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Jane Vernon - Ceramics and Textiles

I make a large variety of wheel-thrown domestic pottery, all of which is designed for everyday use and can be used in the oven, dishwasher and freezer. Most pieces, except for "lustre ware" can also be used in the microwave. I use two different clays both fired to stoneware temperature using the "once-fire" or "raw-glaze" method where the pots are glazed when they are bone dry and fired only once, saving time and fuel. Lustre ware has a second firing.

The oatmeal glaze with turquoise star design is produced exclusively for sale in The Made In Stroud Shop and is available in a wide range of items. I am also happy to respond to requests for new items not currently in the range.

Like all my glazes, the oatmeal glaze varies in colour according to temperature in the kiln and the fluidity of the glaze.  This results in a rich diversity of hues, sometimes within each pot as well as between different pots.  Some pieces have areas of blue "flashing", some even becoming mostly blue. If you would like several pieces and prefer items which 'match' this can be arranged to some extent (though no two items can ever be exactly the same) as I can put aside pieces of a similar colour as they appear until there is a set of the number which you require.

Lustre ware

The metal is suspended in a liquid base which allows it to be painted onto a glazed pot. The pot is then fired again and the base burns away leaving the pure metal fused to the glaze.

Most of the lustre-ware I make is in one design and three colourways.  Platinum is used on blue/grey glaze, gold on cream and copper on dark brown.  Mugs are decorated with spots, stars, hearts or fish, cereal bowls with stars and jugs, teapots and fruit bowls with a design incorporating all four motifs.  Please ask if you would like to order other items or any particular combination of shape and decoration.

"Beastly" pots

Lustre is also used to decorate my "beastly" pots. These are oven dishes with handles sculpted in the shape fish or lizards.  Beastly pots are not always stocked in the shop but I do usually have some in stock at my workshop so please ask at the sales desk if you would like to order one. These dishes are designed to be fully functional and can be used in the oven, dishwasher and freezer. Like the other lustre ware they should not be placed in the microwave because of the metal surface decoration.

Other ranges

Similar items to those normally stocked in the shop can be produced using other designs, in the blue/grey or tenmoku glazes, for instance. If you have a particular request, please ask.

Pots available in the oatmeal star range:

• mug
• soup/cereal bowl
• small, medium and large plates
• jugs in five sizes
• teapots in five sizes ranging from 1-mug to 7-mug
• small, medium and large fruit bowls
• sugar bowl
• small and large colanders
• small, medium and large casserole
• butter dish
• oven dishes in various sizes
• small and medium flan dishes
• small and large salt pigs
• cutlery drainer
• spaghetti jar

I try to have all of the above items available in the oatmeal star pattern. If these items are not in stock they can always be ordered.

Cards

I make silk painted greetings cards in bright colours. The designs often follow similar themes as those for my wallhangings but I see the cards as a chance to be more "wacky" with the colour and design of birds, fish, etc, for instance by giving the birds colourful hairstyles. At Christmas I produce a limited range of designs - mainly snowmen, holly, mistletoe, and robins.

Larger silk-painted cards have birds holding ‘age’ balloons.  I generally make these for ‘significant’ adult ages but cards for any age can be made to order.

Textiles

My wallhangings are on show in the shop occasionally.  At any other time, please ask at the sales desk if you are interested in buying one.

Colour is the primary inspiration for my work; I also gain inspiration from Indian textiles, Chinese carpet designs, European embroidery, tiles etc. I tend to come back to the same themes based in the natural world; these include fish (a favourite in all of my work), birds, lizards, elephants and flowers.

I make wallhangings in a wide range of sizes; those displayed occasionally in the shop are usually small to medium and recently new "mini" hangings have been on show more frequently.

Most of the hangings apart from the mini hangings are silk painted as well as stitched. First some of the design is outlined with gutta. This gives some clear boundaries to areas of paint. The areas are then painted in using a variety of techniques.

Parts of the design are applied by machine using other fabrics, either to the painted background or in some cases to a plain fabric. Occasionally some machine embroidery is added at this stage. The rest of the design is worked by hand.

The hangings are backed with a strong cotton fabric and hangers attached. Finally, ceramic pieces, beads or tassels are added to hang from the bottom of the piece.

All the wallhangings are treated with a protective stain repellant which keeps any dirt from penetrating the fabric. Dust may collect on the hangings but is easily removed with a soft brush.

I am always happy to work to commission and can incorporate names, dates etc if you would like a commemorative piece. My textiles look at home in traditional and modern settings

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