It was wet
It was muddy
Photo taken by exhibitor Pat Southwood
Even in the show tents
Photo taken by a squelching Pat Southwood
Even behind the stands the water oozed you needed to dress for Glastonbury and the English Summer
Photo by comfy Pat Southwood
But potters are resourceful and they stayed happy.
These are exhibitor Norfolk ceramacist Pat Southwood’s sleeping arrangements
Those trainers were new and steaming on the kiln but these guys are perfectly happy
There was lots of food choice
But everywhere to eat it got soaked because the rain blew in under the awnings.
On the Sunday the fair had to compete with the Men’s Wimbledon Final, Formula One, The Olympic Torch coming to Hatfield and torrential rain. So there were not many visitors but those who came were very committed and bought.
Anyway who needs visitors as potters all rush round and buy each other’s work. Lift the skirts of any stall and you would see a stash of other people’s pots. Whether real money passed hands between potters I don’t know.
Talkative Anthony Barclay’s stand had the best display I saw.
He has made you see the pots at home without being twee. The half closed cupboard is really clever as then you imagine more glorious pots hidden behind. It works as white space on a page sending your eye back to the pots.
The best newcomer I thought was Liver bird Michelle Cox who is benefiting from the Adopt -a -Potter scheme and is working in Emma Rodger’s studio for a year. Look more closely at the bushy ragglety tail, yup its the hounds in full cry.
Like all the best makers she has no idea how good she is, look how that dog spreads just one claw as he stretches. if you have a dog you know that’s what they do.
This was my major purchase a Hannah McAndrew beauty
I bought it to keep my lovely Doug Fitch jug company which I bought because I saw a video of him making it on his blog and simply needed it
Handmade Lives 
‘Art in Clay’ – well organised, shame about the weather!
I had not been to Hatfield Art in Clay for several years but despite the weather and other events taking place over that weekend, it was a positive experience. Lots of cheerful helpers and the organisers coped with the adverse conditions extremely well.
Let’s hope for better weather next year.
Next ‘Art in Clay’ is at Farnham in November. I will be there.
the ‘questionnaire’ doesn’t work well as I’d like to say that Hatfield is well organised and that I made some money there and that takings were down on last year. Only one box can be ticked!
Richard thank you so much, you can vote for as many as you want to now I have changed the settings to allow for multiple votes as the questions clearly require them.