Away and Back

 While some of these pictures are a bit dark, they show where I went.  My lazy no good reason for not posting.  I just get tired by the end of the day too and well, it's easier to just read and not post.... sorry!
Here I am at Lake Chelan, WA- evidently the third deepest lake in the U.S.  I go to a retreat center there every year and it was so hard to leave.

 Hard to leave because this was my view every morning.  Someone has to do it!  :)  The North Cascade mountains.  Beauty beyond words.

I experimented with porcelain clay (white rose clay from the clay art center in Tacoma, WA; they didn't have clay with more grog in it) and liked it better than when I put my hands in it a couple years ago.  Here's to the difference a couple of years makes.  Ended up making 11 bowls with words inscribed on the outside.  Did sgraffitto in the leather hard stage all with pottery tools that weren't mine.  It makes such a difference to use one's favorite tools.  These will be donated to the bookstore there--- all the proceeds going to the retreat center.  It's what I do when I'm there to give back.
I am busy these days getting ready for a sale with other artist friends here next Sunday and Monday.  I so need the income as I'm inbetween jobs.  Not fun, but it's life and I live with boundless hope.
Here's hoping...
More pictures tomorrow- I promise!  Thanks for reading.

This and That- and Birdbaths Again!

Well, it's been awhile again since I've posted.  Since my last post I've created a facebook page.  "Amy Huacani Pottery".  Also put black underglaze on this birdbath today.  Here it is, almost finished.  Then I"ll take a spong and wipe off the extra black. 

 Also made a couple more birdbaths today including this one.  The rice and upside down bowls are there to support the sides as it dries.  Will also etch words onto this one when it is the right consistency to do so.

 It was raining this evening and I discovered that the rain gutter near the garage was cluttered.  So, in the rain, I went out and got on a ladder and got this pine stuff out of it.  Mission accomplished!  Probably not the smartest or safest thing I've done, yet I learned my dad did the same before too.  I am my father's daughter.  :)  All is well afterwards- and the rain will find a new home farther from the house.

 This iris came with the house and didn't bloom last year, so I was excited about this- and two more blooms are under it.  Gorgeous yellow!  I think iris can be finicky.  I am lucky with this one.

 So these are maple leaf hibiscus seeds that a wonderful friend gave me.  I took them out of the pod which was a bit tough--- the burrs on the pod can really hurt your hands and well, thankfully- mission accomplished.  Now just to figure out where to plant them!

 Closer up look of the iris.

 Here's 6 3/4 lbs. of clay.  I'm encouraged these days that the longer I'm at this, the more quickly I can make this...

 Another potential birdbath or shallow bowl.

this is a bit crooked, but I won tonight in that the gutter is working better and I created a mini moat for the rain to travel so the zinnias can grow.  And, there's a wonderful bowl that has the first S-crack in the bottom--- I was disappointed at that, yet at least it took years before an S- crack appeared.
That's all for now.  Vases and a potential blue transparent glaze will be the next post.  What forms are you working on these days?
Thanks for reading and for your comments.

Two in Two

 Two posts in two days.  Almost a miracle for me.  Spent time with these two today.  At ages four and two, they remind me that life is full of joy, love, and faith found in the simplest things.  Beads all around and they were just mesmerized--- and well, at one point all the beads were out on the floor.  Fun!   Lily-- 4 1/2--- a precious niece and...

Nephew!  Garrett at 2 1/2 has great fine motor coordination, I might add and his sister likes to sing with you just about anything.  An artist for sure, yet aren't they all?  Oh, how the world needs to cultivate such.

Children are such an inspiration, aren't they?  

On another note, am on the lookout for more information about mason stains--  any links to recommend?  What works well for you with mason stains?  Will check out ceramics arts daily.  As I just wrote on someone else's blog, the glaze world is definitely a world of its own!

On the Lookout

 Here are the latest bowls out of the kiln.   I'm on the lookout for a new celadon glaze--- while I like the one I'm using, well- I just want a change.

 Plus I want a bluish celadon instead of a greenish one.  And I need a transparent one.

 The coloring on this photo isn't best, but I switched the two glazes I'm using--- put the one on second instead of first, and well, the color was too dark green for me.  Plus, the glaze was a bit thick and ran.  Won't bore you with a pic.  My problem was that I made three bowls with it.  Next time one.  Always learning!  Still, I'll use all these bowls- and sell one of the darker ones at a discounted price.  Nothing wrong with it!

 Made 8 of these teabowls for a commission--- and as usual, used my makeshift spray booth-- newspaper and cardboard.... and well, the banding wheel.  They turned out great!  Forgot to take pics- sorry...

Finished glazing these clay creations for my nieces and nephews that they made at Christmastime.  I think they are excited to see them...  time will tell.  Four year old Lily can hardly wait till tomorrow to see hers.  :)
More within the next five days.  I promise!
Question:  know of any bluish transparent celadon cone 6 glazes to share or recommend?  :)
Yes, on the lookout.
Thanks for reading.