Insecticals

Is been a while since I posted my last blog, so I sat a while in the sun reviewing all that I had been doing over the past months and was mystified by a delicate whirring, clinking and tinkling. Closer investigation revealed wonderful mechanical insects. 

I have a box of almost finished ceramicals, so will turn my atention to them whilst I ponder my new insectical friends. 

New stuff and new directions.

Belated New Year greetings. January has been a busy month, taking the ideas I was developing in December turning them into what I hope will be new beginnings. The weathered test tile from December inspired this group of ceramic boxes, they are fairly small, just the right size to hold a piece of treasure.

I've been experimenting with majolica, a tin glazed pottery decorated with oxides that when fired has lovely bright colours. This is a very different decorative technique for me, and I think one with huge potential to bring a new feel to my Space Scouts.

These new pots have gone into my submission to the Saltaire Arts Trail  which was sent off  this week. I hope to hear next month if I been fortunate & gained a place in the Art Trail or Maker's Fair.

Over the past months I have been feeling increasingly unhappy at my paid work and have been looking for ways to re-balance my life with more of the artistic work that I love. Next month I start working for a PTLLS qualification through Artworks Creative Communities  which will allow me to teach and take workshops sharing my love of ceramics. 

So, I'm going to clear out the (frosty) cobwebs and look forward to a year full of potential. 

New ideas to try in the New Year

 

 
Over the holidays between bad films and biscuits I've been experimenting with home made decals (ceramic transfers). This is an old stoneware test tile, the added decals and gold lustre give it the look of the  Antikythera mechanism. One of the less credible, but more imaginative  theories about the mechanism's origin is that it was left behind by time travellers, Steampunk time travellers perhaps?   

This is a detail from a small slipware dish designed specifically for the decals. 

And finished at last here is the Space Scout Tea Pot. So I'm off for a cuppa with which to wish everyone a happy, peaceful and creative New Year.

Gill is busy, Stefan and Archy are in charge and have created a Seasonal Greetings Tableau.

 

Gill is busy at the moment, we're not sure what she's up to but it involves a lot of huffing and puffing. 

So Archy and I are in charge and we've had a good rummage round her work room and found some new bits and pieces that might give a clue as to what she's busy with. Or maybe not. 

Anyhows, we've made a seasonal tableau which we send to you all with our best wishes for a  happy holiday and we all hope to see you in the New Year.

A new old sewing machine

Some time ago I was captivated by an old, shabby & broken miniature sewing machine at a local vintage fair, it was made by Grain and dates from the early 1950's. Of course I had to buy it and have a go at fixing it up, so I took it completely to pieces, each piece was cleaned,oiled and the machine was put back together again.

After a lot of fiddling and fine adjustment it works well and sews with a  neat chain stitch.

 

Naturally a sewing machine needs a seamstress, and before long one arrived. 

I had some good news this week, Made in Bradford have sold a set of small Space Scouts and they are now off on a new adventure with their new owner.