Work in progress. Inspired by my best mate at uni, and the only other blacksmith, who went over to the dark side and spent more time in the wood workshop than the forge

I've been out of teaching a year and had 1 A-level student once a week, so I didn't expect to be quite so anxious today waiting to find out if he got into uni. He did, I'm so proud of him. Plus he'll be at UCLan in my dept, so I might actually be able to tell him in person

I'm in dire need of some inspiration to make use of the silver I won at university. I have at least taken it out of the bag and used some recycled material, so I really hope that #allthatglitters can give me the extra push that I need

I had the back to work blues this morning, but I got in to an email from the ex-student that will be joining the university department I work in. So happy. Weird to be called by my first name, but at least I can stop imagining the calls of “Hi miss!” from across campus

Things I can do now I’m not teaching: take a long weekend in Edinburgh to watch the best climbers in the world compete at the World Cup

The things you see 😬

Painting with heat

Today is World Mental Health Day and here’s a message from Liam Gallagher in support of @TalkClubUK and World Mental Health Day to remind you that you’re ‘Too Good For Giving Up’. #WorldMentalHealthDay #TooGoodForGivingUp #LiamGallagher All On The Board

Student: I’ve got to go to work now, but can I leave you these three files with you to be printed for first thing tomorrow morning? Picture my face

This made a bit of a breeze, being nearly 450mm

A new turning project, and my first ever sphere. There’s more to come off of this tomorrow

In ceramics, it doesn’t always go to plan. We had hoped to give the members of our UCLan Women’s Network a coaster at our Christmas drinks tonight, but the kiln gods weren’t on our side. We’re going to experiment with a different oxide and firing, and fingers crossed for Easter

We shut the workshop today in favour of some professional development, during which we had the opportunity to sculpt heads with our artist in residence, Phil Garrett. Lots of work, lots learned, loads of fun

I mean… maybe I wasn’t clear enough when I said to put the rule back on the board…

I had an accident last week and managed to cut off a slice of finger, so I’m off the shop floor for a few weeks whilst it’s bandaged up and regrowing. In the meantime, I’m going to design something with pyrography, starting with an experiment in mark making, pattern and shading

This has never been more true… this week has been exhausting. A months supply of sheet material gone in less than a week, queues from 9-5 on all lasers, the workshop looks like it’s been raided, busy past closing time and yet, there has been laughter amongst the deadline panic

Student: Can I have an A1 sheet to laser cut Me: Yes, let me check your drawing (sees it's only 190x300mm). Do you know how big A1 is? S: (gestures randomly) 5 rulers big? Me: How big does the programme say your drawing is? (Points to it on the screen) S: Maybe 1 ruler? I Despair

Bear in mind, this is a 3rd year architecture student. For some reason, A1 has become the go-to size for laser cutting, even though not 1 student can tell me the dimensions of the board. Even for a small cut, they ask for A1. We have to check every drawing, it drives me nuts

It’s great to see members of my form doing so well! Ben came to visit me in my workshop at UCLan and I’m honestly so touched that after just a year of being his tutor, he’s remembered me and taken time to find me