This and That

Pics of this and that. First, here's some scalloped potatoes that my mom made for dinner recently. Amazing food! I don't know a cook that can outdo her- she's the best in North America. And in her younger years, my abuela in South America was the best there.

Most recent glazed pots. Base-- blue/green celadon with accents in alfred's blue. These are awaiting to be fired in the gas kiln-- cone 10.

Recently, I traveled to PA to visit my parents and siblings. Dug potatoes with Dad one morning. This was a new experience for me. The dirt above shows where the potatoes were growing. Dad did the hard work (digging with the shovel) and I put the potatoes in the baskets.

My mom is one of the best chefs there is. Here are tomatoes with a bit of cheese and herbs on top--- tomatoes straight from the garden.

And finally, the potatoes... these are the red ones. Dad works fast... we dug this basket and the sweet potatoes too, all in an hour or so.

The sweet potatoes were huge and long. Some were too big for one person for a meal. Great time with my parents. They are the best.

Went to Asheville this past weekend. Visited Highwater Clays where I got some new pottery supplies. What fun! They had an open house there and I now have some new ideas for design work on my pottery.

Classes have started again at Clayworks. I'm back at it and hoping for cooler weather! Will try and stay better connected on my blog.

New Batch of Pottery

Here are some pictures from the latest firing. Glazes are blue/green celadon as a base with alfred's blue glaze poured on the inside of the bowl.

I really like the colors-- the reds/purples/blues of the glaze. Etched words into the outside of the bowl as it was drying and then brushed black slip/mason glaze into the crevices. This bowl in the first two pictures I gave as a gift. Oh, the clay is phoenix clay, fired in the gas kiln.

I've decided to use this glaze for the time being... so this is now a new chapter of pottery. More pictures to follow.

Oh, and no good reason as to why I've been away from blogging.

It IS good to be back.

On the Verge?

I think I'm on the verge of something new. The above jar could be an example. Have never made the design on the above jar before. Saw it on another piece in the studio and thought I'd give it a try.
Spent a couple hours at Clayworks today. More than I spent there for most of the summer. It has been so hot and I've worked alot. Those are my not good reasons for not making much pottery.
Even so, I have managed to collect all of these bisqued pots on my shelf. All are awaiting glaze. Many are bowls... a few jars and a couple yunomis. Like I said, there is something new around the corner. I'm just not sure what yet.
Time will tell. May even glaze these tomorrow afternoon.
I must say- it's good to be back in the blogging world. It's been way too long.

Summer and... Writing

It's summertime and I haven't experienced the warmth and heat of summer like this one in Charlotte. And with temps in the 90's regularly, I haven't been too motivated to play with clay at the studio--- which is not air conditioned.
All this has left me in a sort of a rut... I have the sense soon my pottery will take a new look; that I'm on the verge of new style and look of pottery. Style means I'll keep throwing clay at the wheel--- I am thinking that the design on the outside of the pottery will be different. Maybe new forms too. Hmmm
And I haven't had a vacation in a long while and many where I work have been on vacation already for a long while, and well...
With vacation a few weeks away, perspective is incredibly important. Yes, perspective is incredibly important.
Time at the pool has increased. I think that reading while in the pool is a very good thing to do.
And in the middle of all this, I began to write some more. Yes, write. I don't consider myself a writer; my friend Jim out in WA State has encouraged me. It's not very easy all of the time.
Oh, I took a few pics recently of time in the studio, yet when I tried to send them on my blackberry I did something wrong. I need blackberry 101 sometimes.
Lots going on; am going to visit family for a very short trip tomorrow. Then when I return mid-week, I'll get back to the studio by the end of this week.
It's been too long that I've been away...
Off to write- something.