Friday, July 30, 2010

Mea Culpa


I've been driving by this huge pile of clay ever since we moved to Florida. The pile has been going down a little at a time, but they haven't made even a small dent in the size of the pile. Finally I couldn't resist any longer. When I got home, I got an empty yogurt container and drove back to get a small sample to make some slip to test it.


Gary estimated the pile at about 300 tons. That's a lot of clay. I figured one little yogurt container wouldn't matter much, would it? It does have a really nice color and a great feel to the texture. I can't wait to try it out.


Then I realized I needed to take a photo of the pile so you could see how big it really is. The pile is so big I couldn't get it all in the shot with my camera. As I was leaving I saw one of the construction guys. So I stopped and asked him what they were going to do with the pile of clay. He said they paid to have the clay brought in as a base. Oops. Mea Culpa! I had no idea the pile was brought in; I thought it was dug on the site. I guess clay is in short supply around Florida since it is mostly sand around here.

I told him I was a potter and hope they didn't mind that I took a small sample to make some slip. He looked at me strangely, probably thinking how could a woman's slip be made from clay, wouldn't I need some fabric for that. As I drove off, he still had that quizzical look on his face. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

18 comments:

  1. Probably because they don't know the ceramic process and our lifestyle, our behavior seems strange ... But it's even funny ... I can not wait to see the results of your tests! Good luck.

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  2. hahaha..thanks for the chuckle.:)
    ..nice slip, by the way..!
    I have some clay from my sister's back yard excavation that I am going to try too.. will post a pic of it, but not as 'pretty' as yours..
    Cheers. T.

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  3. Hahaha! That is so funny -well at least you stopped to ask about the clay pile before we read about Gary bailing you out of the county jail for construction thieving -all in the pursuit of ART ;o)

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  4. Pretty sure those guys are still talking about you. He he
    Yep, any Florida clay you see comes from Georgia. Florida is nothing but a huge sandbar.

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  5. Funny.... the photo of the slip brought me here. Whenever I say slip to someone they have that puzzled look too, a couple people have even look down below my waist thinking "that is the only slip I know" and what is she talking about since she is wearing pants? By know I have learned to say slip, followed quickly by "liquid clay".

    Boy don't you just want to play with that pile?

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  6. Hi Meredith, thanks.

    Hi Teresa, thanks.

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  7. Hi Acacia, thanks, yes, I should have explained further.

    Hi Trish, thanks, now that I now they paid to bring it in it will probably produce super results and I'll have to purchase some from them.

    Hi Cindy, thanks, yeah I think the police are real serious here in Florida.

    Hi Patti, thanks, they must have paid a hefty trucking fee for that.

    Hi Yolanda, thanks, you photo looks great.

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  8. Thank you, hard to get good pics as the years pass...
    Love reading that you're getting settled in FL.

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  9. Gosh, you're brave to take that clay. Good thinking! And, I like the first pic. :) I really need to experiment more with slip. Hmmm

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  11. It's funny to consider the lingo we use with fellow potters, and how it can so easily be misunderstood. Love the slip photo. Pink slip... which has a whole different meaning in the work world... nobody wants a pink slip!

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  12. Great analogy and funny story! Too bad you couldn't have scored a truckload of it. lol

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  13. Hi Amy, thanks, I didn't actually know I was taking the slip till afterwards, I just thought it was the leftover spoils from a construction job.

    Hi Patricia, thanks, I didn't even think about the other connotation of the pink slip

    Hi Marguerite, thanks, yeah if it works well I may have to go begging.

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  14. What fun! Is that what the song, "Slip Sliding Away" was really all about!

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  15. Hi Peter, thanks, I think have used that song by Simon in another post; I am sure that's what he was talking about.

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment