End of 2011

The rest of 2011 has flown by. My hopes for 2012 include getting a skutt electric kiln and a brent wheel. I'll do it. Just a matter of time and saving up some more money. I must admit that it has been quite difficult to be away from the wheel since mid-September. In a sense, I had forgotten how much being a potter had become and still is a part of me. I can hardly wait to get back to it.

Still need to unpack some in my new home. Work has been especially busy. I underestimated how tired I'd be from all of the change. Above is a picture of me on Thanksgiving Day as I was there for the annual Blessing of the Hunt event in Southern Pines. Quite fun! More people than I've ever seen. It was full with tailgaters and over 600 people present. Have never had so many pictures taken of me along with the horses and hounds in one place- this is one of the many. Fun to wear the Anglican vestments... Gorgeous day!

I also hope to keep in better touch in the pottery blogging world in 2012. It's been simply wonderful to keep up with friends' blogs. Thanks for all you've taught and continue to teach me. I look forward to learning much more. All the best to you!

Almost December

Well, it's almost December and I haven't been at the wheel since early September. It's sad admitting such, yet there has been so much going on and I'm nowhere near a studio where I can walk into and sit down at the pottery wheel without getting in trouble. Moving has taken longer than I wanted, yet I must say the wait has been worth it. I closed on a house finally last week and am just beginning to unpack. These pictures reflect one of the best things I've done amidst the transition- an overnight trip to Asheville in mid-October. Even went on a hike with these two yunomis and shot some pics. First picture is from the Blue Ridge Parkway close to time of the sunset.
These pictures only begin to reflect the beauty of all I saw. It was beautiful beyond words. Loved time away. A day retreat for me, which was SO needed. Amidst all the change, I loved being in familiar places and not having to look at my gps or ask questions to find my way. Heavenly!
On the way back from Asheville to Southern Pines (my new home), I picked up my last batch of gas kiln fired pottery at Clayworks in Charlotte. Pleased with some and not so with others. Tried some new things.... a few pieces warped, but then again, I'm quite picky about it all. These were some of the best ones. It has been hard to part with any of these, as at least for now, these are the last gas kiln fired pieces I'll be making in awhile. I'll soon purchase a skutt electric kiln- so the glazing will be different--- and well, it will all be just different. I will so miss the mystery of the gas kiln fired pieces, yet I hear there is mystery too in the electric fired pottery. Much to learn! Any insight? I have lots of reading to do and I haven't read many pottery blogs lately- b/c I've been so busy, and a bit homesick from pottery. (p.s.- also just bought a Mac and not sure how to undo this underlining and blue type! (ugh)...This lake is in Black Mountain, NC. The leaves were not quite at peak.... and the weather was so warm. I just loved it there.
Made some plates and this big bowl with the high-water craggy crunch clay. This will be a new mixing bowl that will stay in my home for a good while. I've already given some of the other bowls to those who helped me move everything from storage to my new home. In the next couple weeks, I hope to place an order for a kiln and a wheel. Will share about what kind I'm getting of both soon... too tired to write now. That will have to wait and well, I must admit that I've thought of turning waiting into my middle name. I've waited so much lately- and while at times it's become second nature, at other times, it is still so hard. One of my mantras. Some things are worth waiting for.

To the clay works gang- I miss being there! What a great community. Thankfully, I love my new home and work is well, wonderful, to say the least and while I've waited, I've decided to take up running and meditation. Both are wonderful. I'm with my siblings and parents for a few days and already miss the pine trees, my favorite running spot, and the place and people at work. Happy Thanksgiving all- more later!

New

Some of my favorites from Michael Mahan's most recent firing. That one in the front is my favorite. More written below.
Ended up buying a mug! This mug will now be one of the two used for coffee in the a.m.... the other being Kyle Carpenter's.
These pictures don't do these justice. Amazing colors... really liked the pieces with a bit of ash on them.
It's been awhile again since I've posted. Better than no post about the new I guess is a post with this photo. The view from my office. The orchid is way more beautiful than the picture; it's a gift from friends here on my birthday in late September. And, looking very very closely, one can find one of Becky's birds that made its way close to the orchid.

Both the bird and the orchid sit in my office. I'm in Southern Pines now and the vies are just beautiful, to put it mildly. I've quickly decided that I love it here. Good places to run; and at present, I'm waiting for my new home to be ready to move into. Then I'll create my studio in the garage, which is a good size. :)

In the meantime, I'm recovering from moving and am finding my way around. As mentioned above, went to Michael Mahan's kiln opening this past weekend. Great to meet him and his wife, Mary. Neat to see their wood kiln and where they sell their pots. Fun to be so near Seagrove!

On another note, am SO looking forward to being back at the wheel in time. I can do this, I tell myself; meaning spend a couple months away from the wheel. Looks like it'll be November till I begin to throw a piece of pottery. I tell myself 'good things come to those who wait.' And at least with living in this beautiful part of the world, it is easier to wait. Plus, the people here are wonderful. While I knew little about this place and people before I moved, I'm absolutely convinced this was one of the best decisions I've made in a long while. Sure, I miss Clayworks in Charlotte, but Adrienne Dellinger and all the other instructors and students who taught me there helped prepare me for the here and now. :) I'm grateful.

The best is yet to come!

Glazing and Etching

While I used to etch words onto bowls, I haven't done this for awhile. Until now.
Am getting ready to move, so I wanted to make sure to capture a few quotes onto bowls that I'm keeping for myself. Two bowls in particular. These have quotes from my time at Holden Village in WA state. It always takes FOREVER to etch these, but I like the finished piece. Tonight I did that and then glazed some...

Bowls ready for the gas kiln (cone 10). Each have a bit of soda ash and wood ash sprinkled on them. All have a spotted shino glaze base.

Plates-- my first try at making a bunch of plates. I'm so happy with these! I plan on keeping them- a new set. Each have a different pattern, but the colors, not the designs- are identical.

Which one is not like the other? :) The smaller bowl and the vase have some amber celadon. Haven't used this glaze yet; so I'm interested in seeing how it looks on top of spotted shino glaze and next to or near blue/green celadon. And, the different one in the picture is more or less predictable.

The gas kiln was just fired so it will be awhile till these are finished. That's okay. I need to pack anyway and move and well, create my own studio! I'll need these bowls in inventory these next few months. It will be awhile before I'm at the wheel again. With that said, any wisdom for creating a studio? Thanks for all the kiln wisdom. Hoping to find a house with a window in the garage.

Kiln in garage?

Trying to find a new place to live.....here's a short poll....

What about putting an electric kiln in a garage? (not unattached one)

What's your practice? what do you recommend (or not)?

Just thinking.... looking into possibilities.

Wisdom, Please!

Well, I'll ask for wisdom at the end of this post. More about this picture first and my trip.
Just returned from time in the North Cascades with my parents. Went hiking with Dad. Amazing, beautiful views beyond words! This was after a 5 mile hike up!

We stayed at Holden Village, a retreat center in the middle of nowhere in the North Cascades. It's one of my favorite places.

Made some pottery while there. Donated it all to the bookstore at the village.

Ate outside often as they often served the food outside. This was part of my view. :)

Used Bob's Blend clay which was purchased from Seattle Pottery Supply. It felt much like phoenix clay, which I like and use (from Highwater).

Yunomis I made. And bowls in the center too.

Wonderful August weather there. It got as cold as 34 at night. :) High of 80 most days. :)
This is why I go there in August and leave NC.

Everyone accesses Holden by arriving on a boat. At the boat dock waiting for the boat to come on my day of departure.

Returned to NC on Friday and went into the studio and made a bunch of bowls. Gotta use all of the phoenix clay before I move. Yes, I'm moving in mid-September to Southern Pines, NC. New job. I'll create my own studio soon after I move. I'm looking to buy a house. With that I'm wondering....

Do's and don'ts for having a studio in a 2 car garage? What should I keep in mind?
I'll purchase an electric kiln and also a brent wheel.

Best place to buy supplies and clay for studio--- highwater or elsewhere?

(I'll spread the word soon more via blog... as I'd like to buy used supplies.)

Any other wisdom for one creating a studio?

What do you wish someone had told you about creating a studio?

Thanks ahead of time...

Meanwhile, I brought some wood ash back from the North Cascades and sprinkled it on my pieces today. These all have a spotted shino base with blue and or blue/green celadon and some soda ash too.

...And Class!

I love the look of trimmed teabowls. Here are the first of this past week. I'm slowly getting back into the rhythm of being at the wheel-- etc.

Although I'll be traveling some more this summer, I am taking Adrienne Dellinger's pottery class. She always makes it all look so easy. One of, if not, the best instructor I've had. Here are some jars and containers she's working on. Lots of demos...

Finished jars. Still not too interested in teapots Not sure what will happen during tomorrow's class. Will post about it.... plus include some pictures of my trip to England and some other miscellaneous pictures. Hope you've had a wonderful summer! (Oh... and two posts in one day! Read below for the second one).

It's Been Too Long!

I have been away from blogging for a long time. I've missed it. Lots has happened. My job ended at the end of May and the clayworks studio closed because it has changed locations. So I was without time at the wheel for almost two months! I've also been traveling.
Even so, I returned to the new (air conditioned) studio this past Tuesday and made these three pieces above. An okay beginning. At least I could center the clay! I was a bit concerned- wondering what I'd remember, and am so thankful that I remembered what I did.

Soon- on Wednesday night, I made these three and some more teabowls. When I had some time alone, I got back into the rhythm of being at the wheel. Peaceful! The clay in the front of the three teabowls was turned into a teabowl too-- in time.

More teabowls. As I consider this my 'default' form, I am pleased with this new chapter of pottery. I also sense that my pottery will change a bit. More on that soon...

Best for Last

Perhaps the best for last? This was the gas kiln firing at Clayworks' current location. In late July, we'll move to Monroe Rd. While I was contemplating whether to switch glazes, I got these results. Gorgeous! Think I'll stay with these glaze combos awhile longer. Above are small salsa/yogurt/hummus bowls.

LOVE these teabowls. Will be hard to part with any of them. Wisdom learned...

Use more soda ash! glaze combo is spotted shino with accents of alfred's blue and blue/green celadon (which turned purple). Some good crystal parts from the soda ash too.

Not a good pic, yet these tumblers are beautiful! Will take more pics later. These are perfect for iced tea. The soda ash and wood ash really showed up this time! Not always the case.

Closer look at some tumblers. Blue/green celadon turned purple!

Wow... these are amazing. All the tumblers have a thumb notch for easy handling.

Two vases. On the vase on the right, poured some mystery glaze onto it. I'm so happy with these. May just keep them...

Same jars. On the other side. Put some broken glass on the rims of these after glazing. Rich colors!

Bowls which did some interesting things. Cloudy appearance.... wondering why. Will ask Adrienne, director at Clayworks. She'll know. Still, most of the words can be read.

A jar, despite the fact taht the whole jar isn't in the picture! Perfect for a couple flowers.

Pitcher I made for a friend. She wanted the trinity symbol on it, for baptisms. hope she likes it! A bit darker than I thought it would be, yet I'm so pleased!

The inside of it is much lighter. The gas kiln produces so many mysterious results. I like this.

More bowls....

More pictures to follow.

Glazing...

Glazed these Tuesday evening. All have a spotted shino base with an accent of alfred's blue glaze.

Put some copper carbonate on some of the pots. Also applied soda ash to all of them.

Put more soda ash on these teabowls than ones in the past. They're also a bit larger--- they all shrink so much in the gas kiln. It is good that these are bigger. Notice the green copper carb mark on the left teabowl.

Made this cookie jar too. Two lids just to make sure that one of them works! Am busy using as much clay as I can and getting a bunch of pieces done before Saturday before I fly to PA to be with my family for Mother's Day and my grandfather's memorial service on Monday.

Really like this birdhouse. Adrienne, my instructor made it. It's big! Maybe I'll make one of a similar shape in the days to come. I see a busy weekend ahead!

Kiln Unloading and More!

Two soon to be vases!

Made these tumblers yesterday... will trim them a bit--- not too sure whether I like the new form or not. Time will tell! :)

Once again, the kiln was unloaded. I hope I never get tired of this! As I had hoped, all my pieces did well. One bowl was warped, which was expected as it went in a bit warped.

This was a student firign, so there were pots of all kinds in the gas kiln. The two bowls on the right are mine.

That teabowl in the back-- the shino one, is mine. Cone 10 for this firing- about 2350 degrees.

Both of these bowls turned out well--- the purplish color on the one on the left is from some alfred's blue on the blue/green celadon. The St. Francis prayer is written on it.

Those bowls in the back are mine. Plus the teabowls on the bottom.

These teabowls are beautiful! The black is from the copper carbonate I brushed onto the teabowl. Interestingly, the blue/green celadon that I sprayed onto the teabowls turned only white--- no red or purple and the wax resist that I put on some teabowls didn't show either.

Some teabowls have a hint of blue- like one of those at the top.

These small bowls are my favorite. Spotted shino base glaze with some soda ash and copper carbonate sprinkled on the outside. I'll make more like these.

I think the next round of glazing (which I'll do this week) will include some more blue on the spotted shino glaze and some more blue/green celadon too.

Went to the Thrown Together sale yesterday. It was wonderful to see potters there---- here are Jennifer Mecca's pieces- someday I will get one of hers!

Here are some of Julie Wiggins' pieces. She's been busy lately in the studio!

It was a gorgeous day!

Matt Jones was the guest potter. Amazing pottery!

Ron Philbeck's pottery too... Ahhh, a wonderful day, which ended with time in the studio.