coral evolution

Over the past few years my work has evolved, and although I love the pieces I make now, I do feel that I have lost some of the original alchemy that was present in my work when I first started working with clay.

Part of this feeling comes from the fact that I have recently had a bit of work from Aardman, which is so tight and precise. When I first started ceramics it was a release from the detailed, symmetrical puppets I was creating at work and it was a chance to loosen up. As the years with children and making my own pieces have gone by, my style has tightened up somewhat. Not a bad thing, but now I'm itching to experiment again!

It has also come from reading tinctory's blog. She has been experimenting with slow dying fabrics with natural materials....I used to put any old thing in the kiln to see what happened and I must try this again! Her Etsy shop is worth a look too...she's closing down, which is a shame...but there are some bargains left!

In the meantime...here is a piece of coral I have been working on for my Mum's fishtank, not finished yet...a few more pieces to make before I can fire the kiln again!

The Craft Fair Debate

I'm not sure whether to sign myself up for any of the posh craft fairs....I went to the British Crafts Fair today at the Paintworks in Bristol, mainly just to check it out. There certainly was some beautiful work and everyone's stalls looked so professional. I wanted to ask how it was going, but I thought it might be a bit rude!

Stalls are £220 for the smallest (to be honest I wouldn't need anything larger!) There was certainly a good stream of people walking through....I also noticed plenty of people walking out with their shopping bags full! I guess it's one of those don't know 'til you try it type things. The next one in Bristol by the same organisation is same time next year...I guess that gives me plenty of time to think about it :D

I would definately need to buy some professional looking display boards and maybe some small stands too. Of course there was a lot of jewellery there, but also a lot of ceramics...someone even making ceramic seaurchins! Well, there's no such thing as an original idea!

Right! My goal is to reach 100 items for sale on Etsy, and then try to keep around that number in my shop....then any surplus items I make will be set aside for those times that I am unable to keep up the pace.....*or* dah dah dah! Set aside as stock for craft fairs. I also want to make some more sculptures, using the information from my pendant experiments over the summer and incorperating the melted and fused glass, and also the lustres into the vessels.....

Hummm...watch this space! ;)