Aaaaaahhhh - Love, love, Loving
Emma Bridgewater right now, with a capital L!
On Tuesday, I drove my Mum and I up to Stoke-on-Trent which is about 2 hours from us! (not an easy drive but worth it)
I liked Emma B's stuff before but didn't own any.
Now, after a day with 'Emma', i just luffs her .....
We started with a cup of coffee and a cake in the cafe.... i know it sounds dumb but they use the EmmaB plates and mugs and napkins even in their cafe... i don't know why i thought they wouldn't??
Then we had a tour of the factory.
There were only 8 of us in the tour so it was long and we got to ask lots of questions.
The lovely gentleman above is throwing plates. I did have a little go myself! Well, you know me, they asked for a volunteer and i love to get involved...
The plate i threw is actually being used and is probably already fired! To *think* somebody, somewhere, will be eating out of an EmmaB bowl that i threw.
This lady is smoothing over all the 'seams' in the clay that happen when they come out of the moulds. Making it all nice and smooth. Every stage of the EmmaB pottery process is done by hand, here in England. You wouldn't believe how many items they can get done in one day!!
Birdie Egg cups - this load has been through it's first firing in the kiln. They will get glazed and then go through again. If the pattern is from a 'decal' (transfer) rather than hand painted then they go through the kiln a third time before they are ready for sale...... just *think* of their energy bills!? whoa!
Trolleys full of mugs - mainly the Robin design here. These are waiting outside the 'checking' area where the products are all 'fault checked' x they looked sooooo colourful all in rows.
Now, this man above is dipping plates in glaze. They have been fired and are now getting their first glaze before their 'decals' and their second glazing. He was so damn fast, it made you *wow*.
The yellow here is from using the 'decal' and will fire off in the third kiln process. You wouldn't believe how labour intensive each piece is.
I loved asking all the questions. I loved seeing each stage. I loved how friendly they were and how long some of them have been working at EmmaB!
After the tour we went back to the cafe / shop / pottery studio>>>>>>>
This was a trip i was organising for me and my mum - she turned 60 this year and we did have a big party but also, many friends and family have organised trips, holidays and surprises for her throughout the year. THIS day was my contribution.
Lots of yummy stock in the shop! Naturally all the additional products are sourced out to other companies and abroad for production. You can't blame them? It's bloo*y amazing they get to even produce their pottery in the UK anymore.
My glamourous Mother, painting her very own mug in celebration of her 60th year. She was nervous as she isn't confident with things like this - but her mug look ace>>>>>>
Obviously this is PRE-fired. We get our items back in a week or two via post.
I was making a mini-jug with just masses of hearts and spots and 'stuff' on..... well, I am not 'known' for my minimalism am i friends!? haha x I promise to show you the finished piece on its return.
And I MUST introduce Paul and Tracy below>>>>
No, i 'must' because i promised them i would! ***HELLO*** and we have them to thank for such a wonderful afternoon of coffee, cake, sandwiches and pottery painting tips. "You made it great fun guys!" x
It all seemed to end toooooo soon. So we had a quick chance to buy one or two EmmaB bits from the shop before having to hit the motorway to get home for the child.
I ADORE the new patriotic range with it's red and blue bunting (yippeeee!) and hand stamped union jacks. So i bought this hUge mug for my morning tea x
And i also bought this lovely tin and it says 'Truly Great'.
And we did have a 'Truly Great' time.
And i would recommend it to anyone.
And, right now, I am LOVING Emma Bridgewater X X X
(i'm off to write her a letter, to tell her much i love her and stuff. Sad? or Mad? x)
Happy Sunshine my darling friends x x x
It arrived in the post this morning - barely paid a penny for it - on the bay of E...
Why do i love vintage?
I belted it - it is slightly on the bigger side of 'fit' - i went all over the house trying to get photos to show it off to it's best...
How can you not love a red dress with white pocket details and polka dots? A pair of Summer wedge shoes... Tis Vintage Love!
psst - Giveaway draw to be announced in about 24 hours.
A Woodland PinPot!
There is also a pile of Woodland Butons for you to use: Reds, browns, greens and the odd dotty surprise PLUS a giant button...
And a little mini pile of woodland-esque felt to use for something fun?
I am possibly too kind, i know :) but generosity is in my nature.
The Craft stall isn't like that at all. It feels completely different.
Having the "PaperFish Craft Stall" means i can make one-off pieces that don't fit any of my internet shops. I can make cards, for example, which is what i started out making (back in the day...) but i wouldn't dream of marketing them online because it takes masses of energy and time to market well... and that can remove some of the fun and satisfaction from the crafting itself!
And when I am tired of commercial crafting - i still want to 'make stuff' but having a craft stall means i can make things for my friends and family (and self) but make a few extra items too, to show to Mr and Mrs Joe Public.
When my Crafting Career is a little exhausting and i feel a bit like a craft machine - then i PLAY with my paper and pens and paint and felt and fabric and i see what happens when i take away all the rules and deadlines and commercialism.
I live to craft
Just wanted to say there are 4 Scrap bags of MINI felt in the Folksy shop....
And 4 new Scrap bags of light cotton square scraps in the Folksy shop too.
It's good to share x
We went to Olney ***waves at Olney readers*** ("Local Craft Matters" is out now guys, go grab your free copy!)
That is my Little Sister, totally dreaming and worrying about what to do with her life.
I managed to grab the Fruit and Veg Men in the Market Place just as they were packing up for the day. I filled a big bag with oranges / lemons/ limes and grapefruits for about £3 and then went home to 'Juice' them, mmmmm x
And my Sis holding up theeee cutset little Spring Cotton Skirt that i bagged in the Charity Shop for £2.50. What a find!? it is so sweet.
Cafe Sundays my friends... it's what the rest of the week was made for! x
A new file drawer system - mainly for allll those button mixes! Shame it's white as i wanted one in red :( from IKEA (that trip i went on, on Monday!)
Carnival Bunting - very much like the 'Frida' set of two weeks previous but it sold and so this is it's replacement, similiar but different. Bright, funky and 'carnival-esque'.
Off cuts / Scrap Bags of the yummy Bunting fabric. All small pieces that would be perfect for smaller projects like hair pins or brooches or..... 
A table cloth obviously isn't 'Rocket Science' of the sewing world but i was super happy with it. It looks very 'al fresco' and, even though i know enough to realise that is 'Italian speak' i still felt French.
I listed this elephant and for some reason I am convinced he ran away from a nasty circus RingMaster who just happend to be.... yes, you guessed it - French!
Last of the new buttons - listed in BigFish - Limited Edition, only 9 packets.
And then, with all this 'French-ness' going on around me i remembered!
How could i resist their colour? 
But it has taken me FOREVER to price these, bag them, list them in the shops... I now have button fatigue - YES, it is possible!
I am tired.
We started with a cup of coffee and a cake in the cafe.... i know it sounds dumb but they use the EmmaB plates and mugs and napkins even in their cafe... i don't know why i thought they wouldn't??
The lovely gentleman above is throwing plates. I did have a little go myself! Well, you know me, they asked for a volunteer and i love to get involved...
This lady is smoothing over all the 'seams' in the clay that happen when they come out of the moulds. Making it all nice and smooth. Every stage of the EmmaB pottery process is done by hand, here in England. You wouldn't believe how many items they can get done in one day!!
Trolleys full of mugs - mainly the Robin design here. These are waiting outside the 'checking' area where the products are all 'fault checked' x they looked sooooo colourful all in rows.
Now, this man above is dipping plates in glaze. They have been fired and are now getting their first glaze before their 'decals' and their second glazing. He was so damn fast, it made you *wow*.
The yellow here is from using the 'decal' and will fire off in the third kiln process. You wouldn't believe how labour intensive each piece is.
This was a trip i was organising for me and my mum - she turned 60 this year and we did have a big party but also, many friends and family have organised trips, holidays and surprises for her throughout the year. THIS day was my contribution.
Lots of yummy stock in the shop! Naturally all the additional products are sourced out to other companies and abroad for production. You can't blame them? It's bloo*y amazing they get to even produce their pottery in the UK anymore.
My glamourous Mother, painting her very own mug in celebration of her 60th year. She was nervous as she isn't confident with things like this - but her mug look ace>>>>>>
Obviously this is PRE-fired. We get our items back in a week or two via post.
I was making a mini-jug with just masses of hearts and spots and 'stuff' on..... well, I am not 'known' for my minimalism am i friends!? haha x I promise to show you the finished piece on its return.
It all seemed to end toooooo soon. So we had a quick chance to buy one or two EmmaB bits from the shop before having to hit the motorway to get home for the child.
I ADORE the new patriotic range with it's red and blue bunting (yippeeee!) and hand stamped union jacks. So i bought this hUge mug for my morning tea x
