Drying Question and Happy New Year!

 I'm in the waiting mode.  These bowls below need to dry as quick as possible.  I leave the country for Bolivia next week--- to visit my father's extended family and ideally, I'd love to get them bisque fired and glazed before I leave.  Any ideas as to how to 'help' bowls dry well--- and not crack, etc.?

To help a bit, I have a small space heater that is on and blowing warm air in the direction of the bowls.   I know, pottery is not meant to be rushed... 

In the meantime, I bought a jambox smartspeaker with a bestbuy gift card I had.  It's great although it does cut off at times and at other times is hard to connect!  Technology... ugh!    Looks like it has challenges in connecting with a Mac computer but I think I've figured it out.  Any advice on how to keep it connecting?  (I've gone online to the website and gone through the troubleshooting advice).

Happy New Year!  I'm bringing in 2013 with a glass of wine and season 2 episodes of Downton Abbey.  Waiting patiently for Season 3!

Christmas Days

My nephew Garrett helped me to unwrap my gifts today.  He was quick to unwrap and say presents!  Presents...  a handsome 2 year old.

 This is my newest nephew, James.  6 mos.  My dad knit him a cap for Christmas.

Nephew James has wild hair- and more of it than some two year olds and he's 6 months old!   Sweet boy.  Will be at my parent's house for a few more days and then back to home and the pottery studio to make a bunch of bowls for an exhibition at an upcoming conference.  Am missing the clay these days; it's like a part of me is gone or at least tucked away for awhile.

Merry Christmas and 2013 Around the Corner

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Here's part of my collection of ornaments from over the years.  My family has the tradition of giving each an ornament each Christmas--- more or less that is, and so several of these have the year and my name written on it.  There's one of my alma mater- University of Kentucky.
The bell ornament near the center is made of pottery- is raku; hard to see from the glare of the picture, but it's a simple raku ornament.  That was this year's ornament to each in my family.  Kinda surprised myself in purchasing it at an arts gallery (Wooden Stone) in Davidson.  I'm not one to make ornaments; functional pottery instead.
Not worth it as it is just me and too expensive to put up a live tree, so while in Charlotte recently I was looking around an outdoor store that sold trees and garland and got some free garland.
Anyway, I'm ready for a new year.  Unexpected medical and car bills plus other stuff- well, it's been a long year.  I'm ready for a much better one!  I must say though that pottery has been one of the bright spots.  Thanks to all who have purchased my pottery and thanks to the blog community- it is a miracle that I make pots and I love it so.  It has been a wonderful adventure beginning a new business too.  The only inconvenience these days is that pottery isn't transportable (is that a word?)  Can't take it on the road when one is traveling.  Oh well.
Thanks too for all who have commented on my blog; you continue to teach me and I am grateful.
Here's to a wonderful 2013!
p.s.... can you find the other ornament made out of clay?
it's near the bottom; is made from a mold, next to the angel

Christmas and Bowls

 Gosh, I've done it again.  I've spent a bunch of time away from creating a blog post.  Ugh!
My poor excuse has been that I've been making these--- the bowls above.  I'm just amazed that people love them.  I do this because I love it and well, it's just amazing that others think similarily.  They take FOREVER to make (I'm not complaining!) and there have been Christmas orders, so well, I have little free time.
Next year I will begin to stock up on Christmas inventory in July!   A good friend gave me that wisdom.
So, my days have been so busy, but thankfully the Christmas orders are out and I'm working ahead on making more pottery for a sale I'm doing at the end of January at a convention for Episcopalians.  My goal is to have 100 pots; that may take a miracle, but I'll try!

 Thanks to my family for collecting bubble wrap and peanuts over the past year plus.  It has been a huge help as it takes a bunch of that stuff to pack a bowl or two well!  I've found I really like the packing part; my least favorite step of the pottery making process on some days is trimming and on other days it's putting the wax resist on the bottom of the pots.  It's certainly not the packing, though!

 Just returned from time in Charlotte.  Had a great visit seeing wonderful friends, yet I came back a bit early because I need to spend time in the studio making pottery!  So, tomorrow is a pottery day of sorts.   :)

Ended my time in Charlotte by running at night in one of my favorite neighborhoods that has lots of Christmas lights.  It's interesting- I used to do this all the time when I lived there and well, when I left town, I missed the ordinariness of this ALOT.  Never saw a house with this much light, but there was usually enough to light the sidewalk--- I usually only lose my footing once or twice.  It was simply beautiful!  Inspiring.  Oh well, I miss Charlotte...
Merry Christmas all!  will try and remmeber to blog in the next few days, but just in case not....
Thanks for teaching me so much through the blog world.  I love the pottery world!  Thankful.

It's the Little Things- Light!

 I've looked for weeks for a new light for my studio.  Didn't want to spend alot of $.  Went to the Habitat Restore while in Charlotte last weekend.  Looked online.  Went to Target.  Finally found this one-  $20 at Target.  Put it together tonight---- and wow, it makes SUCH a big difference.   I could've spent a few more hours out there tonight except that I got hungry, so when dinnertime came, I let the kiln keep going and left.

 Less than 10 more bowls to trim, and then it's the etching stage and then hopefully they dry fast.  Am busy filling Christmas orders..... it is all wonderful!

Here's the light I ended up getting--- $20!  What a great buy.  Next thing I'm wondering- what do you recommend for music in a small studio space?  (2 car garage; I use it as a 1 car).  Heard the jawbone jam box wireless one is good..... and I have a gift certificate that I've kept for awhile to use for something.  Hmmm.  Any suggestions??

A Young Apprentice in the Making

 Thanksgiving is around the corner and here I am with one of the sweetest pilgrims there is!  Was a 'special visitor' at my niece's preschool this morning.  Loved time with Lily!

 And yes, there could easily be a future in clay for her.  Here she is practicing writing her abc's on a 'rock' as she has named it.  See the abc guide on the left. :)

 Garrett at age 2 loves anything that moves, including his Poppy.  The earphones are from what Poppy used blowing leaves.  Cute picture!

 Lily, age 4 could be my apprentice!

 Garrett is quite the charmer!

They are two of the sweetest children I know, and of course I am not biased!   :)
Happy Thanksgiving!  May your day be full of peace and gratitude.

Baltimore Clayworks Visit- Winterfest 2012

Stopped by Baltimore Clayworks on my way to my sister's house.  Was immediately drawn to these pieces, of course in part, because they are glazed in shino!  They are by Matthew Hyleck.  Check out his link for more.  Absolutely stunning.

Made me really missing firing gas kiln pieces!  Still, there are great things one can do with an electric kiln.  I'm now at my parent's house for Thanksgiving week and thankfully, I have the time to research a bit more and read, read, read.  :)  I'll share more pics from the Baltimore Gallery which had lots of pots from the Winterfest 2012 and Holiday Sale, but in all, it was just beautiful and inspiring!
And, I've realized that I tend to have these long gaps before I create posts.  :(  Not good; it is hard to find time for writing on the blog especially when I have a full-time job and am traveling here and there, and then spend almost every spare moment I can in the studio making pottery!
Still, the pottery world is just refreshing these days!  I will post tomorrow about what pottery I brought with me here to work on.  Much to do before my next glaze firing next Monday.  Thanks for reading and thanks to those of you who write your own blogs; I really enjoy reading them!

Time

 Sometimes I forget just how much time it takes to make one bowl.  Many who are reading this know this.  There's the wedging of the clay, then the throwing of the piece, then waiting for it to dry a bit, then trimming it and then drying and then... well this is a run-on sentence!
Then there's design time- which for me is etching words onto the outside of bowls.  Then more waiting and then brushing off the clay from the words and then a bisque firing.
So, it sometimes takes longer to make a piece than I imagine.

 Made baked oatmeal last week.  Will do the same this week.  One bowl this size is enough for four breakfasts!  Yum.  Mom's homemade recipe.  If you want, it please let me know.  So easy to make!

These days I'm making and trimming a bunch of bowls- different sizes and different orders that need to be done by mid-December.  While it may seem early to fill orders, I have to start now because I work-full time too.  And with the colder weather the space-heater came in quite handy today!  Not sure how I would have done anything at the wheel today without it.
Oh, what lotion do you use to keep your hands from getting too dry?  Heard that Burt's Bees was great.

A Good Day After a Bad One

Well, yesterday was one of those terrible no good, very bad days.  And I didn't even get caught in the hurricane.  Okay, it's pretty small compared to the devastation and destruction from the hurricane.  Yet I was at the dentist yesterday and learned of yet another dental procedure costing another $1K.  So, this year I'll pay about $8K in all to the dentist.  Yes, I am thankful for good dental care, and I didn't do anything wrong to cause all this.  Just life.  Quite disappointing and sad.  Thankfully, life isn't about $.  This is just one reason why I am voting the way I am; I don't want anyone else to go through this; I will gladly help to pay for universal health care.  At least I have a good job, and although my savings account is sad these days--- hard to save with these expenses!,  and I have health insurance.  So many don't.... including some wonderful potters.

So, off of my mini soapbox about universal healthcare.  That was yesterday and I'm thankful for a new day.  And then this came in the mail today.  My youngest sister gave me the most thoughtful present I've received in a long while.  Can't wait to read EVERY page.  And another friend gave me a subscription to Pottery Making Illustrated--- as part of the 2 for 1 deal.

Life goes on.  And how I love the pottery world these days!   I plan on spending some good time in the studio this weekend, trimming pieces to in time, filling the kiln!

Asheville, Colors, and Sales!

 Lately, I've been thinking about colors.  Easy to do in a place as beautiful as this.  Was in Hendersonville, NC earlier this week.  I wanted to hug this tree!

 Ate at perhaps my favorite restaurant in Asheville.  Chai Pani!   Daal , Naan and papadum is my all time favorite thing to order.

 Lily pads from the lake.  Just like the pattern, the colors, the everything about this pic.

 Beautiful!

So not sure how this pic turned out like this.  I had been jogging- and saw this and just tried to capture it.  Yet I really like how the colors blend into each other.  

 Same sight still a bit blurry....

 And I sat down on a bench and just listened and looked and this is what I saw.  Beautiful beyond words!

 Loved walking and jogging a bit on this path.  Learned that jogging on leaves is not the smartest thing- as I fell once.  Hard to find one's footing.  All's well though; I'm fine.   I just loved getting away for a couple days.  It was so hard to return.  I so loved time in Asheville and the incredible people I met there too.  Now back to reality; time in the studio all day tomorrow and I plan on posting more pictures of the latest pots.  Sold a bunch to friends I met;  Am delighted that many found new homes.  I recommend that all take a few pieces of pottery with them when they go on trips.  :)
Have a bunch of orders to fill.  Can't get enough time in the studio these days as Christmas will soon be here!

Asheville and Great Firing!

Thanks all for your comments about my kiln loading.  Ended up re-loading the kiln and even figured out how to create more space with no pots near the top!  Here are two from the firing.  Unloaded them and the others this morning---  was ready to leave town to come to Asheville so I put some of them in towels to stay warm and cool down more slowly (unloaded at 200 degrees).  I just couldn't wait any longer; don't think there is any crazing....  time will tell!
Great firing.  Kiln wash or something on one bowl; don't know how it got there.  Will vacuum my kiln before I fire again.

The colors on the trees here are beautiful beyond words.  Interesting to see so many people around; lots and lots of tourists.  I can hardly wait to go running tomorrow mid-day in all this, even though I'm out of shape and it will be a bit grueling.  Oh well; much good to see!

Will definitely go back to the parkway tomorrow pm to take some more pics and just take in all the color.  No wonder so many come here.  It is all just beautiful beyond anything I can describe and I'm here a few days past peak colors.  Even so, it is a bit hard to drive as there is so much to look at.  :)

Question- Less Than One Inch?

Loaded the kin today with bowls today and loaded it so full (height-wise) that the last bowl is less than 1 inch from the top lid.  The skutt manual says leave two inches between the highest piece from the top.  I've heard differently from other potters.  Is it okay to fire it as is or is it better for me to remove that top shallow bowl leaving more space at the top?  Please, please advise.  I plan to fire the kiln tomorrow morning...

Thanks for your insight!

Oh, and the plate stackers are wonderful!  I put extra kiln posts next to them for stability; they really allow one to add more shelves and are so efficient!

First Twelve

 Here are some of the first twelve.  I'll post close-ups of these tomorrow evening hopefully.  In the meantime, here are some of my favorites- and two of these have already found new homes!  I'm so pleased about all this.

 The glaze colors of the first dozen that I fired are wonderful.  This small bowl already sold too as I took some pots to a conference I attended last week.  I recommend keeping a small box of pottery in one's car all the time!  Oh, and I REALLY like the variation in these colors.

I'll definitely use this glaze combo again.  It's the Leah Leitson's Chun Celadon glaze on the entire bowl with floating blue on the inside.
Made some bowls today and added some underglaze onto others.  There just is never enough time for pottery making these days.  At least I have it so.
If I can glaze a bunch more, I'll fire the kiln on Sunday.  Thanks for reading!

Glaze Results! And More Soon...

 Well, I'm still a bit hesitant to glaze a full load, even though I liked some of the glaze combos.  Overall though, the glazes were thin.  That is floating blue on the far right---- and while the picture isn't the best, it's dark blue and brownish.  In the middle i sburke's strong celadon with some  and on the left, burke's celadon.  I'm encouraged by all this.  And because I hope to have a dozen or so ready to sell to colleagues at a conference I attend this week, I took some water out of the glaze buckets and well, the glaze is thicker.  It just takes awhile to figure this thickness stuff out.  Any glaze thickness testing tips.  I have a hydrometer; it didn't work, because I only had 2 gallons or so of glaze mixed....  (5000 grams, I think).

 The rest of this post is a potpourri of photos...  this above shows part of the process I use when I wrote on the pottery-  that's black underglaze applied after the bisque firing.  Then I wipe it off with a sponge, a bit messy.

 Here's the full kiln load.  Put the pieces on broken kiln shelves that I bought at highwater clay during my last visit.  Guess it would help to put kiln wash on the test shelves too!   :)  I will try to remember to show close up pictures of a few of the pieces.

 Meanwhile, here are some gourds from my parent's garden drying out a bit...

 I even picked them!  Me, the city girl loved this.  I don't mind getting dirty; it's just different...

While I wish I could say the lavender is thriving (it is almost dead), here is some pottery awaiting glaze.
Tired.  Excited about unloading the next dozen of pots tomorrow morning.  Thanks for reading!

Glazing- Another Firing Around the Corner

 Kiln firing tomorrow on these pieces.  Put them on broken kiln shelves that I bought just in case they run.  Some of the glazes are a bit thin, so I double dipped them and took copious notes.  Really, really doubt they'll run.

 used these pincher things for the first time.  Once I figure out what glaze combos to use, this will take alot less time! :)

 Put different variations of 3 glazes on these.  Eager to see what they'll look like.  Saturday pm they'll be ready!  Am refiring one piece, which is something I rarely do.

 It is always inspiring to take glaze notes amidst artwork from a handsome almost 2 year old boy.  :)  My sweet nephew Garrett!  Need to post a picture of him.

Melissa--- these are the setter legs for the plate setters.  Got a set of three from highwater clays.  They're two different colors, but they're the same.  See my comments in the last post for more.  They'll be great to use with deep plates, which I'll fire in my next firing.
Tired!  Off to sleep.  More soon... Thanks for reading...