The Week In Review

What a week it has been! We unloaded the gas kiln, had a snow day, and I worked through a few more letters in my modern calligraphy course.

We had a really good firing. The copper reds looked great. I have a few ginkgo bowls that I am pleased with but I haven't gotten photos yet. I had two piggy banks in this firing that weren't orders. I posted them to my Etsy shop and they both sold within a few hours. I can't seem to get ahead of the banks. I like to have a few in the shop that are ready to ship. I shouldn't complain... I guess it's a good thing.
We actually had a couple inches of snow this week. It's mostly melted now, except for in a few shady areas. I will admit, it did make for a pretty day. I am just happy that here in North Carolina we can enjoy the pretty and then it's gone. In New Hampshire we had winters where we didn't see the bare ground for months. A few days after fresh snow, we had to live with brown, dirty snow banks all along the roads.

I am now at the half-way point of the minuscules portion of my calligraphy course. Today was the letter m. I now know enough letters to be able to write my name.

I feel like a proud 4 year old.

I have been itching to do some letters in color. I ordered a set of large brush pens. There is definitely a learning curve with these. The tips are very long and flexible. I need to go back to the beginning with these pens and practice the basis strokes.  I guess I can compare it to learning to throw pots with stoneware and then throwing porcelain for the first time. As with any new skill, practice, practice, practice.

Tombow does make some small harder tip colored pens. I may have to breakdown and buy a set of those too.

This could become an obsession.

The Day After

We weathered the storm without incident. The ice was minimal, the power stayed on, spaghetti and meatballs were cooked, and bread was baked. It was actually a rather enjoyable break.

It was still cold today and the sun won't make an appearance until tomorrow. I am counting on it to melt the ice and reveal green grass and pavement once more. The studio was chilly today no matter how much heat we pumped into it. I finally managed to get handles on mugs before calling it quits. The rest of the afternoon will be spent curled up with the cat and a book.
I might even put my pajamas back on.

Another snow day...

This is the scene we woke up to this morning! I shot this photo looking out from the kiln shed into the backyard. The heavy wet snow has completely transformed the shape of the cedar tree. Throughout the night we could hear the snow slide off the metal roof of the house, and land onto the porch roof with a loud thud. It's hard to tell just how much snow fell. It looks like just a few inches. At one point during the night it sounded like it was raining. The temperature is hovering around 32 degrees. Next week it is supposed to climb back up into the 50's. I am definitely ready for warmer weather.

While the weather may stop people from driving out to Seagrove for pottery, the Etsy shop is always open. Isn't it great that you can shop for a new mug, wearing your pajamas, and curled up on the sofa?

Snow Day!

 This is what we woke up to this morning...

We had a little snow with a coating of ice over the top of it. It was cold enough that it didn't cling to the trees and the power stayed on. The road is snow and ice covered. We haven't seen a plow truck, therefore our mail box is still standing. You may remember that every time it has snowed the plow truck has taken out our mail box. 

Our neighboring farm always looks so idyllic with a little snow cover. The farm help worked quite late yesterday preparing for the impending storm. This morning it looked like all the cows were still snug in their barn.

Last night I made a yummy mac & cheese. This is my own recipe where I make a standard cheese sauce with cheddar and monterey jack cheese, then add sauteed onion, cumin, and red pepper flakes. When I mix it in the pasta I add a couple cans of Rotel tomatoes. Top with seasoned panko bread crumbs and bake until bubbly. Collard greens rounded out the meal. It was the perfect dinner to enjoy snuggled up on the sofa, streaming episodes of HBO's "Six Feet Under", and hearing the sounds of sleet falling on the metal roof.

Name that pig!

I have an order for a couple of personalized piggy banks. It was a nice reprieve after making 30 pigs, all glazed in green and white. The most fun thing with the personalized pigs are the names that I stamp on them. You may remember the "Murray" pig from last fall, that was a fun one. This first order of the year are "Ruby" and "Talulah". Aren't those just great names?

Of course the big talk of the day has been the giant blizzard that is about to fall upon the northeast. I don't even live there anymore and I am excited about it! I had a sudden need to dash off to the grocery store for bread and milk.... except I came home with bananas, a pork roast, and wine... as well as a nice IPA for Jeff. I hope that everyone in the great north weathers the storm, warm, comfy, and safe. Jeff and I will be living vicariously through your facebook posts, enjoying our libations, and not having to get out and shovel.
Cheers!

Waiting on the storm

We had a winter storm preview yesterday that left a dusting of snow on the ground and trees. While standing at the kitchen sink, washing dishes, I noticed how pretty the bamboo looked covered in white. Evidently Jeff had the same idea. Moments later he was standing at the window snapping this photo.

Today we are supposed to be getting the "big one". When I say "big one", I mean southern "big one". The weather reports say we might see 6". This will be (if it happens) the most snow I have seen here in North Carolina! The predictions say the storm will end with a layer of ice. Ice often means power outages, but we are prepared. The wood stove will keep us warm, between that and the gas grill cooking won't be a problem. 5 gallon buckets of water will be ready for flushing the toilet! The lack of running water is what's most inconvenient.

I am hoping that if the power goes out it won't be like the last few years I was in New Hampshire... no power for days on end. If you have been reading for any length of time, you may recall that John Z died during the ice storm of 2008. You can read about the events of that storm here and here. Since that time ice storms and power outages give me an uneasy feeling that is hard to shake. It has gotten better with time, but it will always be there in the background.

Should we get some significant snow, the kids around here will be ecstatic and for them I am happy. They will get outside in the fresh air and play until it's melted, which will probably be on Friday.

Happy snow day. Stay warm and safe.

Snow Day at the Pottery

Snow? Is it for real this time?

No, this isn't a picture of our yard in North Carolina! I pulled this photo from the archives... it was the first New Hampshire snow on December 9, 2009. Here in the south everyone is excited that we may have a dusting to 3" of snow today. Yesterday the road crews pre-treated the Pottery Highway in anticipation of this storm. I thought they did it a little early but evidently they can treat the road up to 48 hours before the snow and ice start to accumulate. We don't have to be anywhere today but right here in the studio making pots, so bring it on (and then melt it away quickly).

Speaking of the studio. I am working on an order for a set of piggy canisters. The largest will hold about two quarts and the smallest is about 18oz.

It was a little tricky getting the feet just right to stabilize the larger jars. Jeff threw the bodies and I am doing the assembling. We made two of each size, because you all know how special orders like to go awry. I also know that if they all are perfect (fingers and toes crossed) the extras will be an easy sell.

Piggy banks and piggy jars is what I have been making for a week now. Last night I dreamed about them. I will be glad when they are done and I can move on to something else.



Better late than never, but you can also view this and other ceramic blog posts on Sunday Ceramics

Waiting on Sandy...

Jeff and I have perfect timing when it comes to fall travel. Last Friday we hit the road for New Hampshire to do three raku workshops. Last year we were here in October to experience 2' of snow and massive power outages. This year it's a hurricane!

Jeff was able to do yesterday's workshop, in Wolfeboro, NH, without a hitch. Tomorrow's workshop is kind of iffy... it's at a high school... school is cancelled today and maybe tomorrow as well. We decided to stay put at my sister's home in Wolfeboro for another night, rather than head to our friend Roni's home in Strafford (which is closer to our workshop location). Strafford always seems to lose power and Wolfeboro rarely does.
I have no complaints about spending an extra day with my sister. If you are going to ride out a hurricane, why not do it in a comfortable New England farmhouse, in a picturesque little town!

We have plenty of hurricane supplies... batteries, flashlights, candles, cheese and crackers, and plenty of WINE!

Snowtober in NH

this is what we woke up to TODAY...

Arianna peeking out at the snow this morning...

deck furniture, Jeff and my sister were out there grilling while it snowed last night...

today Jeff is teaching a raku workshop here in Wolfeboro... i think we should call it snoku.

it's beginning to look a bit like Christmas...

this is the pretty scene we woke up to this morning... i am ok with the snow as long as it doesn't have to be shoveled!

this weekend i worked on berry bowls and some simple round bakers

i have new stuff on etsy as well... orders placed by Wednesday can be shipped in time for Christmas...

wood fired vase... click on the photo to go to my Etsy shop

snow!

so much for getting lots of things done today. we had nearly a foot of heavy wet snow in northwood, nh so jeff and i spent the day lounging around the house. this is what we did today:

drank coffee

ate soup

messed with facebook ('specially with gary rith's snow post...he-he-he)

shoveled the steps

made a snowman

ate cheese, crackers, tapenade

called my mom

made popcorn

ate popcorn

drank a little wine

read

drank a little beer

~view of the backyard from the kitchen slider~

...all in all we managed to keep ourselves quite entertained :-)

and i almost forgot...i completed my jury application for the league of nh craftsmen! tomorrow it goes in the mail.