More Big Pots & Historic Rains

Since my other big and tall pot is taking so long to dry, I decided to make another one. I plan is to make a group of large pots and then I can fire them all together.

That's an eighteen inch ruler standing next to the pot which is about sixteen inches tall. With all the humidity in the air and it being the time of year we don't use the air conditioning and we don't use the heat clay work is taking much longer to dry. The rest of the week should be dry here so hopefully things dry out. My heart goes out to all the folks in North and South Carolina; they have been getting historic rains and there is extensive flooding with home, road and bridge damages and losses.

Along with the large pots I also made some medium sized pots, about eleven inches tall, to fill up a kiln load. The pot on the left has some texture. Saturday was a bust for sales at the farmer's market. Not one person even came to the market till after 11 am since it was raining so much. Can't predict what mother nature will bring that's for sure. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Reading List

With all the rain we're having and thoughts of the approaching winter, perhaps you thought about doing some reading. I know I did. I splurged on Robin Hopper's book, Functional Pottery, recommended by a facebook friend. I turned a few pages and decided I need to devote some serious time to this one.

Leaving the post office with my new book, I decided to visit a local thrift store. For just over a dollar I picked up this book, 500 Great Books by Women. Now I can refer to this book when I'm at the library.

Be sure to check out Pottery Making Info, Clay Blog Review, for September. Thanks Brandon for such a comprehensive list of blogs for this past month and for including my blog in your review.

Today may be a wash out at the farmer's market since we're expecting a deluge of rain, but we'll be there anyway. Thankfully the market is covered so it will be easier to keep dry. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Dry and Dusty

When Gary used to travel for work I'd ask him how the weather was and he'd say, "Dry and Dusty". That's been the weather the past week and it may continue into next week.

These are some quick shots of the kiln I just unloaded. I have got to get a better setup for my photos because the glazes on these ribbon vessels are much more rich and variable in person than they are in my photos.

 The mini ribbon vessels are a pleasure to hold in the hand.

A few of them are made from Standard dark brown clay. This brown glaze didn't do much on the clay but the first and this next two vessels the glaze reacted with the clay nicely.

 A new color for my leaves.

More leaves to keep up my supply.

Hopefully I'll have time to pack some of these for the farmer's market today. It's going to be dry and dusty. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Up, Up, and Away

I kept going up and up and got carried away making this piece. This is the last of the white clay, little loafers, and it may be the last I ever use it. After discussing cracking issues with several potter friends, we have determined the cracking may be the fault of the clay. I was all set to drive to Asheville to replenish my clay supply to avoid driving in Atlanta traffic but that may have to change. I'd like to go back to using Axner/Laguna clay of Macabee WC 901 which I was using in Florida.

Here are some more ribbon vases drying. A few months ago Gary said, Why are you making all of those? I guess he couldn't see a need for them. At the recent farmer's market another vendor who sells soaps plans to use my ribbon vases and leaves to package some of her soaps. Lots of other folks were purchasing leaves and vases too. The leaf plates have many uses, spoon rests, soap dishes, bread and butter dishes, candy dishes, the list goes on and on.

I was also was approached by two local stores wanting to carry my work. Even if folks don't purchase pottery in my booth, I never know what they may have in mind. I need to step up my production. 'Production' - what in the heck have I gotten myself into?

I started making work with the last bag of speckled brownstone clay. I like using this clay in addition to a white clay because the same glazes develop an earthy look which appeals to different customers.

Here are a couple of extra large leaf plates drying. Meanwhile I developed a terrible stiff neck and couldn't think why. Now I realize I pulled a muscle lifting the last kiln shelf out of the kiln while holding it level and being careful not to hit the sides of the kiln where the brick is brittle. One of the hazards of working long hours in the studio.

The farmer's market was another great success yesterday. Thanks to all my new collectors and customers.

I brought some ornaments and displayed them in a basket at the front of the booth. The ornaments sold like hot cakes. Parents and grandparents were buying in advance of the holidays. Who would think ornaments would sell in the middle of summer. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Lots of Pots Drying

Lots of pots are drying under plastic. We've had to use our air conditioning since it's been getting up to 90 F on several occasions. At least it cools down at night.

I'm making my leaf plates again which can be used for spoon holders, soap dishes or what have you.

I made a few of these touristy tiles since we get a lot of out of town visitors to the farmer's market. I am trying to think of items to sell that are at different price points. I'll use RIO (red iron oxide) in the letters and put a transparent glaze over these. I've inserted a little wire hanger.

Here's my first attempt at a simple design for a sponge holder. May need to make some type of a jig to keep these from splaying out. Oh I know I could have draped them over a 2 x 4 and taped them down, next time.

I used my Queen Anne's lace to impress a few large platters, bowls and baskets. I plan to use transparent glazes over these and hopefully the glaze will pool in the impressions. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Our farmer's market is also held on Tuesday evening and just as I was leaving I saw some baby Brussels sprouts. Gary doesn't like them but I thought why should I deny myself some. I didn't want to turn on the oven since it was very hot day. I decided to use the toaster oven. These are so easy to cook. Place the sprouts in a bowl and add a tablespoon of olive oil, sprinkle with some sea salt and freshly ground pepper and toss to coat. Place in an oven proof cooking pan and bake for 30 minutes at 350 F. They were so delicious.

Guess What? I got a call on Thursday that I now have a permanent spot at the farmer's market to sell my pottery. That means I don't have to get up at 4:30 and show up and not know if I have a spot. I can also set up on Tuesday evenings. I know the Tuesday evening market isn't as well attended. I'll have to see if it's worth going on Tuesdays. This past Saturday I didn't have many sales at the beginning of the market so I stepped away to get some vegetables. While I was gone, Gary manned the booth and he sold three items. Some people are just natural sales people and Gary's one of them.

The other day Gary was reading my blog post about tagines. He said that type of pottery needs to be thrown and I can do it. Gary thinks he can throw a tagine and he's only used the wheel a few times. I guess a positive attitude helps; we shall see. Stay tuned for some pottery thrown by Gary. I'm firing a glaze load so check back for some new pots too. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Calypso Beans

Regular trips to the farmer's market here in the Blairsville in the Georgia mountains has led me on a quest to learn more about beans of the world. Beans are some of the oldest cultivated plants. Since the beginning of time beans have sustained many cultures. A farmer friend was selling some calypso beans, originally from the Caribbean, so I purchased a few. Holding these beans I feel a kinship with another culture.

Apparently the calypso bean is another bean which when cooked looses it's sharp contrasting color. I won't be able to test this theory since I plan to plant these beans. While researching the calypso bean I found an heirloom bean company which carries many other beans and also many varieties of lentils and peas.

I slipped away from the pottery booth leaving Gary in charge to see what produce I might try this week. I got more purple beans and also half white runner beans, heirloom tomatoes, eggplant and patty pan squash.

This time I cooked the purple beans with slivers of carrots, chopped tomatoes, and white and dark balsamic vinegar's. More and more I find myself leaning toward a more vegetarian diet. I can't seem to get enough fresh produce. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

My Garden is Growing

 red cone flowers

 chocolate basil

 mallow flowers

 tomatoes are ripening and held up with plastic pots

 red double hollyhocks

 gardenia suffering a little in the heat

Juliet tomatoes are forming clusters

 purple cone flowers (but more pink)

 Black Krim tomatoes are numerous

 Spanish tarragon

planter near the front door

I'm at the farmer's market today. We're expecting cooler weather just in time but also thunderstorms. Hope the crowds don't stay away. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Shades of Green

There are many different shades of green and I like using variations of green in my garden. This is variegated yucca. I hope it blooms this year. It get's a tall stalk of white flowers from the center when it does.

This is Japanese golden forest grass. It looked a bit peak-id yesterday when I got home. I hope it can survive in this spot. Perhaps it needs more shade.

 This is a garden phlox and I confess I can't remember which one; will have to look it up.

I'm sure you've heard of spinach and artichoke dip. This is collard greens and artichoke dip. I get a can of greens and a can of artichoke hearts and drain them well. I then squeeze the greens in my hand to get even more moisture out of them. Then I chop both up and I mix in two heaping tablespoons of sour cream and some hot sauce. It's really good. I get the collard greens because they have the most vitamins of any of the canned greens.

I buy these Food Should Taste Good gluten free chips for my dips. Gary doesn't like olives and he likes them. Try them if you can find them; you might like them too.

Lots of folks admire my muses (perhaps totems) but I think some don't know what to do with them. They are for reflecting upon like my meditation bowls. Being in Baptist country perhaps I should call them prayer bowls. I guess I'm a little bit outside the box in what I make with clay.

I did make some green at the farmer's market yesterday. I sold a set of dinner plates, a pair of wall tiles, another wall tile, and a tea bowl and maybe a few other items I can't remember. It's exhausting getting up so early (4:30 am) and being out of doors till 1 pm and then packing up. I'm lucky I have Gary to help me I don't think I could do it all by myself. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.