A poem for Thursday

I love the nonchalence of the birds in our field. They really own it and no matter how we try to protect our harvest , they find ways of getting  into the centre to the sweetest fruit.

The Potters House Workshop

We had a day workshop at the Potters House studios with a group of Cheshire W.I. women recently. As usual the day started with freshly brewed coffee, hot milk and chocolate cake. Always start as you mean to go on ! This was the second time that they had come, so quite a few of them had a good idea what  they wanted to make.

Ideas are there in plenty for those who have come looking for inspiration,  and Alan is always at hand to help and advise in the modelling. The morning session starts at 10.00 a.m. and there is a break for lunch at 12.30 p.m.

The afternoon session begins again at 1.30 p.m. and last minute changes are made on the models. We break once again at 3.30 p.m. to review the results and finish the day with a refreshing cup of tea and more cake.

When the work has been fired once in the kiln by Alan, those taking part on the day are welcome to pop into the studio  at their convenience, to glaze it. This is then fired again and  is ready to be taken home.

Enquiries about group workshops can be made at thepottershousepenkethblogspot or email to ag@gasnape.fsnet.co.uk 

Most day courses cost £35 and that includes all refreshments. [there is an extra charge for the firing of the piece which is usually £5].

Prom Art at Grange over Sands

Another summer of art and craft on the promenade at Grange over Sands on the edge of The Bay.

The gardens along the prom are beautiful and each section is looked after by a group in the community.

I made a new windbreak this year with stuff that reminded me of Punch and Judy shows. I'm not sure if I like it as much as the seaside blue stripe that we had last year.We'll see how it goes.

Robert is the one who is the inspiration behind the Prom Art and is always to be seen strolling around in his canary yellow coat. Not to be missed!

We are often entertained by musicians and dancers, morris, belly, and jazz!

There are now around 100 artists and crafters coming on the last Sunday of each month from April to September and an amazing variety of art work can be bought .

The Brantwood stand is always busy. Brantwood was John Ruskins home from 1872 - 1900.See the website http://www.valeriewood-lakes.co.uk/ for more information about drawing workshops.

One of my absolute favorites is a stand run by Evelyn Stickland. She turns fleece to felt and creates bags, scarves, rugs and a miriad of other wonderful things. Contact her on 01524 853349 but not before I get the best goodies!

 Anyone who knows me ,knows my penchance for earrings, and this is a great stall to browse. This is the stand of Rebecca Johnson. Find her at http://www.moonbeamsaccessories.co.uk/ or 01229 465426

People are facinated by the work of Sue at http://www.againstthegrain.info/ as she pares the wood from stakes and turns them into the most lovely flowers, as well as some amazing solid wooden furniture.

"trotters`n`pooche" is the stand of the designer/ textile artist Jo Rothwell. Her work can be viewed on either http://www.heskinfarmersmarket.co.uk/ or http://www.trottersnpooche.com/. This is designing at it's best and she takes courses at The Bluecoat in Liverpool. Watch her space.

Zena Herbert is a well known designer-maker based in Morecambe. She makes fine jewellery with silver and stones. Lovely . And can create a hat for that special occasion. http://www.theseaofdreams.com/

Finally a stand I hadn't noticed before, Tinners Rabbit Picture Framing.Based in 54 Market Street Ulverston LA12 7LS . Can you just see the Rabbit? I've been told that he goes everywhere with them! 

Alan and I finished the day at The Midland Hotel , Morecambe on the front, watching the sun go down and drinking a bevvy and sharing a mezze platter of goodies.Great day.

The next Prom Art is on Sunday 30th May 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. See you there!

A poem for Thursday

When I started High school in Belfast, I had grand ideas of being famous. I thought that my name might not be catchy enough, so sitting with a new friend at lunch time in the playground, I decided to take my name and spell it backwards. Thus Geraldine became Enid la Reg. The fame never came fortunately, and when I wanted a title for this blog,and tried Enid la Reg, lo and behold there were others! So I couldn't have it and that's probably a blessing.

Family weekend at The Potters House

We had four wonderful days of family, fun and lots of food. The weekend  started as it meant to go on with, "Neviepiecake", see the flickr site for more amazing goodies by Nini.

The flags were made by her kidlets, so a good start to the festivities!

When all five cousins are together,with the respective parents and grandparents the "craic is powerful". We often make our way down the field to the old summerhouse and snuggle in while the children get on with being children.

So, supervised by Kate a play gets going with the Indian material scattered on the grass and much winding and tying of sparkly stuff around little waists.

Meanwhile grown-ups snooze and eat cake and other kinds of important things.

Creating went on also in the studio, and precious ceramics will be fired and glazed ready to take away next time we all get together.

Doing this kind of nothing can make you very tired and so we  find ourselves hideaways in quiet corners and  regularly sneak back to the kitchen for more cake!

Caught in the act!

Ladies Night Out.

I did a gig last week. It was for a group of about 30 women at their annual dinner in a room in the local golf club. What fun. The music stand collapsed, the mike didn't work, I was heckled by an eighty year old on the top table! Fortunately I had on my new yellow jazz shoes. They must have done the trick as they all said it was a great night!

Mary

I think that I will make Thursday - poetry day
I was a war baby, born in 1943. So a lot of early memories were of my staying close to mum.
She sent me at the age of 5 to study with the most amazing teacher in Belfast, Mr. Graeme Roberts.He lived with his wife and sister- in- law in the Georgian Crescent near the university area. I was with him until I was in my eary 20s. Quite a privelige.The Irish tradition was always the oral one of poems and songs and stories of the ancients.So here is the first dedicated to the memory of my lovely mum.