Bring Me Sunshine

It has to be said ... the British Seaside town at the end of February can sometimes be a tad bleak and dreary, bordering on depressing and dead. Not so this place last Thursday afternoon.

That's Mr PotterJotter with eldest daughter and youngest son looking out over the sunlit sea to the horizon. It was bright, breezy and bracing.

The whole promenade was dotted with interesting little art installations - all part of the Tern Project - for more info click here.

The perfect long stroll in glorious sunshine, with lots of interesting things to look at along the way.

And to top it off, afternoon tea was taken at the wonderfully restored, art deco Midland Hotel right on the seafront at Morecambe. I forgot to take a pic of that, though you can read about its renovation if you google it.

All part of a flying visit to see student number one at her University in the North West.

Bring me Sunshine? No problem.
Is it sunny where you are today?

Yes...No...Maybe...OK then...

The oldest, shortest words - 'Yes' and 'No' - are those which require the most thought. Pythagoras.

Well, old Pythagoras may have had me confused at school with his squares and hypotenuses but I am totally with him on the 'yes' and 'no' thing.

Sometime before Christmas I was asked to give a talk to a local Art group, to which I said 'Yes', as it seemed like a good idea at the time. And I am still glad I said 'Yes', even though the talk is taking place tonight and I am now beginning to wonder if I will be able to deliver what they might be expecting. I have never done this before, you see. Eeeek!



But I have learned over the years to say 'Yes' to lots of things that might make me a bit apprehensive, because, in the end, after the event, I have always been glad that I did it and it always worked out fine. Saying 'Yes' has led to new experiences, new opportunities and new people.


I have even said 'yes' to doing a demonstration in The Forum Shop in the centre of Norwich all day one Saturday in April - though am even now considering doing that one in disguise!

Wish me luck for tonight. Do you ever say yes and wish you hadn't but are then glad you did?

Or is it just me?

Read the Signs

Just been tooooo busy to blog lately, sorry! I long for the times when I didn't have a 'list' on the go - I need another holiday!

Last year's holiday was partly spent on Lindisfarne where there were the most amazing expanses of beach with loads of driftwood. Honestly, we didn't have to look for it, we were tripping over it.

Its the best quality driftwood too - looks like its been honed by the sand and sea for centuries - really smooth and tactile.

I collected a few bits, thinking I might do something with them, but not knowing quite what. Now I know what, and I've run out of wood! Wish I'd filled the car boot with it now! Can't find quite the same thing on Norfolk beaches, but will continue the search cos its always good to have an excuse to go to the coast.

Which is where this lot is headed - to a little coastal gallery in North Norfolk, and of course they'll also be available off the website - in a few days' time.

Must remember to keep one back for my own little coastal hideaway - when I get one. Till then I'll just keep on dreaming!

Where's your dream cottage by the sea? And please don't tell me you are already living in it cos I'll be just too envious for words!

Starfish

It happens to be Jules Verne's birthday today - he of 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea' fame. I never read the book but I remember watching the film as a kid and being terrified by the scenes where Captain Nemo is battling with the Giant Squid. Eeek!


I don't think Captain Nemo and his crew would have had the same problems if they had encountered one of my sea creatures. No, its not a squid! Its a stacking starfish - much friendlier.

In fact, let's face it, if the crew of the Nautilus had seen starfish like these at twenty thousand leagues under, they were probably on some kind of hallucinogenic substances!

But I am really pleased with these, which came out of the kiln last week, and the design for the starfish gets wackier each time I make a set.

And yesterday I took delivery of a whole range of new glaze colours, so things are going to get a whole lot more weird and wonderful. Now ... should I make a giant squid ... how many tentacles is that? Hmmmm.