Processes

We are celebrating American Craft Week in Seagrove. We have been doing demonstrations in the studio these first two Saturdays in October. This week I am carving some ginkgo bowls. I need to get quite a few of these made in preparation for the Celebration of Seagrove Potters show next month. I feel like it has really crept up on us this year.

Green and Shino

We unloaded the gas kiln on Saturday and I was really happy with a couple of green and shino bowls. I haven't done as much in this glaze combination this year, since I have become infatuated with ash glaze. This combination is time consuming because I have to wax the rims and then carefully pour out the green, without getting any drips onto the sides of bowl. Occasionally I have gotten some drips and have had some success with scraping off the green over the shino. This go around I had one drip that was problematic. I scraped it a little thin. Jeff hit on the idea of spraying a light coating of the ash glaze over the shino and it successfully covered the thin spot.

I had a lot of piggy banks in this firing. Many were orders but there were also some extras to have in stock in my Etsy shop. It would be good to be able to be ahead, the holiday rush will be upon us in no time.

Ginkgo Leaves, Snakes, and Pizza...

Last week I threw some bowls and spent a couple of afternoons carving leaves. I knew I had a short window of opportunity to get these done before it was back to assembling piggy banks.

Jeff pugged some clay on Monday and when he was done we attached the die to extrude the piggy bank parts. While we were at it we extruded a couple of different size tubes because I have been itching to make some snakes again. Last night Jeff and talked about snake decorating methods and we came up with some new ideas for a collaboration. I will post some photos once we execute the plan.

I am still experimenting with a cold ferment pizza dough. When I made this batch at the end of last week, it was a little more humid and the dough could have used a bit more flour. The downside was that I make this recipe in the food processor and the bowl just barely accommodates the dough. My food processor is also a very inexpensive one and I could tell it was beginning to strain. I had to scrape out the sticky dough and add the rest of the flour on the board, as I kneaded it. The food processor was a sticky mess to wash. I really would like to invest in a good processor but until then I will mix this dough by hand.

Last night's pie was Jeff's request. Grilled chicken, artichokes, onions, black olives, and lots of tomatoes and herbs from our garden. It was quite tasty, but I have to admit... I LOVE pepperoni!

One more new clay from STARworks Ceramics

This week Jeff and I are giving STARworks new Catawba clay a try. It's hard to tell from the photos, but it's sort of a greenish in color. I haven't thrown with it yet, but Jeff has. He created this 15" platter for me to carve. 

While carving large plates and platters, I like to brush the carving "crumbs" to one side as I work. On smaller pieces that I hold in my hands, I dump them into my slop bucket as I go. I try to not handle the larger pieces as much, preferring to keep them on a foam bat while I work. The goal is to keep them as flat as possible and without cracks.

The Catawba clay carves nicely. It's smooth without any groggy chunks to catch my trim tool as I carve away. 

Ash glaze, Tenmoku, Ginkgo Leaves, and Hurricanes

Jeff and I unloaded the kiln yesterday. Overall it was a very good firing. I had a few ash glaze pots that I sprayed a little heavier than I wanted too... but that was my error, no fault of the kiln. They are still fine pots, just not what I was expecting.

Here are a few of the pieces that I was really happy with.

I made these last winter. I put a couple in the first firing of our new kiln and they got some kiln crud chunks in the bottom. I set a couple more aside and they finally went in this firing. This one made me do the happy dance!

Everyone has their eye on the hurricane that is heading this way. I am really hoping the storm will not impact us or if it does, it will happen before Saturday. We have an outdoor show in Charlotte this weekend. Chances are we inland enough to be spared the brunt of it, but it doesn't mean we won't have high winds with lots of rain. Outdoor shows in the rain suck. Outdoor shows in high wind are dangerous. I am sure the show will be cancelled or postponed if it's too dangerous for us to be out there. Stay tuned for updates!

Squished pots

2014 is off to a busy start, with many orders to fill. In between, I had to squeeze in a few "I just want to make them" pots.

 It felt like forever since I made a covered oval. I am going to fire it in the gas kiln with green and shino glaze. Since I only did one, I was happy as a clam that the lid fit well. I tend to have more trouble with the lids rocking on the more elongated ovals. There is less fussing with them when it's a gentle curve.

Sometimes these small bakers are a curse. I hope they won't be this time, because I made quite a few, only committing three to carving. This is a shape I haven't made in a few years. They are done by cutting a crescent out of the bottom, then squishing them into the oval shape and filling and compressing the spot where the crescent was removed. The perfect scenario for a bottom crack. I was extra diligent with these and I am keeping my fingers crossed for nice bottoms. When they were done I decided that making them in two pieces is probably quicker and less problematic.
Sometimes I have to learn the hard way.

fall travels

This sweet little teapot came out of the kiln yesterday. Jeff made the pot and I did the carving. It is a commission for my sister who is giving it as a wedding gift. There are also two cups to go along with it. I like how the ash glaze works with the carving and the best part is that there is no slip involved, so no risk of the dastardly peeling thing that has been going on.
Today we are heading to New Hampshire for our annual October trek. On Friday we will teach a raku workshop at Hillsboro-Deering High School and then it's off to my sister Anita's in Wolfeboro, where Jeff will teach another raku workshop on Sunday. Danielle will drive up from Connecticut on Saturday, to join us all for a family dinner. Anita and I share a birthday, four years apart, so it's a tradition that we celebrate together. I am glad that my move to North Carolina hasn't changed that. The workshop gigs are what makes the traveling possible.
Catch up with y'all later... it's time to pack my suitcase.

The Invasion of the Giant Pig

The pigs are taking over the studio, not only in numbers, but in size as well! I have an order for two large banks the size of one gallon jugs. Jeff threw the bodies on the wheel and I am assembling them. They are a little tricky because the weight of the jug is too much for the legs to hold up when they are first attached...

I have to get the legs leveled, then wrap the rest of the pig with plastic so that it doesn't dry out waiting for the legs to stiffen. I think she looks like she's waiting for her hair color to set up at the salon.

Jeff made extra gallon size jugs and he is turning this one into a fish bank. He did some smaller ones as well. I will try to get photos today.

 I carved a bunch of ginkgo leaf bowls on Saturday and when boredom set in, I did a little experimenting. Some I like and will do more of, others won't be repeated. I feel if you don't experiment and play with your work, you won't grow as an artist. That's the excuse I use for being a little ADD!

Time Alone

I have had the hardest time getting back to clay after my unexpected trip to New Hampshire. Everyday something seemed to get in the way. Yesterday I finally got into the studio and finished carving some tumblers that I started two weeks ago. I can thank the cold, damp weather for keeping them at just the right carving consistency all this time.  I managed to throw some mugs and a few other small items as well.

Jeff and I haven't been able to connect a whole lot while he is in S. Korea, although I did get an e-mail last night and he won the bronze metal in the throwing competition! Last year he won the international potter prize, so this is one up from that... he was in with the Korean's this year. He said he practiced a lot on the wooden kick wheel this week, since he knew what was coming. They all went out to celebrate with a traditional meal that included a big bowl of wriggling and squirming, octopus tentacles. Jeff said that he did try one!

Speaking of food...

Cooking for one isn't nearly as fun as for two. It seems that I have cooked a couple of things and then eaten it for days on end. Last night was sauteed chicken in a sauce with pesto, fresh tomato, capers, and wilted swiss chard. I served it over tortellini with asparagus on the side, in one of my favorite Becca VanFleet bowls. It was the best meal I have had all week. I managed to make a smaller amount so there is only enough left over for lunch.

Sophie has been a whacko this week. First Jeff leaving, and them me, has messed up her schedule. She doesn't seem to know when it's time to eat or sleep... and let's face it, those are pretty much her only activities!

I don't mind alone time and sometimes crave it, but after the two weeks that I have had, I am anxious for Jeff to come home tomorrow... and, I want to get my hands on those paint brushes that I am sure he is bringing back!

Potter's Palette

It's that time of year again. Time to get out the paints to create a canvas to be auctioned off at the NC Pottery Center's annual Potter's Palette fundraiser.

Jeff is creating an abstract piece. He couldn't find his favorite palette knife, so in the end he improvised with a Sherrill Mud Tool.

The weather was great, so Jeff set up his painting studio out on the porch. Sophie spent the afternoon sitting on the window sill watching... and wishing she could go outside too. In reality she likes to sneak out occasionally but always runs back inside. She's a real fraidy-cat.

I completed my painting a week ago. I should have prepped this canvas for watercolors or glued water color paper to the canvas. I am a little more comfortable with that medium as opposed to acrylics. The good thing about acrylics is that it dries quickly and you can paint over mistakes... which I did  A LOT of!

Happy Easter Weekend

The weather is getting warmer and my grumpy fog has lifted. I haven't gotten back to work in the studio but I did spend some time photographing pots and adding new items to the Etsy shop.

I made this little wall pillow tile/thing or whatever from porcelain. After it was bisqued, I brushed it with black underglaze, wiped it off and glazed it in gloss green.

There is a little hole for hanging on the back. Of course the back is nicer than the front, isn't that always the way?! I am going to start using the underglaze on some larger porcelain pieces, now that I know what it looks like. Jeff asked me the other day if I was going all black and white on him. Maybe black and white with a little green mixed in!

If you are celebrating Easter, I wish you a happy one. Jeff and I are taking it easy today and moving slowly. I may get my hands in some clay this afternoon, I think it's about time.

odds and ends.

ginkgo leaves - colored pencil and sharpie marker

ginkgo leaves - water color and sharpie marker

a mess of handmade dishes that need washing after a fun dinner with friends

Treasures of the Earth - Opening

Last night the Treasures of the Earth Pottery Sale and Exhibition opened at the Cleveland County Arts Council in Shelby, NC. It's a unique exhibition as the artists set up their own displays and leave them there for the entire month. The reception was well attended, despite the pouring rain. There were quite a few red dots by the end of the night and we felt we were off to good start.

Ron Philbeck's display is across from us. It was nice to see his new pots in person, for more about them click here.

We unloaded the kiln the night before the show. It was a good firing and there was no time to take photos before some of the pots were sanded, priced, and boxed. I have quite a few of the blue and shino flower bowls with handles. What didn't go to the show will get listed on Etsy this weekend.

The square soap dishes came out great. I am using a new wax and was a little worried about the rims.

I had a few ginkgo leaf vases in this firing, I wish I could have gotten a better picture of this one.

It was fun to leave town for the day. Jeff and I have rarely left the home and studio since before the holidays. If you are in or nearby Shelby, NC be sure to stop in at the Cleveland Arts Council to see Treasures of the Earth, info about the show is over there on the right sidebar.

Today it's back to everyday life. We have enough pots glazed to load and fire the kiln again this week.

wood fired pots!

It doesn't get any better than this! We had plans for one last firing of our little gas kiln before the Celebration of Seagrove Potters show AND then had the opportunity to put some pots in Fred Johnston's wood kiln. Jeff went to Fred's to fire the wood kiln and I stayed home and tended the gas kiln. Two kilns in one day... a potters dream!

Here are some quick photos of pots from the wood kiln...

 Yay! Really happy with these.

A sampling of pots... Jeff's maple leaf pots look great.

I unloaded most of the gas kiln tonight and that firing was good as well. A few orders to be shipped on Monday and some nice looking pots for the Celebration show. We are ready for the weekend, so bring it on!

vases

This is what I have been up to the last few days...

I am liking the form on the left....  sure wish I had a wood kiln to fire them in.

some day, sigh.

We fired a kiln...

imagine that! When we unloaded I had mixed emotions. The shino had a lot of carbon trapping, which I usually embrace. This time, it wasn't the carbon trapping that I love. Don't get me wrong, there were some nice effects. They just weren't on my pots. I also had some shino crawl on the inside of ginkgo leaf carved mugs. Why is it alway the labor intensive stuff that persnickety shino decides to misbehave on? I really only got a quick look at pots tonight, after a day of working at the Co-op. I may fall in love with others by the light of day. Here are a few down and dirty shots that I took tonight...

These are some slab plates that I made some time ago and never got around to firing. I am very happy with the ash glaze one above. I need to spend some time with the shino/tenmoku glaze ones, to form an opinion.

I am happy with the ginkgo leaf mugs that didn't have glaze crawl!

I would really like some opinions on the shino/tenmoku slab plates. Jeff really likes them and I made "a face" when they came out of the kiln... still not sure what I was expecting. After all, I do know what shino and tenmoku look like.

the mundane stuff

Nothing too exciting happening around here. Jeff is immersed in replenishing our stock of mugs, which has gotten incredibly low. I spent today finishing sponge holders which I swore I was never going to make again. BUT, I sold everyone that I had made last spring. 

Cutting the slot for the sponge is a pain, so Jeff made me this down and dirty cutter and it has made the job go much quicker.

I have finished more ginkgo bowls and under the plastic are more to be carved tomorrow...

That's all for today!