Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday to Tea with Jud in Scotland for 1 whole year,
Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeeee!

Hip hip hooray!

I cannot believe I have been here for a year! Doesn’t time go fast?!

It’s been a brilliant year. Tea with Jud is getting well established here as I have embraced lots of new opportunities, markets, got some new stockists and made some lovely new friends. I’m so happy with how much my business has grown since I moved, it was definitely the best decision! I’m excited to see what the next year has in store but today i’m celebrating, with cake!

Also I want to thank you. Thanks to everyone who has supported me and my business, purchased pots, liked, followed or shared posts on everything social. Just thanks for being nice!

Cheerio

jud

Gosh it is really hard getting back into the swing of things after taking it easy for a week and enjoying beautiful Scotland.

I must get motivated to make, so no time to write you a little story today, just bullet points – it’s a cut throat world of pottery we live in…

• More Bee mugs posted today to Manchester Bee Company
• I’m a busy lady so check out my DIARY to see what markets I’m at. This weekend it’s Edinburgh for Morningside Makers Market and Glasgow for Urban Market.
• Christmas ALERT – All Christmas orders must be placed by Monday 14th November
• I’m looking for 2 new stockists in Scotland. If you like my pots, please get in touch.
• Been working on lots of exciting experiments, I will be revealing all soon!

That’s it for now, i’m off to make, make, MAKE!

Ciao!

You make my heart go giddyup…”

Pottery usually takes over my whole life, but It’s good being my own boss sometimes as this week I’ve only pencilled in a little bit of work. I thought I needed a bit of a break after my busy summer, and also to rest up in preparation for the busy months ahead (hopefully) full of **Christmas orders.** I have scheduled in some rest, time to do things I never get to do, I’m even going to watch a film, and yesterday I did a chocolate workshop as a special treat!

I went to a local chocolatier, Taystful to take part in a “Bars & Bites” Course. It was absolutely amazing! I’ve never done anything like it before, and loved it so much I thought I needed to tell you about it!

Anyone who knows me will know how much I LOVE chocolate! I never would have thought that making chocolate and pottery would have so many similarities. The different processes, temperature, consistency, moulding, cooling, etc… all need to be correct in each discipline to achieve the required results. I’ve even got some new ideas for decorating my pots from the techniques we used!

I’m delighted with the range of bars and lollipops that I made. Some flavours have taken my taste buds by surprise, especially the Rosemary and Sea Salt Bar. If only you could smell and taste through a computer screen! Mmmmmm…  I cannot recommend this course more.

If you live nearby, do it! If you don’t live near here, just book it anyway and come and stay at my house, then I can sample some of your creations! You can find more information on Shona’s website – www.taystful.co.uk

Important decision of the day, which chocolate will i eat next?!

Cheerio.

PS – ** Last orders for Christmas 2016 commissions will be Monday 14th November** but I will remind you again nearer the time.

Good morning!

Well, all I have to say right now is thank you very much Perthshire Open Studios for a wonderfully brilliant and exhausting 9 days! What a great event!

I cannot believe how good it was! I’d also like to thank to each and every one of you who stopped by at my workshop, all 137 of you, yes I was counting!  I hope you are all happy with your new pots!

A special huge thank you to my mum for coming the whole way from Northern Ireland to help out; making teas, coffee and lunch, taking Albert for his daily walks, and much more.

If I wasn’t so tired right now I could write an essay on daily events but i’ll keep it short…

HIGH POINTS – short spells of glorious sunshine, meeting lots of lovely people, and discovering new opportunities for my business, hooray!

LOW POINTS – the rain, the greyness, the rain, the wind, did i mention the rain? And, getting soaked to the bone on several occasions.

I’m absolutely shattered now and all I can think of is pancakes are a MUST for breakfast, so I’m staying in my pyjamas for a while and having a rest.

Cheerio.
Have a good Monday,
Jud.

Good Morning!

It is finally time for me to open my workshop to the public!

Perthshire Open Studios is on from today, 3rd September – 11th September.  My workshop doors will open from 10am – 5pm every day. I’m number 6 on the Orange Route.

As well as being able to see me work, and ask me questions I will have lots of pots for sale, including seconds, tea, coffee and cake! yum!

If you need any help finding me, here is a guided tour with my very helpful sign posts.

Sign 1 is on Balmoral road, drive down the lane, past Sign 2. Turn right at Sign 3, and follow the road round past Sign 4 and there you will find me and some tea!

See you soon.
jud.

A very special wedding is taking place this September between 2 players from a World Champion Pipe Band – Field Marshal Montgomery.

I was asked to make them a dinner set as a wedding present. As all commissions are welcome, I thought I would branch out from my usual 6 colour ranges and accept a new challenge. Tartan. And not just any tartan, the Field Marshal Tartan; Drumalig. Oh my.

What a challenge indeed! My first experiments were soooooooo bad! I was certain that this would be my first and last attempt at what seemed an impossible pattern. I thought I was never going to get it right. Several experiments later something pretty amazing happened!

This has definitely been the hardest commission yet, but I am so pleased with the results and I hope you like them too.

Lesson learned from this project – don’t say yes so hastily to tartan commissions.

Cheerio.

PS: Congratulations Sarah and Kris, all the very best for your wedding day!

 

 

Hello!

The other day I took off to the highlands with Albert for a break. On my way I made a few stop offs to make some pottery deliveries! How very efficient!

I’m pleased to tell you that; Artificer, Honest Thistle and The John Muir Trust are now fully restocked.

My break away was just what i needed. I’m very lucky as I had glorious weather, saw some good friends, stunning scenery, and Albert loved camping too!

The day after I returned from my trip, Suzi from Sunshine no:1 came to pick up an order for her shop in Glasgow too. So, restocking done, I’m now back feeling revived, and dreaming of my next break!

I have a lot of work to do before then though, pottery is my priority once again and I’ll be busy making more stock in preparation for Perthshire Open Studios, 3rd – 11th September. If you need me, I’ll be in my workshop. (Oh! Except for the Blairgowire Community Market this Saturday! 10am – 3pm)

Cheerio for now,
jud.

 

Today I picked up my box of brochures for Perthshire Open Studios. I am number 6 on the Orange Route!

My signs are up, and the strawberry on the main road is a good landmark, but just in case you still need better directions than that you can find me on google maps! Tea with Jud is moving with the times (slowly… I wanted to screen shot the map, but I can’t figure it out!)

You can plan your journey here

Even if you can’t make it to the Open Studios, do let me know when you are passing as you can always arrange a visit!

Cheerio!