How did we get on with Art in Clay at Hatfield? Marvellously.

It was cold. We didn't expect that cold in August. But we finished the event with a warm glow. We had a great result. It was a roller coaster ride. Friday we did extremely well. Saturday was a bit disappointing. Then Sunday was again good. So by Sunday mid afternoon. Mike and I were very happy. We were glad that all efforts we had put in for the preparation had paid off.

It was a physically tough one to prepare. Any first time at an event requires more thinking, more planning and more efforts to prepare than those you have done before. This was also first time outdoor event for me. Stands are on an uneven field. Mike took literally several months to make the stand display. I also had no idea what would sell. So I took/made four times the stock I usually sell at CAL. (I always take three times of the stock I expect to sell to avoid the stand looking bare on the last day.) We both had virus a few weeks prior to the show. I also tweaked my back; I had not been able to work for 3 weeks in studio. We both felt the pressure.

Being outdoors had worried me a lot. I am not an outdoor person. You won't see me hiking or sleeping in a tent. Imagining me standing in the field (ok, in a marquee) for 4 days really made me apprehensive. Then I heard about the biting insects. Agh, the last things I would like to see! But it was so cold and wet on Friday, we didn't see the well-known biting insects during the show. Instead we saw a toad during take down on the last day!

Bot large and small works usually sell well at CAL, but not at Hatfield. We sold mainly large works, but relatively fewer small animals.

Two Angels have gone to a lovely lady who already owns one of my large pieces and another Angel.

Angels - two Angels from left -sold

Then Alice went to a lovely lady from Surrey.

Alice - sold

Another lady had two masks. Flower girl in Patras and Spring garden. Flower girl was one of the three works inspired by the image of the skull with ceramic wreath in Patras, Greece.

Flower girl in Patras - sold

Spring garden - sold

Here is my stand. The photo was taken just before the show started.

My stand.

On Saturday, quite a few animals and spoons went. The lovely two ladies came. One lady went home with Ancient oaks after a long deliberation. She said she should choose very carefully as she is going to live with the mask all the rest of her life. She is right!

Ancient oaks - sold

Sunday was usually not the best day for sales in our experience, but that Sunday was great!

The spell pod went to a lovely ceramic artist. She held her in her hands, and told me that she chose her as she felt her heart beating faster. How wonderful!

The Spell pod
The youngest fairy god mother - sleeping beauty - sold

The details

    '...but, instead of dying, she shall only fall into a profound sleep, which shall last a hundred years, at the expiration of which a king’s son shall come and awake her.'

Then a gentleman from New York spotted Cherry. She is now in NY waiting for the delivery according to tracking information. How exciting for Cherry to be able to live in such an exciting city! She had known only a quiet part of Canterbury.

Cherry - sold

Then a lovely lady came and chose Dawn chorus.

Dawn Chorus - sold

Thank you so much! We had a great time to meet you, and to have a chat with visitors. We were also lucky to be surrounded by lovely exhibitors. We made good friends. We are keen to return next year, this time with winter clothes, just in case.

P.S. Hello, the lady who bought a Giant Anteater. You pound will go to Sittingbourne Greyhound rescue next time they come to Canterbury. I will add mine, too. Thank you so much!