empty bowls

Let 16 potters, 3 chefs and a baker do their bit and what do you get? Folks of Tonbridge in Kent found out this week when their former fire station was transformed into a diner so soup cum bread prepared by those wizards with their ladles could be served in bowls handmade for the event.

It all happened as part of the international “Empty Bowls” project which involves artists and groups in communities to create and donate bowls, then serve a simple meal. In return for a donation, diners choose a bowl to use on the day and to keep as a reminder of the countless empty bowls in the world.

All money raised goes to hunger and poverty fighting organisations. In Tonbridge over £1600 were handed to a charity for the homeless.

I was delighted when asked to contribute bowls for the occasion. I threw some extra large ones. Hopefully their new owners got some extra big helpings.

bad girl on a nosy

What? Bad? Yes, I feel I have been for not writing a post for such a long time. Will do my best to make amends. Promised.


Nosy? Well, together with my illustrator daughter Zanna - zannaallenillustration.co.uk - I took myself from Kent to Yorkshire to visit this year's British Craft Trade Fair at Harrogate. As it's an event where designer/makers establish links with retailers, the public doesn't get a look-in. With the exception of folks like me thinking of showing their work in the future.

Zan + I spent the morning walking round the hall to get a feel of what exhibiting at such a show is all about + to see as many of the approx. 400 designers showing anything from jewellery, lighting, wall-art + prints, recycled products, furnishings + textiles, wood + metalwork to sculpture + - of course - ceramics.

Halfway through the day the organisers offered wannabe exhibitors an informal chat about planning for success at the show which proved most insightful.

Then it was back for more legwork in the exhibition hall to take in the quality of the exhibits - all of which are made in the UK. It was a real joy to see + chat to many of the makers. No wonder the event attracts 4-5K buyers over just 3 days.

I wished we could have taken photos. Many displays were truly ingenious, if not to say works of art in themselves. Take the stand of Newbie Naomi from Heaton Chapel, Cheshire. She embroiders textiles, some of which are then printed + sold as cards. Her dad had diligently sliced slits along the lengths of slender branches into which she inserted her cards for display. You had to look twice to see that the cards were of paper and not cloth. They were THAT good.

http://www.naisy.co.uk

Then there was Claire from Manchester. She illustrates, paints and sews and creates the most beautiful refined lighting. Do check out her website. To me, this lampshade with its delicate image was simply stunning.

http://www.anorthernlight.net

The centrepiece on Jenny McCall's stand was this incredible ram's scull. Originally from the Scottish Borders, Jenny now lives and works in Market Harborough where she creates illustrations and sculptures. The skull here is made from stoneware, its horns are cast out of bronze.

http://www.jenniemccall.com

Meeting so many artists in just one day and seeing their wonderful work was a real privilege. The talents, commitment and sheer drive these makers all share are truly amazing. We left with much food for thought!

blame the rain

I got as far as the garden. 

Laden with camera and props. 

To take some decent shots to promote some newly made pots. 

That's when the heavens opened and my plans went down the drain. 

So the rain gets ALL the blame.

Not a complete disaster though. I snipped a rose off a branch 

that curved to the ground under the weight of too many rain drops, 

brought it inside and took its picture and I think it looks rather nice.

So what do I have to show for my good intentions? 

What about the pendants I made earlier this month and which I think 

worked out rather well...

I rather hope you'll like them. 

Back to picture-taking when the summer returns ;))

OPEN MOST HOURS

I love Open Studio events, the chance to visit artists in their studios, see where and how they work and chat about all things arty. This year, my illustrator friend - and daughter - Zanna and I took the plunge and joined nearly 300 other South East Open Studio Artists opening our doors most hours during two weeks in June not sure what we were letting ourselves in for.

I am one of life's optimists. I tackle all sorts, my eyes on the goal, not on the effort it takes to achieve it. So I was not a little surprised at the hard graft awaiting us.

There was the marketing and the promotion, printing of flyers, cards and posters, collaboration and synchronisation with fellow artists, landscaping the garden, sourcing props, display stands and tables, making several treks to Ikea for shelving, drawers, pin-boards and lighting and then having the pleasure of putting it all together. Then there was the task of scraping from my mud-caked studio (nearly) every trace of clay in addition, of course, to letting our creative juices flow and in my case making sure that my small kiln didn't go cold for weeks! It was 3 a.m. on the first day of opening that our heads finally hit the pillow.

Needless to say, the real challenge was yet to come. Who would have thought that welcoming a steady flow of visitors, offering drinks and nibbles, listening, talking and answering queries could be exhausting. Every night, at closing time, we would just about make it to the sofa on the top floor of our upside-down house hoping for a little pampering from those kind souls around us. 

Every day we met more wonderful people, some of them had travelled considerable distances to visit us, we saw which work held their attention, listened to their feedback, their ideas and contributions and made valuable new contacts. As Zanna was giving impromptu workshops, I found myself balling up clay for anyone fancying a go on the wheel. A plucky lady in her nineties is set to return for a one-to-one lesson as throwing on the wheel is on her long list of things to do. Naturally, we were happy every time a piece of art or ceramic found a delighted new owner whilst the visitors' book was swelling with lovely, much appreciated comments. 

So, did we have a good time and did opening our studios live up to our expectations? As our thoughts turn to the commissions we have taken on, our joint response is a resounding yes. Will we repeat the performance next year? Another definite yes. Is there anything we will do then which we wished we had done this time? Oh yes, have our bags packed before Day 1 and for some serious relaxation jet off to some tropical island the moment the last visitors have said their goodbyes. 

Only kidding, Zanna and I had a fabulous time!

Mecki

meckiallenceramics.com

zannaallenillustration.co.uk

from the ashes ...

Every few months I meet up with other mad ceramicists for a day of raku-ing. Raku is a method of firing ceramics first practised in Japan. It involves heating freshly glazed pots to around 1000 degrees C.

The pots are transferred from the red-hot kiln to a chamber of saw-dust which ignites because of the heat. 

The box is sealed forcing the flames to extract oxygen from glaze and pots. Once the fire has died down, the finished pots are retrieved. At this stage they look far from impressive.

Yet after some serious scrubbing usually in cold water and wet and windy weather (we know how to have a good time!), they take on their final appearance. Crazing of the glaze is what's wanted, the more the merrier. The smoke has darkened crackles and unglazed areas. Some pots don't survive the ordeal. Those that do, have lost none of their strength and have gained a unique appearance all of their own.

Only one of my pots broke on this occasion - phew. Here are 3 that made it.