Open Studio weekend

This last weekend was a busy one..
Port Hacking Potters took part in a National event organised by the Australian Ceramics Association encouraging potters all over the country to open their studios for people to come along and see how our work is made.

Silly me didn't take photos of our President Jamie and long term member, Ian demonstrating on the wheel but here are some pics of our setup:

Wheel setup in the window of the School of Arts building with our banner at the doorway

Six members of our group had work displayed for sale

Pots by Ian Lamb on display near the doorway

That took care of our Saturday.

On Sunday my husband drove me up the mountains, about a one and a half hour trip each way, to see Sadhana Peterson at her studio.

Sadhana and I met through our blogs and Facebook a few years ago but this was my first trip to her studio.  Do go and check out her website: http://sadhanapeterson.com.au/home

Anna and Sadhana at her garden studio

Sadhana is also a textile artist and these creations now decorate part of her studio

Materials for paper making are also part of the studio gallery

a selection of pots for sale

Spring is not far away... daffodils bloom in her garden

These little examples of her work came home with me...

Mini pourer with lid - typical of Sadhana's decoration style

Handmade bookmarks using handmade paper and then collage of material all created by Sadhana Peterson.

On the way home we stopped off at the Norman Lindsay Gallery.  A National Trust property, it was the original home and studios of the well known Australian artist and his family.

Photos were not allowed inside. Have a look on the website for more detail (see link above).  The home has been turned into a gallery and tours can be taken of the adjoining studios where he painted, wrote books and undertook etchings.  His cartoons were published in a Sydney newspaper for many years and he may be best known for his fantasy paintings which were full of nude women.  He is also known for a book called the Magic Pudding.  

Here a some pics of the surrounding gardens...

Statue of Faun

fountain 

House with fountain in foreground

All in all a very nice day out.

With Port Hacking Potters at Cronulla

On Saturday 15 August I will be with my pottery friends at Cronulla... if you are in the area do call by and say hello...

We are taking part in the National event promoted by the Australian Ceramics Association which encourages potters across the nation to open their studios and show off our craft...

Check the Australian Ceramics website for details of potters near you, which ever state you live in..

Click here: Australian Ceramics Open Studio Listing

Now Open - 2015 Sydney Teapot Show

Held each year at the Inner City Clayworkers Gallery in Glebe NSW, the Sydney Teapot Show was officially opened last night, 31 July.  The show will run until the 30 August and the gallery is open every day while the show is on.  All pots are for sale.

Titled "Jaune Fleur de Cone"

I have this one plus two other teapots on show.  Each teapot has matching tea bowls and one also has a matching tea caddy.

Its an amazing show of the talents of ceramic artists and potters, mainly from NSW but from other states too.  Get along and have a look if you can. Click on the name of the gallery above for details on how to get there.

More photos on my Facebook page: AnnasCeramics

On the Clay Blog review

I'm thrilled to have been listed three times on the June Clay Blog Review...

Check it out here: Clay Blog Review June 2015

Thanks for the nice display

I currently have some pots at the Boatshed at Woronora and popped in today hoping to have some brunch, however they were so busy we couldn't get a table.

I did take a snap of my pots on display... thanks to John and Jane for a great display of my pots along with those of Janet Flood and paintings by Jim Flood.

Saturday Shelfie

Many of you will know that I have a Group page on Facebook called Anna's Aussie Ceramics.

Each week I invite members of the group to post a "Saturday Shelfie" to share their own work.

My own contribution this week was this one...

Have a nice weekend and thanks for dropping by...

The Sydney Teapot Show 2015 Sneak Peek

Not long now for the Teapot Show.

I will be delivering my teapots during the week to the Inner City Clayworkers Gallery at Glebe NSW which is just a short bus ride from Central Railway Station.

The official opening is Friday 31 July and the show runs until the end of August...

Do try to get along. The talent and skill and variety of teapots, both functional and decorative are just amazing and well worth the trip.

Here is a peek of one of mine

detail - "Bag End Green" 

Each year there are a choice of themes to inspire entrants and this year one theme is "The Shire Teapot" and yes, you guessed it... all things Hobbit.

I think it will be a very popular theme.  I'll have two entries in that section plus one non-themed teapot which is inspired by local bush flowers.

I'm looking forward to seeing some wonderful pots...

Updated Portfolio

I've recently updated my online Portfolio - you might like to have a look:

Anna's Ceramics Portfolio

Second Firing OK For Sydney Teapot Show

This afternoon I unpacked the second load of teapots and matching extras.

Hurrah, they all look good.

A bit of smoothing of the bases and they will be ready in time for the Sydney Teapot Show which opens on Wednesday 29 July with the Official Opening on Friday 31 July..

Do try to get along - the creations that people make each year are just amazing! And of course you might like to take one home... Functional and decorative so something for everyone...

One of the teapots in the first firing failed to make the grade with a small crack appearing near the handle... my Fb friends have suggested various ways to 'fix' it but I'll see how I go...

small crack near handle

 I enjoyed the design and made matching cups so perhaps I'll try making another to match the lid.

unsaleable due to crack near handle

Its all part of the game with pottery...

Less Sun = Less Solar Power

Wouldn't you know the day I turn on my little electric kiln the sun disappears behind the clouds.

The day I fired my bisque firing the sun was shining and the solar panels supplied all the power needed while the kiln was running.

Today I went out early to turn it on and the sun was shining, however the cloud has now spread to a grey and gloomy day.  The panels will still produce some power but as it is only around 15 degrees celcius outside we are also running our heater...

Not to worry, most days in Sunny Sydney we have ample sunshine and it is winter here now..

I repacked that top shelf after taking this photo.  I turned the shelf sideways so that the pots were not so close to the pyrometer... my theory being that it will get a more accurate reading in the more open part of the kiln.  Fingers crossed..

A day to cool so it will be Friday before I can see the results...