In the run up to our show I have been looking at pattern, studying images of a variety of textiles.  Pattern can be frank – a series of simple repeats, or it can be complex and layered, distorted by folds, light, or reflection. It can be gendered too – more about this soon. And pattern doesn’t have to be predictable – in fact it is much more interesting if it isn’t. Here are some patterned walls from the Paris Metro. The photographs are by George Walker. If anyone knows more about this work, do get in touch.

As the project depended on public involvement, it was essential that as many people as possible knew about it. I contacted local TV, radio and the press. I appealed for pottery fragments and invited anyone interested to get involved. I went to public events — fairs and meetings, and circulated information. I visited clubs (I even went to a Rotary Club lunch). I alerted NORSACA — the North Staffordshire African Caribbean Association, and the local Racial Equality Council. The project was made part of the coursework for second year students from the University of North Staffordshire.  I spoke and held classes at primary and secondary schools. UNITY — the Trade Union — bulletined their members alerting them to the appeal.

I needed to produce publicity material that gave a flavour of the project, but had its own visual integrity. I have worked for many years with the designer George Walker. He and Catherine Nippe came up with these postcard designs. Using typefaces from a variety of periods, they took well known Stoke words and phrases and and worked them into designs that are strikingly contemporary. We printed the cards on recycled material, and circulated them as widely as possible in Stoke and the surrounding area. They gave details of what we needed for the project, and who to contact.

Jiggers and Jolleys are mechanical potter’s wheels, with a pivoted profile tool on an arm, used to shape the clay.

Saggarmaker: A maker of saggers — fireclay containers used to protect pottery from flame and smoke marks caused by firing in a bottle oven.

Bottomknocker: a potbank worker who makes saggar bases from a lump of fireclay by knocking it into a metal ring using a wooden mallet.

Shawdruck: (or shraff tip) where the potbanks disposed of factory waste, and where crockery that had escaped being smashed when slightly imperfect might be found.