This must be the hottest day of the year, at 35C, and I am SO glad my kiln isn’t in our house! A glaze firing for three pieces has just ended and it’s 6pm. What electrical extravagence, but the Gallery of BC Ceramics staff have invited me to bring in some work for the upcoming members’ show, titled ‘Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3..’ which opens next Thursday. I need to take work in by Monday at the latest, so let’s hope these three are beautiful. I hope to open the kiln tomorrow afternoon. The gallery is asking for some photos of the process of making the work and a little description of how it came about. Alan has been taking photos and it’ll be difficult to choose which to send in.

Here are two photos of my new bigger jugbirds – another Pileated Woodpecker and a new Northern Flicker – being painted and before any firing.

Meanwhile I have been making another group of plates ready for a special ‘Raid’ tomorrow. Half a dozen artists will be here for a Saturday gathering, slightly in aid of two August birthdays. I hope I have enough plates for them all – it’s hard to be productive when it’s so hot! I shall continue to assemble and paint some ten more jugbirds that are already under way.

The opening at the Gallery of BC Ceramics next Thursday Sept 1st conflicts with another interesting event so I shall attempt to attend both. Salt-firing potter Chris Weaver from New Zealand is in BC just now. He will be conducting a salt-firing workshop over on Vancouver Island at Cathi Jefferson’s kiln in the Cowichan Valley next week. Then he will be giving a demonstration workshop in West Vancouver on the Friday and Saturday, a week from now. BUT Fraser Valley Potters’ Guild and Shadbolt Centre have managed to organize an evening lecture next Thursday evening at 7pm. I have been asked to let as many people know as possible. Here is the poster for that.

This is a note for those of our friends who know Alan is spending a frustrating summer waiting for heart surgery at St Paul’s. After three months of taking life gently we are told that there is a possibility of a date in September. I am loathe to leave Al alone here for too long so I am not going to attend either of Chris’ workshops but I do plan to get to his lecture next Thursday, by hook or by crook! There is no fee for the workshop, just make a donation, and June, Dorothy and others.. see you there.