Still ?

With all the change and busyness of life these days, I was wondering if I could still center a piece of clay and make something I liked.
Plus, I've been away from the wheel for at least two weeks....
It took a bit longer, but I was happy that I made this tonight. A yunomi in the making. Will trim it this weekend. This is a very good thing. Whew!
:) Plus, more to come.

Back in the Studio... Finally!

This past weekend marked my return to the studio after my long trip.
It always takes awhile to adjust to life back in the States.
We have running water that is safe to drink.
We have hot water coming out of the faucet.
We can wash our clothes quite easily.
We have lots of food that is safe to eat so closeby!
For these reasons and more, it always takes me awhile to adjust back to life here.
It was fun to return to the studio, talk with friends, and glaze a few pots in time for the gas kiln firing. The kiln was loaded tonight.
Above are three pots. The one with the blue rim is mine; the other two are from Bolivia. The tall one is from Tiwanaku, an old ruin located outside La Paz, Bolivia. I purchased it in Cochabamba, Bolivia though and the vendor says it was from Tiwanaku. Maybe it is not. At least it has that Bolivian look with lots of little traditional Incan symbols inscribed in it. Will do some research and a post about that later.
The small plate is typical of one that can be found in the artesania outdoor markets with the designs on it. I gave it to a friend at the studio.
Somehow, my pictures here in the U.S. are blurry. Maybe my camera doesn't like being back. :( Gotta figure that out.
This is another plate.. a saucer actually, that is from Bolivia. I like the symbols and painting on it.
Here's its match. The staircase symbols remind me of the Andean cross.
I finally had my first glass of wine about a week after I returned. Thanks, Becky! how thoughtful. Her pot on the right is a cave art one. Gorgeous!
I decided to branch out and try a little new glazing design. This swirly design is from that tall Bolivian piece from Tiwanaku. Will do some research later to find out what it means as I'm still quite tired now. Time and the kiln.... will show how these turn out.
Clay: Phoenix stoneware
Glaze: spotted shino with the rims dipped in alfred's blue. Accents in Alfred's blue. Some soda ash sprinkled onto the sides as well.
I used a little wax resist too on some, like the one in the center and on the left. These aren't my favorite forms, so I don't mind testing the surface design of them a bit. It'll be interesting to see how they turn out.
Saturday was a great one to be in the studio even though it was hot and humid. Gosh, time goes by fast once you enter Clayworks.

Back.... and In the Meantime

Yes, I'm back! I've been back in NC for about a week. It was not an easy trip back with flights, etc. I am thankful to have made it back in one piece.
It has taken awhile to recover.

Haven't even looked at all my pictures yet. Will do that soon. It's too early. These things take time, especially after time with my precious abuelos (grandparents). Such holy time.

Haven't been back at the wheel yet. Am too tired. Will do that soon too.

So, 'in the meantime' (great song by Peter Mayer too), I'll show two pictures of two gifts that my abuelos gave me.

Above is part of a blanket called an 'ahuayo'. This is a typical Aymaran blanket. I am half Aymaran so this is perfect for me. Babies are often carried in ahuayo blankets on a woman's back (they tend to live there the first years of their life), or anything else is carried in ahuayos that need to be transported from one place to another. They're known for vibrant colors and sometimes the name of the weaver is woven into the blanket. In this case, a woman named Amalia made it and my abuela (grandmother) wove the outside hem. As you can see, she used two colors. Bolivians are resourceful. They find a use for just about anything. And this ahuayo? I treasure it already.

This pic is part of a mantilla, which is a shawl worn around a woman's shoulders in the Aymara culture. My grandmother wore this, I'm sure. Gosh, this picture really needed a flash!

These are amazing gifts. When I look at them, I think of my abuelos (grandparents). Both of them are Amyaran people.

Most of all, I hope that what my abuelos have taught me about God and life...that all of those gifts are known in who I am in the days to come.

And it is a bit comforting that although loved ones are far away, the memories can always stay with me here, and that God is there too.

Gosh, Bolivia is too far away.

More soon...

On the Lookout South of the Equator

Yes, I am on the lookout here in Bolivia for symbols that are Aymaran or Bolivian and the meanings of them. I am here visiting family and have been thinking about putting some of those symbols on my upcoming pottery pieces. I´ve already purchased a few pieces that have symbols on them, but ideally, it would be fun to have a book that has many of them inside.
I have taken some pictures, but cannot upload them yet.
Still it is great to be here, although I wish that potter´s wheels traveled well.
Any ideas where to find symbols that are etched onto South American pottery? Gotta google a bit to learn online. Maybe I will come across something here.
In the meantime, it is fun to read blogs from all over the world as I am here south of the equator where it is winter.
Happy Potting!