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.
Funny!
ReplyDeleteI love it.
ReplyDeleteProbably 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.
ReplyDeletehahaha..thanks for the chuckle.:)
ReplyDelete..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.
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)
ReplyDeletePretty sure those guys are still talking about you. He he
ReplyDeleteYep, any Florida clay you see comes from Georgia. Florida is nothing but a huge sandbar.
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".
ReplyDeleteBoy don't you just want to play with that pile?
Hi Meredith, thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa, thanks.
Hi Acacia, thanks, yes, I should have explained further.
ReplyDeleteHi 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.
Thank you, hard to get good pics as the years pass...
ReplyDeleteLove reading that you're getting settled in FL.
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
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteIt'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!
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy and funny story! Too bad you couldn't have scored a truckload of it. lol
ReplyDeleteHi 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.
ReplyDeleteHi 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.
What fun! Is that what the song, "Slip Sliding Away" was really all about!
ReplyDeleteHi Peter, thanks, I think have used that song by Simon in another post; I am sure that's what he was talking about.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete