Mad Summer

It's been a bit of a mad summer with lots of fairs and fantastic as the sun has been shining on us.
Milton Abbas Street Fair was as always great fun, the downpour at 3pm made for interesting packing up, but the gazebo really came into its own.
Mudeford Arts Festival was a bit windy, but the crowds were out as usual and a good time was had by all.
Mudeford clashed with Bovington (Dorset Arts and Crafts Association Annual Exhibiton) this year because the RNLI had to move their annual event at Mudeford to have favourable tides.  I had to call in several favours to attend both, so thank you to Shirley, Margaret and Jo for helping out with the stewarding and serving in the Gallery.
Next year the DACA Exhibition moves to the Purbeck School in Wareham and I'm hoping to take items from all the makers at the Creative Gallery to help publicise our presence there.
The Southern Ceramic Group exhibition at the Bishop's Kitchen in Chichester was a huge success with over £10,000 in sales for the group.  Fantastic setting and as the years pass more and more people find us there.

Now there's just Melplash Show on 22nd August and Swanage Folk Festival 7th/8th September to go before the autumn shows begin.  Melplash Show (which is really in Bridport) was a joy last year - it's a delightful day out, not at all commercial, a proper country show with something for everyone.  And Swanage Folk Festival is always a pleasure, though a bit weather dependant, the dancers and singers are out in force and the whole town comes alive.  Come and find us in the craft marquee at both events.

More Gallery Changes

As I'm now getting less making time with the work involved in running the Creative Gallery, Wareham, I have decided to withdraw from the Black Barn Gallery at the Ginger Piggery.

So currently my regular outlets are:

Creative Gallery, Wareham
Everycloud Gallery, Dorchester
Grey Door Gallery, Castle Cary
Lazyhill Gallery, Abbotsbury
Love Fish, Southbourne
Tourist Information Centre, Christchurch

Purbeck Art Weeks 2013

Corfe Castle - this platter is one of a range I produced for Purbeck Art Weeks 2013 for display at The Creative Gallery, Wareham.
I will be adding more to the range over the next few months and hope to exhibit  several pieces at the last Dorset Art and Crafts Association Exhibition to be held at Bovington Middle School - 2nd-6th August.  As from 2014 the DACA exhibition will be moving to the Purbeck School in Wareham.

Gallery News

Two really exciting bits of Gallery News .......................

Firstly Jill and Michel Rousseau who used to own Wessex Fine Art and Ceramics in Wareham until they went to run a gallery in France eight years ago are now back in the UK and today opened their new gallery in Castle Cary, Somerset.  Called the Grey Door Gallery in Woodcock Road they will be hosting some of the finest potters in the UK - and most flatteringly are going to stock my work on a regular basis.  Check out their website www.thegreydoorgallery.co.uk

Secondly, and more importantly for me, I've take over the Creative Gallery in Wareham.  Initially the gallery will remain much as it has been exhibiting the paintings of the Towler brothers - Graham and Cliff - Dorset land/sea scapes and birds, and the pottery of Rosemarie James and myself.  But over the next few months I will be extending the range of work on display - Caroline Walker, photographer has already joined us, Gill Smeulders (jeweller), Linda Rowe (glass) and others will be joining shortly after Easter, followed by a few other regulars.  Then I will set up a rolling exhibition programme featuring an artist/maker of the month.

Our first major event will be Purbeck Art Weeks which runs from 25th May-9th June.  During that time the Gallery will be open daily from 10am-5pm.  Wareham has a host of good eateries and interesting independent shops, as well as walks along the river or round the walls, and is surrounded by beautiful countryside - so why not come and visit us then.  The Creative Gallery, St John's Hill, Wareham BH20 4NB.

New Gallery

A new gallery for February - Every Cloud Boutique Gallery at 3 Nappers Court, Charles Street, Dorchester DT1 1EE
A really attractive little gallery in the centre of our County Town, Dorchester.  Charlotte stocks a really excellent range of jewellery and smaller items as the gallery is quite small - an ideal place for gift buying.
www.everycloudboutique.co.uk

Noah's Art

Most exciting, and a good start to 2013.  I have been invited to put some work into an exhibition "Noah's Art" at the Orleans House Gallery, Riverside, Twickenham, TW1 3DJ.  I took the pieces up there yesterday - and it's in a lovely setting beside the Thames, and near St. Margaret's Station, South West Trains.  The exhibition runs from 13th February to 28th April, with a Private View on Wednesday 13th February from 5.30-7.30pm.

Christmas is coming

With Christmas fast approaching I've been making soap dishes for the occasion - these are already available at the Lazyhill Gallery in Abbotsbury, and the Creative Gallery in Wareham - and will be on sale at Stourhead this weekend 20th/21st November, where I will be having a stand next to Jane Maddern the maker of the wonderful soaps so customers can choose their own soap to go with the dish.  These make a great Christmas gift.

Other events coming up to Christmas include:  Salisbury Christmas Market,  where a group of exhibitors at the Ginger Piggery are getting together to man a chalet for the first couple of weeks in December;  Christchurch Christmas Festival in the Priory Church where a really festive atmosphere will combine craft displays/sales with the Church's advent celebrations; and Dorset Pottery Group's annual exhibition in the Allsop Gallery at Bridport Arts Centre.  Other fairs, etc are shown in the calender page of this blog.

A busy time!  A very Happy Christmas to you all.