Hands in Clay

It feels so good to be at the beginning of the making cycle, seems like weeks since I have touched wet clay. We have another opportunity to put some pots in a wood firing so my mission has been to make some pots that will embrace the magic of the flame.

During the last couple of years I have only made dotted flower mugs for orders. The gray, white and blue from the gas kiln doesn't really excite me... but fired in a wood kiln is a whole different story. The blue turns a deep blue, almost black and the slip gets all toasty, marshmallow like. The last batch I put in a wood kiln had a lot cracked rims. This time I am using STARworks Michfield clay and I think I will have better results. Fingers crossed!

Here are few things that came out of Fred Johnston's wood kiln last week...

 This rattle orb is about the size of a softball. It has some nice coloring from the flames.

Remember the mermaid? She was waiting for months to be fired! She got a lot of ash over the top and I think it plays rather nicely with her oceanic hair.

Two of the porkers went into this firing. One is a little dry so he will get a second roasting either in the gas kiln or a wood firing. I am happy with this little guy. He looks like a yummy toasted marshmallow.

The morning is getting late, the sky is overcast and the air is cool. Perfect weather for studio work. Time to get out there and move some clay. Have a great day.

A Second Chance

I am not a fan of re-firing, but Jeff is. This week we had orders that needed to be shipped and had extra space in the kiln. Jeff decided to re-fire some pots. Along with orders.
My biggest fear. Blow ups that will injure pots that need to be shipped!!!!

Remember this sad little pig from last spring?

He was granted a new life via re-firing...

He is glorious in all his wood fired juiciness! Sort of like plastic surgery only more affordable.

The rest was a mixed bag. At least no orders were harmed by them.

Turkey and Pork

Jeff and I continued our double Thanksgiving dinner tradition this year. On the big day we had dinner with Jeff's family in Rockingham, NC and on Saturday we cooked a turkey here in Seagrove. I grew up with stuffing inside the turkey, I don't quite get this dressing in a pan cut into squares. It's just not as flavorful (or as moist) as stuffing cooked in the bird. Once a year I get out this rather ugly platter that belonged to my great-grandmother. The platter sounds really punky, I don't know if it will survive to be handed down to Danielle.

I have been photographing work to add lots of new pots and piggy banks to the Etsy shop.

 I listed this wood fired pig last night and he has already booked a flight to London and is leaving tomorrow. The pigs are world travelers!

 Jeff did these blue and white pigs, the ears are modeled after the piggy banks he made earlier in his career.

I love how this one came out, check out his cool looking pork butt...

Happy Sunday everybody!

Celebration of Seagrove Potters Weekend!

This little piggy was roasted in Fred Johnston's wood kiln on Wednesday and today she is off to the market...

 The Celebration of Seagrove Potters market...

 November 22, 23, 24th at Historic Luck's Cannery in Seagrove, NC

and will have more at the market than pork. Hope to see you there!