critters for 1.5 hrs. They were also treated to a potter's wheel demonstration and produced an excellent self-portrait pot.

Amanda's Hen Party

Amanda and friends enjoying the September sunshine outside the studio.

Amanda sampling the delights of the potter's wheel!

Herefordshire Art Week

Way way back, we took part in the annual Herefordshire open studios week. Artists and makers all over the county opened their doors to the general public. This was at a time when Sarah and myself were making and exhibiting our ceramics all over the country. Years passed and as the 'business' looked more towards courses and workshops to provide income, the need to sell work from the studio diminished.

However, things have gone full circle and we're both looking to develop opportunities to make and exhibit our own work again - H'art week seemed the perfect opportunity to test our wares again. So from the 11th-19th of September, you'll be able to visit Eastnor Pottery and see what we've been up to!

Also on show will be exquisite silver jewellery created by Gemma Farr- who amongst her many other talents, is also the workshop assistant here at Eastnor Pottery. Opening hours are 11-5pm daily. We look forward to seeing you!

Tent Collection

The weekend was also a collection weekend for 'Tent' - our children's workshops that took place over two days in the summer holidays.

Before it can be fired, the clay has to be thoroughly dried - this can take between two days and three weeks depending on drying conditions and the thickness of the clay. The pieces then have to have two firings - a bisque and then a glaze firing, both taking a couple of days - so you can see why it takes so long before the children can collect their finished master pieces!

We always appreciate young artists who interpret the theme in a "left of field", or creative fashion. James, pictured here with his sister certainly fulfilled the criteria - he produced a couple of figures erecting a tent - one of them pouring over the instruction sheet (complete with question mark floating over-head), and the other trying to piece together poles and canvas - well done James!

Throwing Weekend

It was a full house this weekend as seven participants spent a pleasurable and industrious couple of days sampling the delights of the potter's wheel. Emma, Lisa and Claire, three practicing jewellers, approached the clay in a very creative and precise manner, bringing along an array of handmade stamps to press into the clay. Although the girls had little previous experience of working with clay, they made some very beautiful and professional looking pieces.

Polly and Mike, again potter's wheel beginners, took to the process like ducks to water. By the end of Sunday they had both made some complex and competent bowls, plates and mugs.
I think also an Eastnor Pottery throwing workshop record was smashed by Anne, who managed to clock up a staggering 18 pieces, all turned and decorated.

We still have a few places left on the remaining 2009 throwing workshops: on Sunday the 4th of October, Saturday the 7th of November, Sunday the 8th of November and Sunday the 6th of December. Please e-mail admin@eastnorpottery.co.uk or telephone 01531 633886, if you would like to book a place.

Dates for 2010 will follow shortly - watch this space!

Martley Primary School

Head teacher Lynda booked the studio for a staff team/inset session on Thursday. The gang spent the morning taking turns to throw shapes on the potter's wheel and making coil pots. The sun appeared at lunchtime so the teachers and T.A's were able to picnic on the lawn.

Nursery Rhymes Exhibition

These four and twenty blackbirds all baked in a crusty pie dish, are destined for an exhibition at Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford. The exhibition is called "Nursery Rhymes" and is aimed at the under five gallery visitor. The exhibition runs from the 12th of September until the 1st of November.