Decided to make some more plates for our own use at home, which I threw last weekend and turned during the week. Ready to bisque fire, so thought that I would try to use the plate stands that we "acquired" from a nearby potter who was retiring. Never used them before, so a bit of an experiment. Seemed to have the right size for the small plates, but nothing big enough for the large ones - or did I just make them a bit overly large!

Only problem was that when I got to load the small kiln, having loaded all the small plates one per shelf to avoid warping, I did not have enough space to fit the plate rack, so resorted back to several small plates per shelf. Ah well, at least I know know how to assembly them for next time......

Well, we've been quite busy, but not actually making any pottery, just improving the facilities for ourselves and our students. First of all came the full plasterboard ceiling, to stop all the heat escaping into the loft. Pinted white to help reflect the light and lighten the room, and then some new "daylight" high frequency flourescent lights added give excellent light for detailed work. On new bright pottery room!

And then, to make sure that eveyone is toasted and warm, a second wood burning stove in the large pottery room, to replace the not so nice gas heaters - also much safer - worrying incident when Phoebe the labrador set light to her tail recently whilst happily wagging in front of the gas fire - panic ensued and a rapid bit of extinguishing....