Dorothy Weber on fri 27 aug 99
Well, we have returned from London, where we were serious tourists. Lots and
lots to see, just not enough time to take it all in, except that we would
like to return. We did go to the Contemporary Ceramics center as well as the
Craft Council. It was well worth going only wish we could have met other
potters while we were there. Just couldn't do it all. We did take the train
to Bath and rented a car (driving on the opposite side including the drivers
side on the other side and driving in the rain made a real interesting
start). We took a wrong turn right off and found Bath Potters. Stopped and
talked to Mike Bailey for a while. Really nice fellow has a nice facility,
bought some tools. We left there and drove to Muchelney (thanks to Mike's
great directions), to see John Leach. Many thanks to him for taking his
valuable time and giving us a tour of his facility and talking pots with us.
Of course we came home with some pots of his! Next door to John is a bed and
breakfast owned by Joy Thorne, lovely lady, beautiful home. We then returned
to Bath the next day and did the tourist thing, great fun and finally back to
London for more sites. Added site was watching the changing of the guard and
the eclipse at the same time.
Kiln building --
In may we tore down our kiln and contracted with a local iron works fellow
(who had done work for us before with no problems). Well, as life goes he
didn't get to right away and after many phone calls the last of which I made
and gave him a major guilt trip, which he needed. Our frame was delivered
last Friday night(2mos after John delivered him the plans). We owe many
thanks to our friends Suki and Bill Meyer and Pamela Rennolds who came the
next day and began the process of building. Suki volunteered to check on Mike
while we were in London to keep up with the process. We worked all day
Saturday and until Sunday night when we ran out of bricks. Sure thought we
had enough. We finished Tuesday and have been glazing like mad! We are now
loaded and ready to fire in the am with our new 65cu. arched kiln. Not to
brag, but it looks great, hope it (we)fire it the same way. Just had to go
out and take a picture!
Happy potting!!
John and Dorothy Weber
Manakin-Sabot, Va.
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