The Great, Great Northern.

Well this week marks the beginning of normality again for me after the last hectic, leg aching, friendship making, learning curve of a week. Here are some highlights, and I reccommend you check out the links;

1. We reached Manchester and set up on the Wednesday. After a fantastic meal at a gem of a pub recommended by my fantastic host, Kim by the sea, Mark left and whilst that was sad; my host Rachel and I watched bake off in our PJs and ate haribo, which softened the blow slightly. If you ever need to stay in Manchester; stay with her!! She is ace!! (Thank you air Bnb) And well done, Nadia.

1. Thursday was awesome. I got up at nine, which is unheard of. Walked into town with Rachel and then went to Manchester art gallery and experienced the fantastic exhibition 'black on black', curated by Jo Bloxham. I cheekily invited her to the private view of the GNCCF-which she came to (she was coming anyway I think, but she got my note!). I also found a very sweet little gallery with a lovely receptionist which was inside a historical library collection, met a friend for lunch at an awesome restaurant called Turtle Bay and had a free starbucks. Cool. ​

2. The private view was amazing, with genuinely decent wine and brilliant conversation. I hope to have forged the beginnings of meaningful connections. I also won an award, sponsored by madebyhandonline! They will be promting me and helping with support for my business. Jo Bloxham also told me to go to Munich, which I am now trying to organise. Another jewellery fair someone has recommended me to go and possibly even exhibit is Joya, in Barcelona. We shall see!

1. I made lots of friends during this trip; Rachel, my host; Becki, her friend (we drank wine and watched sex in the city, in our PJs. And ate haribo. Is there a theme?); Kate Welton, Gemma Louise Taylor, Eva Radulova, Verity Howard and Bridget Macklin -all excellent ceramicists with distinct and separate styles! The highlight of these include being blogged about by Bridget, commissioning Kate for egg cups and Gemma giving me a beautifully crafted milk jug. ILOVEIT. Ooh, also eating cake.

1. On a cake related note, mark turned up on Sunday holding a soy hot chocolate with sugar-free hazelnut shot from Starbucks- he is a keeper.

2. I had several architects like my work, which was a real compliment for me due to the nature of it. I also think I've got some galleries lined up and an exhibition with Leeds Craft and Design centre, so it's a matter of waiting to see what happens from here; the same for potential commissions.

3. After pack down, mark and I went to a FANTASTIC Indian, again recommended by Rachel (and Becki) called Zouk. Definitely go. It's super yummy. But share a rice, they're huge.

I was exhausted on Monday, so my biggest lesson is to take the day after a fair off. I have also learned a bit more about display, showing off my portfolio, having pricing displayed, making to commission and being more forward about selling- but I am not put off. Which is good, because I was TERRIFIED.

-Never again will I work the day after!-

My work will be shown soon in a SELECT stand with Hereford College of Arts and also at The Courtyard in the exhibition cases. Keep an eye out to see them!

It's been good, I've missed you. I'm going to keep a blog more regularly and will start mailing out the blogs so if you want to keep updated please contact my website and I'll add you on!!

See you soon-

All set up; thank you Mark. I instructed.

Pre manchester packing madness. Although this is squeaky clean compared to the cardboard explosion going on in my front room now.