Having travelled from Australia to spend a week with Sylph in her beautiful
little studio in the Dordogne region I wasn’t disappointed. It was
everything I could have imagined and more. From the lovely accommodation in
the old mill to the wonderful visits to local restaurants for three course
lunches every day, the beauty of the surrounds dotted with sheep, chickens,
local wildlife, two extremely friendly cats, a sweet old dog and fantastic
gardens bursting into Spring abundance. All of this was combined with
Sylph’s extensive experience and knowledge of ceramics and her wonderful
culinary skills when cooking our nightly meals. I’m honestly not sure how
she manages to do it all so seamlessly.
Sylph’s generosity is immeasurable. Unfortunately, I had developed a back
problem prior to departing for France. Sylph reassured me that she could
organise for a wheel to be raised so I could try throwing standing up. This
worked really well so I was pain free and am now in the process of
organising the same setup at home. She has the ability to recognise
people’s different learning styles and abilities and adapted her tuition to
each of the three of us there and our different levels of experience. I’ll
always remember and aspire to the huge bowls one of the other participants
was making. As a relative beginner I am so much more confident in the
basics of wedging, centring, moving the clay upwards when throwing, and in
turning. I am sure I’ll be hearing Sylph telling me not to “stroke the clay
but put some Wellie into it” forevermore when I’m turning my pots!! Thanks
Sylph!!!
Sally.