Happy New Year everyone! The start of a new decade, and hopefully a lot more exciting work being produced from my little studio space on the south bank of the River Thames...
Last year was a time of great creative development for me, partly because of the opening of our new shop and showroom, 'Made in Greenwich', curated by Mary Jane Baxter and the Greenwich Community Development Agency headed by my dear friend, Claire Pritchard.  The shop is in the heart of the beautiful commercial centre of Greenwich, with its wonderful royal and marine history, and stunning architecture. The shop is showcasing work by Greenwich Borough makers, including beekeepers, textile designers and of course, lots of beautiful ceramics.  This year my collaborative work with lampshade and interiors design company, Copperdust, will be available. We will also be hosting workshops, not only in ceramic design, but also in sewing skills, recycling and re-looking clothing as part of our move towards a greener, no-waste revolution in our borough and in our city!
Below are some images of the ceramic lamp bases I have made, with shades by Copperdust.  These are currently on sale at the Made in Greenwich shop. Please message me directly for prices, dimensions etc.
You can also view other items currently for sale in my Etsy shop, JonquilCookCeramics;
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JonquilCookCeramics?ref=search_shop_redirect



Another exciting development in 2019 came in the form of several commissions; an anniversary gift (9 years is traditionally for Pottery!)- a large jug and drinking vessels, all made in black Vulcan stoneware clay and hand-engraved with an original sgraffito design:


I also produced a full dinner service- my first commission of this kind: a full set of plates, bowls and mugs, again designed with full cooperation with the client, adapting the technique and imagery to suit their tastes and requirements.  All pieces are made individually, on the wheel, thrown in the dark stoneware clay, decorated by hand using the cut-away sgraffito technique, and fired to a food-safe 1200 degrees centigrade.  This entire dinner service was consequently shipped to California and arrived safely along with masses of biodegradable packaging materials! thanks UPS!



Finally, just because it's been ages since I updated this blog, here are some pictures of my working process...

New work in progress from Thick As Milk Studio, Woolwich, Borough of Greenwich, London

I am based not far from the Thames now, a couple of miles from where I was born. Loving working in a new, communal space, in wonderful old industrial block near the Woolwich dockyard.  My space is full of air, and light; the clay dries faster than it did in my studio in Burgundy, but that it just one of many of the new adjustments I am having to make these days.
New clay, stoneware temperatures, and experimenting with making my own glazes from raw materials.  Very much drawn at the moment to all things Blue....    WATCH THIS SPACE!

Hand made functional ceramic objects, each piece entirely unique.
To order please visit my shop at : https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Jonquilcook

My workshop is located in the village of Ratenelle, Saone et Loire, France.
Please contact me directly for information or commissions.

Latest work - gallery 2017/18

To order pieces via my Etsy shop please click on the link below:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Jonquilcook

If you are interested in commissioning something unique, please contact me directly by email at:jonquilcook@hotmail.com

My workshop is located at
Le Bourg, Ratenelle, 71290, France.

Some of the plates, jugs and bowls in the 'Forest' series are produced using the same sgraffito techniques as those described below for the cobalt blue fish, but I also make pieces where free-hand drawings over copper green slip provide the decoration.

This image shows the pieces stacked in the kiln just before the final glaze firing.

Before....

And after!

At work decorating a 'tree-pot'. Fortunately I don't have to go too far from my front door for suitable subject matter...