A Special Saturday Share
Hello friends, hello. Grace here.
I hope this finds you well, safe, and enjoying your Saturday morning.
HANDS UP!! Who enjoyed themselves on Day #1 of the Clarity Open Days yesterday?! I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments.
For those that weren’t able to go (myself included), I know we’re Fomo’ing (Fear Of Missing Out). There’ll be other opportunities. I’m right there with you, gutted to be missing out, but still very excited and happy for the rest of you.
I’d like to spend this Saturday Share blog highlighting some incredibly important art pieces by an all-time favourite artist of mine. They’re spectacular. I’m lucky enough to have some of these pieces in my own home. And I heard that many of you were lucky enough to be able to purchase some pieces at the Clarity Open Days, and so now will have them proudly showcased in your homes too! Congratulations!! I call them ‘Limited Edition’.
Watch this space!! Yesterday (Friday) was the very first opportunity to buy Barbara Gray pottery pieces. She’s gifted a few pieces before, she’s given them away as prizes for Clarity competitions. But finally… she made a selection of them available to purchase and OF COURSE they flew off the table. She even got special requests and orders for pieces that weren’t available anymore. There are a small handful of epic pieces left for Day 2 of the Clarity Open Days. So, on your marks… get set… GO!!!
They’ll be worth thousands one day (they’re priceless to me, and many others I’m sure). So get what you can, whilst they’re still affordable. I’ll be personally forcing her prices up when she opens her online store. She’s such a generous woman, as we all know from her countless hours of free tutoring and crafty company. But check out these INCREDIBLE BG original pieces. Many of you will spot yours…
Incredible right? And this is just a small chunk of what she’s capable of. You’ll have noticed those sculpture pieces. The possibilities are endless with this particular artist.
She’s so talented. And has been working away at her love of pottery for years now. I love watching her mind work. She’ll often send me the very beginnings of an idea, and then I see the final product. Mind-blowing really. Does anyone else want to pre-order a Totem Pole? I don’t even need to see the finished piece to know it’ll be brilliant. I’m putting my pre-order in for the garden I don’t even own yet hahaha.
As her daughter (and number one fan, sorry Dave!), I have known she could sell these before she even got a kiln. I just know my Mum and what she’s capable of. But what makes me happy (and thank you to each and every one of you who bought a piece of hers) is that I can feel her excitement at the sales she procured over the last couple of days. I can feel her soul soaring at that feeling. I’m sure you can understand. There’s giving away your work, for free, and receiving compliments or positive feedback on it (like, the SHAC for example). And then there’s having someone part with their hard-earned money because they REALLY love something that you’ve created from scratch.
How lucky for those that could get to the Open Days this weekend. Not only do you now own a BG Original, but you were one of the first. Now we have to make them available to those that weren’t able to be there.
Next stop, Etsy.
Travel gently, friends.
Lotsa love, Grace xoxo
Clarity – The Home of Art, Craft, and Well-Being.
Beautiful pottery, very talented lady and she gives total 100% to everything she does.
Thank you for sharing Grace.
Heather xoxo
I am the lucky owner of a BG original duck egg blue Japanese style bowl. Perfect for my porridge this morning 😘
I knew they’d sell well.
Beautiful pottery Grace especially the sculptures.
Your mom is definitely very talented. Thank you for sharing. I love hearing your mom talk about her pottery in the SHAC.
Love Lesley xx
Had a lovely time yesterday, your mom was very busy& the pieces of pottery were beautiful. Wasn’t totally with it yesterday due to trapped nerve & forgot to go back before I left but will go & check out what is left today.
Hope you are feeling better and taking it easy, the unpacked boxes can wait xx
Managed to get a lovely little raku pot that will have a place on my bookcase alongside the tile I won in a blog competition a while ago & this years PTC swaps – all to lovely to hide away xx
Great share today Grace and you are totally right the pieces your mum makes are absolutely gorgeous and I hope it gives her the nudge she needs to sell them commercially. I know if I had been at the open Days I would have had to buy one or 2 pieces myself!! Hope you are feeling better. Take care hope the second Open Day goes as well as the first seems to have and enjoy the weekend everyone xx
Great Saturday share Grace.As one of the many who could not go to the open days am very envious of those who were able to purchase a BG original. I was hoping that there would be an opportunity to buy on line. Her pottery like her art work is amazing a remarkably talented lady your mum. Hope you are feeling better after your recent op. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.xx
I had a lovely 2 days, sharing the 2nd day with my sister and niece. Between us we purchased 2 items of your mum’s beautiful pottery plus a few other bits and pieces.
I had a long chat with your amazing gran (she did make me laugh), with the brilliant Jeannine (who will be greatly missed) and the lovely Sue (who I have to say looks like Amanda Barrie) who is a great addition to the Clarity workforce.
I hope you a fully recovered Grace. Take care and do everything you can to get your mum to take it easy for at least a day or two, she didn’t stop.
Your Mum’s work is fab, sadly I couldn’t go but am already lucky enough to have won a piece of her pottery in a blog competition, I am the proud owner of a perfect small bowl with a beautiful blue glaze on the inside. If I’d have been there I would have had a vase no doubt (if any left!). Etsy would be a great idea.
Hope you are settling into your new home and recovering from your op. Enjoy the weekend xx
Wow! All those pieces of your lovely Mum’s work are amazing. She is so very talented – all her art work is beautiful and unique, a very inspiring lady.
Would love to be at the open day, but health doesn’t permit now. But I watch or record all her shows and watch or catch-up the SHAC and evenings when I can – and love the Fb family of crafters.
I hope that you are recovering well now Grace, and not doing too much – as someone has already said, unpacking boxes will wait!
Have a good weekend xx
Couldn’t be there but I am sure everyone is delighted with their purchases. The artwork I have seen is stunning and made with love
Your mum is so talented. There are 3 pieces I would have scooped up had I been there. Unfortunately we can no longer travel far so will keep an eye out for online sales.
Hope you are feeling better and well on the mend.
Enjoy your weekend. 🍒
I would love a piece of the pottery but unfortunately being in Spain it is not possible, I must try to get a trip to the uk xx
We have quite a lot of handmade pottery and sculpture as both our dads were hobby potters, but I’d love a BG original too! I’m sure everyone had fun at the open days but too far for me to come x
I purchased a beautiful pot yesterday which I will treasure and use in my craft room.
It’s been an amazing two days at the show with so many wonderful people sharing their skills and as usual everyone is so helpful and friendly.
Thank you to the whole team for all you did to make this such an enjoyable experience and for what you do to help and educate and inspire us all year. So glad I postponed my holiday to attend and can’t wait until next year.
The pottery is absolutely amazing, love them all but especially the vases and the pink and blue bowls and coasters. Keep up the good work Barbara your imagination is so far reaching. 💐
I’m absolutely thrilled with the vase I bought from your very clever Mum. I keep looking at it and touching it. It’s quite a heavy piece too and very tactile. I also enjoyed listening to how each piece was created…the process. Who knew yogurt could create such beauty?! I really hope it has given her a boost seeing her beautiful work flying off the table. Take it easy Grace…..wishing you a very speedy recovery x
Wow!! Such fabulous pottery please put my name on the list to purchase a Barbara Grey original as soon as there is delivery to Ireland .Your Mum is so talented of course you are so proud of her as she is of you.
Do wish you both good health and happiness xxx
Thanks for this special Saturday Share. I was lucky enough to buy 2 pieces of BG pottery which I will treasure. A great selection on show- all gorgeous!
The open days were great, my first time running the inky stampy make and take with Tina Morris. We really enjoyed it, saw some beautiful artwork and it was great meeting so many crafters and SHAC SHACK friends. What a great first time experience.
We missed you Grace.
Glad all went well at the open days and gutted I couldn’t go, but even more gutted I couldn’t purchase a piece of your mum’s pottery. Hopefully at the retreat there will be another opportunity.
Hope you’re fully on the mend Grace and your boxes are unpacked.
Take care all. X x
Love your Mum’s pottery- my favourites are her Normans!! Hope you are healing well after your procedure,Grace.
Thank you for sharing Grace. I wasn’t able to go but would have loved a piece of a BG original. Your Mum is such a 🌟
Thank you Grace, hope your feeling happy and well.
As for the pottery, there are more than a few pieces I would happily have bought, not even knowing the artist. They are beautiful pieces and well worthy of display.
We had a fab day and it was worth the 5 hour drive home!!! Can’t wait to experiment with Tina’s embroidery, Sam’s gel prints, Eileen’s stencils and Vicky’s sprays. Fantastic demos – and I could have spent a fortune.
Thank you Grace for sharing these lovely pots, and many different things Barbara has made. I would have purchased a item of her pottery if I had attended the open days. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. xx
Hi Grace
I hope you are feeling better.
I enjoyed my first time at the Open Days on Friday and had a wonderful time! The demos were so interesting and helpful and really inspired me to try some different things. I was there on my own but people were so friendly and it was lovely to be with so many other people who share and understand my passion for crafting!
I love Barbara’s pottery, especially the beautiful blue glazes and spatter patterns. I am the very proud owner of a delightful dinky little bowl – precious, I will treasure it as an early BG original!!!!!
Of course I couldn’t resist one of those special pieces!……My platter will be hanging on the wall in the kitchen (when not being used for cheese of course!)
Thank you for making such a truly beautiful piece of art Barbara – from your mind, heart & hands, to a very good home here with us 🥰
Peter’s first job in the morning will be to bang a nail in the kitchen wall for it to hang on ☺️ I will treasure it and think of you every time I make a cuppa as it’s going to hang right next to the cooker.
Really enjoyed the day. Thank you 💕🥰💕
Dearest Grace, you were so missed by all.
I am now a proud owner, I bought one as a gift for Mum and one for my Graham. There were so many beautiful choices I had to go with with my heart to choose and they certainly blew the doors off. I get excited for Mum, as I know how much heart and soul she puts into every make.
Thank you for being Mums greatest advocate, its certainly a beautiful mother daughter relationship you have. You are equally proud of each other. Very precious and very rare. Treasure every day.
Thank you to all who organised everything it was superb.
Xxxxx
What a lovely Blog Grace, your Mum is one in a million! I love seeing her pottery posts, she is so talented and I would love a BG original as still not able to get to the Clarity Open Days. Looking forward to seeing the finished totem pole! You are so proud of her as she is of you, beautiful relationship. Keep well x
What a great Saturday share! Such a talented lady. Unfortunately the open days are too far away for me. I went to the last Leyburn one which is only a couple of hours away and had a wonderful time. I hope your recovery is going well xx
I just love the little raku pot I bought complete with rain spots! And when I showed it to my husband, he loved it too. It’s joined our collection of bowls from studios across the world. Thank you Barbara. Looking forward to seeing more at the retreat in August. X
Me and my wife Sue had a great time at both open days it was our first and won’t be our last .
Highlight of day one for me was I got a hug from your mum as she welcomed every one and yes we are now proud owners of a Barbra Gray vase that just happened to match our living & Dinning room colour scheme.