I worked with two schools this week – Gorse Hill Primary in Worcester and Badsey First School near Evesham. Tile panels and collaborative pots successfully transported to the kiln room, drying out and waiting to be fired.
Schools Work
Archive for June 26, 2009
Three Counties Show
For the last few years, I’ve been asked to supply agricultural themed workshops for the Three Counties Show, held at the Malvern showground. These take place in the Discovery Zone, a marquee full of educational experiences linked to farming.
On previous occasions we’ve made clay sheep, cows, and chickens. This time we were challenged by the organisers to make collaborative farm buildings. Participants helped coil the structures and then made their own piece of barn decoration.
Seven hundred school children passed through the Discovery Zone on Friday – and it felt like most of them joined in with the clay! Saturday and Sunday were taken up with members of the public.
Just a few of the seven hundred school children from Friday morning.
New Service
In previous years we’ve operated a minimum order pricing structure for groups wanting to delight in a bit of pot making – unfortunately, this meant the cost of our wonderful workshops were prohibitive to small groups and individuals.
However, we are now able to offer individuals and small groups of friends, one and a half hour coiling workshops, at a bargain price of £15 per head. Pre-booking is essential, and you will need to telephone 01531 633886, to check availability.
Caroline, Helen, and Anne take advantage of our new one and a half hour workshop.
Full Bloom
The Pottery looks so nice this time of year, I thought I would take a few snaps of the exterior. The building used to be a domestic dwelling, before being derelict for some 15 years. The previous tennants must have been keen gardeners – when we cleared the weeds we discovered all sorts of plants and hardy annuals that flower year after year.
Toad in the Hole
Followers of this blog may have seen the Evesham Bread Oven entry for Thursday 14th May? This week I returned to the forest with the children to make and bake pitta bread in the oven.
The structure had dried out perfectly although the base bricks felt a little damp. Before building and lighting the fire I ran my hands around inside the cavern to see if the dampness would hinder the bake. My fingers brushed up against something cool and soft…and moving – seconds later a large toad (rather disgruntled from having been disturbed) crawled through the oven door and hopped into the undergrowth -phew, lucky I checked before firing!
So as well as rolling dough, baking and eating fresh pitta – the children were fortunate to experience a real live toad too!
