A Teapot and a Tortoise

While I was making this teapot, I spied a big gopher tortoise about a foot in diameter eating grass in the yard. I grabbed my camera and turned it on and the batteries were dead. So I charged the batteries for a short bit, but by the time I got out in the yard, the tortoise was gone. I saw him on a big mound and when I went over there he had gone underground. I did see this beautiful fern growing in a palm trunk.


You know the story about the tortoise and the hare. I wish I was as fast as a tortoise making a teapot. Teapots take a long time to make and they have so many parts. I was going to put some colorful flowers or leaves on this teapot, but I think this shape lends itself to a geometric decoration. When I was by the tortoise mound I saw this bone and thought it was interesting. Perhaps I can use it in a mixed media piece. I wonder what animal it comes from.


It has been so long since I made a teapot. I found myself wondering about all the aspects. How high the spout should be, what angle the handle should be and what size, and how to be sure the spout doesn't drip. I'm also wondering how to keep the glaze out the holes behind the spout. This teapot has too narrow a top to get inside the clean the holes, so I made the holes extra large just in case glaze tries to fill them up. I did put a hole in the lid for the steam to escape. Anyone have any tips on teapot making?

I also made quite a few pinch pots and some boxes with lids. Gary is in Texas now and so far the bus is running fine. Comments and suggestions are welcome.