So, this is another pottery first: a visit up the M6 to the Skirsgill Auction Mart just outside of Penrith. It is a total contrast to Potfest in the Park, which I visited last weekend even though a few of the 140 exhibitors in the Pens had also been in the Park. Potfest in the Pens is a much more local, easy going and low key event staged in the pens of the the local cattle market. The pottery on display was very varied and not as high profile as the works shown in the Park event. However, all the potters seem to be really enjoying themselves and appreciating the more low key approach. As soon as you enter there is a display of this year's competition themed this year 'Bird Bath, flight and

So, now I'm on the search for a decent fake celadon glaze which will give the same look but won't require firing in a gas kiln. Initially I decided to adjust my recipe for a clear gloss s/w glaze by adding 1%, 2% and 3% copper oxide. I am rather pleased with the 1% addition which gives me a nice pale turquoise glaze. This is really not far off from what I want. But I cannot wait how this glaze performs on actual pots that are not just flat tiles. These two pots are made from PF700G clay, which fires very white, and were glazed with the C1 +1% cobalt oxide s\w glaze. The little wheel-thrown jug was covered quite thickly. The glaze has pooled very nicely in the recesses of the carvings without