New

Some of my favorites from Michael Mahan's most recent firing. That one in the front is my favorite. More written below.
Ended up buying a mug! This mug will now be one of the two used for coffee in the a.m.... the other being Kyle Carpenter's.
These pictures don't do these justice. Amazing colors... really liked the pieces with a bit of ash on them.
It's been awhile again since I've posted. Better than no post about the new I guess is a post with this photo. The view from my office. The orchid is way more beautiful than the picture; it's a gift from friends here on my birthday in late September. And, looking very very closely, one can find one of Becky's birds that made its way close to the orchid.

Both the bird and the orchid sit in my office. I'm in Southern Pines now and the vies are just beautiful, to put it mildly. I've quickly decided that I love it here. Good places to run; and at present, I'm waiting for my new home to be ready to move into. Then I'll create my studio in the garage, which is a good size. :)

In the meantime, I'm recovering from moving and am finding my way around. As mentioned above, went to Michael Mahan's kiln opening this past weekend. Great to meet him and his wife, Mary. Neat to see their wood kiln and where they sell their pots. Fun to be so near Seagrove!

On another note, am SO looking forward to being back at the wheel in time. I can do this, I tell myself; meaning spend a couple months away from the wheel. Looks like it'll be November till I begin to throw a piece of pottery. I tell myself 'good things come to those who wait.' And at least with living in this beautiful part of the world, it is easier to wait. Plus, the people here are wonderful. While I knew little about this place and people before I moved, I'm absolutely convinced this was one of the best decisions I've made in a long while. Sure, I miss Clayworks in Charlotte, but Adrienne Dellinger and all the other instructors and students who taught me there helped prepare me for the here and now. :) I'm grateful.

The best is yet to come!

Glazing and Etching

While I used to etch words onto bowls, I haven't done this for awhile. Until now.
Am getting ready to move, so I wanted to make sure to capture a few quotes onto bowls that I'm keeping for myself. Two bowls in particular. These have quotes from my time at Holden Village in WA state. It always takes FOREVER to etch these, but I like the finished piece. Tonight I did that and then glazed some...

Bowls ready for the gas kiln (cone 10). Each have a bit of soda ash and wood ash sprinkled on them. All have a spotted shino glaze base.

Plates-- my first try at making a bunch of plates. I'm so happy with these! I plan on keeping them- a new set. Each have a different pattern, but the colors, not the designs- are identical.

Which one is not like the other? :) The smaller bowl and the vase have some amber celadon. Haven't used this glaze yet; so I'm interested in seeing how it looks on top of spotted shino glaze and next to or near blue/green celadon. And, the different one in the picture is more or less predictable.

The gas kiln was just fired so it will be awhile till these are finished. That's okay. I need to pack anyway and move and well, create my own studio! I'll need these bowls in inventory these next few months. It will be awhile before I'm at the wheel again. With that said, any wisdom for creating a studio? Thanks for all the kiln wisdom. Hoping to find a house with a window in the garage.

Kiln in garage?

Trying to find a new place to live.....here's a short poll....

What about putting an electric kiln in a garage? (not unattached one)

What's your practice? what do you recommend (or not)?

Just thinking.... looking into possibilities.

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.