Changes...

Today i'm moving from Scotland. I don't know how long for, but i'm leaving all my boxes of ceramics and everythings here - i've got a feeling i'll be back. This means that i won't be able to do much after all with the little on-line shop (etsy.com).
If you live in Glasgow, though, there will be some of my pieces and a few drawings in the Compass Gallery as part of the New Generation show there opening on 3rd July, and the Cyril Gerber Gallery.
I've got a month or so of holiday now to look forward to, in Sweden and Europe, and then it's off to Afghanistan again for a few months. I'll keep you posted.

endings...

i'm now in my last week of living in Scotland, (at least for now). i don't feel very happy about it, and boxes are remaining unpacked, even though we leave on Sunday... i'll miss the places, and mostly the people. but this is (my) life, and Glasgow will no doubt remain for a few more years, so i can always come back.
but i'm having that feeling, when i keep thinking to myself that i'll look back on this time and miss it and wish i could have it again.
i'm also now finished (finally! it's actually been 6 years since i started!) my BA (hons) degree. it feels strange to clear out my junk from the studio, not knowing when again i'll have a place to throw bowls and fire kilns. also, not being a student anymore will be a change, although a more welcome one. but again, it's the people i'll miss the most.

on the other hand, with endings come beginnings as well.

Online shop...

on a website called etsy! It's a place where you can buy handmade items from all over the world (though mostly the US), now including me.
The address is www.estersvensson.etsy.com
There's not much on there yet, but there will be soon.

degree show images

Here are some images of my degree show work, for those of you who aren't in Glasgow.
It's made from predominantly fritware (or stone/quartzpaste), except for a few earthenware bowls and egyptian paste tears. I learned this fritware technique from a German ceramist, Prof. Jochen Brandt at the IKKG (Institut fur Kunstlerische Keramik und Glas) in Höhr-Grenzausen in Germany, who has done extensive research and achieved brilliant results.

My work this year has been influenced by the time i spent last year in Afghanistan, working for and organization called Turquoise Mountain, with a group of potters from the village of Istalif.

These bowls are a collaboration with Jila Peacock. I made the bowls, and Jila wrote the names of birds from the poem Conference of the Birds in lustre.

Red Road flats

ibrox street

I wanted to put a bird up on the wall of the Immigration Centre, the Home office on Brand street. But there is staff there at all hours of the day and night, so after chatting to the guard on duty i decided to put it up close to the Unity centre (http://unitycentreglasgow.org/). It's just opposite.