Wisdom, Please!

Well, I'll ask for wisdom at the end of this post. More about this picture first and my trip.
Just returned from time in the North Cascades with my parents. Went hiking with Dad. Amazing, beautiful views beyond words! This was after a 5 mile hike up!

We stayed at Holden Village, a retreat center in the middle of nowhere in the North Cascades. It's one of my favorite places.

Made some pottery while there. Donated it all to the bookstore at the village.

Ate outside often as they often served the food outside. This was part of my view. :)

Used Bob's Blend clay which was purchased from Seattle Pottery Supply. It felt much like phoenix clay, which I like and use (from Highwater).

Yunomis I made. And bowls in the center too.

Wonderful August weather there. It got as cold as 34 at night. :) High of 80 most days. :)
This is why I go there in August and leave NC.

Everyone accesses Holden by arriving on a boat. At the boat dock waiting for the boat to come on my day of departure.

Returned to NC on Friday and went into the studio and made a bunch of bowls. Gotta use all of the phoenix clay before I move. Yes, I'm moving in mid-September to Southern Pines, NC. New job. I'll create my own studio soon after I move. I'm looking to buy a house. With that I'm wondering....

Do's and don'ts for having a studio in a 2 car garage? What should I keep in mind?
I'll purchase an electric kiln and also a brent wheel.

Best place to buy supplies and clay for studio--- highwater or elsewhere?

(I'll spread the word soon more via blog... as I'd like to buy used supplies.)

Any other wisdom for one creating a studio?

What do you wish someone had told you about creating a studio?

Thanks ahead of time...

Meanwhile, I brought some wood ash back from the North Cascades and sprinkled it on my pieces today. These all have a spotted shino base with blue and or blue/green celadon and some soda ash too.

...And Class!

I love the look of trimmed teabowls. Here are the first of this past week. I'm slowly getting back into the rhythm of being at the wheel-- etc.

Although I'll be traveling some more this summer, I am taking Adrienne Dellinger's pottery class. She always makes it all look so easy. One of, if not, the best instructor I've had. Here are some jars and containers she's working on. Lots of demos...

Finished jars. Still not too interested in teapots Not sure what will happen during tomorrow's class. Will post about it.... plus include some pictures of my trip to England and some other miscellaneous pictures. Hope you've had a wonderful summer! (Oh... and two posts in one day! Read below for the second one).

It's Been Too Long!

I have been away from blogging for a long time. I've missed it. Lots has happened. My job ended at the end of May and the clayworks studio closed because it has changed locations. So I was without time at the wheel for almost two months! I've also been traveling.
Even so, I returned to the new (air conditioned) studio this past Tuesday and made these three pieces above. An okay beginning. At least I could center the clay! I was a bit concerned- wondering what I'd remember, and am so thankful that I remembered what I did.

Soon- on Wednesday night, I made these three and some more teabowls. When I had some time alone, I got back into the rhythm of being at the wheel. Peaceful! The clay in the front of the three teabowls was turned into a teabowl too-- in time.

More teabowls. As I consider this my 'default' form, I am pleased with this new chapter of pottery. I also sense that my pottery will change a bit. More on that soon...

Best for Last

Perhaps the best for last? This was the gas kiln firing at Clayworks' current location. In late July, we'll move to Monroe Rd. While I was contemplating whether to switch glazes, I got these results. Gorgeous! Think I'll stay with these glaze combos awhile longer. Above are small salsa/yogurt/hummus bowls.

LOVE these teabowls. Will be hard to part with any of them. Wisdom learned...

Use more soda ash! glaze combo is spotted shino with accents of alfred's blue and blue/green celadon (which turned purple). Some good crystal parts from the soda ash too.

Not a good pic, yet these tumblers are beautiful! Will take more pics later. These are perfect for iced tea. The soda ash and wood ash really showed up this time! Not always the case.

Closer look at some tumblers. Blue/green celadon turned purple!

Wow... these are amazing. All the tumblers have a thumb notch for easy handling.

Two vases. On the vase on the right, poured some mystery glaze onto it. I'm so happy with these. May just keep them...

Same jars. On the other side. Put some broken glass on the rims of these after glazing. Rich colors!

Bowls which did some interesting things. Cloudy appearance.... wondering why. Will ask Adrienne, director at Clayworks. She'll know. Still, most of the words can be read.

A jar, despite the fact taht the whole jar isn't in the picture! Perfect for a couple flowers.

Pitcher I made for a friend. She wanted the trinity symbol on it, for baptisms. hope she likes it! A bit darker than I thought it would be, yet I'm so pleased!

The inside of it is much lighter. The gas kiln produces so many mysterious results. I like this.

More bowls....

More pictures to follow.