Ever wondered what you can do with your cat litter ? well, here at Whitecroft we have made a solution.

Spotted whilst stuck in the checkout in the German supermarket beginning with the letter L , a bag of cat litter, 8kg for £2.99, bargain.

I took it home and made a slip out of it, I asked but they wouldn’t let me do it , in store .

There were quite a few stones in it, but it hadn’t been used.

As usual we shall to wait for the results ( how many times have I said that ? ).

When you first start pottery everyone says ‘ did you make an eggcup’, in my case I have ever only made four.

The small round extrusion

I thought I might remedy that and make a few more in two ways, extruded and thrown, I am mixing cheap Raku clay ( closing down ) with my usual white stoneware, the clay is very groggy.

First I tried extruding, trying to get them precise was a no go so I made them like you would a pinch pot and turned them into space creatures or trees .

Throwing off the hump was really hard, the ruddy camel kept moving . This was the quickest way and the most precise.

As usual we will have to wait for all the firings to see if it’s a go or a no-go.

An ump

An egg cup ready to be wired off the ump.

I’ve had an extruder for a while now, but haven’t used to it’s fullest potential. Late last year I made a special effort and now using it to make bottles.

For Christmas I bought myself two new dies, nothing to do with Dignitas, not yet. My new dies were laser cut by the lovely Tina at http://www.northshoremetalprofiles.co.uk based on Hayling island, I met Tina on the Hayling art trail and Red Lion Xmas fair where I gave her the patterns.

The following photos show how it all works .

Looking down the barrel of an extruder at the die fixed into the holding plate.

load up the barrel lets have a barrel of clay

Fresh extrusion

The three parts of the bottle ready for joining

The thrown bottle top rested on the bat and then the body centred upon it, joined with slurry

next the bottom

Bits joined trimmed and blended ready for some slip

Dipped into Devon ball clay white slip

Fresh slip good enough to eat

Wet sgraffito decoration using bristle brush and rubber tool. Ready for the two firings, the darker pattern burning through.

of 2025

Usual service is resumed after some health issues, I wasn’t allowed to do anything strenuous lifting or anything that strained my stomach, this also included washing up, hoovering, making tea or housework. I was told all these things by the surgeon, who failed to mention getting beaten about the head.

The workshop is a little bit chilly after a lot of very mild autumn days, first fire of the autumn/winter season.

I did a little bit of throwing, but found it hurt , so I made some plates using the moulds that I made pre op instead.

Luckily my pugger has a vacuum pump which takes the need for kneading out of the preparation . I decided to roll out slabs on the slab roller. Using machines to do the hard work is a basic human thing.

All the pots were taking ages to dry but did manage to fill a kiln for bisque.

I would like to finish by wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year .

This will be on Sunday 28th of September, 10 am, 7 Ancton close Middleton on sea po22 6nd.

Start 10 am .

Summer is fading into Autumn .

Bognor Coastal Art Trail

This years trail is the biggest yet, 31 artists and crafts persons. Pick up a guide you will see them in Cafes, libraries, and of course on the trail pop into any venue just follow the signs.

Come and take a look, you will be very welcome .

Update on trail statistics; the trail as a whole attracted an increase in footfall of 40%,slaes overall were up 35%.

our visitor numbers were up from 114 in 2025 to 165 in 2025 an increase of 311 % . Most people were pleased we certainly enjoyed it.

Thank you to everyone who visited , see you next year

Planned 3 months ago, we were very lucky with the weather .

The firing was mainly to get some stuff ready for Bren’s Emsworth open studio weekends, though her venue had lost it’s roof to a fire the previous night.

Bren bought two people , one non combatant and another, ( Linda ) who was being a bit fishy.

I had made a top hat kiln especially to fire single larger pots for horse hair and feathers , it was amazingly quick to get it up to 800 which is the best temp for horse hair and feather, stinky business.

I can’t get hardwood sawdust anymore and the softwood chips were very smoky, note to self buy a good mask.

We had a very convivial lunch and had a very enjoyable day, although it felt like a hundred extra strong cigarettes, onto the next one in April.

Sadly i’m unable to volunteer at the Weald and Downland Museum any more . I have a number of pots that I would like to give away to anyone who wants them. I will have to charge postage or you can come and get them by arrangement. Telephone 07930356070. I am in possession of a functioning kettle and have some exotic leaves from Ceylon Sri Lanka that I can infuse into a hot beverage.

6 Costrels. 1 condiment dish, 3 cressets ( reed light holders ), 3 candle holders, 3 chaffing dishes with saucepans, 1 skillet .

Has a crack in chaffing dish but has integrity , handle is hollow for stick insertion .

Skillet or frying pan, with hollow handle for stick insertion

Miniature chaffing set with mini pan and heavy mug

Chaffing set ( on left ) complete with saucepan with hollow handle.

Candle holder and cressets ( rush light holders ) three of each

Various sized costrels 2 children’s costrels

two division condiment dish based on Metropolitan London pattern.

I hope to be able to rehome these or they will end up in the Battersea pots home