This year, September has been quite a month. Early in the month I had the biggest kiln in the world delivered to my studio. All the way from Germany, it came with a few issues - the first was how to get it off the lorry and the second was how to get it into the studio! Luckily I knew a very nice farmer with a front loader who managed to get it off the lorry and with the help of a few friends we managed to almost drag it into the studio. It's not going anywhere in a hurry.

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Bill from Sedgefield Pottery (who knows all you need to know about kilns) has wired it in and I'm just waiting for the shelves to be delivered to start using it. Meanwhile, I was thinking the kiln needs a name - it's German and its very big :-) Any suggestions?

The main event this month, besides the kiln, was the official opening of my new studio that took place on the 30th.

Red Row, master blacksmith, Stephen Lunn did the honours and officially opened the studio, Credence Brewing from Amble supplied the craft ale, The Running Fox at Felton supplied some gorgeous cakes and Mivesi Indian Restaurant in Alnwick served up delicious street food. Live music was provided by the very talented Cliff Blakey on guitar.

The afternoon/evening turned into quite a gathering with over a hundred people turning up to celebrate the opening. The wine, music and food flowed and people were encouraged to create a glass tile that could then be fused and mounted onto the walls to create a memory of the whole event.

The evening for me was about saying 'Thank you' to all of you who have in some way contributed to my business growing. Whether people had booked a workshop, commissioned a piece of glass work, bought from the shop or helped with words of encouragement, it was an acknowledgement from me to you of how grateful I am. It felt very emotional when I saw how many people turned up - so from the bottom of my heart - a big 'Thank You' for all your support over the years.

(All photography by Lee Kershaw of Northumbrian Images)

September 2017 - A Month To Remember