Deadlines

We (especially Jeff) are working hard to get the pots we need done for the League of NH Craftsmen's Fair next month. This is Jeff's gig. It's his work at this show. I become the assistant during the month of July. We usually have a good idea of what will sell. Bowls are always a winner. Big bowls often go first.

 It's been hot the last couple of days and we are really appreciative of working in an air conditioned studio. It sure makes life easier.

Vessel Sink Making

Jeff has started off the new year with a couple of orders for vessel sinks. I was in the studio and with my phone so I decided to take some photos of him in action.

The studio has a small area near the back door that is lower then the rest of the room. It's sort of an awkward space and it's where we keep our glaze buckets. Jeff has made the two levels work to his advantage for throwing sinks. He moves one of the wheels to the edge of the higher level, putting the wheel at a good height for him.  The stand up wheel that he uses everyday is higher than this. He uses his whole body to center this large amount of clay, which means his clothes have to be hosed down outside before going into the washer!

Jeff uses a torch to stiffen the clay while making sinks. It allows him to finish throwing them at one sitting. You'll notice that he throws them on a large plaster bat, attached to the wheel head. They are ready for trimming in one to two days. They take forever to dry so he usually loads them into the electric kiln and keeps it under 200 degrees for a few hours. The next morning they are ready to bisque fire, but still going very slow at the beginning.

If you'd like to take a look at some finished sinks, this link will take you to Jeff's Etsy shop:

Jeff Brown Pottery

and the door is down...

Front stack, minus Jeff's re-fired tea bowls that he snuck out before the door was completely down (note empty space on bottom shelf).

The back stack... some wasted space at the top but we needed to get a sink order out as well as a few smaller orders. I haven't taken the big bowl out yet. I am waiting for Jeff to get home from his wood kiln stoking shift. I still try to baby my shoulder from extended reaches for heavy things.

I was holding my breath for this pig as a cow order. The last one came out HIDEOUS. The nuka glaze obliterated the lettering as well as the "pink" on the snout and inner ears... the black spots bubbled in many places, the underglaze was too thick.

 For the second attempt I applied white slip to the entire pig when it was leather hard. After it was bisque fired I applied the underglaze and then glazed the whole thing with Temple White. I slipped the pig because the Temple White glaze is translucent and would have made the pig look more gray than white.

I was excited but hesitant to take this piggy bank order. I thought it was a fun idea, but many underglazes burn out at ^10-11. I made it clear to the buyer that I don't electric fire and that I didn't have an underglaze that would fire to a true pink. I am happy with the final result. I hope that she is too.

Show opening

Our exhibition at Campbell House Galleries in Southern Pines, NC opened last night. There was a great turn out and we enjoyed meeting new people as well as visiting with friends and family.

This is Jeff's latest sink from the kiln. He has two on display at the show.

Remember the BIG bowl we worked on this summer? Here it is, finished and SOLD. I am feeling a little sad that we didn't get to spend any time with it. It came out of the kiln and packed for the show. I will get over the sadness quickly. Money has a way of doing that when it comes to making pots. 

These bowls came out of the kiln and into boxes as well. I am liking the translucent glaze over the sgraffito and plan to do more. I am looking in to buying some darker clay bodies for a brown/white contrast.

Jeff and I were pretty stressed getting this show together so soon after our New Hampshire trip. We somehow managed to pull it off! The show runs through September 26th. If you are in the area be sure to check it out.