It's Always Been the Teabowl

 This tea bowl is one that I discovered by surprise while on vacation.  I had made it two years ago and it just well, stayed around.  The current resident potter liked the form and how the glaze hung on it.  I decided to find it a new home- mine!  Sorry that I don't know the glaze colors.  Clay is Bob's Blend from the Clay Art Center in Tacoma, WA.  This photo isn't the best.  The tea bowl has a thumb indentation too.  All in all, it's a keeper.  I love its from; the tea bowl remains my favorite form these days.  Always has been.  For now, still is.  Maybe always will be.

 Brought these potatoes back from my parent's house, with dirt still on them, all straight from their garden.  I think I'll make hash browns tomorrow--- one of the few foods I can eat these days.

Brought these tea plants back too.  My mom makes the most amazing tea and in their garden, it grows like a weed.  I hope these small cut plants become weeds too--- over 12 roots in all.  I've been watering them consistently.  Thanks for reading!

Salmon, Glaze Recipes, and Cool

I always end my vacation to Seattle with a grilled salmon burger from Anthony's Restaurant in the Seattle airport.  I highly recommend it.  If I remember, I order rice instead of fries.  Forgot this time, but brought this onto the plane.  Best lunch at the end of vacation that I could find!  

 First, here's a couple glaze recipes I liked from a past edition of Ceramics Monthly.  I spent part of vacation looking through old magazines gleaning words of wisdom.  Was reminded that Ceramics Monthly doesn't go out of style.  Hope to try these Cone 6 glaze recipes.  Save your Ceramics Monthly if you subscribe!  I'm thinking of putting in a subscription...

 Hard to believe that less than two weeks ago, I was in weather this cool.  High of 65 most days and as low as 30 one night.  Loved the weather, place and people!  On this particular Friday it was overcast on Lake Chelan and well, just beautiful!  The place I visited was only accessible by boat and no cell phone coverage-- and lots of untouched nature all around.

 Like the look of this glaze test tile chart.  I plan on creating my own in my studio.

 Here is the studio I worked in.  It's built on the bottom floor of a huge building--- and with part of the roof sloping down like that.  Has excellent lighting--- with windows at each end and all along the one wall.  It was just beautiful.  Some nights I'd be trimming pots when it was cold-- and well, the deer were outside as if spectators who had come to watch.  The deer would come to visit at dusk.  Love this connection to nature.

Went on a couple hikes.  It was late June, yet the winter had been quite cold and full of snow (323.5 inches in all).  This is in the midst of a 10 mile hike.  I'll post the snow pic in the next blog post.  Here's what it was like about 1/3 of the way up.  (2100 ft. elevation change)  When life is challenging, I take my mind here in the midst of beauty that is too beautiful to put into words.  Thanks for taking the time to read this!  Oh, and I'd love to have some glaze measuring advice--- anything to keep in mind when looking at a glaze recipe and when you're getting ready to measure the dry ingredients?   I need to research this some. Thankfully, I'm beginning to feel better from dental surgery and I'll have some time at the end of this week to figure this all out and mix some glazes.  Will post some more pics of vacation later too.

Glaze Recipes- Measuring, etc...

 One thing I really need to learn is how to mix and measure glazes.  Here's an example of a cone 10 Copper Red glaze I used in WA.  I'll be using only cone 6 glazes in the near future as a gas kiln is nowhere near for me to use.

 Here's how the copper red turned out.  Gorgeous!  that white- that is where another glaze was poured on top.  I am using the copper red as an example- I didn't measure this one.  If you need a copper red recipe, I recommend this one.

Another view of the copper red-- it's just gorgeous!  Any wisdom in computing glazes and measuring them?  I have the tools-- just needing the 'know-how'.  Off to search the internet for answers to the 'how to'.  Chemistry was never my strong suit...
Thanks for the comments and care.

Back--- And Missing Time in WA State

Here are a few pics from my vacation to the West Coast.  Went to the North Cascade Mountains.  Threw a dozen bowls in an afternoon and here they are trimmed and drying.  Will share more soon.  

Had dental surgery today so I don't feel 100%... how not fun that was!  

 Also made 12 mugs while there.  Haven't made many handles yet... need to practice that much more, but these are ok.

These are some of the gorgeous flowers at the Pike Place Market.  Of course, pictures don't do them justice.  Thanks too for even reading this blog amidst the long few weeks of no post!  I have pottery updates and insights I learned that I will share soon- just need to feel better and hopefully soon.  Ugh!