Counting Down

Worked a lot this weekend, so sadly that left little time for pottery.  Did manage to trim this large bowl (it still needs some work) and a few others tonight.  Tomorrow, I'll etch some words on the four remaining pieces.  

Am counting down the days until vacation----  :) 

Meanwhile, my plants are growing!  The hyacinth bean vines are using the trellis.  Not the best picture, but these are thriving. 

 And while this is a blurry picture, the petunias are not and they are happy too. These are the ones that just appeared in this planter.  Come, vacation come!
May do a bisque firing this week.  The hard part will be picking a time that I'm here for 7 or so hours.
Thanks for reading and your comments, etc.

First and Workshop

My first kiln firing- a test one went well.  One slight mishap----  I inadvertently programmed the kiln to preheat for 0.04 instead of 0.00.  Somehow, I had put the cone 04 part a bit early in the programming.  I learned of my error when I called Skutt technical support.  They were incredibly helpful- evidently, this has happened before.  I knew something was wrong because I noticed the kiln took an extra hour to fire---- and thus, an hour less of sleep for me!  Now, I know.  Problem solved.  whew!

Tomorrow I am going to the electric kiln workshop at Starrworks Ceramics in the afternoon.  It's FREE too!  Can hardly wait to learn more.

Bisque firing is next.  what temp do you bisque fire to?  More soon...

Drying and Firing

These bowls are in various stages of drying.  They're out in my screened in porch well, drying.  Tomorrow I fire my kiln for the first time and search for glaze recipes online.  I must say that it's confusing to figure out the different percentages of the recipes, etc.  Someone recently suggested Julia Galloway's website, so here I go.  Wish I had a glaze consultant in all this.  Made a bunch of test tiles today, which will be oh so needed.  Stay tuned...

Saturday- Kline and Whynot!

 Well, today was just one of those wonderful, peaceful days.  Took this lunch on the road to visit two potters.  While I often prefer to stay at home and make pottery, I always like getting somewhere when I get there. A Michael Mahan mug accompanied me and one of my 'second' bowls.  It's great BLT weather.

 These pics are out of order, but this was dinner.   Was so hungry- grilled salmon, homemade corn (from parent's garden!), rice and a glass of wine.  Watched another episode of downtown abbey as I etched words onto two more bowls.

 I visited the 'Cousins in Clay' event at Bulldog Pottery.  Good to meet Samantha, and all in all, really enjoyed my time there.  Above are Michael Kline's teabowls.  Love the blue in that one, yet I already have one of his pieces so for now will wait to get another.

 Above are Samantha Henneke's tea bowls.  Really like the greenish translucent glaze.

 Judith Duff's pottery is gorgeous.  I do think it's too expensive though; wish she adopted Warren McKenzie's perspective- his is affordable!

 Ron Meyer's work.

 Watched Michael Kline's demo- he makes surface design look so easy.  Check out his 'Sawdust and Dirt' blog on the right of mine or here. He was helpful in answering questions and just down to earth in conversation.  Learned he went to the University of Tennessee too.

 This bowl has slip and wax resist surface design on it.  It's just simply beautiful.

 Good crowd at the 'Cousins in Clay' event.  Was great to see Ron Philbeck there--- oops, no picture!  That plate in the front--- the paper plate, well, I took home a smaller one.  Will put it on the wall of my studio.  Managed somehow to leave without a piece of pottery. I so need to save $ these days.

 Then I went over to Whynot Pottery on the way home.  By then I was tired, so I only took this picture.  Meredith was so gracious and took me on a tour of her and Mark's place.  It was great to talk with her a bit.  Their place is beautiful!  Hope you'll check it out.

Came home and made several plates (below).  Got some great ideas for forms by looking at others' pieces today.  Sometimes I just forget I can make bigger pots- rounded plates and bowls.  The bowl above is from 7 lbs. of clay and is for a commission. 

Well, it's just been a peaceful, productive, and simply wonderful day!  Tomorrow afternoon I'll trim these and look for translucent blue glaze recipes online.  Monday afternoon will do a test fire my new kiln.  :)  Thanks for all your support!