Staffordshire cats at the Potteries Museum

On the first day of July, I was up at 5am to arrive early in Stoke-on-Trent for a workshop at the Potteries Museum. Thankfully this time the train journey was relatively short, and I was at the museum at around 8.30am. As you can see, our British weather can be rather temperamental; the mini heatwave was over and we were back to being moist and overcast.

  

I set up as usual in my designated space, then went for a little prowl around the museum before it opened; there was something quite delightful about being the only visitor, before the doors were open to the public.

The ceramics collection covers all periods of the Potteries history. 

Some fabulous 20th century work, much of it from the Midwinter studio - 

 - on to the more ostentatious Minton pieces - 

But my favourite collection was of course, the Staffordshire work. 

and these - 

Who wouldn't want a  frog mug? 

A final quick peek of the antique slipware collection, before hastening back to start the workshop. 

So we commenced the day's project, which was to make a needle felted Staffordshire style cat, rather like this one I made earlier in the year. 

They were a lovely group and great fun to work with. For most of them this was their first time needle felting and I think I may have thrown them in at the deep end, as this was not the simplest of things to make. But at the end of the day, when they had all worked their fingers off, everyone had a cat, each with its own personality. 

Another enjoyable workshop - not everyone takes to needle felting, but I think a few people were inspired to carry on with it.

  

My next workshop is scheduled to be on August12th at the Village Haberdashery in West Hampstead, London - more cats, but of a different kind; my circus kitties from the recent 'Mollie Makes' cover. All details and links on my workshop page here.