Chasing chickens

Here are some of my recent bowls, flocks of little chicks chasing each other in a spiral around a bowl... Or should that be a brood rather than a flock?
Either way, I think they've come out pretty well...

100% organic free range chickens, no battery hens here guys...
Comments welcome!

These two belong together....

How could I separate them? I've noticed a few people have been buying the lovebird bowls in twos, so this time I thought I'd try listing them on my shop as a single item... We'll see what happens. I think they look good together!

The first autumn leaves are falling...

so here is my new falling leaf dish...
I stamped each little leaf into the surface individually and rubbed in some black iron oxide to bring out the texture before glazing over the top. This one's the first, but I'm experimenting with some red iron oxide in a similar one to see if that gives a warmer autumnal shade.
I thought this shape of bowl would be good as a soap dish or trinket holder.

Eat your heart out...

I've made improvements to my Eat your heart out plates, with a new, slightly larger stamp for the hearts, and a gorgeous glossy glaze for over the top. This one is a more generous size than the previous ones. At seven inches diameter, I think it's a better size for a larger dessert or a sandwich. Having said that, the smaller ones were very cute, so I think I'll make some more of those as well soon.



I've also changed the stamp to the larger one in the full of love bowls and the big love bowls. What do you think?

I just can't wait...

to open my kiln today! I mean really, the suspense is killing me. I have tried getting on with other things, tried to think about something else and succeeded for the most part, but I keep finding myself from time to time standing in front of it, gazing at the temperature numbers and wishing they were smaller... Patience is something you definitely need to be a good potter, and whilst most of the time I manage it, some days I just CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Turning over a new leaf..

Leaves have been on my mind lately... They're starting to drop from the trees as autumn approaches, but some things are still growing and producing new leaves. Taking this as inspiration, I've been making some leaf inspired pots; some clinging on to summer's freshness and others embracing autumn's arrival.
Here are some pics of one of the summery ones which I've just added to my shop - New leaf
I'll post some pics of the autumnal ones soon...
As always, comments are welcome!

Little lotus

One new addition to my etsy shop this week has been this Little lotus bowl. I'm really pleased with how this little piece came out, and the glaze I used was one that I mixed up myself, so it is unique. I have been experimenting recently with altering clear glazes by adding cobalt, iron and/or copper oxides, and I'm finding it pretty exciting. Shop bought glazes are great, but there is something wonderful about mixing it up like a painter would, and getting something unique. Of course it's much trickier than painting; pink powder turns deep blue, black comes out brown or bronze etc. - there's often a surprise when the kiln opens!
The other thing I love about the Lotus is how delicate the form is. It was very tricky to make and so I don't think I'll make any more, not because I don't love it, but simply because it was far too labour intensive. So this little Lotus really is one of a kind.

Say hello....

to Kenny the kiln!
Here's a pic of my first test firing.... All the tests came out perfectly. (Other pots were placed lower down on separate shelves) What a relief... So it's holiday season over for now, and back to work in a slightly frantic, frustrated OCD way. It's great to be making again after a break, and very exciting to have Kenny here.
I'm looking forward to the coming weekend, when I will be doing a pottery demonstration/workshop in Liverpool. It'll be great to encourage people to get some clay under their fingernails! It's always fantastic to see what people make when they start playing, so I'm excited about that... Wish me luck!