11 days to Gulgong

The countdown has begun. I've set the route in my maps app, only a ten hour trip! But it is worth every agonising kilometre, it's CLAY PUSH in Gulgong NSW. It's on every three years and I've been going since 2001. It's a week of intense clay exposure with master potters, demos, show openings, old friends, take a look at the website http://gulgong2013.com/ and go if you can. My friend Kim and I are driving down on Saturday 27th April and we are very excited.

There will be one very sad omission from Gulgong this year. The woman who started the events in 1989, Janet Mansfield, died recently. She will be greatly missed not only in Gulgong but within the ceramic community world wide. What a woman, a big hero of mine.

My dear friend Robin Roberts in Tasmania sent me some images of recent work using Raku. It's on its way to a gallery, images I will place below. I was concerned that he had abandoned clay for photography but he has seen the error of his ways and is back into it successfully by the looks of it. He does take wonderful photographs as well. Look at his website. http://www.robinroberts.com.au/ceramics

I've gone off the boil with my shed activities for a few days with family activities but I quickly did some sgraffito on the small sugar and creamer. After very good suggestions from my friend Susan I am going to try graded colour which I think will work better.

The Twilight Markets at Cleveland and the Straddie markets are being held one weekend while I am in Gulgong but I'll be back.