Busy Days

Busy days! Glazed these this past week. They're now in the gas kiln, cooling down after being fired yesterday.

Two glaze combos. one was blue/green celadon with alfred's blue sprayed on top. That was for bowls that had lettering on them.

It's all a long process; and takes longer every time than I think it will.

All the teabowls have a spotted shino base coat and then accents in wax resist, copper carbonate (this is new for me!) soda ash, and either alfred's blue sprayed on or blue/green celadon or both.

With the lighting, it's hard to see the detail. I did brush some copper carbonate on top of the spotted shino. Shinos always need to be a base coat, I'm told.

Meanwhile in class last week, Adrienne (instructor and director of clayworks) made these teapots. I'm not a fan of teapots, but I do like the one on the left-- the smallest one. Adrienne can make just about anything.

I made these pitchers--- last week during class. While they're far from finished, the're off to a good start.

Kiln loading. 3/4 of the way done. My teabowls and bowls are on the left front stack-- and right front stack. A bottle and a jar too of mine are somewhere too.

Oh, I also sprinkled some wood ash on the shino pieces. It gives this beautiful brown. Oh, there's the simple jar in the back. (Bowl is not mine). Teabowls are.

More teabowls. I prefer the natural brown glaze colors. Am on the verge of new glazes though. Think I'll stay with the same clay body: phoenix.

This sculpture made it into the gas kiln too. It's way back from 2009--- a fundraiser then- called 'All Fired up' created by several studio instructors. Greg glazed it.

This was the kiln, just before the door was closed. Full, but not packed. Will be unloaded on Sunday. Most of my teabowls and bowls can be seen in this pic... all are in the front stack.

Today, I decided to make some small bowls--- different forms. Am wanting to try some new forms. Ended up spending much less time in the studio today because of other things to do. I'm so ready for a whole day uninterrupted, making pottery.

Not sure when that completely free day will come, so until then, I'll make a few pieces here and there. Will trim these tomorrow. Thanks for reading!

Is It Too Late?

This post is for you, Mom.
Was at the dollar store today, because I'm convinced that is the best place to find tissue paper and gift bags. Saw seeds- each pack was 25 cents. Bought four.
According to their packages, it's late to plant them--- sow them, is that what it's called? Yet I thought- why not give them a try. So I got a pack of Morning Glory and here, Cosmos and

Marigold and Aster.

Here are the marigolds spread out a bit. I don't expect all of them to make it.

Yet I'm an eternal optimist. So, they're in these four flower pots just under the surface. Took this pic to remember which kind is where.

L-R: morning glory, aster, cosmos, and marigold

My mom has a green thumb. My dad too for that matter. Maybe that will rub off on me as these are the first flowers I'm trying to grow from seed.

God and time will tell. Well, and maybe the birds and squirrels too. Hope they let them be.

Will keep you posted.

Etched some words onto the outside of these bowls. One was a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer.

Made this vase earlier and trimmed it a bit. Not sure what glaze I'll put on it. First, it's to the bisque kiln.

Trimmed yunomis and a jar.

4 small bowls that I made with very wet clay. new bowl form. These would be great salsa bowls or small yogurt bowls. Easy to make.

These are all headed for the bisque kiln. Need to dry completely first!

Two bowls that have words on the outside. When they dry a bit more, I gently rub off the clay shavings. It's a long process!

Catawba Valley Festival and A White Man

Ever seen this man? Was in Asheville recently and there he was on a street corner. Dressed in white head to toe-- and still until someone put money in the black bag in front of it.

Then he'd play his guitar for a couple seconds.... there's also a bird on his shoulder. Hard to see the bird but... this man had quite an audience at some points. And it was warm in Asheville, et he still would stand motionless until someone gave him money.

Was at the Catawba Valley Pottery & Antiques Festival in Hickory a few weekends ago. Amazing pottery! Really like Alex Matisse's work from his newly constructed kiln---- first firing from it.

Above is Shawn Ireland's work. Wood fired pottery.

Not a good pic, but these pots are Michael Kline's.

And Adrienne Dellinger's, director of Clayworks.

And Hal Dedmond's and Corinne Guseman's. Both are owners of the wood kiln I visited recently.

Wow... these figures have such detail on them- they were in the wood kiln firing too. All in all, a simply wonderful event! Please check out the links of the artists above.

Spring... Bottles and More

Classes have started again and we made bottles. This is mine. Tomorrow evening is the Clayworks Spring Sale, so the studio is closed tomorrow and Saturday until the evening, which is unfortunate to say the least, because I would have loved to be at the wheel tomorrow. Oh well. I'll get by. Looking forward to making some new forms this spring.... birdhouses, bottles, pitchers, plates, maybe platters? What a wonderful world of pottery this is. Will also explore surface design some more.

This and That

This is dinner tonight. That shino teabowl is mine for a very long time! Will make more like those. Haven't eaten off of anything other than handmade pottery for a long while now. The way it should be!

And that is not a good pic, but these are the two pieces I'm including in the gallery in the upcoming Clayworks Spring Sale next Friday. Last sale at the current building. We'll move to another bigger one in June. Will post more and better pictures of them soon.