Still working away, both in the studio and my retail job (the one that's bringing in the bucks at this moment in time). It's funny how both seem to have picked up at just about the same time and I'm quite excited about what's going on with, and at, both of them.

There were some issues with Health & Safety at the studios so the group didn't have access for about 3 weeks while the Fire Dept. looked into things and appropriate Fire H&S equipment was fitted. Then I had to wait to get my H&S induction completed; it was hard to fit in with when I wasn't working in the shop. But I got back in eventually and fired another bisque at end of last week, which I hope went well as I had to leave my things with the girl I share my studio space with, as I was going off to work in the Birmingham branch of the company for 4 days. I just got back last night after an amazing but very challenging and busy time away and as I have a day off from the shop I'll be in the studio for a few hours today working on things.

The biggest issue right now is finding a kiln to fire in for the post-bisque firing. The Symbiosis vessels have salt and seaweed inside the paper saggars and since salt corrodes kiln elements in an electric kiln I'm having problems locating someone with a kiln that will let me fire in it... What I really need is access to a gas kiln! Also, firing combustibles obviously creates smoke and people don't want that in their workshops either, so again, need to find someone with a kiln who won't mind... My first stop to check will be the arts department of the local college to see if they a) have a gas kiln and b) would let me use it. I'm really hoping so! Next step if that falls through would be to put up a notice at one of the arts centres for a kiln share with a local potter.

I'm still feeling very positive about things and positively buzzing with energy from the Birmingham trip. I really, really, REALLY hope going back to "my" shop on Friday won't be a downer...