A mini post from "Potters' Paradise"

Wilson, Peter, and Marti (Photo Wilson and Marti's camera)

Wilson and Marti from Dunedin, Florida, made a second visit to the studio here and we were able to share a couple more precious hours together. After all the ups and downs of my attempted trip to the USA and the trouble I had with flying, it was so nice that a couple from America came my way instead! So interesting to be able to talk crystalline glazing with Wilson. Wilson was amazed at my lack of technology here too, (I produce what I do with kick wheel, manual kiln, analogue pyrometer, graph paper, an old alarm clock and an antique set of scales to weigh out glaze ingredients....). He loved the trees outside and the kilns, and called our place "Potters' Paradise", which I rather like. It is great when potters can get together like this. It is stimulating seeing different ways of working, and realizing that there are often several ways of solving problems, and developing ideas. I had a productive couple of days on the wheel after their visit, and I am sure that some of the energy I started to find again was very much a result of the visit.

Some new pots drying on a wire rack that I have above a book case. Note the little tooth like cones on the bottom right of the photo. I use these for telling the temperature in the kiln. I like to prepare lots of batches of cones at the same time and leave them in a dry place for me to use when I need them.

I know I promised more trip photos this post, but... I find myself rather tired and it is bed time already so I will leave this one about here. For those who may want to know, I'll be off to a specialist on the 16th of this month about the ear troubles I'm having. I'm not fully recovered yet, but am lots more productive again.

Look... I must add this...!

I had good news today...
When I was stranded in Auckland, rather than moping around, I decided to try to use the time in a positive way. I had purchased a netbook before heading off on my journey, so a spent a few hours putting together a short presentation of photos of my pots. I also had 2 small crystalline glazed pots that I had intended taking to the States and giving away as gifts to people that I would have stayed with.... The good people at the Lopdell House Gallery , kindly had a look at what I had, and after a few days Emailed me to say that they would try selling my work at their Gallery Shop. I sent my first few pots to them last week and received the happy news that the first pot has sold today.

Needless to say, I am delighted. The pot that sold was one that I really loved. The glaze was one where, when I was making it, I had a hunch that a small addition of some manganese to what was already a nice glaze would do something special..., and it did! I know some people work everything out first and are very methodical record keepers when it comes to glazing, but I find that "hunches" are useful.. The downside is that you look at pots later and can't always remember what you did when inspiration took over!

I can also happily report that, as I traveled home, I received a very positive response to my little netbook presentation and small pots in Wellington and Christchurch. I will next be sending work to Christchurch.

Really must post this now, but here are a couple of photos that I took from the ferry on the way from the North Island to the South Island of New Zealand.


To get from Wellington to Picton... you need to cross a good stretch of water. One bonus is that once you are passed the open sea part of the crossing... which can get rough..., your trip concludes with a blissful time of sailing on sheltered water that is overlooked by beautiful hills as you approach Picton.