Meditating with porcelain

It was time to clean up the wheel and break out the porcelain this week. Jeff had been after me to make some small cups and carve them, so I figured now was as good a time as any. While I was at it I threw and carved a variety of shallow bowls. Most of these will get celadon glaze. This next firing will be a test. I'll do one in only celadon and another in celadon with black underglaze. I really like carving through porcelain, the cream cheese texture feels so good under my carving tool and it's quite meditative.

Working a little differently also kept my mind occupied and it was a good escape from the worries of my mother's illness. She is still at the rehab center of a nursing home. She hasn't gained any strength and in reality is much weaker. I have to force myself to call everyday. It's so depressing to talk with her. She is having a very difficult time coming to terms with this. Everyday she tells me she is so tired and doesn't understand why. I just don't know how to respond to her without saying, "Mom, you have terminal cancer, what are you expecting?" But of course I can't say that to her.  I think because she is in "rehab" she has it in her head that she should be getting strong enough to come home. I guess that was the goal when they moved her, but I really don't think she is coming home. My sister is going to be with them today for appointments with the oncologist and palliative care. I am hoping after today we will have a better idea of what we are facing in the next few weeks. I am staying on top of laundry here at home, in case I have to quickly hop on a plane... on the bright side, at least we haven't been running out of socks!

A Few Highlights from the Wood Firing

 We are slowly getting the bottom of pots ground, sanded, and photographed. These are listed on Etsy and I will be adding more over the next few days.

In between all that grinding and sanding, I did make a few carved plates with handles...

With all the rain and humidity it has taken forever to get them finished. On tomorrow's list is one quart casseroles with carved lids. I want to get as much of my own work finished before we get ready for the League of NH Craftsmen's Fair in August. It's only Jeff's work at that show so it won't be too long before I will be working mostly as his assistant.... weighing clay, waxing bottoms, glazing pots, and loading kilns. I am praying that this July won't be as hot as last year!

tea time... pizza time... wine time.

My great-niece is having a birthday next month... I can't believe she is going to be five! I decided a few months ago that I would make her a tea set for her birthday. Originally I was thinking the typical set with little cups and saucers. Since we have gone all Korean around here lately, I thought it was more fitting to make a more Asian influenced set. I think this will be something that she won't necessarily outgrow, she can continue to use it, or display it, as an adult. I haven't settled on a glaze yet. Copper red and shino might be nice. If the red goes mauve or pink, it will still be okay. I will have to think on it a bit... suggestions are welcome!

 It's been a stressful week, Jeff and I have been dealing with some ridiculousness between two organisations that we belong too in New Hampshire. You just can't escape it! Rituals always make me feel better... Friday night pizza making and a cheap bottle of wine. Isn't that cup sweet? The maker is Daniel Garretson, a past apprentice of Mark Shapiro.

I woke up today with a much better attitude.

special cups

We had a great weekend with our friend Rob and I even managed to get some pots finished in between the fun. My plan was to post some photos of the pots tonight, but I got a little side tracked by a cup I chose to pour some wine into, while I mixed together pizza dough for this evenings dinner.

 Isn't it a beauty?

I don't use this cup everyday, yet tonight I reached for it. This cup was made by Dick Lehman. When John was going through his cancer treatment, he and Dick started conversing via e-mail. At the time Dick was also facing some serious health issues. During their conversations they decided to do a cup exchange. Unfortunately, John died before the exchange took place. When I e-mailed Dick the news, he asked if I would still consider sending one of John's cups to him. He said he had one already picked out to send to him, and would like for me to have it... a cup with an amazing drip. A cup that he knew a potter would appreciate. I chose one of John's to send off to Dick, and I received this one in the mail.

It's a beauty and I treasure it.

a sturdier wine cup

this one will hold up much better for me! i was fondling this cup in David Orser's booth at the fair and he insisted that i have it. it feels so good in my hand. i like David's work a lot, we have some of his plates that get used nearly everyday. His wife, Laurel MacDuffie, makes amazing boxes.

we woke up to very comfortable and cool air this morning... perfect timing for us. Jeff is stoking the wood kiln at David Stuempfle's today (always a hot job!) and i have what seems like tons of clay to pug. i started yesterday afternoon, only to find that the clay in the old bluebird had started to dry and wouldn't budge. Jeff took it apart and we had to dig a fair amount out before we could get it moving. it was a lesson learned... i have to pug more often here in the heat than i did in NH. the pugger stayed unused in my old studio for nearly a year and it never dried out. i always put a wet sponge in the hopper and cover everything in plastic. i just have to look on the bright side... if i pug more often the task won't seem as daunting!

little copycat pots

after making saucers for berry bowls i had a couple of small pieces of clay left.  i decided to throw some little pots... and to be a copycat:

i had some fun using jeff's textures

and here is the real deal:

this is one of my favorite jeff brown cups.  it was gift from him a number of years ago... perfect for drinking wine.

jeff fired the gas kiln yesterday and from what i can see through the peeps it looks good.  can't wait to un-brick the door tomorrow.