Pooles Plight

I just know you have been waiting to find out if I made my deadlines before Easter. Did I manage to get pieces to the exhibition at Showborough as well as ready for Preston Bagot before going on holiday. Well I am sure you will be glad to know that I did, although the pressure was relieved somewhat by our holiday being cancelled.

However I was just calming down a bit when I got a request to provide items for an exhibition in the NHS trust hospitals starting the same week as Preston Bagot. To make sure I had enough to choose from I had to race over and retrieve some pieces from The Red House Glass Cone where I had had some pieces displayed for 12 months. What a relief when everything was safely delivered. Now I have just got to decide what I have to sell at the Kenilworth Festival on 16th May. Oh dear I think I need to make some more glass. Hilary Poole

Spring Exhibition at Preston Bagot

On Friday night SAF held the Private view of their Spring Exhibition at Preston Bagot. There was a good turn out and the weather could not have been better. Helen Carslake of the Art Barn at the Old Rectory hung the exhibition and supplied plenty of good food and drink which was eagerly consumed by the gathered throng. However it was noted that when I left at the end of the evening some folks were sauntering back from the Crabmill pub having had a liquid top-up.

The selected works showed the diversity of the group and a wide range of skills and the pieces all sat together well as a complete exhibition. The Barn is open for viewing until Sunday 25th April, 10am-6pm daily. Jackie Mackay

Hilary's Smashing Time in the Garden

Had a bit of a disaster last weekend. I went in the studio and found that the Green Man hanging sculpture (shown above) had fallen from its temporary hanging space and more than 50% of it was in pieces on the table. It is made from Stella bottles and I only had two in my bottle box – I needed three to make a new cap for the top as well as lots more bits for the bottom. Fortunately when I went inside some one had just emptied another one. However It takes at least two kiln firings to make the cap and there was no space in the kiln because I was doing things for the Preston Bagot exhibition. I was running out of time. The sculpture and the Preston Bagot photos have to be delivered this weekend. Will I complete them in time? Watch this space - updates after Easter. Hilary Poole

Hilary Poole at Preston Bagot

SAF member Hilary Poole has some of her glass in the Autumn Exhibition at the Old Rectory Barn, Preston Bagot. The current exhibition is of quite traditional work and looks very good in the space. Car parking is at the side of the barn but can be a bit of a hassle if there are quite a few visitors.

If you have a spare couple of hours this weekend have a trip out there since we are considering this venue for a possible exhibition (also the farm opposite sells Dexter Beef – excellent with a full-bodied red). The exhibition runs until Sunday 18th 10am-6pm. JM