Well, what a difference a month makes! It seems that W now we’re getting April , May and June all at the same time. Heavy showers, hot sun and all the flowers coming at once. My cow parsley is interspersed with poppies, the bees are covering the hawthorn and, at last, it’s consistently warm enough to plant out the vegetables that have been lurking under cover.
I don’t think there are many things nicer than eating outside. With the restrictions lifted on the number of people gathering together, I’m looking forward to a summer of al fresco family dining using handmade dishes and plates. Part of the attraction is having mismatched tableware, each piece unique and bringing its own story to the table (sorry!).
The first plates I ever made are rather heavy, unwieldy things, but my children will choose to use them over all our other plates, not only because they prefer the shape, size and colour, but they love the fact that I actually made them. They don’t notice the flaws – which stick out like a sore thumb to me – they’re just ‘Mum’s plates’, and that brings me joy every time. I like to pick up tableware by ‘proper’ potters, too, and each piece is one that has appealed to me in one way or another. Looking at them objectively, there’s nothing that really ties them together, no particular colour palette or style; I just fell in love with them, and each brings back a memory. Most of these were acquired at summer shows, and how lovely it is to see the number of events that will be held this year.
It’s been a really tough time for everyone, and I’ll certainly enjoy visiting as many events as I can and supporting potters by buying from them. After all, there’ll soon be the Christmas table to fill!

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• Bloomberg Businessweek USA – June 21, 2021
• World Soccer – July 2021