In ten days time my daughter Veronica is getting married. I have been to the edge of hysteria and back a couple of times in the past few days, but as always it has been the mental picture of Tim Brooke Taylor running around shouting, “I am a teapot” that has saved me.
I am a potter after all and I know a thing or two about teapots. Fiddly bloody things they are. Tea pots require precision and patience, two virtues that I am not overendowed with at all, and when one’s only daughter is getting married in ten days time there is never room for hysterics. Mild panic and hyperventilation I can deal with, but hysteria will never do.
I had grand plans of making stacks and stacks of plates for Veronica’s wedding, lovingly crafted and beautifully glazed. I had visions of friends and family eating cake and commenting on how lovely it was to eat from handmade plates. Of course whilst not wanting stealing the limelight from the bride, I nonetheless discretely basked in the glow that was my due as Mother of the bride and erstwhile creator of fabulous plates.
It was a lovely daydream, I was even wearing a fabulous hat with purple roses.
But of course time is fluid in my world and suddenly all the time I had to make those glorious plates had vanished in the twinkle of an eye and my deadline was looming. It was November the first and I of course was plateless as well as hatless.
So I set to work and made some plates for my girl. Not the hundreds that I had seen in my dreams, but enough for a lucky few to admire from a distance, if they make it out of the kiln in time.
The kiln is cooling down as we speak and I should be able to open it tomorrow. If the Kiln Gods are smiling on me, all the wedding ware should emerge unscathed and uncracked and I can get down to the serious business of glazing the bloody things.
The deadline is now, rather tight.
Comments on this entry are closed.
nothing like a deadline to get the adrenalin flowing!!!
hugs
I have hurt my back as well Pixie so I have spent the last two days hobbling around the place being very cranky at the inconvenience. But today It is feeling a bit better. Your cups are also in the kiln and fingers crossed I will be able to fire them as well 🙂
What a glorious gift for your daughter. My husband turns wood and his bowls have become family treasures. There is something so wonderful about an artist in the family who makes the things we use. Good luck with the plates and the wedding.
Thank you Elisabeth. I am quite happy with how these plates have turned out so far. Fingers crossed they look as nice once I have glazed them.
Ah, the Tim Brooke Taylor method, things are stressful. I’m more of a “Funky Gibbon” kind of girl, in times of stress, but hey whatever works right? No matter how many plates come out, the time, effort, and love that have gone into them is what counts. It’s a truly lovely gift that I’m sure Veronica will treasure them. I’m sure the wedding will be lovely. No matter what happens logistically, it’s the love and friendship that is shared on the day that counts. Good Luck.
I do so want to swan about the place in a glorious hat though 😉
I’m with everyone else. No matter how many plates you produce they are made with love and with generous dollops of talent as the cherry on top.
I am sure that all of you will have a wonderful day – and will be able to breathe again afterwards.
I am quite calm really. As long as I don’t think too deeply about the millions of tiny details I am calm.
Goddamn you are a true artist. I’m going to tweet you randomly about teapots, in the inevitable freakout-lead-up to the big day.
and I will just sing at you.
Fingers crossed!! xxx
The plates will be beautiful.
I’d like to see pictures of you swanning about in a hat with purple roses though.
you are one amazing mum, woman and future mother-in-law ……..xxx
And beautiful plates for the bridal table they will be…..big breaths baby…It is going to be a SPECTACULAR day and I am so happy to be able to be a part of it. XXXX
Fingers crossed they make it out of the kiln okay. 🙂
Dear Kim,
I would rather just throw and build plates/pots and let someone else do the glazing! Lots of luck with your firings. What a wonderful thing to do for your daughter’s wedding. I wish that you all have a wonderful wedding day, especially the SERENE mother of the bride.