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.

a day of surprises...

Yesterday was a fun day and full of surprises. First thing in the morning I packed an Etsy order and placed it in the big mailbox for pick up. Later when I went out to be sure it was gone, I opened the box and it was FULL of mail... and it wasn't just bills! There were three packages inside.
One was a new type of mask that a company wants me to try out and write a review (more on that later), the other was a laundry line cup that I ordered from Ron Philbeck... it's as sweet as can be and it's in good company with my dinner plate and small bowl. The THIRD package was from Gary Rith! I helped him out with a real estate question awhile back and he sent me one of his dogs chasing cats (or is it cats chasing dogs?) mugs as a thank you. He really didn't need to do that, but I am real happy that he did. Gary and I have soooo many connections in NH but we have never met. He met John through the League of NH Craftsmen (LNHC), Jeff was one of the jurors when Gary applied and was accepted into LNHC. From these connections we have a whole bunch of mutual friends and acquaintances. One day Jeff and I will have to take a road trip so that I can meet Gary, Maude, and there menagerie of pets for real.
Now that the weather is great we moved the glaze operation outside to give us a little more elbow room. I brewed a pot of coffee and enjoyed it in my new mug while glazing in the afternoon sunshine...

Thank you Gary!

Today is a finish glazing and load the kiln day. Jeff is going to fire tomorrow while I am working at the co-op. Have a great day everyone.

little by little...

It seems we are picking away at getting this kiln unloaded. Typically I am, "Let me at it, I want to see EVERYTHING right away and while it's still hot".

Jeff took a few photos this afternoon so that I would have something to share here on the blog

I am quite happy with how these plates came out. They are deep and will make nice pasta dishes. It was a pain to glaze the rim and underside shino and the center green. I glazed the shino first (because shino, being the prima dona that she is, always comes first or nasty things happen). When the glaze was dry I waxed over it then poured the green glaze. Tedious, but worth it in the end.

Jeff calls this his "Chorus of Mugs"

I played with this design on a couple of plates and a vase... I have decided to name it "Danielle" after my daughter. It's a girly design and reminds me of her. I'll get a photo of the vase this evening.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the firing...

Tacos on a Kate Goetz, 2004 Watershed Salad Days Plate. This was dinner last night. It looked so pretty and the photo set up was all ready so I set it down and snapped a pic before eating. Jeff and I put a lot of thought into choosing the right dish to dine from each night... one of the joys of owning a great collection of handmade pots.

working together

Jeff made a whole bunch of mug bodies the other day and gave them to me to do as I pleased. I decided to brush the bottom halves with white slip and carve my flower design into them. Jeff likes to know how much time it takes to complete things so I set the stop watch on my iPod to see how long it took to draw the flower design and carve it... on average it was about 14 minutes. I am sure Jeff knows how long it takes him to throw the bodies but I didn't time myself on pulling handles (I probably don't want to know!).
The plan is to glaze these with shino inside and to the start of the design on the exterior and either the glossy green or blue glaze below. I didn't think I would enjoy working on collaborative things but have found that I quite enjoy it. We have a stamp with both our symbols for these pieces... when we are old (or dead) and famous, these pots with be highly collectible and will be seen on Antiques Roadshow... the owners will *gasp* at the value and run home to add a rider to their homeowners insurance!! Can you tell I have watched many episodes?

It was a pleasant day in the studio, we had the doors open since it was nearly 70 degrees outside. The warm weather brought in a good number of customers for a January weekend. In between the mugs and the customers, I took advantage of the warm air and rinsed off all the clay covered towels and aprons with the hose. This is a chore I don't usually get done in winter. It felt like a bonus and a good excuse to be outdoors. I could get used to these kind of winters!

settling in

When we unloaded the kiln on Saturday morning I had to leave to work at the Co-Op of Seagrove Potters as soon as we were done. I didn't really get a good look at the pots until the next day. 

When I first saw these shino and ash glazed mugs coming out of the kiln I wasn't crazy about them. After handling them, and taking pictures, I have decided that I REALLY  like them! Sometimes you need to spend some time with your pots to appreciate their beauty.

The sugar jar pigs are fun and can also double as "salt pigs"... the woman who placed the custom order was very happy.

I like this shot from behind!

These are listed on Etsy, it may be too late for Christmas shipping but isn't it always nice to shop for yourself?!

perceived value

i am going to have work in an exhibition next month. the host gallery asked if the participants would donate a mug for a fundraising event to benefit the art center associated with the gallery. this fundraiser would be held during the exhibition. the admission price would include an evening of live music, coffee, desserts AND a handcrafted mug.  admission price:

TEN BUCKS.

i have to say i was in shock... why would a fine arts & crafts gallery, in an affluent town, charge only $10 for a fundraiser where everyone takes home a handcrafted mug?
needless to say i made some phone calls and went on a rant. i felt the gallery was sending out the message to the public that the value of a handcrafted mug must be only $10. i would rather give the organization $10, keep my mug and sell it for $22. thankfully, the other exhibitors felt the same way. i heard today that the fundraiser has been canceled.

pricing work, the ongoing struggle

pricing my work is a real challenge for me... if something doesn't sell fairly quickly i think it must be priced too high. then there are the times i have priced something a little higher than i think i should and it sells the day i put it out to the public. kathy of kings creek pottery wrote a blog post about pricing mugs the other day. she brought up some really good points about how much work mugs really are. i have been on a mug making cycle this month because i am running low. it doesn't take long to throw the bodies but it's all the stuff that comes after that takes time. i have eliminated any trimming but i typically stamp or carve designs and i like to pull all my handles off the mug. i never seem to take the easy glaze route either!

jeff convinced me to increase my prices this spring from $20 to $22... i am beginning to think they should be a little bit more. would love to hear other potters thoughts on pricing mugs or pricing work in general.  if there are any non-potters lurking out there... what are your thought on purchasing mugs that are over $20+?

p.s. jeff has put the mail box back together and it's looking pretty again... will be glad when the road paving is OVER... it sure hasn't helped business.

getting back in the groove

even though i have been anxious to get back to work after the trip to new hampshire, it seems to have been a struggle to get into the studio.  the mundane stuff like unpacking and laundry seemed to take up an inordinate amount of time.  i did manage to get a few mugs finished.  i am working out a new way of using my swirly stamp... sort of the same style as the last oval bakers that i made.

unfortunately i had three crack during the stamping process... my own fault for leaving them uncovered overnight.
jeff is still working in the studio tonight, washing ash to make ash glaze... i don't think i have the patience for the work (or the mess) involved in that, but i do like the results!

struggles in the life of the gypsy potter...

we are very fortunate to be staying with our friend roni this week while we dismantle the gas kiln... she has a lovely home on bow lake. staying in other peoples homes has it's challenges.
 roni has one of those keurig (sp?) one cup at a time coffee makers.  jeff and i drink WAAAY to much coffee to use that.  we have bought 2 boxes at $7.95 ea. in the last week. YIKES!
yesterday we saw a french press in roni's cabinet...  so last night we bought some coffee.  i woke up this morning realizing i had never used one before... the internet is a wonderful thing...

i found some directions...

then couldn't open the can of coffee because i had no clue how to operate this can opener and didn't want to have to find directions for THAT online!  luckily i rummaged through the drawers and found the old fashioned kind. being a lefty i am somewhat can opener challenged anyway... so i have a good excuse.

here we go!

ahhhh.... two steaming cups of coffee

meesh mug on the left... roni brown mug on the right (yep... she's a potter too!)

so the first round of coffee was a little week... the next one will be better.  BRING ON THE DAY!!!

there's no business like monkey business...

this week has been rough. i have been feeling overwhelmed by the "BOLD" course i am taking, along with finalizing john's estate in probate. when i arrived home this evening there was a package waiting for me and when i opened it, it made my day...

potter gary rith from etna, ny has had an extended house guest named georges le soq. georges is a very handsome and clever sock monkey. he was gracious enough to pose for gary so he could create mugs with his likeness. as soon as i saw the mugs on gary's blog, and being a huge fan of monkeys, i knew i had to have one.

...and gary sent a special surprise as well... an ELEPHANT PENCIL!

my coffee will taste extra special tomorrow in my georges le soq mug... thank you gary!!

sexy......................

ooh la-la... i own a sexy new cup by elaine fuller!!! elaine hosts a salon night each month at red door pottery in kittery, maine. guests enjoy an evening of poetry reading and or music in a very intimate setting. each event is also a fundraiser for a local charity. along with delicious baked goods, elaine serves coffee and tea in handmade mugs by local potters. if you love your mug or cup you can purchase it and a portion of the proceeds go to the charity of the evening. i knew right away which cup i was going to use...a gorgeous soda fired vessel. elaine took me aside and said..."isn't it so sexy?" of course i agreed and knew right away it HAD to come home with me.

i want to thank elaine for including JZ mugs in many of her salon nights and sending contributions to our local hospice who took wonderful care of both of us through his illness.

sunday morning coming down...

...i got up early (for me at least!) and drove down the road to the studio and turned the electric kiln on low. this is the first bisque firing of 2010. it is filled with mostly jeff pots, but i do have a few soup bowls and three pie plates in there. i was on my own for breakfast and decided when i got back home to make myself a hearty "cowboy breakfast". huevos rancheros with BACON!

served on a swirly meesh plate...the mug is one john made for me when he was working out ideas for a line of "lake mugs" for the northwood area...we have lots of lakes and summer residents here, so he made mugs with the names of the different lakes in the region.

since it's a sunday mornin' cowboy breakfast kinda day, this video is right on time...

saturday changes

...i have a new schedule this week. i haven't been doing real estate on saturdays since september but for the next 6 weeks i will take sunday off instead. the change came at a perfect time since i have started an intensive 8 week real estate course on mondays...this will give me sunday to rest up for it! the course is called BOLD and it is offered through Keller Williams Realty with whom i am affiliated with. i think this course will not only help me with my real estate career but also with the pottery business and everything else i do in this lifetime...and who knows - maybe it will carry over to my next life as well...even if i am a CAT!

this morning's mug selection - a jeff brown masterpiece, i believe it was soda fired in the NHIA's kiln... jeff, correct me if i am wrong ;-)

happy saturday to all... and enjoy WHATEVER it is you have planned!

morning coffee

...you've surely read my posts about ALLLLL the pots in my cupboards... choosing a mug for coffee in the morning always takes careful consideration. do i want(or need!) a BIG mug or am i in mood for something petite... porcelain? stoneware? wood fired? textured? so many things to take into consideration when you are first waking up in the morning. so here is today's selection...

wood fired mug by bill van gilder, gapland, md

bill and john zentner were in the pottery making business together many, many years ago

the handle on this mug is great and i love how my lips feel on the rim - it is only glazed on the inside and is kissed by wood ash on the outside.

pizza, pizza, pizza

i love pizza. i love making pizza. i used to make my own dough but some years ago got lazy and started buying dough balls from the grocery store...my favorite is from portland pie company. danielle and jay gave me a pizza peel for christmas. i had been wanting one for some time now but the only ones i found had reeaallyy long handles...i would have to stand across the kitchen to slide my pie in the oven! but anyway...they found one that was just the right size.

so last night i thought i would make not one...but TWO pizza's...because leftovers are the BEST!

the one on the left is sausage, pepperoni & onion, 3 cheese, and the right is chicken, bacon, artichokes, black olives, onions, 3 cheese blend with feta too!!

next time i think i will make my own dough...

AND this morning a slice for breakfast along with coffee from home, NOT dunkin's was damn good! especially in one of these "meesh mugs"...they will be on Etsy later if you think you need to own one...

the coffee tragedy

as i was drifting off to sleep last night i suddenly remembered what i forgot at the grocery store...COFFEE!

typically coffee at this house is hazelnut from Caffe Kilim in portsmouth but when we run out and can't get there we settle for grocery store coffee (either cafe bustelo or something from green mountain).

did we settle for tea this morning?... nope, couldn't do it. i don't mind tea but typically that's an afternoon drink for me. soooo i throw on some clothes and head down rte 4 to the mobil gas station/convenience store that also has a dunkin donuts store inside.

i really dislike (and i mean REALLY dislike) dunkin's. you know i am desperate when i go there. it's really too bad this town doesn't have a nice little coffee shop...

...but we made the best of it and poured our coffee from the yucky styrofoam cups into beautiful handmade mugs...and i treated myself to an everything bagel with LOTS of cream cheese.

...and how was YOUR coffee today?