On Thursday evening I attended the preview reception for the Western Front Gala Auction. Son Mike joined me and we took a careful look at all the donated art. There were photographs, prints and paintings waiting for the Gala evening ( which is happening as I write) as well as our six specially painted plates. The Luxe Hall (originally built to house the Knights of…
Alan and I got home from a lovely warm week-long holiday in Puerto Vallarta just over a week ago. Since then I have fired the kiln twice, once to bisque-fire all remaining plates and tiles and most of my stoneware pieces for future salt, and the second to glaze-fire tiles, plates and a couple of ordered jugs, to cone 04. I re-fired some of Renee's…
Back in early December I made 75+ tiles for a fireplace surround in a Courtney house. It was a tricky arithmetical challenge because I wanted to choose a tile size that would not require any to be cut to fit in the space, but clay shrinks. In the end I cut out two different sizes and they were all 10 percent bigger than what I want…
I have been home from England for just about two weeks now and life is returning to normal. My nine days over there were memorable and important for me. We gave Bill a fine Church of England send-off with thoughtful eulogies and sermon, moving hymns and music. I now have a greater appreciation of what a kind and learned man he was. When I first arrived over there…
Some weeks ago I received an email from Elaine Monds of Alcheringa Tribal Arts Gallery in Victoria. She was suggesting that if I were to make some jugbirds that resembled the crazy tropical birds of Papua New Guinea they'd look just fine alongside the carved and painted wooden birds made by the indigenous people there. She is having a Christmas show and wondered if I could…