Out and about Archives - Page 3 of 3

Posted on February 15, 2016February 15, 2016 by Linda Bloomfield

Small Business Sunday

On Friday I went by train to Birmingham for my third visit to the annual get together of Small Business Sunday winners. Every Sunday evening, Theo Paphitis of Dragon’s Den, shopkeeper, entrepreneur and owner of Ryman and Robert Dyas, chooses six small businesses from those who Tweet to him about their business on Twitter. Every Monday he retweets the six businesses, who then become members of his #SBS winners’ club. I became a #SBS winner in 2013. Every year, he invites us to a day of talks, networking, questions and answers from invited entrepreneurs. This year I was excited to learn that Holly Tucker of Not on the High Street.com would be speaking, as well as Mike Pickles of Really Useful Boxes.

We arrived in the morning and had time to network with other small businesses over tea and biscuits. I always seek out other creatives by heading towards anyone who is brightly dressed. This year I met Victoria Eggs, Jessie Jumbles and Betsy Benn (what lovely names they have), among others.

Then we sat down and were introduced to representatives of Theo Paphitis’ businesses and sponsors, Ryman, Robert Dyas, Red Letter Days, iLaw and DHL. Finally, Theo Paphitis came on stage and told us how to make our own luck: “The harder you work, the luckier you get”. We also heard about a new online marketplace to be launched for #SBS winners to sell their products and services.

We had a lunch of prawn sandwiches, mini quiches and chips, while networking with the other small businesses. I wanted to find some of the other sellers on Not on the High Street.com, but they had been delayed as one in their group had brought their small baby and had trouble getting in. When they did get in, with help from Holly Tucker, they all sat together in a group and I went to say hello. They included Betsy Benn, who makes personalised typographic prints, Chiara Stone of Hoobynoo World and Louise Verity of Bookishly, who was the one who had brought her small and well-behaved baby along.

After lunch, we had a long question and answer session with Mike Pickles, Holly Tucker and Theo Paphitis. There were some interesting questions and inspiring answers, such as how to turn a complaint into an opportunity and whether to collaborate with or fight against your competitors.

SBSQandA — The panellists Mike Pickles, Holly Tucker and Theo Paphitis, photo by Betsy Benn.

At the end, new winners had their photographs taken with Theo Paphitis. Here is my photo from 2014.

SBS winner Linda Bloomfield with Theo Paphitis

Posted on January 27, 2016January 27, 2016 by Linda Bloomfield

Maison et Objet Paris 2016

I have been exhibiting in Paris at Maison et Objet with the British European Design Group. I took a selection of my Morandi inspired bottles and vases as well as my handmade tableware range. The new collection was very well received by the press and buyers, particularly French and Swiss. Unfortunately, after the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, the number of visitors was down by 40%, so I did not meet as many American and Japanese buyers as last year.

My neighbours on the British European Design Group stand were the lovely ladies of Lush Designs, Maria and Marie. They design textiles, lampshades and ceramics printed with fabulous creatures and landscapes. On the other side was Laura Spring from Scotland, who I met on the trade mission to Tokyo last year. She designs abstract printed cushions, lampshades and bags in bright, fresh colours. We were all opposite Normann Copenhagen from Denmark who were showcasing their modern furniture, lighting and accessories.

Posted on November 9, 2015November 9, 2015 by Linda Bloomfield

Tokyo

I have been in Tokyo for a week on a trade mission and showcase of British fashion and lifestyle brands at the British Embassy. Japanese buyers were invited to the two-day showcase at the Ambassador’s residence, and there was also a reception in the evening of the first day.

I met some lovely Japanese buyers and on the second day, a lady from a gallery in Kobe bought most of the pots on my stand.

IMG_20151104_142251805 — Scroll painting at Mitsukoshimae, showing Nihombashi in the Edo period around 1805

On the day after the showcase, we had interesting presentations by two large Japanese stores. We also visited various shops around Tokyo. I went to department stores Mitsukoshi and Takashimaya, where they sell beautiful handmade Japanese pottery.

I also went to Beams Fennica Harajuku, where there was a beautiful selection of pottery from Mashiko.

On the last day we had presentations by two large Japanese stores, United Arrows and Isetan, Shinjuku. There was a British Week in Isetan, including Campaign for Wool displays for Wool Week.

The trip was organised by UKTI and the UK Fashion and Textile association.

Posted on October 28, 2015October 28, 2015 by Linda Bloomfield

Geology for potters

I am currently writing a book on Science for Potters for the American Ceramics Society. An extract on Geology for Potters has been published in Ceramics Monthly November 2015. Many potters use locally sourced clays and rocks in their clay bodies, slips and glazes. While researching for my book, I have become interested in geology and spent part of my recent holiday in Cornwall visiting clay mines and searching for rocks. My father used to take me on rock collecting expeditions to Aust Cliff under the old Severn suspension bridge, where we found quartz crystals and fossils. Aust Cliff is composed of layers of red mudstone and limestone. You can see in the geological map below, it is part of the Mercia mudstone red clay shale deposit which stretches from the north of England coal beds down to the south coast. I recently visited an exhibition in National Museum Cardiff on the geological maps of William Smith, who first realised that layers of rocks were laid down in a sequence according to the fossils embedded in them.

You can read my article here:

Bloomfield_Nov2015

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Aust Cliff, photo Adrian Pingstone 2002

Map of clay deposits in UK — Map of commercial clay deposits in UK by Henry Bloomfield

Posted on October 10, 2015October 10, 2015 by Linda Bloomfield

Autumn shows

I recently exhibited at Decorex with Design Nation. Decorex is a high-end interior design show held in a marquee in Syon Park. Liz Cooper of Design Nation curated a beautiful stand with the theme Future Heritage. There was a lot of buzz about crafts at the show, with a stand of Future Heritage crafts curated by Corinne Julius and a fabulous VIP lounge curated by the New Craftsmen with handmade baskets from all over the British Isles, ceramics by Akiko Hirai and embroidered floor cushions by Aimee Betts. Design Nation is a lovely organisation, who have also curated a showcase on the theme of Light in the Southbank Centre shop, Royal Festival Hall for the month of October. My Morandi bottles are currently on display there in the window.

IMG_20150922_123951897 — Morandi bottles in front of Heidi Harrington’s tableware

IMG_20150921_115306347 — Liz Cooper of Design Nation and Patricia Van Den Akker of the Design Trust, lights by Michael Ruh, ceramics Linda Bloomfield, chairs Rosemaryrose, throws Anna Gravelle, glass wall pieces by Amy Cushing.

The week before, I had my own stand at Home London at Olympia. There was a lot of interest in the Morandi inspired bottles. I received several orders for my new Morandi tableware range from Ochre, New York; The Longship, Orkney and Frank, Whitstable, and I sold all the bottles on the stand at the end of the last day. I’m now making orders and getting ready for my next show, MADE London on 22nd-25th October.

Posted on August 21, 2015August 21, 2015 by Linda Bloomfield

Cornish clay pits

I have been visiting clay pits in Cornwall, researching for my next book Science for the Potter. I visited three clay pits. The first was in St Erth near St Ives, a disused clay pit where sand and red clay were once dug. The pit has been turned into a nature trail but you can still see a rusted metal trolley embedded in the ground. It is very overgrown but there is still visible red clay and sand, which Bernard Leach used in his earthenware clay body.

I also visited a china clay pit, Wheal Martyn near St Austell. Unlike other types of clay, china clay is not found in an immediately usable form. It is part of a crumbly white rock, which is decomposed granite. The clay is washed out of the rock by directing a powerful jet of water onto the newly exposed rock. The water is pumped out of the mine and left to settle in tanks. The sand and mica settle out, leaving china clay, which is drained off and dried. At Wheal Martyn you can see a working pit now owned by Imerys, as well as the old settling tanks and drying sheds once used to process the china clay. There are displays of old machinery and earthenware pots made by Lake’s pottery in Truro. On the way home we stopped in Bristol, went to the Royal west of England academy of art and by chance saw the painting of The Clay Pit by Harold Harvey of the Newlyn School, painted in 1923.

IMG_20150818_103021553 — Wheal Martyn China clay pit

IMG_20150818_110349560 — Lake’s Pottery display

On on the last day of the holiday I drove to Doble’s clay pit in St Agnes. I got lost down a long rutted track but finally found the clay and sand pit with some directions from Mr Doble. I bought a bag of his stoneware clay and had a look at the clay pit, grey fireclay which lies directly under the gorse and heather on the headland near St Agnes Beacon. Doble’s has supplied the Leach Pottery with stoneware clay since the 1960s. I’m looking forward to trying the clay out with my glazes.

IMG_20150820_160341550 — Doble’s clay pit St Agnes

IMG_20150820_160610863 — Store of fireclay at Doble’s

Posted on July 11, 2015July 11, 2015 by Linda Bloomfield

Glaze course dates for Spring 2016

I will be teaching several glaze courses in the Spring, both at West Dean College and Morley College in London.

The West Dean course has up to 10 students and costs £466 for four and a half days. West Dean is a beautiful old stately home and gardens near Chichester in West Sussex. It is a residential course unless you live nearby and can travel in each day. The accommodation and food is excellent and you can continue to work in the studio in the evenings if you like.

The Morley College course is new and costs £125 for 5x 3hr or 3x 6hr sessions. Morley College is in Lambeth, London, on Westminster Bridge Road near Waterloo or Lambeth North tube station.

The dates are

19 February -18 March 2016, Fridays 6-9pm for five weeks at the Morley College: Glaze making and understanding materials.

17-21 April, Sunday to Thursday, four and a half day short course at West Dean College: Understanding Colour in Glazes.

23 April -7 May, Saturdays 10am-4pm for three weeks at the Morley College: Glaze making and understanding materials.

Phew, that’s quite a lot of teaching for me. If you can’t come on a course, you can look in one of my books instead.

Posted on February 22, 2015February 22, 2015 by Linda Bloomfield

Glaze course at West Dean

Once a year I teach a course at West Dean College near Chichester. West Dean is a beautiful, old stately home once owned by Edward James. He was a collector of surrealist art who collaborated with Salvador Dali in designing the Mae West Lips sofa and Lobster telephone. He had no heirs and left his estate to the arts.

My course involved making glazes, firing test tiles and finally applying the glazes to pots. There were eight students, ranging from experienced amateur potters to complete novices. One student had come from as far away as Barcelona.

First the students chose and mixed a base glaze recipe, then they added colouring oxides in a line blend. Copper oxide and rutile were very popular, giving a variety of greens, from pale celadon to dark bottle green. We fired the test tiles in a small test kiln and managed to cool the kiln quickly enough to be able to look at them the next day.

Then we applied the glazes to pots and fired them in a larger electric kiln. The students were very keen on special effects glazes. One was a bronze pigment made from manganese, copper oxide and clay which can be applied to rims and runs down during firing. The other was a volcanic crater glaze, achieved by adding silicon carbide to the glaze or an underlying slip. This gives off carbon dioxide during firing, causing bubbles and craters to form. These tests were not so successful as it was difficult to apply the slip to biscuit ware without it lifting off.

On the last day, a Japanese student kindly brought in her collection of Japanese pottery to show to us, explaining that each type came from a different kiln site in Japan. Bizen and Shigaraki ware were glazed only by the ash landing on them during wood firing, while other types were glazed with subtle black or white glazes, often used over dark coloured clays.

At the end of the course we opened the kilns. Some of the pots came out really well. Unfortunately two bowls melted completely as a student had unknowingly bought white earthenware and fired it to stoneware temperatures. Surprisingly, however, the red earthenware fired successfully up to cone 8, becoming vitrified and darker in colour, contrasting beautifully with the green coloured glazes.

Posted on February 1, 2015February 2, 2015 by Linda Bloomfield

Maison et Objet

I enjoyed exhibiting at Maison et Objet in Paris last week.

My stand was part of the British European Design Group in Hall 8: Now! Design a vivre, funded by UKTI. As well as ceramicists, the British contingent included designers of glass, textiles, furniture and lighting.

It was a busy show and I received orders from Austria, Switzerland, the Lebanon and Japan. I now have a lot of cake stands to make and will be very busy in the studio for the next few months.

Other handmade pottery at the show included Silvia K Ceramics, beautiful earthenware platters with leather handles from Brighton and Tortus Copenhagen, thrown stoneware vases from Denmark.

Posted on October 27, 2014October 27, 2014 by Linda Bloomfield

MADE London

I have been exhibiting at MADE London, a lovely craft show curated by Jon Tutton and Sarah Young.

It is held in a Sir John Soane church at One Marylebone, opposite Great Portland Street tube station and next to Regent’s Park.

It was a very busy weekend with many visitors and new contacts made as well as sales. It was also good to catch up with fellow exhibitors and meet new ones.

One of the best things about the show, for exhibitors anyway, was the efficiency and speed of getting the car packed and away at the end of the show. We were able to bring the car right to the steps in front of the church and pack it within 15 minutes, with the help of a friendly porter. Thank you Jon and Sarah, Anne-Marie and all the helpers.

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