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January blues were beaten with brisk walks and unimpressive but invigorating cycle rides, trying to get glimpses of uplifting blue sky whenever possible. One Whatsapper on our Local Wivey Birds Group spotted a sighting of a rare bright orb overhead at one point... the sun of course. The pottery garden is still a flitter of smartly paired bullfinches who are a great joy and helpfully snapping into the sycamore keys’ lawn litter. Snowdrops are beautiful as is Winter jasmine on the new clay store and the hellebores are fabulous.
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The point-to-point was a fine day for about the first time in its history and I proudly watched a beaming jockey, delighted owners all the way from Pembrokeshire and a heroic horse win the big race and receive their prizes: the sponsors’ Ineos Grenadier gilet, a splendid silver trophy and NWPottery very large salad bowl and a box of polos (the other races had pairs of inscribed tall mugs). Great fun and there was renewed interest from other P2P organisers too alongside the intricately detailed Catamaran regatta trophies we have just completed as well. Please see the Made to Order Shop on the website and email direct with any enquiries.
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The first of the tiles orders is complete and went off to live by the seaside in Dorset – really enjoyable to paint despite the novelty of brush painting lines with a ruler for beach huts! These were for some of my most faithful clients who daily use mugs, bowls, plates etc that are dated back to ’90 and they were really pleased which is immensely gratifying. Tile murals are always nerve wracking as you can hide a duff mug in the back of the cupboard but in-your-face tiles are observed in detail daily and become your world; it is quite a responsibility and I take each order calmly and seriously, getting into the head of the client and then working together to come up with the right result. The individual picture tiles for a compact kitchen in Jericho, Oxford are in the kiln and I am half way through the soft lime and bluegreen oakleaf pattern one on Exmoor and coral chickens will be next. All really fun to do – thank you to everyone, it is an honour to be so trusted.
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Rory has been throwing brilliantly and is so valued in so many ways: putting the world to rights, shouting at the radio, being complimentary about potters’ lunch of homemade soup and bread and a particularly good new find of local cheese Ashcombe (King Stone Dairy at Manor Farm) rather like Morbier also helpfully finishing up the enormous Christmas cake. In fact I must get cooking as there are people coming on Friday to make pottery all day and it includes a wholesome lunch: there is increasing demand and we are sometimes short of people to make up the 4 needed so do get in touch if you are interested. We may even do a Hen Do soon! (outfits optional). Please also contact me if you still have a voucher to use; some of these are very old now so they need to be used by the end of ’22 please, covid-willing. In case there is a possibility, I have room for one person this coming Friday 4th Feb, 10am to 4pm.
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The clay coming from Italy is still delayed with Brexit tedium: the forms are lengthily tackled by each of us in turn. I wish I had ordered more than a ton as this rigmarole is likely to be an annual nightmare. Oh it is so sad that the exquisite CHBrannams Fremington clay from Barnstaple that was used for centuries of British and European earthenware is no longer available... I hope to visit San Sepolcro in July and at last put faces to these super Italians with whom there have been charming email conversations for some years.
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But for now there are pots to be made and any sign of Spring avidly observed – more news in March.
Warm wishes from Fitzhead,
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