Potpourri of Pics

Some pics from the last month. My latest class is led by Adrienne, Executive Director at Clayworks. She's an amazing potter and also was a production potter years ago. With that being said, one needs to watch her demos closely, or something will be missed! Above, a jar.

Another demo of hers. A casserole... I'm gonna make one of these soon.

Bowls... she made these bowls one week and trimmed them the next-- here stacked waiting for the bisque kiln. Interesting how the feet on these are almost exactly the same size.

Part of a teapot.

Now, my work. I started off the new year making yunomis. Phoenix clay. Are you surprised?
My favorite form these days... Still these are a bit different from the ones in 2009.

Back to Adrienne's demos. A bowl... the same one is also three pics back, third bowl down on the left stack.

Back to before Christmas. John is eating a piece of incredible pie.... chocolate bourbon pecan pie. A gift from a colleague and I brought it in for friends to eat....

This is it before.... and well, we ate just a quarter of it and then I took the rest to PA for my family to enjoy. It was hard to stop though and eat just a quarter of it while here.

That same night we ate a bunch of Christmas cookies and of course, shared some wine. Many goodies to share.

Back to Adrienne's demos. I took these pics because I like the simplicity of the forms. Here's a cup-- that will be a mug.

Good news- I'll be in the studio a bunch this weekend. Will post pics. I'll be making more bowls in 2010 and will definitely try some new forms. Can hardly wait.

Happy New Year! Many More Days in Clay Ahead....

It's been awhile since I've posted. I visited my parents and siblings during Christmas and so was far away from a wheel for awhile. I really missed it, to put it mildly. I returned back home with a cold--- it's just quite easy to get one in all the travel- airports, airplanes, etc.
It's good to be back home. I will be in the studio some this upcoming weekend. Here are some pictures from pieces that came out of the kiln just before Christmas.

Before Christmas, I also etched some bowls a bit with the same design that I had used in the glazes. This glaze and etching design combo is a keeper for now.

This jar also came out of the gas kiln. Craggy crunch clay and tom's clear with catherine's oribe on the top half. It's just different. Put a few pieces of glass on the lid in the center at the knob. The crescent shape on the bottom of it in this pic is a finger mark. I like that.
It's not my favorite; my friends seem to like it better than I.

Some more pics of yunomis from the latest firing. That one yunomi that has the white on it... well, it just didn't get reduction all over it. I took it home and gave it to my parents; half is brown and colorful and the other half is just white. It's kinda funny!

A closer look. Glazes are spoted shino for the base (thin coat). Catherine's oribe for an accent, plus sprinkles of soda ash.

I can't remember what Becky was telling us, but of course it was important! Check out the dog sculpture she made though-- and fired in a raku kiln. It's gorgeous!

I hope to post more close up pictures of more yunomi cups soon. Christmas was so busy; it wore me out. Lots to do...

Happy New Year! Here's to a year full of much time playing with clay AND lots of surprises!

Christmas Come Early

Have been gathering at Clayworks these past days celebrating Christmas. Here are some amazing friends! I am thankful.

From L-R, clockwise:

me, John, Minke, Becky, and Elaine. Time with them was Christmas come early in a sense. We laughed and laughed... and ate and laughed. Everything from sushi to christmas cookies. Actually, had quite a spread of food! (see the table). Gosh, it's been quite a year. They've helped me see it through...

Some of them have blogs. Check them out on the right of this blog page. I'm too tired to create the links for them on this post. :(

Fun times! Tonight was round 2 with some of them... with the incredible pie... I'll post that pic tomorrow. Off to rest. I'm exhausted from running.

Christmas Trees and Christmas Cups

Today I purchased my first live Christmas tree. I don't like the cut live trees as I once visited a Christmas Tree farm in the western NC mountains and met several workers there... that were being treated as slaves, living in substandard housing, isolated, etc... it was horrible. That experience made me promise to not have a live cut tree--- so I purchased this one and will give it to friends when Christmas is over.
It was a bargain! I think it's absolutely gorgeous. It has lights which are hard to see in the pic. Oh well...

Most of the ornaments are gifts from my parents over the years. Some are labeled with my name and the year on them; a few are made by me when I was a child. It's a beautiful tradition.

This is my smaller tree. It looks great surrounded by pottery. With that said, the pottery is for sale. Don't have time to put it on my etsy store, but if you are interested in a piece, let me know in the comment section. I'll ship the piece(s) with red and green tissue paper if you'd like.

A closeup of the pottery from the most recent firing. All are not for sale; some I'm not ready to say goodbye to.

Four on the left... and-

Four on the right. I also have a bunch more teacups in the kiln as I write; they will emerge from the kiln on Sunday afternoon. :)

Christmas is coming! I'm grateful.