Sixties week was rather fun I thought. Some dealt with the spot challenge better than others - the key I think was to keep it simple. They wanted a repeat pattern so anything too complex probably wouldn't work so well. Nick's hot rod theme wasn't really a repeat pattern so he went off brief straight away. I thought what he did was really good - great use of colour but not on brief. Personally I liked Christine's better than Jenny's but that is just a personal preference.
So let's talk AJ. She has got to be the lead contender I think. Her making skills are excellent - always a plus - but her design skills are good too. I would be very surprised if she doesn't make it to the final, and then it is all down to whether the make suits her, but as she does seem to be adaptable then whatever it is she must have a good chance.
Great to see Jenny do well, that will boost her confidence. It is questionable whether she should have tied with AJ in Potter of the Week . . . but hey I'm sure they want to share the prizes around.
Quite nice work from Christine, also from Lucinda and Tom. Bizarre pots from Anna - how does that woman always manage to get covered in clay?
The good looking lad from Barry is off back to Wales. he did well and seemed to really enjoy the experience, so good luck Nick.
Not sure I really like the whole 60s look . . . I want to but I struggle to manage it. I think Orla Kiely's work is great but she somehow manages to bring the 60's up to date with a wonderful graphic simplicity, she is sort of sixties pattern at its best. Maybe it's the whole leopard skin glaze effect, or the difficulty of getting a really crisp pattern but I struggled to like the pieces this week. But the potters did really well in what was a difficult make - so hats off to them all.
