Tea Bowls, Mugs, & a Cat House

The other day I was reading Lori Buff's blog, Future Relics, where she said you've got to make mugs. I haven't made any mugs in eons so I decided to make a few. Yesterday I made a couple of slap built tea bowls. Would you believe I cut out the pieces for both the same size. One of them is taller than the other. Oh well. I can't take credit for this tea bowl design, I found the pattern on a clay teaching site years ago.

I can take credit for the design of this mug made with stacked strips of clay. The handle is made with the same method. After making the piece I brushed stripes of terra cotta colored slip between the seams. Not sure how comfortable the handle will be; this will be a slow drinking mug.

Which reminds me, in Tony Clennell;s book, Stuck in the Mud, he writes about a mug sent to him by Linda Christianson who picked it out for him from a Mark Pharis firing. When he got the mug he couldn't believe she picked that particular mug out for him. But he trusted Linda's opinion so he started using the mug. Long story short over the years Tony said he has come to appreciate the mug.

Tony learned to hold the mug in a particular way because the handle is too small to get  his hand through, the bottom is rough and so on. Tony said he has to look at the mug to pick it up. The mug was not a mug he could use without thinking about it. So using this mug over the years Tony has grown to appreciate the maker's idea surrounding the design.

Here's the interior of my stacked mug so you can see the seams. Maybe some day someone will recognize this mug as one of mine without looking at the signature.

Barney and Butter don't get along (Barney wants to mark his territory inside) so Barney has to stay outside from now on. Yesterday afternoon we made a cat house of thick styrofoam (insulation) sheets. Now I can't get Barney to go inside. I put some scrumptious cat food in the back to coax him in. He stretched in as far as he could and took a bite of food and brought it out to eat. He kept his back feet out for a quick escape. I think he's afraid to get trapped inside since it's all enclosed. Maybe he'll get used to it slowly if I keep putting the special food inside. I'll be working at the ArtWorks Artisan Center today so I'll catch you later. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Dogwoods and a Leaf Tray

When we  moved here I planted a number of shrubs in our back yard. Many had leafed out, then we had a hard freeze. The evergreens seem to be doing fine but several of the deciduous trees are having a hard time. This week the pink and white dogwoods put on a couple of flowers and some leaves. Click over to Lori Buff's blog to see her pink dogwood teapot, it really captures the essence of the flower. Until I took the photo of the pink dogwood today I didn't realize the flower is only partially pink. It pays to observe nature closely.

One Japanese maple and a redbud tree have yet to put out leaves. I hope the frost didn't kill them. Both should be hardy but they had already put out leaves which were killed back. Please keep your fingers crossed for them.

While I was taking a walk in the yard I picked a few new leaves and brought them in to use as texture on this mixed leaf tray. The tray's about twelve inches square. I plan to brush oxides on the leaves, then put a clear glaze over. The tray could be used for cheese and crackers or set in the garden filled with water and mud so butterflies could puddle. Last night I fell asleep to the sound of a forest full of crickets chirping. Tomorrow is the first of May, a white rabbit day. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Lori Buff Open Studio

Yesterday Gary and I went to the open studio of Lori Buff in Atlanta. Gary had me drive because he detests driving in big cities. Actually the traffic wasn't that bad. The weather was crisp but clear, perfect to be able to attend Lori's open studio event. Lori and I met via our blogs and have conversed virtually over the past few years. It was wonderful to meet another one of my blogging and clay friends in person. Lori's blog is Future Relics.

Lori's studio is a few streets off the freeway in Atlanta and is set under huge spreading trees on a dead end street. There's plenty of room for parking and lots of open space to display her pottery.

Lori is not only known for her functional pottery but for her wonderful raku horsehair pieces, like the lamp above.

We were drawn to these miniature gardens filled with an array of succulents in various textures and hues. They reminded us of our times traveling in the California deserts.

Lori has her pottery wheel placed in front of a low window to take advantage nature's beauty just outside her studio.

Standing in front of Lori's pottery from left to right, myself, Terry Kearns of Architecture Tourist blog, and Lori Buff. As we readied to leave, Gary and I had a hard time deciding on a piece of pottery to add to our collection but in the end we chose the piece in the first photograph. (You know how we both like turquoise).

If you're within driving distance of Atlanta, Lori's studio will be open again today from noon to 5 pm, so be sure to take advantage. Here's a link to Lori's website, Future Relics Gallery, with details for the open studio. We had a great time visiting with Lori and her partner, Janet, and look forward to meeting up again real soon. As we left Janet surprised Gary with a tray of homemade cookies to take home. Today Gary is thanking Janet with each bite. Thank you Lori and Janet for your warm welcome. Check out the last post of the year for Mud Colony.