One Hit Wonder

I love butter dishes. Maybe because I love butter?

I just wish I could be successful at making them. A few years ago a made quite a few and I only had one the I could sell. The others warped or cracked.

The rejects all got the hammer, except for this one that I kept for myself. You can see in the photo below that there is a crack along the join. It's been in constant use for years. I hardly notice the crack anymore.

This summer I started another round of butter dishes, but wasn't happy with any of them. They all ended up in the reclaim bucket.

Each year, when we are at the League of NH Craftsmen's show, I spend some time in Tom White's booth drooling over his butter dishes. He makes some simple dishes, but he also makes some that look like buildings and barns. Many years back he had butter dishes that were churches with steeples. To this day I regret not buying one. This year Tom mentioned that someone should put on a butter dish exhibition. I agreed that it would be a great show. I better get busy perfecting a butter dish... because I want to be ready for that!

You can check out Tom White's pottery here.

things with lids

I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have had people ask if we had covered butter dishes. I have been working out how to do them the same way as I make lidded ovals. I found a youtube video of a potter that makes them in much the same way I had in mind and I incorporated some of his techniques.

I started by throwing a ring of clay and splitting it. The first two didn't have enough clay in the center. It took a few tries to get it right.

I then shaped the two rings into squared off ovals.

I then added slabs for the lid and bottom tray, knobs, feet, and decoration.

They took FOREVER  to complete!

And I only ended up with three. The next ones should go quicker, now that I have worked out the kinks.

It took me awhile but I am finally feeling productive once more. I finished these casseroles as well as some oval bakers this week.

Today we unload the kiln and pack for the Potters of the Piedmont Show in Greensboro. This is our first year there. The weather is looking great. If you are in the area be sure to check it out!

We Celebrated Spring in Seagrove

The Celebration of Spring Studio Tour in Seagrove was a great success. Saturday was super busy with non-stop people from 10:30 in the morning until 5:00 pm. We worked all day on Friday, in very muggy weather, cleaning the gallery and studio. After all that work I would have been disappointed if it didn't get seen by the masses! Sunday was slower, but pleasant just the same.

We unloaded the kiln on Saturday morning so there were lots of new, and still warm, pots. These are Jeff's teapots that are headed to S. Korea with him tomorrow. I wanted to get a quick photo before they were gone.

My round butter dishes were successful...

and here is one of the new flower power pigs!

Rather silly, isn't she?

The White House Sponsors Cup Show

... in my dreams that is! Last night I dreamed that the White House sponsored a ceramic cup show and that Jeff won an award. Michelle Obama was the juror.

Doesn't the First Lady have excellent taste?

We were so excited that the White House was recognizing ceramic art, despite all the cuts due to the sequester. 

...and then I woke up to reality.

We are firing the gas kiln tonight. We are experiencing chilly temps, but are fortunate that our pyrometer is on a long leash and we can check it from the comfort of our living room... then dash out the back door to adjust the burners or damper and come back in to be near the wood stove. It's sort of funny that we think this is cold, when compared to what we had to deal with in New Hampshire. Amazing how quickly we have acclimated!

While Jeff was tending the kiln, earlier today, I finished some little covered butter/cheese dishes. I hadn't made these in quite a few years and I think I may make some more this week.

There are a few more pots to the Etsy shop, so go ahead and take a look...