Peace and Quiet

My good blog-friend Clare has had an incredibly tough time recently. 

One of her ways of trying to cope with her grief 
was to focus on her summerhouse,

fitting it out, tidying it up, making things for it, etc.  

She liked the driftwood and ceramic signs I make and so,

as a gesture (however inadequate!) of my empathy and support,

I insisted that she take it as a gift.

Attaching 'D rings' to the back of the sign

I find the non-pottery aspects of making these signs very satisfactory. 

Using different tools for different tasks. 

Neatly coiling the wire round and round with the little pliers,

and adding beads, or, in this case, acorns.  

Then, I make the clay letters,

fire them once, glaze them and fire again, 

before attaching to the driftwood. 

Clare's summerhouse is called 'Peace and Quiet'. 

I think we can all relate to that idea!

So, the sign was sent off.  

She loved it. We kept in touch. 

Then, some months later, out of the blue,

the postman brought me this beautiful

quilted wall-hanging, handmade by Clare!

My rubbish photo doesn't do it justice,

but take it from me, it is really lovely. 

The accent colour in my kitchen

is the exact deep red she's used in the border,

so it hangs in there as a daily reminder

of just how nice people are!!

She knows me well! How fabulous to incorporate that fabric on the right!

"I MAKE STUFF" 

 Oh Yes!

These are for my own Summerhouse (ok ... garden shed!)

They've been hanging around the studio for months,

 waiting to be made into a sign. 

I can't make stuff for me

 when others are waiting for their orders

 ..... but it will happen!

I've met some really special people through this blog,

and Clare is definitely one of them!

x Cathy