Spring is in the air ( well almost)

Hello Dear friends, hope you are staying cosy. Mikey the cat wants nothing more than to cuddle up on my lap these days and I'm sorely tempted to allow him! If I want to know where he is other than this, I just go and look in the spare room and find the lump under the quilt, forget about guests! 
Mikey has claimed that one.

So, what's going on in the studio? Well, my friend Mary wanted to have a throwing lesson yesterday. Did you know how the term 'throwing' came about? 
Around 2500 years ago, only the wheel head was on the ground and only men were allowed to be potters ( typical!) lols. 
They would sit cross-legged on the ground in front of the wheel, then wind a string around the wheel head, which was attached to a big heavy stick. They would throw the stick which would force the wheel to go round like a top!
Well, we had a little play. Throwing is not my forte, although I do enjoy the experience. After a while, there was a definite electrical scent to the air and when I felt the side of the wheel base it was warm. Needless to say, this bit of equipment will need servicing before we have another attempt. It was a gift and I haven't used it before.
 I looked at the last test label and it was 1992! Please don't report me to the 'Elf and safety! lols. 
The newest idea is holding kids birthday parties, a 2 hr session for £20 pp. Loads of fun and something to leave for firing and later collection.
Pictures to follow as I have my first booking this Friday. Parents are welcome to attend and in fact at least one must be there to take photos and help out. Age range 8-16 years, max' 8 numbers.

Still not much to report in the way of new work, although the ideas still pile up in my mind. Eventually, they will have to spill over into something practical. 
I have a mermaid project to do and found this beautiful image online. Have no idea who to give credit to, maybe someone can help me out? 
Many thanks to Jack Allison for finding out that this picture is named 'Havfruen' by Elisabeth Jerichau Baumann. c1873.
I will be looking for more of her beautiful work.

Definitely, Arts and Crafts period, my love for this style has endured since I was a teenager.
Translating this into a 3D sculpture is going to challenge my technical skills big time. 
Watch this space and please be kind enough to share. Many thanks and lots of love Lucinda