we found Q...

we found Q..... up the Lobethal Road turn right on to Onkaparinga Valley Rd Woodside at you're there Barristers Block Winery and the Q gallery....very sweet space and it will definately work for us for our SALA show in August... The show is title '3 Seasons in One Day' and we're working on wall themed work with some complimentary works in a plinth area too...


It should be nice, after our chat we Beck 'Q Gallery owner' the chocolate factory up the road was calling us!! never been to Melbas they had everything I remember munching on as a kid and their dark chocolate was rather good... next door is a cheese place too but no sheeps cheese...boo..


The board meeting continued at Oakbank pub with some swanky outdoor furniture on deck only problem the seats were rain blessed and a tad damp after one had been sitting for a while :P I lucked out with the only dry seat I think hehehehhe... so meeting over lunch and Rose is now 'the pursuader' Ali 'the Pr Pr person' and me 'a rock star' apparently must be the jacket!!! we are pretty much sorted except for writing the artists statement pffft I'm rubbish at these so this will be fun... sourcing some extra lighting will be necessary but everything else is sorted, oh that and creating the work in time....wooho

hello cocky....

outdoors entertaining area at Barristers Block Winery

Q space

Rosa and Ali pondering the setup

melbas chocolate factory mixers hmmmm concrete??

no really they were!!

exit pose :))

monday monday...

I can't believe I have been home for a month and just today I'm compiling the last of my trip movies, tonight's is of Michael Hunt and Naomi Dalglish of Bandana Pottery Bakersville, NC.... we headed up into the Hills for a Day trip with Ron Philbeck and first stop including lunch was with this lovely couple...they have a sweet little cottage on a hillside with their workshop and gallery and kiln space just a walk away, we gushed and ahhhed our way through their sweet gallery unfortunately I was well out of cash but Hannah, Doug and Ron made up for that with quite a lovely collection of purchases... anyhoo without further ado here's naomi and michael..

like it...

Oh nothing like a couple of hours in the studio to cheer oneself up!!. Thursday has been cold and wet and cold and I'm over it already do we really need winter, it's just so hard to get up into a cold studio but I made it, cranked up the lil bar heater that is my source of warmth, stacked the water jug infront to warm it up and got stuck in...

I did already have an idea of the style of work I wanted to get into today just not fully intent on form I looked quickly at the batch of bisque pots from last week and they're loose just not quite loose enough but you never can tell til a piece is glazed and maybe they're just right... 

I wonder about the market place and how it will receive this type of work but have a determination now since coming home to give it a go and really put some work out there that represents the gusto and groove that the US trip gave me.... It's difficult to put into words but I want to take some time to develop a fresh look, of form and set work.. so todays studio bash albeit a short, 2 hours developed from a piece from my last shino firing I refired a tiny cup that say it all for me...it's sweet and kinda wobbly but not very.. the glaze work really sells it for me it's shino and carbon and all that i love about firing in my gas kiln... so todays efforts I started with the tray and moved into small bowls, then some tiny cups from about what's half of 3/4's of a lb.. I say lb's coz that's what the scales measure that I weigh out my clay on... I'm also in a privileged position to be using clay already pugged and grogged from my big pot making sessions in march and enough to keep going for another session me thinks, then back to the processing!!

This week has been awesome for hearing about SALA shows, Ali and myself spent Monday putting together our registration for a group show between us 3 and I caught up with Rose after work to keep her up to date with our progress....got it all sorted and completed by 11.30 pm so why does it take us so long to normally organise a show???? So for SALA our show is called '3 Seasons in One Day' @ Q Gallery Woodside, we've already had interest from Adelaide Hills magazine hopefully this is a good sign and the emails keep coming this week about SALA shows.. I have the opportunity at this point for about 5 during the month of August and we'll see what works out the closer it gets, it will be one very busy month!! 

anyhoo going on a bit, I'm a tad tired and need some good sleep really... last wkd took some toll on me and my market wares are still very wet, I'm currently drying them out a box at a time in my studio :)) well cheers and here's to the end of the working week.. friday be good..

oh look...seriously....

oh look seriously how much rain do we need on a sunday it's market day after all!!!!

Ha!! totally exhausted from saturdays wedding vid shoot.... sunday looked promising.. no rain all the way on the road up to Stirling but seriously folks it didn't last we got set up and down it came.
I successfully gathered buckets of water in our pots the roof gave way towards the end and gushes of water spilled on to our tables.. My ski jacket is good for the cold but basically absorbs the rain and i was drenched..

The market was officially shut down at 2pm with gusts of wind flying up the street we held on tightly to our marquee and all was good....Drenched I headed of to woolies loo to dry off under the hand dryer I seriously looked like a drowned rat and managed the best i could you know those hand dryers just arent intended or have the gusto for drying hair :P

So we headed off to Roses place donned the jammies gladly and a very spec dressing gown whilst my clothes dried off in the dryer....we had a few nice glasses and watched Isacc Buttton do his thing along with Nic Collins ate an early tea of wedges, chicken and green salad before i headed off home to fall asleep on the couch... all in all a spectacular day!!! .......enjoy the drips!!!!

Sundays Market Day...

Stirling Sundays a coming!!! and these lil babies are going to be there fresh from the kiln yesterday...

Just having a short break from videoing a friends wedding today to load up my car for tomorrow....

Hope to see you, it may be a cool one but Stirling is lovely this time of year the leaves will be falling and the market will be teaming!! there's lots to see and lots of yummy food and coffee and of course some great art & craft and produce including our wee stall!!

Hmmm maybe bring ya coats too :P.... We're on the lower deck between 2 groovy clothing stalls, just up from Mrs honey and groovy glass man Mr Tim Shaw....stop by and say hi.

we have roofage...

Ahhh nothing like a good days work in the studio.......or a good days repairs in the studio :))

Since the rains have begun ye olde tarp could only keep so much rain off my new pugger... I got all inspired and decided to rip of the shade cloth and blinds from the summer heat and get up on the roof and screw down the suntuff!!! As with any job using recycled materials there's repairs to be done and armed with lots of silicon I got stuck in filling up the holes with the goo and the other major job for the day repairing the skylight in my studio, a wee roof patch with suntuff and heaps of silicon too......
 tonight i get to find out if it worked, I hear the wet stuff again..

And a resurrected cafe blind to keep the rain off the front of my pugging space ... maybe i can find another at the auctions!! apparently it's quite the thing for picking up all kinds of household items and maybe a rocking chair for the deck that would be cool!

PT wasn't quite so torturous last night so muscle wise this was an easy day we'll see how I pull up tomorrow after climbing all over the roof today...woohoo. So glad this is done and hopefully the space will be good for winter working and another bonus is the great view now through my doorway!

Work seems to be picking up a little too which is good! Lots to do and lots of projects in the works just the way I like it..

The Xpo opens this week at 'the Terrace' I'm excited and nervous about this one, I have quite a few tiles in for this show and hopefully it's a good one.... I'm also looking into a SALA venue for this year, so fingers crossed for finding the right space for my work. 

Anyhoo I think it's time for feet up and a movie don't you :))

bad blogger...

Bad blogger has been down for most of the week!! humpfff!!!!

So just for that it's break out the recipes time :P

Curried pumpkin soup with rice stick noodles..

In my wavering ability to keep recipes here's what I remember putting in...

1/2 large butternut pumpkin, roast off in the saucepan blacken a bit remove the skin when the veg is soft..

4 medium sized potatoes

8ish cups of water

3 chillis from the garden 2 red 1 green

a few spoons of chicken stock

2 heaped teaspoons madras curry powder

salt and ground black pepper to taste at the end

cook the noodle separately 4-5 minutes usually does it.. wash off in cold water and add to the soup later

when everything smells great and the veg is cooked mash it down with a hand wizz, then add the noodles and serve up baby!!!!!!

I'm out doing studio repairs today...the roof leaks and the pugmill needs cover..... pics later :)) back to my yummy soup!!

flashback to freidas...

Yey 'B' is back after some technical issues attaching anything for the past couple of days!!! So here's my most recent video account of the States trip...Easter sunday at Ron and Sarah's good friend Freida....After a gorgeous BBQ lunch and an easter egg hunt in what must have been around 28 - 30 deg C warmth there were lots of melted eggs...hhehehee.. Freida's boys also figured out Doug's puzzle jug which was great to watch..

Their property is on a stunning laked area surrounded by all manor of homes and some very cool decks with boat houses....so here's the cruise video footage courtesy of Doug and some of Hannah's handy work I think....my flip was out of memory so just stills for me that sunday..anyhoo enjoy the moving pictures and check out the giant bees!!!!

I have such a wonderful collection of pots too that made it home safe but that will be another post :))

gotta mark this one...

 Far out gotta mark this one 12pm and I finally cracked it 12 by 12!!!!

Actually 17 today but whose counting....me!!! after a warm up session yesterday I had a chance to think about the first pieces I wanted to make being back in my studio after a month off...
Loose is the order of the day with a nicely finished off rim...getting quickly to the form I wanted to see and finishing off nice and slowly. Slowing dow the wheel to make some intentional marks and taking care that the rim says what I want it to loose open and smooth with some nice marks on the outer just under the rim....mmmm..

With the weather being cooler I have a chance to let these sit for a day before having to look at handles for the cups... Pulled handles is going to be the order for these and nice and thin me thinks, keeping that possibility of warpage low and paying close attention to getting them on at just the right time when the cups are not too wet and not too dry...

space...

Really obligatory a clean up before making a mess again!!! I spent most of yesterday getting gear out of my studio just to get some clear head space and at the end of the day real space!!!

I still want to get some high shelves in to sort out some space for finished work rather than having everything boxed up..although its good for markets its hard to show any one work when I have to rummage for it through 5 market boxes and the shelves really are looking just cluttered not user friendly to see what need firing and what is just junk!!

So space yey... and a lil short throwing moment making some really loose bowl forms with my hands in clay for the first time in a month!!!!

Must fix that right now off to the studio again....

cameo by doug fitch sprig stamps

 

to market.. to market...

 After such a whirl wind tour of 'the States' last month it's time to refocus on my work and getting it around town successfully.. so yesterday I embarked on a little marketing day.. Loaded up with some new additions for the Urban Cow Studio I headed into town dropping off a tea set for a photo shoot for 'Attitude magazine' a local free mag all about style in town.... After leaving some new wares including the red stripes dippy bowls and some wee raku pots I headed off to wander around town and look for prospective places to approach for my work..

Followed by a trip to central market and on a cheese hunt!!! Found some great cheeses and happy with that  off to the chinese supermarket to stock up on spices for cook ups :)) mmmm what a great shop they even had the lil cooking pots that we ate from in the vietnamese restaurant with ron!! such a cool flash back to that dinner and so yummy must write that meal down and have a go at making it, it was awesome...

 

Then off to the Terrace where Graham is holding an interiors expo this month, so exciting I dropped in some of my larger wall tiles before going away and luckily he loves them as do I some of the gorgeous new old sanded back teak furniture they have in at the mo mmmmmm... So that's next wednesday the opening and I'm hoping to make it for that it will be great to get some feedback on these pieces as they look great with the rustic furniture...

 

So into the studio today....I'm inspired to get sorted out and get making, I had a chat with my electrician last night about a prospective electric kiln hook up and what thats going to take and hmmm what do i need to sell to get one :P and a great visit from my bud kevin too looking at extending my gas kiln vertically...

yep a good day....

Slipware Tour USA.....Ron's end....

 And Ron's end... this pretty much says it all in pics folks..... the end of the Slipware Tour USA -  british invasion tour... we saw, we slipped, we laughed, we cried till it hurt!!! I still can't believe we crammed so much into 3 and a half weeks....
Ron Philbeck met us at Kevin Crowes place.. a lovely guy who took us on a tour of is wood fired kiln....don't worry i have notes and videos a plenty so much more footage to come!! what great folks lunch was all set when we arrived and a table full of wood fired pots to eat from mmmmmm..... So we get on the road with Ron and head for Shelby where the next workshop was to take place, a one dayer because of the easter wkd break and wow did Doug and Hannah pack everything in :P The puzzle jug demo, the lovely slip drawn jugs....the slide talks and movies you saw it all peeps!!....Hannah was busting her moves with baking dishes, the 'über Platter' and her lovely slip trailed jugs......

It was exhausting and I wasn't working!!! anyhoo around the workshop we went to Ashville for the day....sat in great rocking chairs of which i am now on the hunt for!! a trip to Penland... Michael Hunt and Naomi Dalglish's for lunch yum : )) and Michael and Stacey Kline's for afternoon tea, well that's all in the next catch up enjoy this vid from the workshop below.....cheers!!!!

Some pre wkshp prep time..

testing testing....the puzzle jug

kevin crowes place and lunch deck

über platter...

I'm baaaaack...

Yes I'm back but not much closer to putting together a blog post that will catch up on the last weeks happenings....

anyhoo I got home to a massive amount of mail incoming and am making my way through it...an interesting one is a mention in 'Australian Ceramics' from the Brisbane teapot show!!! how cool i didn't know about the article so what a surprise to see my shino teapot in there!!

I really enjoyed making a high fire version of my teapots and it seems I need to get back to the wheel with a mad hatters teaparty fundraiser event coming up and i'm just about out of teapots..

 Entertainment at Sydney airport while waiting for my final flight home watching planes being towed out and the baggage guys doing their thang on the tarmack..

One of my fav mugs at rons place...very sweet indeed glaze on the inside and the handle and slips outside ...mmmmm

Ron and doug scratching away on the porch, what a team Hannah

was somewhere else at the mo but the whole crew got to it getting Ron ready for his wkd sale hope it all goes super well mr... thanks again for yours and sarah's lovely hospitality it was quite the week with some lovely sun and warmth made me feel right at home and here it is sun shining again today just beautiful... and so much to do......

hopefully next post we'll be up to date and some semblance of normality will resume :))