plate up.

Dear kiln gods,

Please take care of these dinner plates. I'm quite proud of myself for making them and I so loved painting them - there is so much SPACE for me to paint on! I feel like a child with a whole piece of paper to draw on.

Thank you muchly.

measure.

I LOVE this bird's eye view of the kiln. This was Christmas Eve morning. A perfect firing, yay!

I've made a few measuring spoons this year, with the intention of making sets but somehow never got to it. Luckily a friend ordered a full set for her daughter's Christmas present - awesome motivation and I LOVE them. 

[spoon love]

spesh.

I've only been making and selling pots for 3 years. Sales have always been nicely steady, but I've rarely been approached for custom orders. Since returning to the island however, I've lost count of how many bespoke pieces I've made - it's lovely to see people truly thinking about how to make their gifts extra special. 

This bowl and cup set were commissioned by a friend that set me on this creative path many many years ago. They were a Christmas/wedding gift to her gorgeous partner. Her request was simply: trees and flowers. It didn't take long to develop this design and as I painted I felt SO excited, I was buzzing by the time I'd finished. 

He loved them. YAY!

noa.

I spent another happy evening at Noa Bakehouse before Christmas - I'm overwhelmed and grateful for the support this island has shown me.
Thank you x

pour.

A clever lady called Ciara asked me if I made little jugs. I said 'I can try!' and I made these and I LOVE THEM. 

They're only little, about 7cm high. Super cute, I think.

Ciara co-owns a magic haberdashery shop on the island called Sweet Ginger Emporium, GO!

stoo-dee-oh

This was December...somehow I managed to squeeze some experiments into my Christmas production line - grown up sized dinner plates!

[snuggling next to the fire in the PineWood Studio showroom!]

[walks to shake off a bad mood]

market.

I've just come home from my first market on the island. I was really nervous, though I knew that was silly - I've done a market in Sydney for goodness sake! 

But it was a lovely evening - I had a sweet spot right by the door, it wasn't too cold and I had a good natter with other local makers.

Some gorgeous online friends came to say hello - Facebook continues to amaze me. Thank you!

Special thanks to our host, Noa Bakehouse (the NICEST eatery on the island, nom nom nom)

cosy.

This huge wood burner is in the Pinewood Studio showroom. It's lit every Saturday in Winter and I LOVE it. I'll be in my studio all day tomorrow - if you come to visit and can't find me, I'll be curled up next to this beast.

party.

The studio warming party was a roaring success - I'm amazed and thankful that so many people turned out for it! Typically, I didn't take a single photo. But here are some from the week before:

[list making]

[late night glazing]

[100 spoons for the visitors to cut down and take home!]

mnh.

I'm proud to announce a new stockist: the Manx Museum Shop! They've got a very juicy collection of my work...

indie.

Many thanks to Lee Brooks for this write up in today's Manx Independent!

[Click to enlarge and read! 5/12/13, page 21.]

mc.

2 years ago, my lovely friend Adriana started a wicked clay community blog called Mud Colony. It became a great platform for potters around the world to share work - you've done a top job A. 

This week is our last chance to post on MC before switching over to Facebook - let's run over for a read shall we? The 2 year archive will stay active - thank you Adriana :) x

[view from my wheel this morning]

shine.

The online store is OPEN again!

Hurrah!

open.

Come see me! Here's a MAP!

shoot.

Superstar photographer Phil Kneen spent a morning with me in the studio on Tuesday. He captured some beautiful shots - I'm stoked. 

See a few more photos over on Phil's blog and stay tuned for a few more here!

big.

I've skipped off the island this weekend to visit my Mum in Suffolk. We're doing a bit of road tripping and found this awesome kiln! It belonged to Henry Watson in the olden days (ie. I'm not sure when.).

smitten.

Don't mind me, I'm just crushing on my studio. 

breakfast.

I'm so in love with my studio space. I quite happily amble there earlier than necessary to sit and contemplate and eat my muesli. Ah.

[oh hello mugs!]

mie.

Moghrey mie (pronounced 'morra my') is Manx Gaelic for good morning. I learn a little Manx in primary and secondary school, then promptly fell in love with French instead. I suspect that was mainly because I wanted to go to Paris!

There's a steady resurgence of support for this once-native language and I'm rather enjoying adding a little Manx cheer to my pots.

jug.

Tea tastes better out of handmade cups. Fact.

Another fun fact: pourers are super cute.

small pleasures.

MORE SHELVES!

partay.

wednesday.

Ah full days in the studio, glorious! On wednesday morning I threw a heap of ramekins to distract me from the cooling kiln...!

That's 22 ramekins plus 3 little test pourers in under 4 hours. That amount of throwing used to take a whole day for me to complete and that would be pushing it. I have no idea how I've improved my speed without practicing for 9 months...?!

I'm slightly obsessed with this view ^

festive.

Christmastime never felt quite right in Australia. 30C heat with traditional carols? Weird. 

November already feels festive. The nights are cold and crisp and clear, the leaves have nearly all fallen from the trees and fairy lights are slowly beginning to appear. I'm actually looking forward to the Christmas season. I've even made a few cups and ramekins to share some seasonal cheer: Nollick Ghennal.

[merry christmas.]

sunday.

Well, 2 sundays ago. 

[a hand painted gift from a special lady]

[MUGS!]

Eileen.

This is my first kiln. I've been using electric kilns for 10 years, but I've never owned one before. It's a whole new awesome and terrifyingly responsible experience.

Between you and me, my Mum helped me out with a loan to buy my equipment before I got my government grant, so it seems only fitting that I have christened my kiln 'Eileen', after Mum!

[kiln gods]

I unloaded the first test glaze firing on Sunday and it was so perfect I nearly CRIED with happiness.
Thanks Mum.

[Let's go to Mud Colony, shall we?]

Repeat.

Ooh repetition can be so satisfying.