Monday, February 16, 2015

Batten Down The Hatches

We are expecting a weather event! It's been really cold here, 27 degrees at 2pm. Snow and freezing rain are in the forecast for late this afternoon and into tomorrow. We are prepared for the worse, hoping that it won't really happen. Last night I roasted a chicken, and today I am making chicken stock with the bones. If we lose power overnight, I can make a soup on the wood stove.

The studio is a little harder to heat than the house, so I have to admit that I have been a little slow with the clay work. I finished a litter of pigs and moved on to baking/serving dishes.


Along with ovals I created a few squared off dishes. Rather than make them in two sections I decided to try cutting a crescent out of the edge of two sides and squishing it together, a la the B Van Gilder technique. I am still concerned with cracking on the two seams so I also experimented with pushing the sides with a board to created the square. I did this right after throwing, and before cutting it off the bat.


The first two were a little wonky, but I think I finally got the hang of it. This method does leave a little ripple in the clay where it was pushed in, but I sort of like the effect... once I learned how to work with it. I am waiting for the squares to firm up enough to finish the undersides and then I will attach some handles and give them some flower stamps. I guess it's time to put on some layers, get out there, and go to work.
Stay warm!



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11 comments:

  1. Dennis AllenFebruary 16, 2015 at 4:43 PM

    I tried one with the cut outs last week as a demo for my students. I think I'll stick with the 2 piece but yours looks good.Keep warm

    ReplyDelete
  2. Linda StarrFebruary 16, 2015 at 4:51 PM

    I don't even see a ripple. we have had heavy winds and the insulated cat house on the deck blew off. three cats are sleeping on the bed in the guest room too cold to go outside.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gary's third pottery blogFebruary 17, 2015 at 3:18 AM

    YES, that is the way to square a dish :) So simple! And the weather sux sux SUX and even you get a taste of it?!

    ReplyDelete
  4. gzFebruary 17, 2015 at 6:09 AM

    looks like eastern USA's climate is getting colder..whilst the east is getting dryer.
    Stay warm and safe!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. smartcatFebruary 17, 2015 at 8:06 AM

    It's warmed up to ten so of course it's snowing; no wind though which is a true blessing. At least we don't have the amounts places north of us have
    Stay warm!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lori BuffFebruary 17, 2015 at 8:40 AM

    I’ve tried his method for squaring casseroles but suffered a large amount of cracking. I feel like I must be doing something wrong. I hope it works better for you.
    Stay warm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michèle HastingsFebruary 17, 2015 at 8:47 AM

      I had a nearly 50% loss rate making ovals using the cut out method. For the oval the crescent is cut out of the middle, which probably causes more stress. I am hoping the edge won't be as problematic. Although... I have had cracks on ones done in two pieces too!
      I like to blame Highwater clay for some of the issues. I had way fewer cracking problems when I was using T3 from Sheffield.

      Delete
  7. Barbara RogersFebruary 17, 2015 at 9:47 AM

    I can't figure out cutting a crescent out of sides to make a square...it would make sense if the crescent came out of the bottom where it was round and then created a square, but I'm feeling rather dense this morning. The crescent is horizontal, right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michèle HastingsFebruary 17, 2015 at 9:59 AM

      Barbara, I didn't get it either when it was described to me. Here is Bill's video showing the technique: http://youtu.be/eL9yjUfDb7k?list=PLeRATrFZN7z1Nv0XD0dkdphmERbee4b8v

      Delete
    2. Michèle HastingsFebruary 17, 2015 at 9:59 AM

      http://youtu.be/eL9yjUfDb7k?list=PLeRATrFZN7z1Nv0XD0dkdphmERbee4b8v

      Delete
    3. Michèle HastingsFebruary 17, 2015 at 10:01 AM

      I couldn't make it a link so you will have to copy and paste it into your browser :-/

      Delete

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