Two Shows.., One Weekend. A Big Thank you! Deux expositions un week-end. Un grand vous remercie!

Peter Watson (clay dad!) and Peter Gregory (clay offspring!) (papa d'argile, fils d'argile)

On Saturday we took part in a craft show in our new nearly $5,000,000 town hall (East Otago Events Center). We had a table next to our friend, Peter (also a potter). Peter got me started in working with clay, so you could say that he is my clay dad!

Rather quiet at the Events Center

The stalls were set out around the perimeter of the huge sports hall, and the show not all that well attended, which was sad. On the other side of us was someone who was selling car boot sale type items..., including a small stoneware pottery item for only 50 cents. Needless to say, given few people attending, and competing with 50 cent items, our sales were not that great.

Laura planted up some of my planters and took this photo whilst setting up the display.

Laura looked after our stall for the day whilst I worked on a commission (with a short time frame) back at the studio, and also continued trying to get the place sorted out for our 20th year celebration the next day. Our preparations for the next day continued until late into the evening.

Sometime after 11pm... grumpy old fellow needing his sleep! (Le vieil homme grincheux a besoin de son sommeil!)

Laura baked a really excellent fruit cake that came out the oven about 11.30 at night. Next morning I painted an "open" sign, priced pots and paintings, and updated our business card with our new extended hours.

Just after midday, before our scheduled opening at 1pm, we had our first visitor (a New Zealander who lives in Lebanon) who bought some wood fired bowls. This marked the beginning of what was a busy and successful afternoon. Sometime just before one, I managed to rush up to the Golden Fleece Hotel for the glasses which we had ordered and some wine and fruit juice. Then it was action stations!

Action Stations at the Old Post Office. (Un bon nombre de bons amis.)

Many of our visitors traveled out from Dunedin, and included old friends that we rarely manage to get to see, so it was lovely catching up.

The young chap is sampling Laura's fruit cake (yummy) whilst his mother looks... concerned. And who is that on the left about to sample the wine! One of my abstracts from a few years ago adds a splash of colour top right. (Le jeune homme mange le gâteau, le vieil homme que les boissons wine!)

We were very touched by the gifts of food and wine that some people brought, and for the kindness of those that simply pitched in and helped at times when we were needing a hand.

The perils of strong drink are well illustrated by the paralytic pose of a certain Ginger cat. (les dangers de la boisson forte!)

We would like to thank all of you who made this event such a happy one. We were also most grateful to those of you who couldn't attend, but sent your supportive comments and best wishes, both via the blog and the telephone. It was really special feeling your support of us out there.

It is very hard to estimate numbers at events like this. People generally stayed a long time, and there was lots of happy conversation. We did wash 41 glasses after event, and quite a few people were not drinking, so numbers may have been between 45 and 50, possibly more. These may seem small numbers to some of you who live overseas, but Waikouaiti has a population of just over 1000 people, so this was good for here and sales were good too.

Our extended open hours that we started this month, 1 - 5 pm Wednesday - Friday, and Sunday afternoons, look promising. Wednesday was quiet, but I had about 8 people through on the Friday afternoon which was worth while. I am hoping that the week day numbers will pick up progressively as people become aware of our being open.

At 5pm I awarded a prize of some pottery to Rhonda, who happened to be sitting in the right place at the right time! Sadly no photo of this, but Rhonda was delighted, and it was a really lovely moment for us too.

After the event, Ginger was in some far away place with legs akimbo and twitching as he hunted and bravely fought in the land of sleep. I was nodding off too. (Le petit lion chasse l'antilope, le zèbre, et les cerfs communs dans la terre du sommeil. Je dors également.)

Comments

ang design said…
looks like a super time, have you recovered?...it's a ll a bit frantic this time of year, yes?
Linda Starr said…
Ginger is one wonderful cat, love the display of the flowers Laura planted in your pots, those are really beautiful. Fruitcake is my very favorite - many scoff at it and say it should be used as a door stopper, but I love it and it brings pleasant memories of the winter season. Hope you have a wonderful and prosperous time.
Peter said…
Hi Ang,
Not sure when to schedule in "recovery" as I'm already into a couple of other projects, but it was really great this weekend, enjoyable having the people here, and a boost to the morale making sales too!

Hi Linda,
I'll pass on your admiration to Ginger by means of soothing words and a little rub on the chin and side of the face, which he likes very much indeed, and Laura will be delighted that you loved her planting of flowers in the pots. I like fruit cake, yummy and sustaining..., it almost seems like a balanced diet!
Angie said…
Firstly I have to say that Ginger sooooooo loves you and I had to giggle at the'drunk' photo.
Now down to busness ...shame the Centre 'do' was badly attended but it was an experiece and if they do more they may learn from their mistakes ...probably badly advertized. Planting up the plant pots was a great idea.

Your 20th sounds as though it was a resounding success and that was the important one ...exposure, profit and FUN ...Take Care xx
Armelle said…
Hi Peter,

Lovely set, pots and planters, Laura has great taste. Happy to know that the main show was so successful and Ginger, no more drunk !!! Poor cat !!! I joke, of course, he is a beloved cat.

Laura a vraiment bon goût, les plantes sont très bien arrangées dans les pots. Ce show a été un succès, j'en suis très contente. Ravie que Ginger soit sobre à nouveau, quel chat adorable !!!

Best wishes
Arkansas Patti said…
50 cent pots should not be allowed. That should be for another type of show all together--like a yard sale.
Happy however that you had such a grand time with the 20th celebration. Bet it doesn't seem like 20 years have passed.
Just loved your Ginger poses. That cat loves the camera and always cracks me up.
Get some rest.
Kitty Shepherd said…
It looks like it was a great day. Your ginger cat is so funny, my husband calls me his ginger cat! And I have to say I look much like your puss after a glass of wine or two.
The potted plants are a great, I used to make a hanging wall planter on the wheel, it was one giant funnel really with a tiny base, a hole in the bottom and a truely wide rim. I used to squash them to a slim oval(so they got even wider) when the floppyness had passed and support with a kiln prop inside until dry. Hang from a nail at the back, they sold like hot cakes in terracotta and glazed and planted up.
Christine said…
That looks like a really successful event, great stuff! Ginger is a cat to treasure, it's a good job you live so far away or he might be kidnapped.....
Peter said…
Bonjour Armelle,

Bon pour avoir de vos nouvelles. Laura et le gingembre disent bonjour !

Happy to report that we are recovered from the excitements of the weekend! It was a most excellent and happy occasion. I did fall asleep twice when working yesterday afternoon, but feel less tired today. Ginger is sleeping this morning after a night out!

Hi Patti,
Lovely to hear from you. Mmm the passing of 20 years! Laura put some photos on display on the weekend, one photo was of a very, very young looking couple who were standing beside their car. The young fellow had a good covering of hair on his head, and his waist line was free of the effects of gravity and gravy! Dunno who he was, but the nice young lady by his side is still much the same!
Rest.... well, Ginger is snoring as I write this!

Hi Kitty,
Meeow!.. hick! it would appear from your comment that I should get Ginger to write this. He has shown some promise with his four legged typing skills on my computer keyboard. Alas he is sleeping (the meews has departed him!!). I must have a bit more of a go at the hanging planters. I did make some smallish ones last year that sold, but I like what you say about the "giant funnel, tiny base, and truly wide rim", and will have a play.

Good to hear from you Christine,
Thanks for your comment. The only problem with kidnapping Ginger is that there may be stiff competition. I'm not sure if he will end up in Arkansas, France, or Scotland at the rate he is going. He appears to be quite a star!
Doespins said…
Congratulations Peter and Laura on your 20 years in the Post Office.
I look forward to seeing you both at the Victorian fete next Sunday.
Doe.
SunShine said…
Thank you for your lovely comment. Glad your celebration was a success! A delightful event with the charming atmosphere of the old post office filled with your and Laura’s intriguing art - complete with planted pots, delicious fruit cake and a cozy Ginger cat. I would have thoroughly enjoyed it! The painting on the easel (behind the sleepy fellow) caught my eye and would like to know more about it. Have a great weekend!
Linda Starr said…
Hi Peter, check out my blog and be sure to read the link on the Great Road Pottery. Hope all is well with you, Laura and Ginger.
Peter said…
Hi Doe, Thanks for your congrats. 20 years...., where did it all go!!
I've rather overdone it physically and have had to send my apologies to the Victorian fete organizers. I hate having to pull out, but I do have to take a bit better care of myself than I have been. I still hope to get up to Oamaru for a bit of a look, possibly on Saturday, but am not able to put a stall together this time which is a shame.

Hi Jewels,
Good to hear from you. It was really good to have the celebration here and to get together with such a nice group of people. The painting behind the sleepy fellow was an oil painting that I did of Laura some years back. It is a bit hard to see in the photo, you must have good eyesight!
I must do some more painting soon, the weather was looking lovely out there today, and I should have taken an easel outside!
Peter said…
Hi Doe, Thanks for your congrats. 20 years...., where did it all go!!
I've rather overdone it physically and have had to send my apologies to the Victorian fete organizers. I hate having to pull out, but I do have to take a bit better care of myself than I have been. I still hope to get up to Oamaru for a bit of a look, possibly on Saturday, but am not able to put a stall together this time which is a shame.

Hi Jewels,
Good to hear from you. It was really good to have the celebration here and to get together with such a nice group of people. The painting behind the sleepy fellow was an oil painting that I did of Laura some years back. It is a bit hard to see in the photo, you must have good eyesight!
I must do some more painting soon, the weather was looking lovely out there today, and I should have taken an easel outside!
SunShine said…
Hello Peter, Laura and Ginger! Just wanted you three to know that I am thinking of you and hope you are all doing well. : )
Peter said…
Jewels, that is nice of you. All OK really, but I've been recovering a bit this week from rather a lot of overwork. I'm hoping to actually take most of the day off today and have a change of scene. We might even take the camera for a little expedition!

Best Wishes to you and Brandy
From Us xxMeeow!

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