Finally we had some sunshine today – no warmth! But it is cheering not to be looking at rain or even hail. A full bisque kiln load turned itself off around lunch time so I spent a happy afternoon working in my studio on those things you don’t want to do when pots need work. I mixed up a batch of wadding and ‘Yellow Salt’ glaze, a liner glaze from Medalta. While I had the scales out and my mask on I weighed out top-ups for some of my earthenware slips ready for the next jugbirds and a possible slip-painting workshop in July. Tomorrow morning when the kiln is cool I’ll be waxing and glazing the 20, I think, new jugbirds for the studio tour next week. The stoneware pieces for salt will be dealt with once the cone 04 glaze firing is started. I shall need to liner glaze them and wad them. HAPPY! Vincent Massey plans to fire his salt kiln in early May so I plan to give my contributions to him when he’s at Granville Island next Monday.

Last night’s jury evening at Maple Ridge Art Gallery was most interesting. The members of Fraser Valley Potters Guild have entered a big variety of pots and sculptural work and Meira Mathieson has chosen some excellent pieces for the show. I tried to take photos of the work that appealed to me but I find the flash is awful inside so I rely on whatever light there is. The photos are of course long exposures and blurred. Meira’s energetic talk about the work involved talking with her hands!

We were told the winners and honourable mentions but I think I’ll leave that information until they’re announced at Saturday’s official opening!

I’ll put some of my photos here in spite of their poor quality but I’ll try to get better ones in daylight on Saturday.