My Nan's 90th birthday tea party 25.09.2011

Just wanted to share a lovely day with you....my nan's 90th tea party in the garden. The cake stands were out to hold selections of lovely scones, cupcakes and tarts.....

We used lots of collections old tea cups and saucers, plates, lace tray cloths and doilies to do small flower arrangements which looked fab!

 and the cakes and bakes were yummy also...

My paper bunting was put to good use to decorate the gazebo's with old pictures of Nan through the years ...

A new cake stand with a teacup and saucer on the top tier...great for holding cheese straws!

 All in all we had a lovely day and the weather managed to stay fine which was a bonus! You can see these cake stands at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, GNCCF, Manchester next month from the 20th-23rd October 2011.

October

Where does the time go? I am busily preparing for various shows and gallery exhibitions in the next few months so I thought I would keep you posted.....

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair (GNCCF) at Spinningfields, Manchester 20th - 23rd October.The event, which attracts over 6000 visitors, is back for its fourth year providing cutting edge contemporary craft to buy direct from over 140 selected designer-makers in ceramics, glass, jewellery, interior and fashion textiles, wood, silver and more. Visitors can spend the day in a relaxed yet stimulating atmosphere, chat to the makers about their work and buy or commission pieces directly from them. www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk R2 std 38.

'Made 2011' Corn Exchange, Brighton, 17th - 20th November. MADE11 returns to the beautiful Corn Exchange in the heart of Brighton offering the public the opportunity to buy original and exceptional design and craft from the best local and national makers. MADE showcases over 100 contemporary and highly original makers and designers across all media. With jewellery, furniture, ceramics, textiles, clothing and the odd quirky pieces thrown in - the fair offers beautiful handcrafted objects to suit everyone's taste and budget.
www.brightonmade.co.uk

Gallery Showcases.....

The Ferrers Gallery, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, 30th September - 24th December 2012. www.ferrersgallery.co.uk

The Artroom Gallery, Preston Lancashire, 'Precious' exhibition from the 10th November - 31st January 2012. www.artroomgallery.co.uk

Baxter's, Dartmouth - a mixed show titled print and pattern featuring prints, ceramics and mixed media 3D work coinciding with Dartmouth Galleries week. www.baxtersgallery.co.uk

For a list of more stockists please visit www.katiealmond.co.uk

I am also returning to the lovely Debbie Bryan's shop, Nottingham Lace Market, to bring you some more ceramic workshops. Why not have a crafty day making your own Porcelain hand-made gifts ready for Christmas?

Saturday 8th October 11-1pm brooch making £20 "Be inspired by talented ceramist Katie Almond's design secrets & create your own stunning trio of hand painted brooches. All materials are provided including glazes & firing and homemade cake is on tap to keep your creative juices flowing."

Saturday 8th October 2-5pm Porcelain Bead making £25 "Join Katie's workshop to create your own range of individually hand crafted ceramic beads. All materials are provided including glazes & firing and homemade cake is on tap to keep your creative juices flowing."

For more information or to book a place visit www.debbiebryan.co.uk or call 0115 9507776.

The yellow wooden house

I had a very inspiring trip to a yellow wooden house in Cambridge with my two lovely friends. I had a lovely time exploring the house with its fantastic garden.

Inside is just as amazing as the outside with the yellow and blue theme running throughout with touches of red. I loved this dresser full of illustrated and transfered bone china; plates, bowls, cups, all inspired by nature and a passion for bold colours. All created by the owner of this fab house; an illustrator named Amanda Macphail who I visited during the Cambridge open studios, http://www.camcreative.net/2011/06/15/cambridge-open-studios

There is also lots of old tins, pots and pans and old treasures behind the kitchen cupboards!

I absolutely LOVE these old signs in the garden! If I had a house I would love to show off all my collections and old things in a similar way!
I also had great fun with my macro lense on the flowers..

check out the bird house...

These inspired a drawing session and I made the most of a sunny afternoon where I began drawing and collaging with my stash of old papers.

And these are the results which I am very pleased with :) Watch this space as these will be appearing as new cards very soon.

I even had time for some Christmas drawings believe it or not! These will appear at my autumn shows; the Great Northern GNCCF, Manchester in october and Made 2011 in Brighton.

Workshop Weekend July 9th and 10th

I had a fantasic workshop weekend at Debbie Bryan's studio and shop demonstrating brooch, tile and bead making. I wanted to share some of the lovely results with you.....

Tile, brooch and bead examples; porcelain under-glaze painted

These are examples of porcelain tiles that have texture pressed into the clay and under-glaze painted. 3D elements have also been added to give a sense of depth. Layers of colours have been added to highlight the textured ares.....

brooch making; added texture and 3D elements

And last but not least bead examples painted and decorated with underglazes and a vareity of surface techniques used....I love them and they would look great strung on a necklace....

Watch this space for announcements about my next workshop weekend in October

News!

 I have been busy making stock since my shows and making bead examples for my workshop this weekend...

I have also made a lovely diamond wedding commission jug

I Just want to up-date you what I am doing over the next few months.....here it goes...

Firstly there are still places left THIS weekend for my workshops at Debbie Bryan’s studio and shop, NOTTINGHAM in the lace market…

'Katie Almond Workshop Weekend 9th and 10th July'

9th July, Saturday 11-1pm

Brooch Making Workshop £20, includes all materials, tea & homemade cake

“Be inspired by talented ceramist Katie Almond’s design secrets & create your own stunning trio of hand painted brooches.”

9th July, Saturday 2-5pm

Tile Making Workshop £25 includes all materials, tea & homemade cake

“Treat yourself to a creative afternoon with Katie & create your own stunning trio of hand painted tiles. “

10th July Sunday, 11am -1pm

Card Making Workshop £20, includes all materials, tea & homemade cake

“Be inspired by talented ceramist Katie Almond’s design secrets & create your own lovely trio of illustrated and porcelain gift cards. “

10th July Sunday, 2-5pm

Bead Making Workshop £25, includes all materials, tea & homemade cake

“Be inspired by talented ceramist Katie Almond’s design secrets & create your own mini-collection of ceramic glazed beads.”

TO BOOK your workshop place CALL 0115 9507776 or call in person to Debbie Bryan Studio & Shop.

I have been invited for a summer showcase at Cambridge Contemporary Art where you can see a lovely selection of my work; cake stands, cups and jugs on display from the 1^st August-28^th August. My work is also in the Harley gallery, Welbeck, Nott’s over the summer months where you can also find my earrings and brooches.

I know it’s a bit early for thinking about Christmas yet but this is where I will be later on in the year;

*A winter showcase at the Ferrer’s gallery, Leicestershire from the 30^th September to the 24^th December 2011.

*The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, Manchester, 20^th-23^rd October 2011

*’Made’ Craft fair, Brighton, 17^th-20^th November, 2011

Also watch this space for announcements for my Christmas workshops at Debbie Bryan’s studio and shop!

That’s all for now,

katie :)

www.katiealmond.co.uk Follow my blog at http://katiealmondceramics.blogspot.com/ and Twitter @kalmondceramics.

Bovey Tracey Contemporary Craft Fair 10th-12th June

I am back from a very successful show down in Devon at Bovey Tracey. I was pleased with my stand display and received lots of complimentary feedback. My dresser and table came out again to display my pieces on and along with my cup hooks this gave me enough space to hang pieces off.

These are my favourite pieces that I had on display..

seaside range

The seaside range inspired by the coast with illustrations..ice creams..buckets and spades and on a recent trip to the coast I took this great pic of the beach huts which I think would be great on this range..