Hello and warm winter greetings from Bukkenburg in Swellendam.
Copper glaze, reduction fired to 1320 degrees C in our oil kiln.
Overall mixed blessings this winter as the country emerges from more than 800 days of varying degrees of Covid-19 lockdown, and now ongoing nation-wide power cuts affecting everyone and everything.
Multi-layered drama in the social, political and economic world as well.
We are thankful to have been busy in the studio lately and there is commissioned work in hand to take us through to the spring.
Winter is usually quiet here in the Southern Cape, and as usual we are using the time to get through the outstanding ordered work and also to build up a new collection of work to have in the gallery for the coming spring and summer months.
We require at least 14 hours of uninterrupted electricity supply to power the fan on our big oil kiln to complete a firing.
Stage 6 load shedding has just begun country wide. This means that the power will be cut for about 9 1/2 hours a day at different times until further notice.
The house and some light equipment in the studio are on a backup system so we can remain productive to a point.
We’re making use of these days of load-shedding to get this blog and some other tasks done, in addition to getting pots made for the next firings.
We sincerely hope that those who are waiting for their pots will not have to wait too much longer.
Here are some pictures of what we’ve been up to recently.
Throwing a big stoneware amphora 
Decorating a stoneware lamp base
Swellendam is so well situated on the N2 national road, halfway between Cape Town and the Garden Route, and we are delighted to have become an essential stop for family, friends, and customers old and new as they make their way through this part of the country.
In addition to this, we are so grateful for the continued support from people in Swellendam and surrounds.
In the pictures below:
On the left – James with his cousins Sarie, Paul, Simone, and Juliette. From Cape Town and Germany.
On right – With an old school colleague Alan Whiteside from Norwich, UK reacquainting after 52 years!
Below – a lovely visit from our niece Alice and her husband Nate who live in London.
‘Swellendam – On The Way To Everywhere’
For the past few years Swellendam has been without an organised, co-ordinated tourism plan or strategy, and we appreciate what is being done by several hard working individuals in their efforts to keep the profile of the town and region visible and prominent.
The big kiln is loaded with pots for the first of two bisque firings, waiting now for the power grid to stabilise.
And these will be in the the next firing …
We will be sending out information in due course about upcoming events in which we will be involved as we approach spring and summer.
Just two for now:
- Our Potter’s Lunch and Open Studio in September ?
- Swellendam Open Gardens over the first weekend in November.
Workshops & Classes
With the recent removal of all Covid-19 regulations, we are going to be starting some workshops and teaching sessions.
Please have a look at the ‘Workshops Page’ : Click Here
Our self-catering guest cottage shown above is available for an overnight stay or longer.
Details and pictures on the ‘Accommodation Page’ Click Here
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Wishing you all the best
David and Felicity
Bukkenburg – June 2022
Mobile & WhatsApp: +27 (0) 82 342 5453
E-mail: david@pottery.co.za
Please visit and ‘like’ our various Social Media pages:
Facebook Studio Page
Facebook – Bukkenburg Pottery
Facebook Accommodation Page
Facebook – David
Instagram
