Out on a School night

Hello! Sorry for the Radio silence. Maria and I have been busy with house moves and new additions to the family. But hopefully we will be back in this space more frequently sharing with you little moments of inspiration and our continuing adventures in Dorset.

With the sun shining and longer evenings I've been more and more motivated to start focusing on more than just work. So here we are!!

Last Wednesday myself and a friend went to a gig at the Joiners to see Marika Hackman. It was a stunning evening and it was great to feel that little feeling of freedom and rebellion to be out during the week doing our own thing.

I haven't really heard much music from Marika Hackman before my friend suggested we should go, but from the first song I was sold by her effortlessly strong voice and dark folk tale lyrics.

Marika Hackman -


I love going to see live music and being introduced to new artists. Probably the most memorable part of the night was being introduced to the voice of Sophie Jamieson. Her unassuming shy stage presence did not prepare me for the strong melancholy voice that seemed to reach the saddest corners of my brain. You could have heard a pin drop the crowd were completely captured by her voice such a force from such a fragile frame. Her songs were broken by captivating guitar solos echoing the lyrics and transporting the audience to memories of their own love ones, of words unsaid, regrets and experiences too hard to revisit. I can't believe she has not released an album yet!

Sophie Jamieson - Dinah

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend!

 

Gem x

Home Thrown Studio update

It has been a very exciting year for Home Thrown Studio. After a few years of throwing pots and modelling for my own pleasure I thought it was about time to make some space on my own home surfaces and perhaps start selling these little wares to like minded nest makers.

I love coming home to an etsy order or an email about a custom order. I had always envied artists who have followed their dreams of 'doing' what they love. But now in a small way I am doing it! (Although it maybe too early just now to give up my day job) I am delighted that I am now selling my creatures and homewares at the lovely Coastal Creatives in Southbourne, Louise and Rachael are fantastic and really know how to visual merchandise their products, which are carefully selected to represent a range of local artists in and around the South West.

I am also selling my signature bashful pots in the very sweet White Doll Arts waterside gallery in Cornwall. I was over the moon when Emma Litten the owner contacted me to see if she could sell my pots in her beautifully Cornish waterside gallery. So here we are, what a difference a few months can make. At the present I am currently working towards Christmas making a range of Christmas decorations as well as my signature eyelash pots and salt pots. I am never happier than when I am behind the wheel, arms deep and aching in wet clay as old rock songs play out from the radio and the whirl of the wheel begs me to throw just one more!!

 (Coastal Creatives own image)

Coastal Creatives 103A Southbourne Grove 

(White Doll Arts - Images above and below)

White Doll Arts Waterside Gallery  Fowey Cornwall 

An Etsy order all wrapped up! 

Thank you for all the support and interest so far on this venture 

Gem x

at the Dorset County Show

It was recommended to me that I should go to the Dorset County Show so this I did. I don't know why I've never been as it was just up my street. Even though I have lived in Dorset for 6 years it reminded me that I spend my time in the areas that I have grown to love, but don't really take the time to explore further than the radius of Hengistbury Head to Lulworth.

There was so much to see.....and eat! ....The cheeses.. cakes..pies...sweets!  It is a surprise I didn't roll home. I loved how you could have contact with the animals and talk to the owners and breeders. I had no idea what an assortment of different breeds of sheep and cows you could get. All were stunning in their own little way. I sank my hand into the coat of one sheep and lost it in it's thick fleece. My friend asked me what was my favourite animal there; My answer was initially the piglets, then no the goats, oh and the sheep not forgetting the amazing Bulls.

It was a shame that Maria got stuck in traffic on Saturday and didn't join us as I would have loved to have seen the look on the Little's faces, when they saw the rows of tractors and animals. So that would be my only tip! Come as early as you can to beat the traffic and leave later to avoid it going home. Maria and her family did go on the Sunday and absolutely loved it.  I did really well not coming home with enough animals for a small holding and enough cheese for a cheese cake factory. But I did buy myself a lovely cheese wedge door stop and a sheep skin rug to wiggle my toes in come winter.

This show will definitely become an end of summer tradition and break the fall of having to go back to work.

 Big kids making bees wax candles

 In its life time a bee only produces a teaspoon of honey! 

 Knees

 My dream car!! 

 Didn't bring enough cash for this lovely moon print 

So white and cuddly! 

Stunning - I think these are long horns could be wrong! 

Lets hope the farmer hasn't counted these piggies 

Just like in the film Amelie - I loved putting my hands into these sacks of grain and wheat

Love a goat especially when they look this snuggly 

Could make a great leek and bacon dish with these guys! 

Cheeky Sheep with his cider bucket 

Alpacas are amazing I can't get over their gentle nature and long eyelashes

Loved this inquisitive goat! They have so much personality

This made me laugh! poor uglies! Bet they taste ok! 

We would love to hear from you about your summer finds! 

Gem x

Sinking into the summer holidays

This time last week I was sitting through a school assembly feeling the bubbling anticipation of the summer holidays rumbling through the cross legged students waiting patiently for the call of the bell.

And it has come...... finally, those blissful days were; lists,meetings,targets, millions of questions, demands from little people, big people don't need to be met.

Just the call of the sea, open spaces, days with friends, throwing clay pots, summer picnics, family day trips, camping, holidays, long long summer evenings and still unplanned adventures await!

we stay awake and think of things...the happy things that summer brings Dr Seuss 

Hope your all enjoying this amazing not so British Summer! 

Gem x