Ash Glaze Love

Jeff and I unloaded the kiln the day before I flew off to New Hampshire. I had no time to spend with any of my new pots. We unloaded, I sanded to feet of many piggy banks, then shipped them off to their new homes. When I came home my first task was to assemble pigs for the next round of orders.

This evening I decided it was finally time to photograph and take a closer look at my new pots.

I think I am finally getting consistent with spraying ash glaze. I was happy with all of the pots I sprayed. I think my bottle forms lend themselves nicely to the ash glaze.

 I asked Jeff to throw some of his wine coolers/spoon jars and let me carve them. I am really excited about these. Hopefully others will be too, so that we can do more!

 This mug was an experiment... one I am very happy with the results! I used the impressed leaf and slip resist that Jeff and I have both used in wood firing. The interior is glaze in tenmoku and the exterior is the sprayed ash. I am happy with the contrast, and can't wait to be able to do some with Japanese maple leaves... and not have to wait for a wood firing to finish them.

Discovery from the past

I found this in my Dad's cabinet while I was looking for a serving dish. It must be at least 10 years old. Fired in the NH Potters Guild community wood kiln. I used it to serve rice that evening. Sort of fun to come across oldies that you forgot about.

Home again...

I have arrived back in North Carolina, from my New Hampshire trip. It feels great to be back home and to sleep in my own bed. I had a great time, the highlight being our family party for Dad's 90th.

Arianna was very excited about her Great Pepere's birthday.

There was a point where we thought the cake might melt if he didn't blow out those candles quickly.

Arianna gave her Pepere a great big hug for blowing out all his candles in one breath. Not bad for 90.

All but two of my nieces, along with their significant others, came for the celebration. One niece was a day overdue to deliver a new baby, the other lives in Philadelphia and couldn't get away from work. We "older folks" enjoyed seeing the cousins catch up with each other. Most don't see each other on a regular basis. When the weekend was over, Dad and I headed back to his apartment in Dover to spend a few quiet days together. 

Heading North

 The daffodils are blooming...

along with our tulip tree (aka as Japanese Magnolia).

 We are enjoying temps in the 70's this weekend. I am loving every minute of it, because in a few days I am heading to the winter wonderland of New Hampshire.  They had two major snowstorms last week, and are expecting a Nor'easter today, into tomorrow. The coast is expecting up to two feet of snow. Of course that is where my Dad lives! I typically don't plan a trip to New Hampshire in the middle of winter, but on February 15th my Dad will be 90 years old! We will all gather at my sister Anita's home in Wolfeboro for a big family dinner. I am very excited to see everyone, especially my girl Danielle. She will arrive from Connecticut on Friday evening to spend the weekend.

I will be in New Hampshire for a week. Staying Wednesday to Wednesday gave me the best price on a flight, only $150 - because who in there right mind flies north in February? Time to dig out the UGGS & mittens!

New Clay

We recently bought some of STARworks Ceramics new Eastfork clay. Last fall we had a sample that we tested and really liked how it looked with Jeff's ash glaze. Jeff threw a couple of platters last week and brushed them with white slip. I spent this afternoon carving ginkgo leaves into them. It has a smooth consistency that makes it easy to carve, and I love the color even before firing. I haven't given the clay a try on the wheel yet, fingers crossed that I will like the way it throws.

A Day of Hearts

 I love Valentine's Day. Not because I am expecting flowers, candy, or dinner out. I enjoy it for completely unromantic reasons. Valentine's day give me the opportunity make and deliver simple surprises for people that I love. This year I decided to make a string of hearts for my special great niece, Arianna.

It ended up being a little more involved than originally intended, but it was a nice break from clay. I worked on it in the evenings, when my work was done for the day.

"Happy Valentine's Day" is a lot of letters when they are all strung together!

 Tonight I boxed the hearts up along with a siamese cat figurine that was a gift to me from my Memere when I was just about Arianna's age. My Memere would have been her great-great Memere.

We have been enjoying some warm days here in Seagrove, NC. I took advantage of the weather and did a good mopping and cleaning of the studio, while the bisque kiln is firing. Jeff is busy making glazes. We will fire a glaze load in the next few days.

Sometimes it's the little things in life...

 Like bathroom outlets!!!!!! We had an electrician in today to do some much needed service work.

Our house was built in 1961 and the outlets were over the vanity mirrors, attached to the light fixtures... which were no longer functioning. Now we have GFI outlets in both bathrooms. We can use hairdryers, flat irons, and electric toothbrushes... in the bathroom, where they belong. You don't know how much you appreciate things, until you don't have them!

We also had a couple other things upgraded so that we can use a space heater in the studio and vacuum in the house without tripping the main breaker for the 110 service to the house.

Pots are drying in the studio and we can load the kiln to bisque fire this weekend. Glaze firing right after. I have travel plans mid-February. Updates to come!