Introducing a fine new range of rather jaunty hand made and hand painted porcelain and antiqued brass cufflinks…
Hand Painted Porcelain Cufflinks
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Category Archives: pictures
Mr Peacock Legs
Introducing the fabulous Mr Peacock Legs mug… Designed to fit in with the fabulous Peacock Tea Towel already in the As the Crow Flies home ware range, Mr Peacock Legs comes in several different guises. In the larger size (9.2cm high x 8.5 cm diameter), you can choose from a black or the new summer magenta version; each one is printed front and back with hand-applied decals, plus playful gangly legs dangling on the inner rims. The magenta version also has his name inscribed in scroll script on the outside. What’s not to like, as they say?
Brand New Doily Ware
Particularly pleased with the treasure I found in the kiln this morning…
This is a new colourway and vintage lace design that I’ve been trialling for my ever-popular Doily Ware range. The tactile smooth porcelain with it’s warped curves goes beautifully with the intricacy of this hand made lace. Colours include pure cobalt and copper oxides as well as a limited palette of carefully chosen underglaze colours. Shown below is the doily mug and large bowl, with a cobalt blue doily jug using the classic striking vintage lace pattern. I think they complement well.
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New Products: Nasturtium Soap Dishes
As the Crow Flies studio has been busy of late after some frustrating time off with a slipped disc…
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Functional pots; responding to India
I need to work further into this idea, but I was charmed by India’s functional usage of pots. Although the use of unglazed earthenware vessels as diposable street-ware is dwindling sadly, it’s still perfectly normal to drink tea or lassi from a crude, beautiful, unique little pot in the street (and surreptitiously squirrel it in my bag rather than dash it to the ground!). They are so conical in shape, with tiny bases – designed for handheld use, not setting a table. I got home and couldn’t wait to try churning out a set of these…
Functional pottery, Indian style
In Rajasthan, just as city merchant districts can have streets full of nothing but bathroom fittings or paper ream shops (Old Delhi is a stunning example of this premise), out in the sticks you can come across an entire village of potters. Continue reading
India Inspired
Ahhh, India… I’ve wanted to come to this country for 20 years, and 2014 finally brought home the goods – a month in Rajasthan. Such a joyous riot of colour and pattern and vibrant living, a mass of inspiration. Here are just a very few of my favourite images from a yet-to-be-sifted haul of photos. Continue reading
Dragonflies and Thistles
Had the pleasure of going home to Fife for a week last month and took up a load of wares and commissions to show and sell to friends and family. Aside from the excitement of our triple birthday (me, my dad and my brother-in-law share the same date and traditionally blow out our candles together, something I wouldn’t miss for the world), it was great to share what I’ve been doing over the past 6 months with everyone.
New illustrative work in stoneware and earthenware
Just a quick post to share some images of a couple of pieces of commission work I have recently finished… a great pleasure to make and so nice to have the opportunity to really stretch out the creative juices.
Number one is a bespoke set of nasturtium illustrated earthenware – 2 large mugs and a serving bowl…
Number two some Birds in Flight sgraffito decorated stomeware bowls…
Doily ware – handbuilt porcelain
I’m really getting a positive response from people on my handbuilt porcelain ware. I use ‘slab-building’ for this (although you could hardly call the sheets of porcelain that I roll out as ‘slabs!’) and press moulding for the bowls. The techniques, with really thin fine porcelain produce slightly warped pieces – all uniquely shaped but with a strong design which ties them together. The imprinted design, using a vintage lace doily which is first bisque-fired, is hand painted using a variety of oxides and underglazes before firing again with a transparent glaze to create a really vibrant colourful piece… The range is expanding; it’s gone from jugs through teapot stands all the way to limited edition jewel caskets!
As the Crows Fly 