a new craft

Alfie and were fortunate enough to be invited to spend the morning at the nelson community potters by our dear friend Tony Schraufnagel, who is a very talented artist from Texas. He and his family have been living here in Nelson for the past year and in around 4 weeks time they will all will be heading back to Texas. We hope that they will return one day. Tony is teaching pottery to children over the holidays and was kind enough to ask if Alfie and I would come along and give it a go.

This is the inside of the building looking towards the work tables at the back. I had never been into a pottery (is that what they are even called?) before and had no idea what to expect.

alfie had a fantastic time making shapes and rolling the clay out. They had moulds of many different shells and he loved using those and pretending that he was finding fossils.

The kids lined up ready to use the wheels

My lump of clay ready for me to have a go. I was so nervous about this. Tony had stressed that it was someting that took a lot of practice b ut he was also very deterined that I give it a go. I am so glad he got me on there

I'd just like to point out that this is tonys hand first of all. I may have rather large unfemine hands but they are not quite as hard worked as his

And this is my finished attempt at a bowl. I am quite proud of it to tell you the truth. I had so much fun and found it so satisfying. I am determied to go back again as many times as possible before Tony leaves for the states and who know, perhaps I will try and continue after he has gone.

This is Alfies finished work. His hand, which he carried around a lot which is why the fingers are all a little skewed. He cant wait to go back and paint it.

This was such an amazing experience, one that I would love to repeat many many times. It was one of the most enjoyable mornings I have had in a long long time.