Yesterday and Today Part II

These three plates also came out yesterday. They're okay. I'm experimenting with glazing and just making plates in general. Let it be said that making plates is harder than it may seem. I really want to take a class in surface design sometime. Lots more to learn... I'll use these though.

Today at the studio I put the finishing touches on the cups I posted about yesterday and put them on the shelf to be bisqued. I added some rutile wash, red iron oxide, and different colored slip to four of them. While I realize that some of things are better added after the pieces are bisqued, I put them on now to see what will happen. Experimenting again. :)

It was a gorgeous, peaceful evening too. Spent some time on my mini deck eating my first meal entirely out of my own pottery and reading. :)

Am in the midst of moving so here are some boxes. Got them from Total Wine, which was very generous in giving them to me for free. Makes me want to try these wines!

Tonight, the Tennessee Lady Vols play their first game as the women's NCAA tournament begins. I've missed on most of their games this season, due to my love of pottery. Will watch this one though.

Someday and Yesterday Part I

As I write, I'm watcing Celtic Woman on PBS. One song of theirs, Someday is one of my favorites. Even so, back to the here and now.

Am gearing up for a move. so, that means the workers at Total Wine today were extra grace and gave me boxes for free. Makes me want to try out the wine that once came in them. I'll spend this week packing and move on Saturday. Thanks to all of you who are helping me!

Below is a plate that came out of the electric kiln today. :)

I'm pleased. The glazes on the rim ran a bit which is what I wanted (some Ben Gareen and Tahitian over Ron's Creme).

These days I'm not saving everything I make at the wheel, which is a good thing. I've become more picky about what is worth saving and giving more attention to detail.

Oh, yeah-- this is the first of two posts today.

Yesterday, I went to the Morrison's gallery in Charlotte where clayworks resident artists have a few pieces of their work.

Lighting isn't the best in these pics. It was fun to see the pieces and say to myself-- "I know these artists!" Perhaps someday I'll join them, if I win the lottery at this point. :)

Am now watching 60 Minutes' interview with Obama. Gosh, what an amazing President we have. He's got so much coming at him these days and yet he says he reads 10 letters every night that are written from ordinary people, out of 40,000. I have lots of respect for him.

Cups

Here are the latest cups. Am experimenting and trying new forms.

I'm tired.

I'll post more tomorrow.

Raindrop and Raku

From a raindrop.... These are the start of the words in a Peter Mayer song that I etched onto a plate for me, just me. :) (Earthen Red plus white trailing slip). Everything I need in the etching is in the pic. Red pen to write down some of the lyrics of the song, the tool, and that's it!

Before the raku, mid-day, we celebrated Robin's birthday. This was not the first of her birthday celebrations... it was great to be included at the last minute and the conversation was full of laughter. Chris (second from left) brought a delicious coconut lemon pie. Yum!

Here we're all anticipating our piece of the pie.

Robin and Chris on this happy day- St. Patrick's day too! Gorgeous daffodils as well. I've loved it that it's warmer here--- real spring-like weather! All encouraging in the midst of job searching.

Made these six cups yesterday. Hope to trim them all later today. Am finishing more off with a rib and trying new things in terms of form. Put some slip on this cup earlier and then decided when it was dry to take a sponge and wipe some of it off. I like the effect....

Last night when I was at Clayworks it was also Raku night for Greg's class. Here Greg and John (L-R, respectively) are waiting for the kiln to heat up. Greg is drinking a beverage of some sort. Stories abounded. Greg has some of the best stories to tell. I stayed around a bit to watch the fun action. Check out John's blog for more pics.

Finally, the kiln was hot and pots were put in. In this pic above, some of the pots were drying as raku glaze had been put on them just prior to the class.

When it was hot enough, the pots came out one by one, and CAREFULLY! Here's John bringing his big pot to one of the small cans.

Newspaper caught on fire when the pot was placed in, which was a great thing.

Here's another small pot upon its arrival in the trashcan. All made sure to 'burp' the cans too..... to take the lid off of at some point, not to long after putting the pot in, to help the can catch fire again. All this helps in the cooling and the colors, I think.

This is John's big pot when he was burping it. He added some more newspaper inside it. We could literally see the colors changing. Amazing to watch!

Finally, when it was cooled down, it was retrieved from the can. Look how dark the big one is initially....

and then how in time, more colors come out. The small one is John's too; the smaller ones in the pic above are Ed's.

Writing this post has reminded me of how much more I have to learn about raku. Above is Greg's pot.... notice the face sculpture on it. The raku world is always unpredictable in a wonderful way.