Self Doubt

I have begun naming my glazes!

November sunshine

Thank you, as ever, to those of you who kindly click the ♥️, it is much appreciated.

Hello and how are you on this dreary November evening? Are your radiators warm and candles alight? Or perhaps you’re soaking up the spring sunshine in the southern hemisphere in which case please bask an extra few moments on my behalf.

We were treated to a couple of truly beautiful frosty mornings this week, I would have loved to take my camera outside and enjoy snapping away in the garden but had to get out and about early on both mornings so a quick snap sufficed, but doesn’t a blast of sunshine put a smile on the face at this time of year!

A twinkly morning

You have no doubt been anxiously awaiting an update on the leak status of my most favourite red wellies…. and I’m delighted to confirm that a bottle of ‘rubber glue’ (provided via a well known online retailer whom I shall not name because we all know we shouldn’t support them) has done the trick. Next up for a repair attempt is Mike’s old Blundstones which I thought he had disposed of, but on hearing of my success he confessed they were on a hidden shelf in the garage! By hidden I mean above my eye level which usually constitutes the same.

In The Studio - I actually have pots for sale!

Mini Bud Vases in ‘Self Doubt’

Well, I am properly delighted to report that I have had more success than failure in the studio this week! This is not to say that there haven’t been breakages and unforeseen outcomes, but I am really so pleased with these little bud vases that I am going to sell them. They are glazed in a satin matte blue/grey that I haved named ‘Self Doubt’ for it pretty much sums up my general state of being when glazing, this is a glaze that I have been happy with in the past but had a complete disaster with in the summer in Dorset and rather lost confidence in. In truth the problem lay with the kiln rather than the glaze, but it made me nervous and maybe naming glazes after feelings is as reasonable way as any other - I mean nail varnishes and paints have good form on eccentric naming right?!

There are only 10 available and you can see photos of each vase here. I have priced them at £25 each plus £5 p&p, but of course if you live nearby you can pop in for a coffee and collect one. Since I have yet to set up a proper shop on the website please just email me if you are interested and I can send a payment link etc.

I also enlisted Mike’s help this weekend and finally managed to do some more Obvara firing which was both fun and satisfying, I’m going to photograph it all this week and will share with you next week.

In The Kitchen

I’m trying out Nigel Slater’s cake recipe this year, more or less…

My enthusiasm in the kitchen waxes and wanes to be honest, but I did enjoy making some mince pies for the freezer and finally got around to putting a Christmas cake together last night too. I haven’t made a cake for several years actually, but we have all four of our parents joining us this year and they’re all partial to slice of ‘well fed’ (read doused in brandy) fruit cake and I love icing them if nothing else!

I’m still stewing apples for breakfast and when I finally run out of fruit from the garden I still have jars of dried apple rings from last year, so there’s no danger of starvation round here just now.

As I began writing this letter I realised to my slight consternation that there really are only four more weeks left this year which is making me think perhaps I really do need to plan a Christmas shopping day somewhere. It seems often easier to simply order online, but there is definitely something to be said for a festive vibe in the shops to enjoy while browsing.

In The Garden

A cold and muddy task completed

I confess to feeling a little smug since I have not only managed to lift the dahlias at an appropriate time of year, but have even labelled them so I have a vague chance of replanting the ones I liked and parting company with those I didn’t next spring.

Next job is to get the tulips planted in pots and deciding which to put where, I do have some from last year which we took out of the border - I have labelled them ‘useless floppy red tulips’ so I’m not entirely sure why I have kept them, but now feel obliged to plunge them into soil somewhere for a second chance.

Now I’ve realised just how close it is to Christmas I must go out and snip some holly while it still has berries on it (yes Mum, I’ll save some for you too), it stores well in a cold shed or garage and is so pretty to decorate with - though I’m always sure to leave plenty for the birds. If you follow my Instagram stories you may have seen that I finally managed to capture a robin bathing outside the kitchen window this week, something that brings me great pleasure and always stops me in my tracks as I pause to watch.

Well, I have just put a match to the fire and my tummy is rumbling, so I’ll wish you, as ever, a week ahead filled with things to make you smile.

With love, Vx