Hello and sunny spring greetings from us at Bukkenburg in Swellendam
How wonderful to feel the warmer weather now and enjoy longer days with the arrival of spring in the southern hemisphere.
We’re marking two notable milestones in October
And one upcoming event
We have been together for 50 years!
Our meandering journey / adventure / odyssey into clay and the art and craft of high fired studio pottery began within a few months of our getting together in October 1972.
We’re also marking 26 years in Swellendam.
We moved into the heritage house Bukkenburg on 1 October 1996, after many years in our home and studio in Johannesburg.
Winter into spring
It’s been a different and an interesting journey this past winter.
Felicity broke the fibula in her right leg in July about a week after we posted our last newsletter, and that had a profound impact on the rhythm of life and work.
We are so grateful for supportive friends and neighbours who helped us through this time.
We ran several short workshops in the studio during the winter while Felicity was ‘out of action’, and managed to cater a marvellous dinner for the Swellendam Music Society and their visiting artists with help of Carolyn from next door, Sue and Felicity’s son Andrew who was here for the weekend.
Occupancy in the cottage has been modest and steady.
Felicity’s recovery is reassuring and work in the studio is regaining some momentum – the rhythm of life and work slowly returns.
We have the house and some light studio equipment connected to a backup electricity supply and so now we are able to remain productive.
The studio and covered outside drying area are filling up with unfired pots, many orders and stock for our gallery for the summer.
We’re looking forward to getting busy with our spring firings as soon as possible.
As with so many all over the country, the ongoing nationwide power cuts have impacted our work in the studio.
In order to fire either of our two big oil fired kilns we need at least 14 hours of uninterrupted electricity.
We’re hopeful for a more steady supply of electricity soon, and if not, we we’ll have to consider an alternative solution, perhaps a generator to run the big three-phase fan that atomises the fuel as it enters the kiln.
Swellendam Garden Expo & Open Gardens
4 to 6 November
We have also been very busy preparing the garden for the Swellendam Open Gardens weekend in November.
Ours will be one of 18 gardens in and around Swellendam that will be open to visitors from 4 to 6 November.
In addition there will be a Gardener’s Market and a range of events.
For further information and bookings please visit the Swellendam Garden Expo.
Website: CLICK HERE
Also on Facebook; CLICK HERE
A few spring garden pictures
Mother and baby photographed just a little more than a week ago
‘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.
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 – October 2022
Mobile & WhatsApp: +27 (0) 82 342 5453
E-mail: david@pottery.co.za
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Please visit and ‘like’ our various Social Media pages:
Facebook Studio Page
Facebook – Bukkenburg Pottery
Facebook Accommodation Page
Facebook – David
Instagram
