I'd like to give thanks for how blessed we are not to be covered in 8 " of snow - as many of my Derbyshire friends and family have been these last few days.
Although it is cold by our standards at least it's bright - and would be a great place to visit over Easter....so please come down all you lovely visitors - assuming you can get out of your own front doors!
I'm putting the finishing touches to work for BCTF and will be travelling up next weekend via Chesterfield and a visit to Dad who assures me the snow will have gone by then.
Here are the latest pieces to come out of the kiln....

A Plump of Seals

Ganglamb Style

I can't believe how cold it's been - it was -5 in the pottery this week but with urgent orders to go out I had to get on with it...and had the aches in my fingers all day.  Hope all those galleries appreciate my dedication.

New work is flying out of my imagination.  I hope all the pieces will prove to be 'classics' like the Woolly Jumpers which have been selling steadily for around 10 years and are still going strong.

I'm ready now for the British Craft Trade Fair which is one of the most important shows of the year not just for buying, but for selling too.  Just the brochure to do.

I had to have a little break on Tuesday to go to the osteopath in Marazion and had my back 'done' whilst gazing at a framed photo of Sai Baba and looking out of the window towards St Michael's Mount.  It was lovely afterwards - just got to save up for the right side of my body to be done next week.  I am two inches taller on the left at the moment!

Apollo is still growing and at three months old is as big as Baby is fully grown.  He is a little treasure....as you can see!  Here he is demonstrating how to have a sleep!

 

 

I have put up a few more images of new work showing at BCTF....hope you like them...

What a strange few days - first I had a horrible tummy bug and then my back twanged just as I was serving a customer - I think she thought I'd been drinking as I started swaying about!  I now have a lovely big piece of Labradorite which should put a stop to such things in the future.
I've just come back from a couple of days in Glastonbury but only managed a sit in the Chalice Well gardens instead of a hike up the Tor.

I've been inspired to make some new work for BCTF Harrogate - see above.  They are based on women I know or have known and since it's a bit unseasonably chilly still down here they are wearing their cats around their necks to keep warm!
Apollo has been delighting us with his antics - he's a brilliant waste of time....

I must go now - I have to go and pick Kara up from town - she's back from her Geography trip to Toronto - I can't wait to hear all about it and see what present she's got for me!

Things are zooming along.....I've bought a small car for Kara from Keith our local garage man who has done us a brilliant deal and the insurance I have found through www.aplan.co.uk is an excellent deal so very soon I will be able to give up my job as taxi driver....fingers crossed.
Kara is off to Toronto for a geography trip very soon - we've been buying thermals and warm clothes because it can be -20 degrees or colder...what a shock after lovely warm Cornwall.
Still busy doing orders - more coming in daily thank goodness.
Got lots of lovely new cards in to go in my swanky new card spinner - thank you Tim!

Nancy Pickard has brought in some lovely new work - lot's of fab designs we haven't had before - she is very creative and extremely talented as well as being a lovely person!

How did it get to be February so fast!
It'll soon be half term and we'll be bracing ourselves for the first visitors of the year....in fact I think several are already here - escaping the snow 'up north' no doubt?  It has been the busiest February in the gallery for a long time - mostly sales of my work so I think I know what I have to be doing....making lots of new things for the gallery.
I made it to Glasgow and back with only a tiny bit of snow disruption but the show was badly affected by buyers being unable to get there....but I still managed some excellent orders from new galleries for which I'm extremely grateful - thank you!
I have just returned from 'taking the waters' in Bath - good to be back there again - Margaret and I are becoming regulars....and I am fantastically relaxed from the Watsu session at Bath Thermae Spa - a truly wonderful experience and one I hope to repeat soon.  The place is magical, the staff are brilliant and everything about the place is marvellous.
I bought a small piece of Bev Millward's work at the Rostra Gallery - lovely!  It's only about 1 1/2 inches tall  - amazing and fascinating work.
Another really good piece of news is that Kara has an interview at the Minack Theatre for the summer season - I am so excited for her - it would be her absolute dream job!  Good luck Kara - fingers crossed - I know you'll be brilliant.
Our new kitten Apollo is making his presence felt - he got into the gallery and broke one of my pieces - and is not NOT ALLOWED in there - but he's settled in beautifully and is growing visibly by the day.  I can't resist another picture of him.....

        Isn't he a darling....

So moving on - I've booked a regular swimming slot at Boswedden House to make sure I don't spend all my time sitting at the table making work....and I'm looking forward to seeing Kara's drama performances next week at Penwith College - so glad to have been invited! 

What a brilliant week - I love January (never thought I'd say that).....
Leyla has been to stay with me and has as usual inspired me and put me on the right track.  We even saw the sunshine as she liberally supported the local economy in St Ives on the basis that 'she was worth it' - and I totally agree - she is.
She always helps me to see things clearly and I am making some major leaps forward in my personal life too - new and exciting things to come in 2013.
Not to mention Kara's 17th birthday yesterday - it only seems 5 minutes since she was asking me all sorts of embarrassing questions about growing up and now she's the one giving me advice!  Also I hope she will pass her driving test soon so she can drive me around places.

I have started a new 'thing' - I am going to resume doing Psychic readings for the public instead of just doing them for existing clients and friends.  I have been doing this since 1992 and after an amazing visit to Glastonbury for 21/12/12 I know I must do this for real now - Carole has spoken.  My intuition has rocketed and when I did a reading for Leyla she said :

'I have had several readings over the years and what's different about Jane is she is clear and plain speaking.  I really found the information easy to interpret into my life situation and the accuracy sent shivers down my spine!  I wholeheartedly recommend trying this and I will definitely be back for more guidance in the future - thanks Jane' - which I hope will be recommendation enough....

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The website www.psychicjanecornwall.co.uk is being built by Martyn this week and I will be taking bookings from 25th January.

In the meantime I am off to have a look at the Exeter show today with Margaret - how many comfort stops will we need on the way do you reckon!!
Then it's the biggie - Glasgow - all samples and orders are ready....just got to pack the van and remember my shovel for the snow that's forecast.  We've been lucky for the last seven years - I hope this year will be ok.....
The stand will be great and 95% of the work is new...so fingers crossed you will all like it.  I am in the market for lots of lovely new stock for the gallery too.

Happy New Year!  Accounts are a mystery to me - how is it possible for the turnover to drop and yet the bottom line be better than last year?  Only one conclusion - I must be selling more of my work (which is more profitable than other lines) and be a most excellent manager....LOL!
So we are looking forward to 2013 with confidence and enthusiasm....unlike some other years I could mention....
Having said that I HATE NYE and when down here everyone just gets more drunk than they usually do if that is possible, but in fancy dress.  Jools Holland and a snowball for me!
I've been given the Sennen Cove Diary for Christmas - it's really laugh out loud funny and gives a brilliant insight into life in a small community in Cornwall.....it was given with the intent of prodding me into writing this book I keep going on about.  For example - something that could go into MY book - Kara and I were sitting int he Wellie having one of their excellent cheese salads (with no salad - just how I like it) and a burger for the teenager when one of the men at the bar popped up off his stool, farted loudly and sat down again as if nothing had happened and no one could hear! Could only happen in St Just.

I am having a little tidy up since the lovely Leyla is coming for her winter visit in 8 days - it will be lovely - even if it may never stop raining.  Going to take a couple of days off too to make the most of it.

The teenager and I have bought ourselves a little present who is at the moment called Apollo Darley Winston since we can't agree...he's arriving from Redruth on 13th January...and we can't wait.  I am officially a trainee crazy cat woman (full membership of this club starts with five cats I'm told).  I've sent for extra Feliways off the internet...Percy and Baby are not going to like it at first.  The accountant said I couldn't put him through the books though - even though clearly he's going to inspire lots of new work.