This Sunday marks the First Year Anniversary of Vessel Ceramics Teaching Studio being open. It’s hard to believe it really. What an amazing & very full year it’s been. Thank you to YOU for supporting me in this venture. I couldn’t have done it without you.

We have had classes, workshops and our first successful Masterclass. The Gallery/shop and studio are always much admired and this little business is growing organically through word of mouth.

To celebrate, one lucky email subscriber will be rewarded with a £65 Gift Voucher to spend how they like - either in the gallery or in the studio. The voucher will be transferable and can be gifted to a friend (but not sold). Good Luck!

The new-to-me big kiln has fired well. HOORAY!

In other news, despite earthenware clay being cheaper to fire, it is less robust and still slightly porous. I’ve therefore completed firing tests with different stoneware clay bodies so we’ll be offering these once a palette of stoneware glazes have been tested for fit.

Caroline and Donna with Judy in the background

Adrian Bates’ Masterclass was a wonderful weekend of making and developing skills. Feedback was really helpful (all good to excellent) and the ‘take-away learning’ was:

Hand-building such forms requires respect for the clay's structural properties combined with the laws of physics!
Pay attention to the clay, the form, surfaces and edges, and constantly refine.
Experiment, make mistakes, use touch, try to see the whole not just the component parts.
Slab preparation/reading/drying then critical timing for joining.
Choosing the edge of a slab to refine.

The work is still yet to be fired as the bases are thick for stability and the weather has meant exceptionally slow drying out. The huge mound of unused/pared away clay can’t be recycled either as it needs to be fully dry before adding add water. This avoids lumpy clay so it’s worth the wait!

Lava glaze test tiles - Linda Bloomfield

Our Special Effects Glaze Masterclass with Linda Bloomfield is just over a week away. We’ll be donning masks and the studio will become a ‘potions’ laboratory - more on that next time.

I’m happy to say that both the above Masterclasses have been fully booked as are many of the pre-advertised sessions. Wish a fairly full schedule and time required for processing work, bespoke sessions now only have limited availability. Booking well in advance is advisable and will soon become a necessity.

Click here for the current schedule.

A new set of 12 week classes start on Thursday April 18th. If you are interested but can’t commit to the full twelve weeks, it may be possible to split with another student to do the first or second half (six weeks). Let me know if this would help. There is currently only one place left in the throwing class and a few available in the morning class.

Beginner Amy with her thrown & handled jug.

12 week Pottery Classes 3 hours a week for all abilities and experience levels - Info and booking link

Throwing on the Wheel, Thursdays - starting 18th April 2 - 5pm One place remaining
- learn the whole making process, throwing, turning, glazing.
- 5 students maximum
Handbuilding - Thursdays - starting 18th April 2 - 5pm Places remaining
- learn to make by pinching, coiling and slabbing
- a slower pace to the wheel, meditative, calm and creative class
- 8 students maximum

KATE TOMS – NEEDLE FELTING MASTERCLASS May 25th 10.30 – 4.30 (£110) One place remaining

I’m already planning the masterclasses for next year. I hope to offer a good variety again so if you’re a potter for a thirst for learning and there’s someone you’d especially like to work with, drop me a line.

As always, thanks so much for reading these notes. I’m so grateful.

Wishing you blue skies with a touch more sunshine than we’ve been having in the UK.

Best wishes,

Jilly x

Anniversary Giveaway!

Exciting Developments…

New Beginnings