A forest awakes

I took a post Christmas walk around Rivington. It was great to breathe the fresh air heavy with rotting vegetation. Mist hung amongst the skeletal trees. The vegetation within the forest dripping steadily as the ice melted away.

I love saturated moss. It evokes a memory of a soft carpet leading to another world.

I got a great book for Christmas, 'Stickwork' by Patrick Dougherty. Patrick (with a group of helpers) makes fantastic sculptures from sapling sticks. The way he uses the sticks makes the work look like it is alive and breathing. Like Andy Goldsworthy, the pieces decompose over time and return back to the earth.

There is an interesting introduction by Jennifer Thompson which made me think about why I have used sticks in my work. I'm glad other people see their beauty too. 'There is something elemental, almost primal, in the appeal of sticks and their parents, trees; their history precedes our own, and they have been man's constant companion since the earliest days, as shelter, nourishment and fuel.' (excerpt written by Jennifer Thompson taken from Stickwork).




Twig Bowls - copyright Beverley Gee 2009.

Merry Christmas to one and all!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

Thank you for your interest and support in my work over the past year. I hope you'll come back and visit in 2011 when new things will be afoot.

New Art Gallery opening up in Tazmania next year. It looks fantastic and you have to reach it via ferry! Check out Mona for more details.

Spot the cat?

Where is our Mabel this week?



In the box, of course!

Garstang TIC - new stockist

My work is now available from the pretty Lancashire town of Garstang. The brand new and well stocked tourist information centre is now selling a range of work by north west craft people.

Previous to this, my only knowledge of Garstang was the song about it by the band DILE. Played by Phil Beckett on the now defunct Rev.

Spot the cat?

Where could Mabel be?



Oh yes, next to the radiator, of course!

Charles don't you ever crave ....

Frank Sidebottom (as Morrissey) singing with The Smyths.

Ha ha - Johnny Marr's rebuke to Cameron.

'David Cameron, stop saying that you like The Smiths, no you don't. I forbid you to like it' on his Twitter page.

With Morrissey backing him up with . . .

'I would like to, if I may, offer support to Johnny Marr who has spoken out to the media this week against David Cameron. To those who have expressed concern over Johnny's words in view of the fact that David Cameron has pledged immense allegiance to the music of the Smiths, I would like to try to explain why I think Johnny is right not to be flattered.
It is true that music is a universal language – the ONLY universal language, and belongs to all, one way or another. However, with fitting grimness I must report that David Cameron hunts and shoots and kills stags – apparently for pleasure. It was not for such people that either "Meat is Murder" or "The Queen is Dead" were recorded; in fact, they were made as a reaction against such violence.
I recall some years ago a party political broadcast on behalf of the Conservative Party where David Cameron spoke directly to camera as an LP copy of "The Queen is Dead" proudly displayed itself on the wall behind his right shoulder. It is, of course, a fantastic thrill when the music you make is acknowledged by virtually anyone at all. But David Cameron is not just anyone. Some months ago, as the long-beaked amongst you might recall, I was due to appear on the Andrew Marr Show alongside David Cameron, and however much I worship the words of Andrew Marr, I could not go through with the invitation . . . click here to read the full condemnation on True to You Net.


Even funnier, the look of shock and outrage on Camilla and Charlie's faces as their bubble was slightly bruised by the real world.

Cameron and Charlie, we are not stupid - your Royal Wedding is a smokescreen. Do you think we'll forget everything because of an extra bank holiday? We are not as shallow as you.

Freezing temperatures

Last week, I was shocked to discover the clay pieces I had been working on had frozen! This is what frozen porcelain looks like. Urgh - not pretty at all.

Some creatures that love this weather are penguins. Check out this live webcam from Edinburgh Zoo. I like to watch this for a bit in a morning. They are so cute and funny.

Here are my own penguins investigating strange shapes in the snow. It's a 'lesser seen in cold weather Mabel' footprint!

Bits and bobs

A big thank you to all who came to support me and the mill last Thursday. The night was a great success. We were very busy and the fair had a fantastic atmosphere. My new penguin work went down a treat! I raised £11.16 for 'Animals in Distress' (10% of the price of penguin work goes to this charity). I really liked the work of Anna Wilson-Hall. Her work has a clean cut graphic quality to it. She showed a range of tree paintings in autumnal colours.


I've uploaded a few more items on Folksy too.


And made a wall feature to compliment the kitchen tiles I made recently.

'Christmas at the Mill' 2010

It's that time of year again, Islington Mill's annual contemporary craft fair, this Thursday!

Thursday 25th November 5 - 9pm, James Street (off Oldfield Road), Salford, M3 5HW
FREE ENTRY
Contemporary gifts
Festive food and drink
Live music

It's well worth a look, also you can check out the refurbishments - you won't recognise the place. I am downstairs in the gallery space this year - hope to see you there. It's warm too!!!



'Christmas at the Mill' 2009

March of the penguins

Here are two more penguin products for sale. As with my penguin cards, 10% of the item's price will be donated to 'Animals in Distress' (Irlam).

Visit my online shop or my Folksy shop to purchase the cards.

Christmas work on sale at Salford Tourist Information Centre

Here are some images of my new work for sale at Salford Tourist Information Centre.

New Penguin Cards - On sale now!

'The enjoyment of lone skating'.

'Illuminate the night.'

'Crag'.

'Reflections of a frozen moon'. Copyright Beverley Gee 2010.

These greetings cards have images taken from my ceramic 'Last of the melting snow' series.

The cards are suitable for any occasion. The image can easily be removed from the card to be displayed elsewhere or kept as a memento. The card is 203mm x 150mm and holds a photograph that is 177mm x 127mm.

Please be aware that the card is black throughout therefore a coloured pen will be needed to inscribe the inside. The inside has been left blank for your own message.

Visit my online shop or my Folksy shop to purchase the cards.

10% of the card price (30p) will go to 'Animals in Distress'. A local charity that helps rehome unwanted pets and neglected animals. It is run by volunteers and is dependent on donations.

We got our cat 'the nation's favourite furry face' aka 'Mabel' from them last September. Here she is enjoying the last of October's sun.

Mabel is a master of disguise.

KODO!

Last night I went to see Kodo (taiko drummers from Japan) at the Bridgewater Hall. They are fantastic! If you ever get the chance to see them I recommend it. I've seen them four times now and as always I was impressed with their style, technique, imagination and stamina. Their drive and devotion to their craft is astounding and something I would like to attain with my ceramics.

'For nearly thirty years, Kodo has explored the boundless potential of the ancient Japanese drum, the taiko. Inspired by the powerful natural beauty of their home on Sado Island in the Sea of Japan, Kodo infuses traditional forms with fresh global influences to create new musical expressions that are utterly unique. Two meanings are embedded in the Japanese characters for Kodo. First, heartbeat: the primal, tender sound as heard in the womb. Second, children of the drum: reflecting Kodo's intent to play their drums simply, with the heart of a child. Since 1981, Kodo has delivered over 3,200 performances in 46 countries, becoming Japan's most acclaimed performing arts group.

Through the "One Earth Tour", Kodo will bring the sound of the drum to the ears of the world - and with the taiko's unique ability to transcend barriers of language and custom, remind us all of our membership in that larger community - the world. ' (excerpt and images taken from Kodo's website)

Thank you to those that came and supported me at Salford Museum and Art Gallery's Craft Fair. I was in the Victorian gallery which is a great backdrop to show my work in. A big thank you to the staff and organisers. They are very friendly and put on a good show.

Salford Museum and Art Gallery Craft Fair

Why not come along to Salford Museum and Art Gallery's craft fair this Sunday? I will be there selling end of the line work and seconds. Come on down to find a bargain!

The Salford Museum and Art Gallery Craft Fair is back!

Why not come along to the Museum on the 17th October and get some early Christmas shopping done?

There will be a variety of stalls selling affordable handmade items from 11:00 am - 3:30 pm.

Autumnal food

My favourite restaurant in Manchester is 'Samsi' in Spinningfields. They have recently added some interesting items to their menu. Pictured here is their new green tea range. They are very pretty and unusual.


The 'flowering teas are hand-tied individual tea (Green Tea) leaves with selected dried aromatic flowers forming a tea ball/heart, which reveals its secret centre when placed in boiling water, blooming into an artistic and captivating flower display with an enriching taste' (excerpt from Samsi's drinks menu).



Tofu sukiyaki



And here's a cheeky squirrel having a feast on one of my sunflowers.

Pom poms and baskets

My sister bought this 'pom pom' plant (I don't know what it's real name is) last year at Tatton Park Flower Show. It was just a small specimen then and I thought the harsh winter had seen it off. Oh no ... it has spread like wildfire, popping up everywhere in the garden! So I took some cuttings for my basket display. It looks like a wild haired hippy. The basket is from a Japanese department store and as I remember quite reasonably priced giving that it looks handmade. It's made from bamboo strips. Seen in the left hand corner of the picture is an original tile by the infamous Liz Scrine. It has a delicate wallpaper pattern and works well in this compostion.

Noritake

'Grand Vert' tea set


'Grand Vert' side plate set

My brand new kitchen is very nearly complete (woohoo!) so now it's time to rediscover some of my Japanese ceramics. First up is the 'Grand Vert' collection of porcelain made by Noritake. I have the tea set and side plate set. As you can see, the fern design is beautifully simple and effective. It's so lovely.






I remember spending hours (or what felt like hours to my very patient friend Tomoko) choosing whether to buy the side plates or bowl set to go with the tea set. I think I would have bought the whole collection if I wasn't worried about getting it all back home! Now, I can finally use them - 10 years later. Only for special occasions though.



'The Noritake of today grew out of a trading company that was originally established by the Morimura Brothers in New York in 1876. This trading company imported chinaware, curios, paper lanterns and other gift items. In 1904, the forerunner of the Noritake Company was established in the village of Noritake, a small suburb near Nagoya, Japan. The goal of this first factory was to create western style dinnerware for export. It took until 1914, however, to create the first porcelain dinnerware plate that was suitable for export' (excerpt from Noritake's website).

Kitchen Tiles

I've been working on kitchen tiles recently. They are made from porcelain, glazed in retro pastel shades with distinctive black tree designs and are now on my kitchen wall.

Doors of Northumberland