Potfest in the Park, a grand day out in Penrith

What a day we have had up in Penrith at Hutton in the Forrest.  My daughter is in her last year of a ceramics degree course and is doing research for her dissertation on Figurative Ceramics.  So we have been to lots of fairs and shows looking at the most wonderful work.  Earlier in the month we went to Hatfield for Art in Clay, which was fantastic.  Try to to to the show but if you can't go to the show, Hatfield House is worth a visit. So is the show at Potfest in the Park, lively, friendly and just lovely.  

 We have been having unseasonal weather here in Lancashire, it was near 28 degrees today, which is not the usual soggy summer that we get.  So wandering around a ceramics festival in the dry in Cumbria was a surprise but forgetting the scorching sun it was so worth seeing some of the work on show.  I can't start to describe the talent we have in this country, it was a real pleasure.  If your about the North Lakes this weekend and fancy a different day out I can heartily recommend Potfest in the Park.  Next weekend, 1st to 3rd August is Potfest in the Pens in Penrith and I am told this is jolly good day too - no doubt I will find out on Friday.  Being a doll maker and liking the figure so much the two artists that I have included were my favourites but there was so much good work.

Christy Keeny

Sally Macdonnell

 

Evadne, Little Miss Pink

This young lady is in the Rhoda series of dolls, she stands 50 cm and has a nice slim profile, with, of course, a large bottom!  She is wearing Tilda fabric, it was a gift for my birthday and is a joy to use, such subtle colours.  Her underskirt and knickers are also Tilda fabric and her legs are a shabby chic linen I found on ebay, trimmed with a gentle pink gingham ribbon.  She has a little linen scarf to her neck and a crocheted pink hat.  Her hair is Trimmits natural wool roving and I just love the colour.  It is a proper candy floss colour and very sweet.   

 I am hoping to do some more Rhoda dolls in differing colours for my Folksy shop and for stock but I have been so busy with work for weddings I feel I have neglected my blog and my shop. I am not complaining, all work is welcome and I do so enjoy it.   I am about to start a series of fairy character dolls for a lady in France and I am going to try and do two of everything and see how that works out.  One for the order and one for the shop.  I still have dreams of going to a craft fair and having a stall but that hasn't happened yet.  I would be interested to know of any really good craft fair organisers people have used.  Some where in the north of England.  We have had the most glorious summer so far, as I write we are baking in a heat haze, luckily the trees to the back provide some shade but it is so hot.  We are definately not used to this in Lancashire, it isn't raining which is not normal, and hasn't rained for nearly a week, very uncanny.  Becca, who lives in jeans, at all times, is actually wearing shorts - I can see her legs, amazing. So sitting in my little cabin slowly baking I send you all my warmest thoughts and best wishes.