In Honour of My Father, 1 March 1940 - 19 September 2008

Today is the 1st March 2012, and it would have been my Dad's 72nd birthday. I'd just like to take a moment to honour him, and even though he doesnt know I am making ceramics now, he is strangely linked to my new passion.  He was a very clever and incredibly intelligent man, and I learnt alot from him about excellence and his 'can do' spirit. We used to have weekly hangout times & projects when I was at high school, and he'd let me pick the idea. My favourite time was when we built a bookshelf that I still have today. I think that without his passing away in 2008, I wouldn't have rediscovered my love of clay, I might never have gone back to it. I was devastated and I took it pretty badly (as I'm sure most would grieving the loss of a parent). 

My husband suggested I take some time out and do a course or something, just for me and to give myself a new direction. My youngest at the time had just turned 2yrs, and so I thought I'd do a nightclass. I found working with clay to be very therapeutic and was quite a healing time - to start being creative again after what seemed like a long drought.

I remember in the early days making some personalised hand-stamped tags and bits and pieces to take to his grave (in Auckland) and they are still there tied around a potted succulent I planted.

Somedays I feel sad he can't see what I am doing, and I can't share with him my successes, stories and new designs,  but I know he'd be pretty proud of me :-)

Dad & I - Geoffrey Jenkins, taken about 2 weeks before he passed away from cancer.

Happy Birthday Dad, I miss you so much xxx