401 1/2 2012 Open Studios new photos!

'Trilobyte' and 'Ammonite' brooches displayed on an Amy Mae Ceramics apron - logo designed and handprinted by Bristol based illustrator and printmaker Lucie Sheridan.

 

Above: new 'Handle with Care' chrysalis frames now available

Below: new 'Snowflake' Christmas decorations made using 

original crochet by Amy Mae Ceramics

 

Above: Detail of 'Button' coaster, hand imprinted into clay.

Below: Close-up of components of original 'Handle with Care' installation (2012)

 

Photographs by Rabia Ahmed

Amy Mae Ceramics is delighted to be showing and selling crafted creations in their new space at 401 1/2 Studios, Wandsworth Road this weekend.  All are welcome to the Preview on Friday evening 6pm-9pm and on both Saturday and Sunday 12pm-6pm.

Looking forward to seeing you there!  Please click on the link below for travel information and opening hours:

www.401studios.org  

End of year exhibition at Kensington and Chelsea College

Thank you to everyone who came to our end of year exhibition at Kensington and Chelsea College.  

'Handle with Care' (below) was my piece for the final major project.

Ceramics, wood and MDF found display case, wood, jute string

Women’s bodies and chrysalises go through irreversible changes during a child’s and butterfly’s development and birth. The Chrysalis is left as an empty shell when the butterfly has formed and flown away. The woman’s body is also a changed vessel, although it regenerates and reknits. ‘Handle with care’ is an instruction to the viewer and but it is also an invitation to consider the perception of women and their integral role in containing and creating new life.

 

 'Period Treasures' entered in the V&A Inspired By... competition

Ceramics, satin fabric, velvet ribbon, acrylic ribbon, padding, card, crochet yarn.

Alex and Phil's blue and white porcelain wedding hearts

 

2nd June 2012
I had a honour and pleasure of working with Alex and Phil on creating porcelain hearts, which doubled as name tags for their wedding breakfast and beautiful favours to keep as a reminder of their celebration.
Made of elegant porcelain and decorated with deep blue details, these hearts matched perfectly with Alex and Phil's blue and white colour scheme.
Congratulations to the happy couple.  Long may you be happy and prosper!

An amazing year!

                                          'Period Treasures' by Amy Heard, 2012

The last year at Kensington and Chelsea College has been an exciting and energising one as I have learnt so much and been given the freedom to let my imagination run loose, whilst keeping within the project set.  My tutors, Lisa Marklew, Akiko Hirai and Chris Bramble, and fellow students have helped me discover what conceptual and technical themes and processes are really at the core of my work.  Thank you for your support and patience.

For our first project on the BTEC National Diploma we were asked to make a piece inspired by items at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington.  It doubled as an entry to the V&A's 'Inspired by...' competition for adult craft learners.

The piece I made in response is called 'Period Treasures' and is inspired by a brass lock from the 1700s.  The concept comes from a play on the meaning of the word 'period'.  The V&A is a huge learning resource, housing all manner of period decoration and embellishment on ceramics, glass, jewellery, furniture, interiors, garden ware and much more.  Periods are an aspect of womens' lives which is sanitised, simplified and hushed up.  Even today they are something we joke or complain about and I wanted to create a beautiful and luscious space for the reclamation of menstruation as a positive reminder of womens' ability to create life and regenerate each month.

I have done so by making a keep sake box for the essential items I use during menstruation.  Intricate decals decorate the surface of an ibuprofen packet and porcelain tampons, which have deep red strings allowing them to be used as necklaces.  These sit on luxurious red satin cushioning. 

The sun shone, the rain fell and a good time was had by all!

Lambeth Country Show was lots of fun and thank you to all who came to see me and my pots over the weekend.  Pot buyers were out in force and many were invited to this weekend's Open Weekend and Sale at North Street Potters at the shop in Clapham.

Here are some pics of me demonstrating.  Many curious onlookers asked questions and a few younger ones helped put slurry on the slabs ready for sticking together.  Perhaps I converted some new potters...

5 fun things I did at the show:

1. Watched my friend Anna win the scarecrow competition

2. Ate churros.  Mmmmm.

3. Gazed at the falconry display and saw a real Bald eagle!

4. Drank cider from a milk bottle.

5. Danced along to Horace Andy

Amy Mae Ceramics @ Lambeth Country Show

Lambeth Country Show
 
16th & 17th July

Who? Amy Mae Ceramics

What? Demo of impressed planters (also for sale)  

When? THIS WEEKEND! Sat 16th July 4pm-7pm and    Sun 17th July 11am-2pm

Where? Brockwell Park, North Street Potters' stall

How do I get there?  

Tube: Victoria line to Brixton then 15 minutes walk 

Buses: from outside Brixton Tube station 

3, 37 and 196 alight at Brockwell Lido or Herne Hill Station stops

or 

2, 432 and 415 alight at Tulse Hill stop and walk back down to the cross road and turn right down Brixton Water Lane.  The park entrance is on the right.

Train: South Eastern trains to Herne Hill

To find out more about Lambeth Country Show go to:

http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Country-Show/index.htm

To find out more about North Street Potters go to:

www.northstreetpotters.com

Chloe's lanterns and new Open Allium planter

Exciting news!  The new 'Allium' range is well under way and here is a picture of the first out of the kiln:

 'Open Allium'

(large -20cm high, 28 cm wide)

'Open Allium'

(large -20cm high, 28 cm wide)

And...as promised Chloe's garden lanterns: