I cant believe I didn’t get to wish you all a Merry Christmas. I was floored by the flu – and with no one else to do my admin, this highlights the disadvantages of being a one woman business!
While I was home I did manage a trip to The Craft Room in Comber to deliver some more stock. What a fabulous shop! There are so many gorgeous handmade goodies in there. The worst thing about delivering pots in person is trying to resist buying everything else in the shop!
Anyway, I am back to work now, planning for 2018 and will be busy restocking the shelves over the next few months. I’ve got some exciting things lined up and will also be making a few changes over the year too, but don’t worry you will be kept up to date with all my plans!
I can’t believe it’s December! I’ve been so busy glazing since my new kiln arrived, like a workshop hermit, I forgot to tell you on the blogishphere that a) i’m surviving! and b) all my shops should have my pots back in stock, except Popping up at Stockbridge, but don’t worry, that delivery is on its way.
I’ve got 4 markets left before Christmas – maybe if you’re around you can come to one of them? (give me a hug and tell me everything is going to be ok…) They are –
Some of you will already know the issues I’ve been having with my kiln. It’s not been firing right for ages and despite endless attempts to fix it we still can’t figure out the problem. It has taken up all my time and energy, and I did not have anything positive to say about anything, hence having zero presence on social media recently. There have been many tears. It’s been a VERY frustrating time and my patience has been pushed to the limit.
Claustrophobic workshop!
I can’t run my business without a kiln, and with the clock ticking faster towards Christmas, I had no choice but to order a new one. It is arriving today (fingers crossed!!!). If I work like an absolute maniac then I might be able to fire and glaze all the pots that I have been making over the past 2 months in time for Christmas. My shelves are so full I feel a bit claustrophobic in the workshop!
It really is the worst timing and unfortunately due to the backlog of work I won’t be able to take on any special commissions (apart from the ones that have already been ordered). Also, website sales cannot be guaranteed for Christmas either, but of course I will try my best. Your best bet of getting some Tea with Jud Pottery is either buying it direct from me at one of the following markets – Kibble Palace, The Handmade Show Perth, Pitlochry Christmas Festival, Abernyte Brewery Christmas Market, Summerhall, Urban Market – see my diary for dates.
I do realize that is not ideal for anyone outside of Scotland so please feel free to contact me directly before you place your order online and I will be able to give you a better idea of when you will receive it.
Bowls
You can also shop at any of my stocksits, but bear in mind they are also waiting patiently for their deliveries!!! Arrghhh, what a palaver!
Thanks to everyone who has tried to help me sort this out, my family and friends for listening to me drone on and on and on about my kiln, anyone who has seen me and put up with my sad face, Rachel for the use of your kiln, and I honestly don’t know what I would do without Ulster Ceramics, and Callum, the electrician! So thank you all!
This morning I am waiting in anticipation for my new kiln to arrive, then the electrician and then there will be no stopping me. Sure there is nothing like a bit of pressure? I just hope I have some pots to sell on Saturday at Kibble Palace…
I just wanted to say thank you to ALL my visitors. It was really nice to see some faces from last year and meet lots of new ones. Thank you so much for coming to see my workshop and buying some pots!
I’d also like to say thank you to everyone at the Perthshire Open Studios HQ who work so hard to organise such a brilliant event. It really is wonderful and I feel very lucky to be able to take part in it.
Jug of Sweetpeas
Rain
Mixing up Glazes
Tea with Jud
Albert
Lunch
Glazed Pots
Plan B – display moved to workshop
I’m now exhausted and taking a break for a little while, so see you in 2018…. jokes! Once i’m rested i’ll be back in the workshop, in my thermals, getting all your Christmas orders made!
Last year for Perthshire Open Studios I envisioned a display area in the barn wall at my workshop. I only managed to get the framework made, but this year thanks to a surplus shower screen, a few bits of wood, a retired dad, some friends visiting for lunch (who happened to have a jig saw in their van) and a random passer by it is now complete!
Work in Progress
Work in Progress
Tea with Jud Shop 2017
My pots can now be permanently displayed under a happy waterproof canopy of stripes. I am so delighted and I absolutely LOVE it!
Tea with Jud Shop 2017
This year Perthshire Open Studios is taking place from 2nd – 10th September. The website has details of all the amazing people taking part. you can plan your route here.
Sat 2nd – Wed 6th: 10am – 5pm
Thursday 7th: 10am – 7pm
Friday 8th: 10am – 5pm
Sat *9th* & Sun 10th: 12 noon – 4pm
Tea, coffee and home baking will be available.
Card payments can also be accepted (except Saturday 9th Sept)
*Unfortunately on Saturday 9th September I will NOT be here, so if you really want to meet me please come on a different day! However, the workshop will still be open from 12 noon to 4pm and my mum and Lawson will be here to look after you.
I am really looking forward to it and hope to see lots of lovely visitors again this year. Happy Open Studios everyone, let the countdown begin! .
I’ve been keeping all your special commissions secrets again. I’m working on some exciting ones at the minute, but I thought you might like to see a few that I have done so far this year.
Hunting Scene
Wedding Set
St.Catharines Guild Centenary Espresso Mugs
Family Egg Cups
Hedgehog Goblets
Turquoise Mugs
Heart Mugs & Side Plates
Hot Water Bottle Covers
Espresso Cup and Saucer Set
Mint Heart Butter Dish
Turquoise Polka Dot Vase
Thank you very much to all you lovely customers who have placed orders and commissions.
Annnnnnnnnnnnnd…. I’m so excited because it’s nearly time for Perthshire Open Studios again. More details to follow soon but here are the basic ones you need to know.
I have been on a quest to find the perfect pink glaze to complete my Polka Dot Collection. It has taken months of experimenting and glaze tests to find a shade that I like and most importantly, complements the Green, Turquoise and Purple colours.
Green & Pink Polka Dots
I have discovered some happy accidents along the way; Pastel Pink which I used to glaze my Limited Edition Pastel Heart Mugs, but finally the wait is over! I have road tested the new colour at recent markets and it has already proved to be very popular. It got a lot of “watermelon” comments! So, I am very happy to tell you the full Pink Polka Dot range is now available from Tea with Jud.
Pink Polka Dot & Yellow
I will be bringing it to all my upcoming fairs and events, which you can check out here.
Polka Dot Mugs
Perseverance does pay off and I hope you are tickled pink, just like me. Apologies in advance if it makes your mix and match decision even tougher now, but maybe you should just spoil yourself and buy one of each colour!
Long time no blog! That’s because I’ve been taking advantage of the fabulous weather to dry my pots so I can fulfil all my orders. The workshop doors have been wide open, and my yard has been a warm and slightly windy sun trap this past few weeks, so it almost feels like I’ve been on a working holiday… well, that’s what i’m telling myself!
Bike Mugs
So, here is everything you need to know… as of Friday, in Pitlochry I delivered a fresh batch of Bike Mugs to Honest Thistle just in time for The Etape Caledonia weekend. I also dropped off a selection of Tree bowls to the John Muir Trust.
Thank you to all my lovely customers everywhere, but in particular those who shop at Popping Up in Stockbridge in Edinburgh. I am continuously surprised at how fast everything goes! To keep you all happy I delivered a box so big that I could hardly lift it!
That should keep you all going for a while. If not, and you desperately need to see me to buy some pots, my next two markets are
Market: Big Tay Out
Date: Saturday 27th May
Time: 12.30pm – TBC
Location Dunkeld
Pastel Heart Mugs
Market: West Fest
Date: Sunday 4th June
Time: 1pm – 7pm
Location: Dundee
I hope I can figure out how to construct the 3D jigsaw aka gazebo/party tent before then as both markets are outdoor events. I’ll maybe show you a picture if I have any success with that.
Last but not least, I was astounded by the amount of love shown on a recent Instagram post of some pastel heart mugs, so I have glazed up a small batch. they are now available to buy here.
