It's been a fair old while since I've posted anything on here, which only goes to show how useless a 'blogger' I am. In order for a steady traffic stream and to increase my audience, I should really be posting something at least weekly, if not daily! However, I am under no illusion as to how interesting this is for other people (amusingly, the post that still gets the most views is the one in which I mention my 'Dukes of Hazzard' cushion....those poor people searching google for something interesting about Bo & Luke Duke and all they get is some woman banging on about children's textiles!!). I really would rather be making things or spending time with family & friends as opposed to sitting at a laptop/playing with my iPad in order to regularly 'blog'. I am therefore being kind to myself and (trying) not to get annoyed that it's another thing on my 'to do' list that often isn't achieved.
That said, thought I'd just add in some of the work I've been doing this term at college in my ceramics workshop. I have (I think) decided it's the 'end of the line' as far as ceramics go...for now anyway. I've signed up for the Summer Term but will probably not be returning in September. I've absolutely loved pretty much every minute of it and really do feel I've learnt a new skill, but without investing an awful lot more money and time in it, I feel I've reached as far as I can go for the time being. I could, of course, start working on new forms of 'ceramic art' such as sculpture, but I really prefer more functional pottery and wouldn't know what to do with a bunch of pottery heads or such like (besides, it would just make me think of that dire 1980s Lionel Richie video 'Hello'). One day I will return to it I am sure and my dream of owning my own potter's wheel might come true eventually. For now though, I am so very very pleased that I decided to take the plunge and spend the money on the course. I wake up every Friday with terrific excitement to be going into college and sometimes can't sleep on a Thursday night for all the ideas buzzing round my head....but more than that I am grateful to it for reminding me how much I love to create things and giving me that little push to start doing so again (Gush, Gush, Gush!)
So, anyway, here are a few pictures. More and more bowls being produced...each one a little less wonky than the last and I've been having a good old experiment with glazing, combining different colours and enjoying what happens to them when they mix in the kiln.
Whilst I once thought it was impossible to have too many 'general purpose bowls' (rather like cushions!), I am beginning to think that perhaps it is...I would have to make a serious amount of tapas to fill them all now, so decided that perhaps jugs are the way forward...chunky, rustic ones - perfect for displaying freshly picked flowers from the garden.
There we have it. Just 10 more weeks and my love-affair with the potter's wheel will be over..(probably....just whilst writing this I am wondering whether I might change my mind come the summer!) I hope to decide on a new area of crafting to have a go at later this year. Not sure what yet, but there are so many to choose from, I would certainly like to learn something new. Maybe I'll start work on a fabulous quilt, or knitting, or crochet, or or or....
