Enthusiasm at work!

Gwen and Amber beavering away, their enthusiasm  in turn rubs off on me, I just love our sessions and they are producing some lovely things.

Back in the Studio

Another week away visiting the kids in Surrey and London and my lovely aunt in Hertfordshire, so back to work, psyched myself up and opened my new pristine HUGE bag of porcelain,never used any before it's so lovely fine white and silky, yummy!  Didnt attempt the wheel so slab build a couple of pots,fantastic but dries and cracks so had to work quite quickly especially as it is so hot at the moment, so we shall see, mixed a bit of cobalt oxide in whilst wedging so that could be interesting, could now do with a satin/matt glaze, a glossy surface is'nt quite right.
       Visited The New AshgateGallery whilst in  Farnham, fantastic!  took a few photos but my camera battery died, some lovely ceramics and jewellery.
        Have also been messing about with burnished beads and pendants ready for rakuing and smoking  which I hope to do tomorrow if I can pluck up the courage to fire up the kiln..... Beads in progress....

My week on Mull

This is the magnificent view over Loch Na Keale looking towards Ben More from the top of the hill near Garden Cottage. How could anyone tire of a view like that on their doorstep.!

Before the big sailing adventure I spent the week with my best buddy Monica on Mull, and what a beautiful island she chose, the beauty of the landscape and the light actually bought tears to my eyes at times,  there are no words to explain the feeling of being there in the middle of  such a spiritual place, a place to think and just be, loved every minute of it walking, cycling, gardening etc. contemplating the week to come with trepidation and excitement....thanks Monica i had a most wonderful week and felt sad watching you diminish in size on the jetty as the ferry carried me away towards Oban.

    

Shared my days with this mottley bunch whilst monica was at work...Frankie and Polly, small dogs with big personalities took me for some very long and very lovely walks most days and the two very lovable cats waited at the gate for our safe return...ahhh!

These beautiful beasts popped through the hedge one day after lunch...A great time of year for Scotland apart from the midges that is, bluebells and unfurling bracken everywhere.

What an adventure!

Met our friends with their Wayfarers in Oben and sailed off around Karrera and Mull for a week, we experienced all sorts of conditions en-route, sun,rain,wind,mist,hot and cold, very cold and very wet at times but all in all a fantastic adventure. We saw all manner of wonderful things Golden Eagles, White tailed sea Eagles, seals, porpoise, Minky Whale and the most amazing of all was the huge Basking Shark that swam under the boat ,it must have been at least twice as long as the wayfarer which is 16ft  and it's mouth about as wide as us.....very exciting.

    Words can't explain the beauty of that part of the world and to have the chance of experiencing such an amazing place from a totally different vantage point, the sea......FANTASTIC.....want to do it all over again. A few pics chosen from hundreds.

Prep...prep....prep...Now we are almost ready! .................

Weeks and weeks of preparation and quite a few pennies spent but now the boat is ready for sailing off the west coast of Scotland...we hope! we have both had long TO DO lists for weeks, I dare say we will have another list after the trip of things we did'nt need and stuff we really should have taken, oh well too late now this is our first trip and we  will be more or less living on the boat for a week.  What an adventure!!! We are both very excited,.
    Yes all that stuff has to go into that tiny boat !
 

Megan and Lee's wedding..

Megan and Lee walking the flower lined willow arbour  looking extremely pleased with themselves under a cascade of yellow tulip petals,.they arrived in the back of an open topped Land Rover ( with an umberella of course! )

   We all had a fabulous day yesterday at Megan and Lee's wedding, the weather was'nt kind to them but nobody let that spoil such a wonderful day. Leah was the bridesmaid and thoroughly enjoyed her role but went back to Farnham today looking extremely tired ready for her evening shift at school, just hope she does'nt fall asleep on the first train and miss her connection...Good luck Leah! Hope the boys are kind to you tonight...xx

Time flies!

Can't quite believe its well over a month since writing my blog, alot has happened between now and then but don't worry I won't go over that. The studio is ticking over nicely I have some lovely students busying themselves and getting lots of experimenting done, not all succesful but very necessary.
   Decided to make up some earthenware toast racks and  lots of platters and bowls in crank clay ready for a Raku session.
   Am going to try and update my blog a bit more often....!!!!!!