Be Who You Be animated by www.bellemellor.com

What have I got to say?

Well, I popped into a Turkish Barber on impulse last week. I noticed they were open as I was passing with my weekly shop in the wheelie trolley, and so I walked in. In general, I’m a bit scared of new hairdressers, but I suddenly felt an urgent need for a post lockdown tidy up. I sat in the unfamiliar chair with the proffered disposable mask and tried to look at ease. My barber had kind eyes and alarming eyebrows that were made all the more prominent by his huge white mask. The eyebrows were hairless and looked as if they’d been coloured-in with a thick stick of charcoal. Far too high on his head. And immovable. I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

He didn’t have much English, and what he had was muffled behind the mask. He seemed eager to get started though, clippers in hand, even before I’d had chance to discuss the intricacies of my New Look. Somewhere between a Rosemary’s Baby Mia Farrow and a Jean Seberg in A Bout de Souffle. I hadn’t got a lot to work with but I was definitely hopeful of something more sophisticated than a 1970’s skinhead. My eyes scanned the price list. A dry cut would set me back nine pounds, cash only. The barber was busy plugging in the clippers. I looked at the back of his head which was nut brown, mercifully devoid of eyebrows and instead shaved dangerously close. Was I in the right place?

Sitting here now, safe in my little garden haven writing this, let’s just say I can definitely feel the wind around my trossachs. I’m starting to wonder whether I should’ve splashed out on the £10.99 Deluxe Service.

I’m sorry, I felt I just had to share that experience. Especially as I’m bothering you with another email so soon after the last. But I see quite a few have joined the list since last time and I wanted to remind you of what’s coming up, and a little new news besides.

First off, I’m DELIGHTED that our Anything is Possible Collection was so well received. The wooden crates for the ten large pots are being stenciled as we speak at Pottery Gagliano, and the entire collection - a collaboration between myself and master potter Roberto Gagliano - will soon be shipped out. The Pottery Studio is open once more at limited times with new precautions, so soon I will be there again starting work on a fresh collection of small dogs for our October Show at Little Mustard Shop Brighton.

I have donated two from the Doris Fruit Salad Collection to a Pottery Gagliano Crowd Funder which (unlike the ceramics at the October show) can be sent straight to your door by Roberto. Keep your eyes peeled on social media to find out when that goes live. Or contact them direct to ask about details of all the amazing pots donated by the Pottery Gagliano family at www.potterygagliano.co.uk

Big Love,

Sam Toft x