Oh how the time flies

It's been a long while since I've been here. I'm getting even worse at blogging, not from not wanting to, more from not having the time for both good reasons and bad. This summer has particularly busy what with parties to plan and lots going on at work. Dad's party which was months in the planning went well. Not quite as expected as the weather let us down severely, however everyone seemed to have a great time and drank plenty (of tea and alcohol!) especially my soon to be sister in law who still managed a long charity bike ride the next day! Sophie and Mum made the most spectacular cakes of which there will be photo's to follow and Dad did really well from all our very generous friends, family and neighbours. This was followed by a relaxing few days in Shropshire, including a trip to Ippikin in Much Wenlock! a fab yarn shop where I wanted to take up residence! In between I'm sad to say, a lovely friend of mine Beryl sadly lost her battle with pancreatic cancer, and went to sort God out (if anyone can organise him, Beryl can!) She'd come to terms with it and went having made her peace, organised her funeral, thoroughly enjoyed her life and leaving a wonderfully vibrant family, something not everyone can say. See you on the other side Beryl!

I'm glad to say I've enrolled for my second year of pottery. I am really enjoying it and hope eventually to turn it into something more permanent as soon as my throwing (which I have real issues with) is starts to develop! It is rather frustrating that despite my wishes to go back to University to study ceramics, it is not financially viable. I already have a degree and so would have to pay fees more akin to international students and at £7,000-£10,000 per year it is just not realistic even though I'm saving. I'm going to have to find an alternate route, perhaps an apprenticeship as it is not something I'm prepared to give up on now. I watched the pursuit of happyness the other day, and although I'd rather not do the whole homeless thing and I'm not expecting riches, the whole thing did send the "don't give up" message.

Speaking of pottery, I'd better get back to work, I've a pot to plan by Thursday...

TTFN

S

Flashback

All of a sudden, we (in Liverpool anyway) are getting a flashback to last summer, to say it's raining is actually not doing this precipitation justice. It's not so much raining cats and dogs as horses and cows.

Anyway back to business

Enjoying: The fact we are over halfway through the week already - how did that happen???
Liking: Freebies from a supplier - I love freebies, pens, paper, highlighters, post-it's I'm a bit of a stationery whore too!
Looking forwards to: some hopefully dry weather for Africa Oye!
Working towards: Three year freedom plan
Also working towards: Not being frightened of the three year freedom plan
Not looking forward to: The end of pottery - only 2 weeks left now... still good news yesterday, the tutor from this course is most likely going to be the tutor for next year which is good as I know he won't make me throw if I don't want to!
Making: I've finished 10 of the 20 placenta's although I did forget to take a photo... next time!
More Making and planning: Big Si's party, currently knitting Tea Cosies, I think I'll knit a spare one for a blog give-away...
Trying: Not to make another visit to Cath Kidston before payday!
Going: To the pictures with the lovely Steve and Sophers
Listening to: Lisa Hannigan and The Specials


Photo of the day: Sefton Park on a day when we actually had some Sun... keep your wot nots crossed please!

"If I love you Wednesday, What is that to you?

Ahhh Wednesday, the middle of the week, you are an underrated day

Reading: Nothing - can anyone recommend anything?
Listening: Nick Drake, Madeleine Peyroux, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Arcade Fire
Making: Compromises
Wishing: For a little bit of courage!
Looking forward to: A lovely weekend

here.... some photo's at last, John the first one, and the other two are mbira playing inspired, a lion (shumba) and a spirit. Sophie and Ma and Pa have got their fill of weird sculptures now, I'll have to start finding someone else to palm them off on!

Does anyone else have difficulty naming their posts?

I had a lovely parcel in the post this morning, the prints I ordered from Etsy - I'll frame them and post a picture!
It's pottery class again this evening. It finishes in a few weeks and although I've signed up for next year, I'm going to miss it lots over the summer. I've got plenty on to keep me busy, what with big Si's party and all, but still I'm not looking forward to the last lesson, or should that be session as the teacher pretty much lets us do what we want and is there for advice. It feels very freeing in a way that not much else other than sewing does. Turning a lump of clay into something, be it a pot, cup, vase or sculpture, seeing it take form slowly (or sometimes quickly) in front of you is a simple pleasure I'd like to do more of.

Reading: Trashy chicklit - too trashy even to recall the name of it...(memory is terrible these days)
Listening: Fleet Foxes another re-visited obsession!
Enjoying: Pottery
Annoyed: That I didn't win the lottery roll-over so I could become independently wealthy and not have to work for a living (anyone have a rich son they want to get rid of...?)
Drinking: About to be Polly!
Making: More weird sculpture
Looking forward to: a gin and tonic and catch up with a friend after class

No pictures - terrible... but have a listen to this instead!

Halfway through the week already!

I can't believe it's Wednesday! What a mad old week it's been.

Liking: The smell of the new washing tablets I've just used

Listening: Muse and Glenn Miller (I know it's an odd combination)

Drinking: Hopefully a cup of tea, the milk is a little suspect...

Reading: Still reading the book from yesterday - was too tired last night to read which almost always never happens

Making: or should that be taking? Photographs

Coveting: An afternoon spent here

Looking forward to: The long bank hol weekend and Bertie's Birthday!

Photo of the day: Picture of sculpture in progress, inspired by Wilfred Owen (I promise it'll make more sense when finished!)

It's good to tidy up...

I've been going through some stuff at home and isn't it amazing what you find that you thought was lost forever, like the contents of a box that I thought was on a train somewhere between Glasgow and Preston!

Liking: Finding the box full of tiny patchwork!

Looking forward to: Finishing my book... it's a nailbiter...

Reading: Just about to finish the Henning Mankell Faceless Killers

Listening: The Specials and Rufus Wainright

Enjoying: Singing along

Making: A mess in pottery class

Coveting: This pink bike from oh joy!

Photo of the day: Tiny patchwork found again! (4cm x4cm) all done the traditional "English" way with papers

Sleepy Sunday

Listening: Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, and Flight of the Conchords
Reading: How to feed your whole family a healthy, balanced diet with very little money... etc. got for £2.99 from a local bargain book place (looking for end of the month recipe inspiration!)
Watching: or rather watched! The Lady Vanishes
Liking: Watching the blackbirds nesting in Ma's Clemetis and Honeysuckle
Looking forward to: Pottery Class on Tuesday night
Making: Sketches for next Figurative Sculpture
Wishing: That it hadn't rained.... it might not be worth wishing that it doesn't tomorrow!Drinking: About to make a pot of tea!

Picture of the Day: Andrew... my first proper figurative Sculpture

Andrew

Well... he's finished....I'm quite pleased as it's my first "proper" one

Work in progress

If you are of a nervous disposition, please don't look

I'm rather concerned about my mental state at the moment, anyone that can imagine the following must be ripe for some serious therapy. I think I might be freaking out my tutor.... I think I might make some normal pots next week and give my psyche a bit of a rest....

I've missed it...

It's official, this blog is now 2 (well on the 16th it was). I'm not entirely sure how I've managed it to be honest with you...
It's Sophers's birthday today too HAPPY BIRTHDAY! - getting old she is! Lets hope I get some good photo's once she's had a few sherbets!

Also feeling a little sad today because I realised my pottery course finishes soon (boo) only nine weeks left, I don't want to stop, I'm going to be more than a little bereft...I wonder if my outhouse is big enough for a kiln....

Less mucky but with something to show for it!

Exciting pictures today (well depending upon your perspective!)

I've (sort of) completed my first coil pot - it is a big bugger and rather heavy here it is during construction

I promise that isn't what it looks like... it is what we are currently describing as worms or sausgages to add onto the pot!

Here is it a little more "polished" I've still got to even the rim off it's just a little wet to do that at the moment.

Nice ain't it! Even if I say so myself! I've even had two completed press molded bowls fired now, they are just waiting for glazing. I'm really enjoying pottery (apart from the throwing - which should as Sophie says be called slinging!) it frightens me a bit, I believe the teacher thinks I'm a bit weird to be scared of it!

The spikey one is a bit comet like - unplanned but I'm liking it now. I took persuading not to slice all the spikes off!

Next week - glazing - I like doing that too! Did you ever get the impression that I'm enjoying it?

Where there's muck...

I am now the possessor of the filthiest hands in all the world. I tried "throwing" for the first time on Tuesday and my hands are yet to recover. The wheel managed to grind the clay in good and proper and despite scrubbing with a nailbrush there are still bits of it left even now, so much so it looks like I've been at the fake tan (well apart from the fact that the rest of me is milk bottle). If there is anyone out there that knows how to get rid of it, I'd welcome the tips, thank you!

October... already!

I’m not one for “conventional” shopping but by chance I briefly found myself in Liverpool ONE this weekend just gone, and I stumbled upon (or should that be into) Zara Home. I was taken aback by the lovely things why I had not seen or heard of this shop before before…? I’d been into Zara (clothes) a number of times previously with the lovely Steve who is a devotee of said brand. If anyone has one near them, I urge a visit! They have a website too.

Another exciting thing that I shall share is that apparently John Lewis has a new fabrics buyer, which means that we now get to see Amy Butler and Cath Kidston fabrics in their haberdashery departments. I’ve been in the Liverpool store and have bought a few metres already (big shock I know) For a long time I’ve been cross with the lack of variety of their fabric, it all seemed so… uninspired in its variations, I had to resort to El Kilo on London Road, which is great but inconsistent. Please go and visit and buy some, that way they’ll know there is a market for it, because as sure as eggs is eggs they won’t advertise the fact!

The pottery is getting better, I’ve now completed construction of my first “slab pot” and will finish decorating it next week. I might even take my camera to class and let you see it.
I said a while ago too that I was going to show you Beryl… My very kind Auntie Margaret sent Beryl back with Ma and Pa from their visit. I’ve put a vintage dress on her (to protect her dignity!) and I can’t wait to get started and make something on her! Thank you Auntie Margaret, I’ve wanted one of these for a long time!

How to make a mess...

Well... I had the first lesson of my pottery course yesterday. I had great fun, got VERY messy and mucked about with Terracotta for three hours. We made some tiles which we will decorate next week, and cut out some slabs for a "slab-pot" (mine will most likely be a "big" ashtray!!!) which will also be constructed next week, so we can experiment with different slip techniques.

So far it has been rather like baking - ie necessitating the use of a pinny, rolling pin and kneading. Hopefully next week I won't have to be told by a lady on the bus "excuse me love... do you know you've got something brown and blobby in your hair" ahhhh... so that's where that bit of clay went.....

In other news, all the new students started this week so work is madness again and has us all praying for our Christmas breaks, plus Sophers and Steve the Roman are moving... which means... another housewarming.... Sophers... Steve.... what say you......