What a nice way to start the new year….TV chef Neven Maguire is using my pots in his new series which goes out on Thursday nights, 8.30pm on RTE 1. Its is great to see them on the telly and Neven makes good use of my little bowls, ramekins and jugs….keep an eye out or click here to view reruns. A big thanks to the very talented Sharon Hearne -Smith who is responsable for the beautiful food styling on set.
One year on from our launch, MADE in kilkenny are exhibiting again in Butler House as part of the Kilkenny Arts Festival. Here are some of the pieces that Andy and I are putting in for the show……….
All the work in the show has being inspired from places in Kilkenny. Andys are photographed here in the gardens of Rothe House the place of his inspiration.
The tea set I made is photographed in Castlecomer Discovery Park by the river, the place of my inspiration…
These are some of the new shots from the great photo shoot in shutterbug. Blanaid pulled out all the stops with the styling and Moselle had some fun……..check out some more photos here.
I made these ceramic bells earlier this year and waited until the bluebells were in bloom down the woods before photographing them. The bells make a beautiful ring depending on the size and I think they look gorgeous displayed in nature. Prices range from €15 to €25
We have a collection of all sorts on our workshop wall…above are a series of glaze tests I did a couple of years ago. I had lots of fun doing these tests and promised myself that it was something I would keep doing on a regular basis, but like lots of things busy production took over. It is good to live with them and some of these days I will develop them some more.
Beside the glaze tests we have a collection of found objects, all of which were found on the ground outside the workshop……all sort of little people, flowers and insects. They make quite an eclectic collection.
Thanks Aisling from the Narrow Space and Patsey Murphy from The Irish Times for the editorial in today’s paper. A really nice plug for Andy’s upcoming exhibiting…
‘American ceramic artist Andrew Ludick has been living in Castlecomer since 2003, sharing a workshop with his wife, potter Rosemarie Durr. A new exhibition of his delicate, glossy earthenware bowls, mostly white with dashes of colour, begins on May 7th in the Narrow Space Gallery, 14 Mitchel Street, Clonmel, Co.Tipperary, tel:052-6127838. Prices for these beautiful collectibles start at around €40 for a small vessel, see thenarrowspace.com’
At last the daffodils are out…..these are the first of the year from my garden, brightening up the shop and looking great in Andy’s vase. Andy’s work looks beautiful all on its own but introduce a few colourful flowers and its magic!
We recently got a new kitchen, well a new element with plenty of old mixed in. The challenge was to do it on a small budget and yet have a artisan feel to it. I would have loved to have gone for a locally made kitchen but had to compromise, so in the end we went for a flat pack with solid wood worktop. A friend Mark from Bridge Pottery, made the knobs which I love and think they add a handmade feel to the kitchen. The floor is cheap pine which I whitewashed and then sealed, it reflects so much light and makes the room appear light and airy. The subway tiles were a real success, I love them….the other bits and pieces are collect and made over the years.
Andy made these utensil holders a couple of years ago, I think I need some more….I have a weakness for wooden spoons!
None of our chairs match, I have picked them up over the years at auctions and the cupboard in the corner was a fab find in Eclectic Interiors. It acts as a pantry and takes up very little room.
Another great buy from Eclectic Interiors was this dresser which holds all my crockery (a bit of a crazy mix from all over the place, not much matching here) the lovely plate on the side is another beautiful piece from Bridge Pottery.
Bring a little colour into your Mammy’s heart, this Sunday with a Mother Days Gift that will last all year long……….
Set of 4 dip bowls €45
Set of 3 pouring bowls €80
‘The Pocket garden’ €5 each
Can you have too many bowls? in my opinion… never. I get so much pleasure from just looking at stacks of different shaped and coloured bowls in my kitchen, its an added bonus to be able to use them. Check out some of my new bowls…
Hot from the kiln………check out my brand new ‘Buttermilk range’ of everyday tableware here. Its a soft white glaze with a slight mother of pearl tinge, the shapes are both contemporary and nostalgic. I have lived with it for the past 12 months or so and I am so happy with the shapes and the glaze, I love it and its great mixed in with my trade mark powder blue glaze.
Showcase Ireland continues until Wed and as usual there is some talent to be found (plenty of the other as well). The Creative Ireland area is by far the highlight of the show with the odd gem to be found elsewhere. The textiles came out on top for me, there is some great talent still manufacturing work in Ireland……
Hope and Benson gorgeous bags
You have to see for yourself how beautiful these clothes really are, impecable….by unicorn design
Edmund McNulty knitware is all about subtle tones and soft, soft wool
Paul Maloney Pottery is very fresh in colour and functional in design….
After five days without water (it just came back today, thank God) one realizes how precious it is, not wasting a drop using as little as possible to make the buckets last………this is what Nancy Bauch from white forest pottery, is exploring when she makes 108 bowls:a Water Mala. The project has inspired me and I would love to go on a meditative journey of my own with clay and water (I do this everyday, but when you introduce all the pressures of running a business into the equation I tend to loose the meditative journey part) so now I’ve put it in print I must make it happen………watch this space
Our pottery comes in beautiful gift boxes, perfect for wedding gifts, corporate gifts, Christmas gifts or just something beautiful for someone special…………check out our new section for more gift ideas
As part of the Savour Kilkenny festival Andy took part in a beautiful exhibition at the Kilkenny Design Center. There was a food theme going on, lovely colourful work. The show is now over, but the work which wasn’t sold is now available from the main shop. Andy is busy getting ready for a solo show which opens in December at the Waterfront Gallery, in Wesport, Co.Mayo. I’ll keep you posted……….
Jack Dohertys beautiful pottery is still on show in the National Craft Gallery. Its a real treat to see rows and rows of beautiful pots………..
I am still in the land of the living……..it has been forever since I updated my blog. A combination of ‘peak production’ time of year and a trip overseas, has consumed most of my days and nights. The summer months are always flat out for us, I have to make a lot of pots for our own shop, other shops and special orders, other things tend to suffer ie.computer work.
