The Unnamed Arts Festival

Today Tiverton hosted the 3rd Unnamed Arts Festival. This is a free arts festival run by a family of amazingly talented folks right here in town. You can find out more about them here.

Last year wasn't my most successful day out, largely I think due to the festival falling on one of the the hottest days in 2022. Having said that, it was still a brilliant event crammed with talented people and their arts and crafts. So, when I heard there was another planned for 2023 I didn't hesitate to put my name down.

Then I checked my diary and realised I was double booked. Idiot.

The Unnamed were very understanding and offered me a pitch on the Sunday instead, which I of course accepted.

FFWD to this morning.

Setting up

At this point I was starting to wonder if I was going to get set up in time for the 10am start! My stall is never the same twice, mainly because I am always trying new forms or glazes. I don't mind this, but it does mean that setting up takes longer than it needs to!

In the end I was set up with time to eat the bacon roll that Trish from Rowan & Roses' husband had brought us! Well, after the gazebo and table wrestling of the morning, we'd earned it!

After faffing a bit, then a bit more, I was quite pleased with the overall appearance of my stall - I've learned over time to put a piece with this glaze on at the corners of the tables where it catches people's eye! It's definitely my best selling glaze - you all seem to love it!

It seemed to work today, and before long this was the first piece I sold! I hope it's happy and well used in it's new home.

As ever the atmosphere at the Unnamed Arts Festival was absolutely lovely - there was a DJ, a coffee vendor, a pizza van and a bar, as well as the local High School students fund raising for their upcoming trip to Kenya and other stall holders.

Tiverton is usually quite quiet on a Sunday but the DJ seemed to be drawing people in and there was a steady flow of visitors, and - good for me - a steady stream of sales!

Between sales, Trish from Rowan & Roses (check out her handmade silver jewellery - it's stunning) and I put the world to rights and drank coffee!

The time flew past and at 4pm we all started to pack up. This is definitely the worst part of a craft fair or market!

Not today though! I LOVE it when I take home less than I brought and I especially love it when it's a LOT less than I brought as it was today. My stock is much depleted and I've a busy couple of weeks coming up with 2 glaze firings to complete before my next market.

On a real high from the Festival, and having packed everything away until next time, I planned our takeaway and then checked on the pieces I made yesterday. In the heat they'd dried far too much and were pretty much unsalvageable and so instead of lying on the sofa with a cold G&T, I spent the remainder of the afternoon trying (and sort of succeeding) to hustle them back to life!🤷🏼‍♀️

Ceramics certainly has a way of making sure you keep both feet on the ground! 🤦🏼‍♀️