Potter's wheel workshop

We've been running adult potter's wheel workshops here in Eastnor for the past 15 years. Although we have always offered tea and fresh coffee, up until January this year, participants have had to provide their own packed lunch.

In an effort to make things easier for our guests, we now provide a lunch made up of bread, cheese salad and fruit...and the odd delicious home made chocolate muffin.....yum, yum!

Third Dads & Kids Session at St Thomas's Children's Centre

Miniature houses provided the theme for the latest of Jon's workshops with the fathers group at the St Thomas Children's Centre in Birmingham.
Participants were introduced to the slab building technique, using card templates and flat sheets of clay to construct their buildings.

Springfield Children's Centre

The Gardening group, made up of young families from Springfield Children's Centre in Hereford, spent a morning working with Jon to produce a range of terracotta tiles to go in their outside space currently under development.

Dave's 30th Birthday Party

Jon and Gemma were joined last Saturday by Dave (Gemma's boyfriend) and his friends to celebrate his 30th birthday; Eastnor Pottery style! Everyone helped to create a unique collaborative pot memento, before having a go on the potter's wheel, and also making individual terracotta nightlights.

As you can see, a great time was had by all! Here's a photo of everybody proudly displaying their nightlights. To see more photos of the event please visit our Facebook page, and to see what Dave had to say about the experience, go to our Google review page.

If you would like to celebrate your own memorable party at Eastnor Pottery, then book via telephone on 01531 633886, or by e-mailing admin@eastnorpottery.co.uk

More tiles at Evesham Nursery School

Having spent the last two sessions making tiles, we thought we had sufficient for the bridge. A conversation with the architect overseeing the new build concluded we were 40 short.

Undaunted by the prospect of flattening even more clay, the children went into production again with all the usual enthusiasm and creative verve.

By the close we had produced a further 50 masterpieces - more than enough for installation.

There is something to be said for revisiting an activity so frequently. The same children who accessed the clay grew in technical competence and creativity each time they sat down at the clay table.

This fabulous swirly, curly tile was produced by a child who last year wouldn't even be seen any where near Jon the Potter let alone touch the clay. Jon sat down with this young potter and had a lovely conversation and making session that lasted for over 1/2 hr.

Brearley and Teviot Nursery

Jon has been working his way through the different rooms at Brearley & Teviot Nursery, introducing the children to the delights of working with clay - each room has a different dynamic depending on the mix of individuals!

On Wednesday, Jon set out his stall in Green room. The children were extremely enthusiastic and approached the material in a loud and physical manner. Large lumps were lifted clear of the table and passed between the boys, rather like a junior weight lifting competition. Others were content to bash the clay with the boards to create loud slapping noises. A super sonic session if ever there was such a thing!

We love this 'pizza-cake salad' created by one of the children.

St Thomas Dads & Children

Jon returned to the St Thomas Children's Centre to work with the father's group and their children.

The Dads brought their offspring along and considering the huge age range of children, (2yrs to 16yrs) they all worked alongside each other in perfect harmony. Everybody accessed the clay in so many different ways depending upon their age and experience. Clay is so inclusive!

Graphic Design Placement

We have just enlisted the expertise of a talented design graduate to overhaul the Eastnor Pottery corporate image.

Heather MacDonnald has joined us courtesy of Graduate Advantage for a four week placement.

So far, Heather has produced a stunning new logo and constructed various 'mood boards' infused with beautiful colours and shades inspired by the Pottery. We have all been particularly impressed by her creative thinking and sensitive manipulation of photos and colour.

Heather will spend the rest of her time with us designing various leaflets, letterheads and graphics for our new website.

Evesham Nursery Bridge Tiles

Work on the new Evesham Nursery School and Children's Centre is well under way - as is the tile project collaboration to embellish the approach path to the new building.

Jon spent two days this week working with the children at the nursery, producing some sixty textural tiles for installation later in the year. The tiles are going to be added to the work already produced by young families who use the existing Children's Centre.

There are approximately one hundred tiles waiting to be fired.

Water Play Project at St Paul's Primary

Jon is currently working with Key Stage 1 at St Paul's Primary School in Hereford, exploring the curriculum topic of 'containers'. The aim is to make a ceramic installation for the children to investigate the movement of water.

So far Year R have made a series of collaborative coil-pots, encrusted with gargoyles, and peppered with holes and hidden channels for the water to escape.

Once fired, the pots will be supplied with corks and bungs to influence the flow of water.

Two Tile Panels

Prior to delivery, we always lay the tile panels in order - just to double check that the overall image is complete.

These two beauties are all ready to go. The fish was made by Leominster Infants School, and the multicoloured patchwork panel belongs to Kingsland Primary School in Herefordshire.

Dads & Kids at St Thomas

Having just a few hours to catch his breath from his Cambridge exploits, The Flying Potter was on the road again. This time, destination St Thomas Centre in Birmingham.

Followers of this blog will know that Jon has been working with different groups from the Centre for some considerable time. On Saturday it was the turn of the dads and their children to work with the clay. A healthy turn-out and a mixed age range of children meant for a lively and creative session. As well as experiencing the potter's wheel, the participants made and decorated coilpots, which once fired and glazed will be returned to the families.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Although it meant a long haul in the van (and a 4.15am start!), Jon spent a wonderful day working with a group of visually impaired adults in the inspirational setting of Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

The workshop was a partnership between: Blind Art - a charity set up to encourage and promote participation of the visually impaired in the realm of visual art, the Botanic Garden - who are keen to develope their community engagement in the arts and CamSight - a Cambridge charity supporting people with sight dificulties.

Following a stroll through the glass houses where everybody enjoyed touching and stroking the plants and trees, experiencing the diverse textures and structures of these beautiful natural objects, the group adjourned to a purpose built classroom.

The previous day the Education Officer at the Garden harvested an amazing array of leaves from the tropical glass houses for the participants to use in their clay work. These were passed around the group and after much animated comment and conversation the group pressed and rolled sections of the leaves into clay slabs - which were later assembled into 3d sculpture or left as decorative wall tiles.

The day flew by and was declared a phenominal success by everybody.

Brearley & Teviot Nursery

Jon has considerable experience of working with early years.. Often, by way of an introduction, he'll present the children with a large lump of clay placed in the middle of the table.

The session evolves depending upon the children's interests. It never ceases to amaze just how imaginative and diverse the children's approaches are to the medium.

The session at Brearley and Teviot Nursery earlier this week was no exception. The large lump immediately became a snowman with arms, ears and buttons, before being disassembled into smaller 'lollipops', 'ice creams' and 'dinner'!

Cherry Orchard First School

Jon took a trip to Pershore in Worcestershire to work with the children and staff at Cherry Orchard First School. The school has been developing a sensory garden and over the coming months the children will produce a range of collaborative pots and figures to enhance the space.

Here are the first collaborative pots - two covered in dinosaurs and objects from the Jurassic era, the other two adorned with mini beasts. These magnificent pieces will be given a terracotta firing and will eventually be potted up with plants and shrubs.

Himbolton First School

Jon spent a delightful morning with the children and staff at Himbolton First School in Worcestershire.

The morning kicked off with a potter's wheel assembly where the whole school sat beautifully and attentively for nearly a hour whilst Jon did his stuff!

Following the demo, KS1 got to model self portrait tiles in clay. The children were all engaged in the project, making notable observations and asking intelligent questions throughout. It made for a fantastic and creative experience, not only for the children and staff, but for Jon as well. The children's behaviour was exemplary and a credit to the school.

There are more photos on the school's website.

Bridge of tiles

First workshop duties of 2011 took Jon to Evesham where he worked with families at Wallace House Community Centre.

The group made textured tiles destined for Evesham's brand new Nursery School and Children's Centre, currently under construction. The floor tiles will form a pathway across an approach bridge - rather like square cobblestones.

In the spirit of partnership, children at Evesham Nursery School will also have the opportunity to make their mark. Jon will work with the children in the coming weeks as part of his continuing and longstanding residency at the setting.

Eastnor Pottery in the Ledbury Reporter

We were lucky enough to have Carston from the Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter take some photos of our children' workshops last week. Click here to see what the Paper had to say.