Bells Are Ringing

Finally I figured out how to take a video with my ancient camera. Then I figured out how to upload the video to my computer and then download the video to YouTube. Please keep in mind this is my first video and I am using a very old camera so the quality is very poor. I'm holding the camera and not using a tripod and Gary's ringing the bells. At least you can hear a little of the sound. Turn up the volume since the microphone didn't pick up the sound very well. The bells sound much better in person. The video has the two bells on the left, the bell on the right had a crack in the rim so I didn't use it.



These are the bells with the metal washer used as a clapper. The table top bell has a better sound. It may be the shape and the fact that it is thinner than the green bell. I think the sail on the green bell may need adjusting up or down. Back to the studio for more research. Up next for those who don't believe I have dust bunnies and a messy back porch you're in for a surprise. Ha. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

More Bells, Clappers, and a Re-Do

For these bells I made the beech leaves red. At first I brushed them with yellow but the color looked washed out. We'll see what happens using red over yellow stain. I've also made extra beads and wind sails to use with the bells. It's taking me quite a while to make enough work to fill up the kiln with the smaller footprint of bells rather than platters and bowls. But I must admit I think these bells are the most of one type of item I've made. I seem to be bell crazy right now. Perhaps it's the anticipation of how the bells will sound that's keeping my attention.

Hoping to hear one of my bells ring, yesterday I fashioned a clapper for the table top bell with some steel washers. I was pleased to hear the wonderful sound it produced. I don't think new steel washers are aesthetically pleasing to see as a clapper on the interior of the bells so I am wondering what other metal I can use for a clapper. Any ideas? The metal seems to produce a nice tone. A rusty piece of metal would appear better to my eye.

I also tried the same washer type clapper with a larger bell but the leather cord kept pulling through the top hole. I've got some wooden beads to use to keep the string from pulling through till I can get some of the ceramic beads fired. I'm also trying to figure out how to get my camera to take a video hoping to let you 'hear' how the bells sound. Perhaps there are ready made clappers I can find (like the photo above borrowed from the next) or maybe I can fashion some clappers from various metal parts and weld them. Figuring out a clapper for the bells and stringing it seemed like a simple task but it's proving to somewhat tax my ingenuity.

Meanwhile I made another morel mushroom cheese board since the first one had a crack. Hope this one fares better than the first one. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Bells with Speckled Clay

Yesterday I decided to take a detour into speckled clay and make more bells. Although this clay looks red now, it will fire to a light tan with tiny speckles in it. I've pressed leaves into the clay bells and stained them. A flat triangular piece will hang down below the bell interior and act as a sail to catch the wind and make the bell ring in light breezes.

Here's what all the parts look like while they are drying. Although bells seem simple things to make, they're actually quite a few parts needed to make them the way I envision them. Folks gave me several suggestions on how to fire the bells so the bottoms are glazed. One person suggested I fire the bells on a kiln post which I'll try next time. I just hope the bells don't stick to the post as it shrinks in the firing, especially with the conical ones. What do you think?

Although I was originally planning on using a wood clapper in the interior, one person said since the diameter of the bell isn't overly large a ceramic bead would do just fine. They also said a ceramic bead will make a nicer ring than a wooden bead. So I'll give that a try too. I'll also check my bead supply drawer and see if I have any beads I can use with the bells, like glass or others. I plan to put a clear glaze over these so the natural color of the clay shows through. Back to the studio. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Bell Bottoms & Oil Spot

Hope you're not disappointed that I don't have any bells bottom pants to show you here. I remember wearing them many moons ago. Here's one of the bells with some oil spot going on. This is one of my glaze experiments that I've been adjusting.

These are three of the experimental bells after the glaze firing. The one on the right has a crack at the edge. Before firing another one with a handle was broken so I discarded that one. Another I glazed but forgot to load it into the glaze firing. It was hidden behind a glaze bucket. I wasn't going to make any more with handles since they are hard to construct but after tapping these with a wooden stick I think I'll make both styles.

But what should I do about the bell bottoms? The non glaze part? I could paint the bottom edge after firing. I could keep the bells unglazed in natural color clay perhaps a speckled or red clay. Maybe I could underglaze the whole bell and then spray a clear coat of paint after firing.  What do you think?

Here's a little more oil spot going on in the bottom of this tea bowl. Stay tuned for more photos and unfortunately a few disappointments. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

More Cowbell

source

After making a few bells yesterday I thought of making cowbells this morning. The world needs more cowbell; click the link to see the Saturday Night Live skit. 

Yesterday I felt like pinching some clay so I made some bells. For the bell with the holes I plan on stringing some leather cord and using a ceramic bead to make the ring tone and perhaps string some other beads around the bottom edge. This type of bell can be hung from an overhang on the deck or in a tree. In the photo the hole on top doesn't look centered, Hum, I did think I centered it, we shall see if it's a crooked bell. Ha.

Then I thought of the table top bells or chimes from the Victorian era which led me to make a couple of bells with a handles. On the inside I added an attachment where a bead can be strung to ring this type of bell. We shall see how these work out.

We finally got a light dusting of snow yesterday. Lots of birds were in our yard trying to find food. There was a whole group of robins. I fear they started flying north too early. If only they had waited a week or two.

I know you can barely see him but that's a pileated woodpecker. If I open the door he flies away so I have to take the photo from inside. I've decided to wait till it warms up a bit before I fire my kiln so it's back to making more work. I've been reading about bells used at weddings which say, "Ring for a Kiss". Must check into that custom. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.