Hello there,

I thought I should run a little competition to celebrate my successful move and fabulous new workshop. I also thought if you felt neglected from my lack of online presence over the past few weeks, it would help make up for that too!

You could win this lovely green polka dot mug. Competition entries are open to everyone, anywhere. Continue reading Competition! Win a mug! CLOSED

Hello everyone!

Apologies it has taken me so long to give you all an update about my move, but I have been very busy! Moving house is hard work, never mind moving house and workshop too! I am settling in well and loving what Blairgowrie has to offer, even though I’ve mainly only explored the supermarket, hardware shops and builders merchants, several times! (that’s where all my new friends work)

I’ll summarize this as best I can as a lot has happened in the past week and a half…

Thursday 1st October: Moving day;  a very early start, 5am! Dad, Owen and I got the boat to Scotland. The weather was incredible, we could not have asked for better weather to move in! It was so beautiful driving up with the sun shining on the trees and autumn leaves.

Friday 2nd October: The cement for my new workshop floor was ordered for 3pm. We had a lot of preparation to do before hand. During this preparation I discovered it is not possible to push a wheelbarrow and pull up your trousers at the same time.

3.45pm: It took quite a while for the cement lorry squeeze round the corner to my new workshop, sparing only centimetres from my neighbours house. Shortly after this is when I discovered laying cement is a man’s job! Oh my goodness! I cannot believe how heavy it is! Such hard hard work.

8pm: Charlie arrived with his exceptional carpentry skills and a super surprise …. an amazing cake, baked by Claire. It was the best reward after 2 tiresome days.

Saturday 3rd October: Charlie made door frames. I hate mortar. Mike arrived to help, making 10 hands in total. Many hands really do make light work.

Sunday 4th October: Who knew wood was such a technical material! Using 3 doors from gumtree and the charity shop we were under pressure to make them fit into Charlie’s handmade frame, hang them and get all the other important jobs that I wouldn’t be able to finish myself, before Team with Jud left that evening. But my, what a team. I am really lucky to have such good friends and family to help. I couldn’t have transformed my new workshop without them.

The rest of that week I spent lime washing walls,  painting the doors, painting the store, painting the floor, painting many things actually… and getting everything ready for the arrival of my kiln. It arrived a whole day early at 8.15am whilst I was in my pyjamas. People like to start work really early here. The lorry delivering my kiln couldn’t fit down the lane either, so I soon discovered the advantages of living on a farm… forklift trucks at my disposal and very skilled drivers who will help you in return for a cup of coffee! perfect! If only I could pay everyone with cups of coffee…

I have also successfully transported all my stock and bisque ware without any breakages. Maybe I should give a certain few well known delivery companies some tips on handling fragile goods!

So, after a lot of hard work, and a little bit more to do, I just have to wait for the electrician to wire up my kiln and some lights before I can get back into a normal working routine.

I love my new house and workshop. There is a river and a swing. I am really looking forward to winter here. I love snow so much. My friend in the hardware shop told me he sold 400 snow shovels in one winter! How exciting!

All my friends and family already know to visit, my calendar is getting busy… but any other Tea with Jud fans, if you are ever in this part of the world, please don’t pass by without letting me know. You will always be welcomed with a cup of tea from me, and perhaps a snow shovel.

Cheerio for now.

 

 

I can’t believe I am moving tomorrow! After months of longing, planning and hard work I am ready to set sail to Scotland. Hooray!

My pot sale last Saturday was brilliant. The sun shone, which made the ice cream provided by The Vintage Tricycle Company even more tasty! Thank you to everyone who stopped by, I hope you all had a good time and are happy with your purchases.

Tea with Jud production has stopped temporarily. The past few weeks have been pretty hectic; finishing orders, packing up my workshop and worldly possessions, organizing my pot sale and making stock for Christmas (yes, I really did mention Christmas!).

I have also learnt many things whilst organizing my move. This is what I’ve learnt..

1. Did you know there is no such thing as “normal” concrete?
2. External doors (for my new workshop) are really heavy and don’t fit into a renault clio.
3. 6 legged spiders are just as scary as 8 legged spiders.
4. When your head is full of a million things, do not to walk off with someone else’s trolley in the supermarket.
5. All my family and friends are wonderful and I am completely overwhelmed by the support and generosity of everyone both from a business and personal point of view. It is impossible to put into words how grateful I am. Mum and Dad especially, thank you for your continuous love, patience and support.

I’m sure you know yourself that moving house is time consuming, so I will be off the radar for a couple of weeks until I get settled. If you do have any knitting/pottery queries or wish to place any Christmas orders, please get in touch and I will reply as soon as possible.

Until then, I’ll be busy laying concrete, unpacking, painting things, boiling my new kettle for well earned tea breaks, and organizing my new workshop!

I will give you an update when my life gets into some sort of order again!

Ciao for now.
Jud

 

This week I have been so busy I have hardly had time to think! My list of jobs to do seems endless and I’m starting to feel a bit emotional as I pack up my workshop.

The seconds pile is growing as I tidy up, the last bisque is on and now all I have to do is sort out all my stock, ready for my seconds sale on Saturday.

As an extra special treat for everyone, myself included, I will be joined by “The Vintage Tricycle Company” who will be offering tubs and cones of delicious traditional ice cream. YUM! I cannot wait!

Lets hope the weather stays dry for us!

See you on Saturday.

Hello there…

So as you all know I will be moving to Scotland at the end of this month, but I will not be able to take everything with me, so I thought, why not have another seconds sale!

Come along and pick up a pot. You might even get one of my home baked brownies (if I have time to make them!)

See you there!

Bonjourno boys and girls!

Exciting news ALERT! After months and months of searching I have finally found somewhere to live in Scotland! I am sooooooo ecstatic, and happy and scared and slightly freaking out at how much I have to organize! This is going to be a BIG move.

I never imagined I would live in a cottage on a fruit farm with my workshop next door! I am so excited about what opportunities lie ahead as I really believe it’s a step in the right direction for me; one small step closer to my seasonal coffee shop.

So, I have one month left in Northern Ireland, I will be setting sail at the end of September, but do not worry, before I go I will be having another seconds sale (date TBC) and this weekend I will be at my last Craft Fair in N.I for the foreseeable future – The Little Craft and Food Market.

Date: Saturday 5th September
Time: 11am – 4pm
Location: First Lisburn Presbyterian Church Hall *

I will keep you posted with any other news in-between but until then, I hope to see you in Lisburn!

Ciao

* Please note The Little Craft and Food Market’s change of location

I did a “Dinner Set” photo shoot last week. I loved it! Its so nice to get out of the workshop and do something that doesn’t involve getting clattered in clay!

When I see my pots all set out it makes me so happy. My biggest dilemma though, is deciding which colour range is my favourite… I want to have breakfast, lunch and dinner off them all!

Everything you see here is available to buy at my Online Shop.

Good day Sunshine!

What a glorious day to deliver a boot full of pots to my new Stockist in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland!  Very exciting!

You can now purchase Tea with Jud pottery at

Season Flowers,
22 Marshallstown Road,
Carrickfergus,
BT38 9DE

There is a lovely coffee shop there too, so after browsing the beautiful flowers and gift shop, you can treat yourself to something yummy!