Hmmm… I’m
feeling a bit lazy so I’ll just feed you with a few notes about the days and
some photos. I think it shows quite well how busy the time has been.
31.05./01.06.:
Sunbury, south of London. Nic and me are taking a trip to the Sunbury Embroidery
Gallery, delivering pots for an exhibition about Nic’s work. The two days we
spending on the road must have covered my need for fast food for the rest of the year…
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| The Sunbury Embroidery Gallery, located in the very nice Walled Gardens |
02.06.:
Back in Moreton, Nic starts making biggish pots for our next firing in the new
kiln. I roll out some slabs for his slab bottles and pictures
03.06.:
After two firings with the new kiln we had to admit that another one wouldn’t
be possible without rebuilding the wooden frame that holds it all together. Too
much of the timber caught fire the last time and we didn't want to risk a collapse of the kiln at
1300°C… So I take down the frame, extend it further out at either side and
fill it up with cob. I find it quite fascinating, watching the kiln to grow
more and more.
04. – 07.06.:
This years’ first show! For Sabine’s demonstration stand at the Contemporary
Craft festival in the nearby Bovey Tracey we have to move Nic’s kick
wheel. For the last two weeks we have had
Jana, a student from Landshut working with us. She helps Sabine most of the
time in Bovey whilst I concentrate on my throwing, making mugs for Adopt a
Potter.
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| Any wrong doing at the Barn Pottery will result in draconic sanctions |
08.06.:
more insulation work at the kiln + getting wood sawn and split
09.06.:
finishing the work at the kiln
10.06.:
start packing the kiln
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| 'Who emptied the bottle?!' |
11.06.:
finish packing the kiln + cleaning the 50 beaker I made for an order
12.06.:
bricking up (bad weather doesn’t let us do any more)
13.06.: start firing
14.06.:
firing
15.06.:
firing
16.06.:
finishing the firing + cleaning kiln shelves for Sabine’s kiln
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| fotogenic at any time |
17.06.:
packing Sabine’s kiln (in just one day!)
18.06.:
start firing Sabine’s kiln, Nic and me are picking up a wheel from the other
side of the moor that a
friend of Nic’s gave to us + cleaning pots
19.06.:
finishing the firing, it was the first time firing that kiln without pyrometer.
Looking forward to the results
21.06.:
kiln opening of Nic’s firing (nice pots! Different to the last firings, the
stack was much looser packed
because of the big pots)
22.06.: Nic
and me building and setting up his display for Rufford, Sabine hers + cleaning
pots of the last firing + Sabine’s kiln opening
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| three jobs at once: building the display, cleaning pots and arraning them |
23.06.:
it’s getting dirty! Burning and waxing logs for Nic’s display
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| hot |
24.06.:
packing the van
25.06.: And
we’re off to ‘Earth and Fire’ in Rufford, Nottinghamshire! We arrived with five
hours delay at late night due to our hired van that broke down, then a sick dog
and… who hasn’t heard the story!?
26.06.: setting up the stands in the morning just before the show opens and then for the rest of the day: pots, pots, conversations, pots, looking after the stands, shopping pots!
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| hurry! |
27.06.: the
same again
28.06.: and
again (!) + taking everything down, loading the van and driving back home
29.06.:
unloading van + setting up Nic’s display + waxing some more logs
30.06.:
packing van, a long long day that was
31.07.: Off
to Hatfield! That trip goes quite smoothly compared to Rufford. 35°C it is.
Building up the yurt
and the shelter (camping deluxe) + dumping the show stuff
at the marquees and the day’s job is done
01.07.:
Setting up Nic’s and Sabine’s displays
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| hihi |
02.07.:
Start of ‘Art in Clay’, Adopt a Potter has got a stand for a tombola. My duty
is to collect donated pots from the exhibitors. Thank you very much for all the great donations and conversations!
03.07.:
Tombola, Tombola! One ticket for 2 Pounds, 3 for just a fiver! You're having a
go with it?
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| Apply for adoption now and get a fully house trained potter! |
04.07.:
last day of Hatfield, Nic wins the Peers award for best stand! For the third time! And nobody else has won it more than once! And he won it three times! Did you know that?! ;) Then its all over, taking down the stands and start packing the van
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| Sunday - the end is near |
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| Peers Award winner - for the third time |
05.07.: The
day says hello at 5 am, taking down the yurt and shelter, packing the van. 7.30
am: I’ve missed your traffic jams, M25!
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| the party is over |
