Here comes Summer ...

Well, that's the theory anyway!  

So here's a sunny post to mark the longest day, which is this Sunday.

Messing about making ceramic letters and words 

and bits and bobs and boats and buttons.

Ready to be mounted onto driftwood, 

and threaded with wire and beads for hanging.

ceramics on driftwood from www.catherinedanielceramics.com

This one below was ordered especially for a beach-hut. 

The dimensions had to be right so that the sign 

would screw into its spot on the hut.

The 'beautiful little view' is somewhere in Southwold.

Personally, my favourite views are usually of the land ....

'The Devil's Beeftub' in the Scottish Borders

...  whilst Hubby's are usually over water, 

and if there's some amazing engineering to be admired,

 so much the better.

Over the Firth of Forth - the road-bridge in front - the rail-bridge behind

If I had a beach-hut When I get a beach hut,

I have decided to call it "At Last!". 

I shall sit there in the sun with my cup of tea,

breathe out a big satisfied sigh,

and murmur "at last!".

Enjoy the longest day of the year, whatever you do ...
and what are you calling your mythical beach hut?

x Cathy

Apologies to all my Readers

Hi Everyone

Please bear with me whilst I re-upload pictures into my blog.

It would appear that Google has taken all the pictures off my entire blog going back to its beginning.

From the research I have done it seems that this has happened to others and there is no quick resolution to it other than to put all the images back one by one.

I may just re-instate the past few months' blog post pictures, and not bother with any further back.  Life is too short!!  We'll see. 

Kind Regards,

Cathy x

Special Commissions

A while ago I was asked to make a unique 'family tree' plate as a birthday gift.  The customer was quite specific as to the kinds of themes and motifs to be incorporated into the piece. 

I tend to make quite decorative pieces and they are mostly bought by women for women.  So it was refreshing that this piece was for a Dad and Grandad.

Themes to include were 'clock-work/cogs/wheels', as the recipient was an ex-engineer.  Never made a piece for an engineer before!  Oh, and it also had to incorporate flowers, leaves and have an embroidered feel, and be mostly blues and greens.

Wet clay slab stage - ready to be lifted into mould to dry

  I decided to make the overall shape of the piece resemble a cog.

Once-fired, glazed and ready to fire again

Chain-like bits got added, along with other bits evocative of nuts and bolts and, basically, things from a world totally alien to me. 

I've heard of 'rivets' and 'sprockets' and such, but no idea what they look like!

  

So, yes, it was a bit of an unusual one!  But enjoyable all the same.

The challenge of these one-offs, made to individual requirements is exciting and daunting at the same time.  

The finished piece.  For more images of commissions www.catherinedanielceramics.com

The customer obviously has some image of the finished piece in their imagination.  The hope is that my version will at least correspond to their expectations, and at best, exceed them.

I did get some feedback that it went down well and that the ex-engineer was pleased with his birthday present.  Phew!

x Cathy