From Salad to Sushi and Beyond

Yesterday I called these salad plates. Today I staged them as sushi plates. I decided the little plates were too large for condiments so I've made some smaller ones today.

 Here's the green one without a small leaf plate.

Here's the melon orange one, with the smaller condiment plate clearly being too large. I still think a shrimp salad on a bed of lettuce would look scrumptious on this color plate.

Meanwhile I loaded a bisque of all the large pots I've made recently and I am firing it overnight. I'm sitting on pins and needles, hoping they all turn out OK without blowing up. Before I loaded them I dried them on the back porch for several hours. Next I sanded the bottom edges on a large piece of foam to support the edges as I slowly rotated them around while sanding. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Market Day, $19.97 & Firing

At the Saturday market it really poured and looked to be a bust. However, folks braved the rain and bought quite a bit of my pottery. One couple, repeat customers, came to the market just to get a piece of my pottery, how cool is that. What a wonderful feeling that gave me. Another woman bought one of my ornaments so she could put essential oil on it. She wanted to wear it as a pendant. She said she liked large jewelry, who am I to argue with that. She gave me a drop of lavender oil on one hand and a drop of relaxing oils on the other. I was in heaven the rest of the day.

Overnight I'm firing a glaze load, mostly ornaments and large leaf dishes. The large leaf dishes are ample enough to serve a salad. I'm thinking I should make chargers to set the salad leaf plates on. With loads like this I wish I had two more shelves, maybe I'll get two more one of these days.

I stopped at wally world to get some cd's to back up my computer and I happened to walk by the aisle with shelving. I noticed a package with a bamboo shoe rack for nineteen ninety-seven. You know just about everything at wally world is priced with a ninety-seven cents tacked on. It looked so nice I decided to get it. It's really well made and I think this will be a good table topper at the markets to show off my leaf plates. See the two holes in the top? Dowels can be inserted to increase the rack to four high if another is purchased. Hum, something to think about; but not too long. In a week they might not carry this item.

Meanwhile I made a batch of tomato soup (can't believe I am still picking tomatoes) and two batches of baked okra yesterday. The leaves are really starting to change and Gary has to blow off the driveway every day now. Gary repainted my ornament tree and put the shoe rack together; thanks Gary. Today I'm working at the gallery. No rest for the wicked as they say. 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.