Notes from Herridge – Edition 03
Hello, and welcome to the latest edition of Notes from Herridge
A short monthly ritual from the studio where I’ll share what I’ve been working on, where I’m heading next, and spotlight a fellow maker whose work I love (and I hope you will too!).
Grab a coffee and lets catch up.
Studio Happenings
This month has been a busy and joyful one in the studio! I finally completed the hug vase commission; my largest piece to date, weighing in at 6kg, and it was such a privilege to finish something that will be treasured for years to come. The family who commissioned it came to the studio while it was still soft to hug and shape it together as part of a 10th anniversary celebration. Both children left their marks too, I can point out exactly whose chin dimple is where, and even the little dent made by the baby’s head! It was such a special process to be part of. Alongside that, I’ve also been working on several smaller commissions, from handmade, customised pet bowls to feasting bowls, some bespoke, others just missed the last shop update!
August also brought my biggest month of online sales yet. THANK YOU! A large part of that has been down to pet bowls. I honestly never thought I’d become known as the pet bowl lady (I always assumed it would be my feasting bowls!) but if that’s what you all love and want to spend money on, I am more than happy to facilitate.
And of course, there was Henley Country Craft Show at Stonor Park. It was such a joy to meet new people, catch up with friends and customers in person, and spend the weekend surrounded by fellow makers. We were lucky to be placed next to Oscar Phillips of Bumblebee Forge, who hand-makes the most incredible garden metalwork from his forge just outside Henley. Swapping notes with him on which markets to attend next has got me very excited about popping up in a few new places in the months ahead!
What’s Coming Up
Next up is the Henley Agricultural Show on Saturday 13th September. This will be my first agricultural show as a potter rather than helping my dad in the cattle lines, which will be a bit of a change! I’m hoping to sneak a quick wander round though, there’ll be classic cars, tractors, sheep and cattle showing, horse classes (including the magnificent heavy horses), ploughing matches, and of course a line-up of brilliant makers. It should be a wonderful day out.
I’ll also be starting the dreaded Christmas prep this month (sorry for using the C-word so early!). I intend to update the website for Christmas around mid-Novmber and I have a few markets lined up before now and then so it's going to be a very busy couple of months building up stock. If you already know you’d like something made as a gift, please do get in touch sooner rather than later. Normally, I can turn commissions around in 4–6 weeks, but this becomes tricky once the festive rush begins, not to mention the courier deadlines!
Finally, I’ve had some promising conversations about stocking Herridge in another local shop. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to share more on that later this month.
Maker Spotlight – David Wright
This month, I’d love to shine the spotlight on my fellow potter, David Wright, who I had the pleasure of showing alongside at Stonor Park.
David first learnt to throw at school (he even managed to take an ‘O’ level in ceramics!) but put it on hold to pursue a career in medicine, becoming a vascular surgeon. His approach to pottery now has all the hallmarks of an surgeon and engineer, he’s constantly tinkering, testing, and refining processes to make them more efficient.
One of my favourite examples of his ingenuity is his 2-in-1 pedestal bowl/cake stand. The pedestal can be detached and swapped onto different bowls or plates, and when not in use, the pieces neatly stack inside one another. At Stonor, he also displayed a series of solar-powered water features. The sound of trickling water on those hot days was a real show-stopper, drawing so many people into the stand.
What I admire most about David’s work is the sense of fun and originality he keeps at the heart of it all whilst maintaining a keen eye on practicality. With 40+ years of experience and a wonderfully logical mind, he’s become a key sounding board for me whenever I need to problem-solve. I feel lucky to have such a generous and inspiring fellow maker nearby.
If there’s a maker, potter or otherwise, local or further afield, whose work you think deserves the spotlight, I’d love to hear from you. Just comment below with their name. And if I can get to their studio, I absolutely will! Stepping into someone’s creative space brings a whole new layer of insight. You see the context, the process, and what the work gives back to the maker, it’s always deeply rewarding.
A little something just for you…
As a thank you for reading all the way down, here’s a small treat:
Use code NOTES03 for 10% off online orders until Sunday 07th September.
And if you don’t already follow along on Instagram, I’d love it if you did. Even if you’re not the biggest social media fan, it really helps me grow my network, both by connecting with you directly and by showing the algorithm that Herridge is in demand, which means it puts my work in front of more people. Every follow, like, or comment truly makes a difference.
Until next time,
Henrietta x