Years and years ago, a friend offered us a tool that had been rusting in their shed. We had no clear idea what it was for exactly, but I have never been known to turn down tools so we collected it (it required two people to lift it) and installed it in a corner of my shed, where it sat rusting for the next eight years or so.

Meanwhile, Seatree grew and developed. We always made pieces that were framed, and at first, like many crafters, we used the ubiquitous and extremely cheap Ikea frames, but pretty soon it became obvious that we needed to move on from these.

We had moved house by then, and the rusty tool came with us. It was time to clean it up, oil it and see what it could do. Turns out that it is a foot-operated Morso cutter, essentially a massive guillotine for cutting wooden frames to a perfect mitre. It is heavy, industrial and looks like something from the 1950’s, and now it has new sharp blades, it goes through wood with remarkable efficiency.

Also, sadly it cuts though fingers with even more efficiency! Turns out the perspex guard is there for a reason!

At first, we made frames out of whatever wood we had to hand- bits of old oak ripped into shape on the table saw, driftwood shaped and sanded, even beach-found pallets shaped then painted.  This was sometimes problematic however as the wood was not always stable, shrinking as it continued to dry out, which of course, is not a good thing in a frame. Still, we managed to get some good results.

Eventually I tracked down a picture framing materials supplier in Glasgow. The first time I went in, I was faced with that masculine nightmare- the trade counter. Behind the trade counter was a man who spoke a different language to me and I stuttered my way through a conversation, conscious of the queue forming behind me. To both my embarrassment and gratefulness, one man stepped forward. He ran a picture framing shop in Kilmacolm and carefully told me what I needed, and offered as much future advice as I could ever need. What a lovely bloke.

These days, we make all our own frames, as well as the occasional job for other people. In fact, one of our poly tunnel frames was given to us in exchange for doing some picture framing, which has a certain symmetry!

For our ceramics, we have evolved a method for framing that uses deep box frames, without glass (glass tends to ‘flatten’ the ceramics, making it look less raw somehow), and then we ‘suspend’ the pieces by bring them forward on blocks, as if they are floating. This works particularly well on pieces of ceramics that are not fully straight, which enhances the ‘float’.

Here are some pieces of framing I completed yesterday. Some of them will be in our on-line shop soon!

Better get stuck in to the next ones…

 

Chris and I started our poetry and pottery business without any formal qualifications in our chosen artistic pursuits (English or ceramics.) This meant lots of trying, failing and experimenting but also lots of support and encouragement and tips along the way from others. We are so thankful to friends and family who have believed in us, to galleries and to fellow artists who encourage and inspire us.  How else do we learn if not from each other?

 

We love is to pass this on when we can – to see others exploring, creating, learning and surprising themselves. We run workshops in both pottery and poetry – or sometimes a combination of the two, which we love. Chris has also curated two books of other people’s poetry, giving many poets their first taste of publication, which he sees as a massive privilege.

 

 

There is some information here about our upcoming workshops... making some wee sculptures, a day of beach-combing, poetry and pottery, a beginners’ course, a workshop to make some whisky tumblers… We’d love to see you here. Clay is so therapeutic and we have a cosy garden workshop with a log burner and a kettle. As well as the planned workshops, we also take bookings for family groups, hen parties, team meetings or a group of pals just wanting an evening out doing something creative. Let us know your own ideas.

 

 

But I also want to let you know that we can sometimes hire out studio and kiln space to those of you keen to START your own creative hobby or business. We love seeing what others create – It may be from the same substance (clay) but what a variety of design and style is possible. It’s also fun opening the kiln to be surprised (in a good way!) by other people’s range of colours. If you fancy being a part of the gang, give us a shout – or if you aren’t local, maybe find out what is happening in your area.

 

As well as the creative side of what we do, there is also the less exciting, but essential, business of running a business. It can also help to share this process so we meet with others to review and plan and have even arranged a virtual group for encouraging one another to getting our tax returns done in April this year!

 

Small businesses are about relationships. How else could they succeed?

 

 

 

 

 

This piece was first published on www.thisfragiletent.com but it seemed relevant to some of our previous discussions about seatree!

Here is my contention; being an artist can have a serious impact on your mental health.

There is a compulsion that drives people who are creative to create. Those of us who find space, finance and time to pursue this compulsion are truly blessed. We are living the dream, right?

But our art, whatever the medium, is a fickle thing. As soon as we think we have it, it flies away. Sometimes it seems that what we are seeking is always just beyond reach.

There are obvious reasons for this, to do with the nature of art, its indefinable qualities and the value we place upon it. How do we know that what we are creating is good? And even if it is good, why is it not better?

Perhaps it is about recognition- but this is dangerous. Few will be honest to our faces.

Perhaps we need to rely on people we trust?

But these people will typically be our peers- making their own art. Art that will be different to ours. Better.

Perhaps then it is about commercial success- the degree to which people buy what we make. But that too is a fools game, for the commercial world has many rules of success that have nothing to do with excellence, or depth of meaning.

Even those who have known a measure of success (however we measure it) tend to be riven with doubts about their ability to repeat it. If a potter has made the perfect pot, a musician the sweetest song, a painter a picture that brings people to tears, the expectancy of everyone is that they will simply do it again. They will have no idea that for each piece of perfection, there have been a hundred pieces that have been mediocre. We start to believe that lightening struck, but can not strike twice.

I think that art arises from unfulfilled yearning. From a longing for encounters with something deeper, something more meaningful, perhaps something beautiful. For many of us, there is a deep satisfaction discovered in process- in the shaping of our raw material. For some too, there is orgiastic release in performance, but ultimately, once the work is done, we have to return to the ordinary mess of our ordinary lives, which are occupied not just by the me-centric nature of creativity, but have to embrace the compromise of community.

If these words are resonating with you, then perhaps you are my sister, my brother, in the family of Almost. Almost finished. Almost good. Almost satisfied.

Perhaps though, as a new year unfolds, it is time to show our artistic selves a little of the compassion we might offer to others. I wrote the list below to myself, and for the rest of the Almosts.

No piece of art is ever perfect. We will all fail more than we succeed.

An unfinished piece is not a piece at all.

What value have the opinions of others anyway? If art is truly great, it will divide opinion almost by definition.

Create first from your heart and soul. It might not be the way to riches, but it is your only truth.

Fear kills creativity. I don’t mean performance anxiety, I mean fear of failure. They are not the same thing.

Money fears are particularly destructive. How much do you need, really?

Sometimes you can, sometimes you can’t. It is the human condition, so get over it. You are not an art robot.

Do it anyway, because what else is there?

Rather than hoping for encouragement, find others to encourage. Regard this as penance for your own self-centredness. Let this create connection.

Collaborate when you can, but don’t be afraid to say no.

There are lots of things more important than art- even though it might not seem like it at times.

Art is not bigger than God for example.

But God can be found in art.

 

Time to take stock…

In creating this new website, we moved some old blogs articles and it felt quite nostalgic looking back to when we first started, working out of our old cellar, developing business and pottery skills with Pauline – and now, here we are, Chris and I working together on our business at home and making ends meet…

It’s amazing to look back at how things have developed and we feel so blessed to be giving this a go. We are hoping though to build on our sales, to be ready to take on another exhibition if the chance arose, to look for more opportunities to work on larger commissions. It’s quite exciting really to be ready for those things. We were disappointed recently not to get the chance to take on an artist residency we saw advertised for the summer – but exciting just entertaining the possibility – who knows what the future holds.

So, step one, improve the website and update the Etsy shop (ongoing).

Step two, build another polytunnel to make ourselves as self-sustainable as possible and keep our bills down (done).

Step three, contact some more galleries and shops that might want to stock our work (on going)

Step four, keep our eyes peeled for more opportunities to develop what we do (on going).

Step five, sort out new chicken coop (done).

And step six, speak nicely to our friends and followers – without your support, we wouldn’t be doing this – every like on facebook, every share, every kind word about what we make – it keeps us going! Thank you for your orders and purchases and thank you to the galleries for supporting us – but thank you too for all the other ways you support us – we couldn’t do it without you!

 

Now for the next leg of the journey…

Thank you so much to everyone who came along and showed their support at Cowal Open Studios last weekend. Hello to the new email followers! Thanks too to everyone who purchased from us or booked into workshops. We look forward to seeing you over the next few weeks.

Speaking of workshops, if you are interested in finding out more…

… click on the blue for more information

Friday evening’s workshop gives you the chance to make a plant pot and saucer… £25

Kids and Clay starts back on October 26th after school… £30 for three weeks.

Teen Times starts back on October 20th on Saturday mornings… £50 for five weeks.

Don’t miss out on our really special day on Saturday December 1st…
Eat, Drink and Be Merry – in conjunction with the lovely Scottish Wild Picnics..

… sorry to mention the ‘C’ word, but

We are busy preparing for the coming season!

Call by any time if you are local. Alternatively, we sell on Etsy...

We will also be at the Briggait again for Etsy Made Local on Sunday December 2nd and have our own pottery sale at the studio on Saturday December 8th.

We have vouchers too which can be any value and used for purchases or for workshops – ideal for Christmas gifts!

Meanwhile – do keep in touch with us! Sometimes we get so busy making for orders and shops that we forget to tell you what we’re up to, so give us a nudge every now and then and tell us your news…