Sunday 19 October 2008

Busy, Busy, Busy

I thought I better post a quick note, so that you know I am still here!

It's been a difficult couple of weeks - last year, I was SO looking forward to returning for my second year at Uni - but since I have been back, I can't say I have been "feeling it". I think yesterday was the first time I spoke with any excitement, and anybody who actually knows me will know that I can babble for England about what I am doing usually.

I'm hoping it will settle down a bit when we have got this exhibition piece sorted, its got to be finished by 27th October, and seeing as its my birthday next weekend, I really want to get mine done for next Friday as understandably I don't want to be in all weekend (when I should be recovering from a hangover....)

Now for some reason unbeknown to man, I have chosen to do this exhibition piece in ceramics. Why would I want to go and work in yet another medium that relies on the kiln gods? I must be mad, I tell ya. I'm doing combining stuff, when I have a chance I will post up some pictures, but the work involves broken bottles and different clay pots, and mixing these into a clay body. Not sure what the outcome is going to be yet!

Otherwise, we have an R&R project, which involves either restoring something (and I can't find anything to restore) or reconstructing something, using traditional or comparable techniques. I'm divided. Roman glass plate or turned lace bobbins??

On the glass front, well, my poor kiln is sitting lonely and dejected in the corner of the kitchen - I haven't had time to even think about that yet.

I am in need of a glassy fix (see, I keep sneaking glass into wherever I can at Uni, just so I can at least get a bit of it!)

Ho hum, I better go get some housework done. Or research. Or something.

Friday 3 October 2008

Back to School Blues....

Thought I had better update the blog, in case anybody thought I had given up on writing it.

I started back at University on Monday - and I feel as though I have been hit by a big pile of bricks (perhaps I should save them and submit them for the Turner Art Prize - oh, wait, somebody has done that already, haven't they? Although, this would be metaphorical bricks, so that's new. Hang on, I am doing Crafts, not Fine Art, remember??).

First year seemed like hard work - second year is on a whole new level. We have an exhibition to be ready for in three and a half weeks (so exactly what am I doing on here, I should be making/sketching/researching/panicking/all of the above). We're off to London next week for the Origin show, and we have rather full diaries already. Let's hope I get back into the swing of things sooner rather than later.

On a better note, I had the kiln on last week (you know, we had a few days sunshine - that usually happens when the kiln is on, my kitchen gets warm, and so does the weather). I finally got everything needed for the commission order I took a while back. I decided to make eight coasters in case any didn't turn out, the order was for six. Typically, it looks as though all eight have worked really well! Just need to get them finished off, and they'll be good to go. Pics to follow!