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.

Blank Canvas, You Can Almost See the Cold

I plan to test some of the glazes I use on a different clay, a speckled tan. This platter is a blank canvas. Wonder what it will be, stay tuned. These are a nice size but they take up almost half a shelf in the kiln.

I tried Michele's trick of using the saran wrap while cutting out ornaments and pendants and it worked quite well once I got the hang of it. Later I used bisque stamps or carving to embelish them.

This was going to be a tooth pick holder but it got larger. As I worked along I thought of a wall pocket but didn't want to put a hole in the back. Then I thought if I added a handle on the back it could serve a dual purpose. It can either be hung on the wall or set on a table top, shelf, or even a window sill.

 Most of these forms dictate their own shape and I go along with what the clay says.

Here's a couple of serving trays. I decided to make a few serving pieces that don't take up much room in the kiln. The one on the left is butter tray size and the one on the right could be used for relish, vegetable, or appetizers. I plan to make a few more of these. They'll stack up nicely in a cabinet.

You can almost see the cold outside; it's 13 F right now. Barney kept looking in the window the other night so I decided to bring him in on the really cold nights. I'm keeping him separate from the other two cats with his own food bowls and litter box. He's up on the bed in the guest bedroom relaxing on the crochet throw like a king. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Bowls and Platters

Brick Red Bowl

3 x 12 inches

A mixed green salad or fruit salad would work well in this large red bowl. There's quite a bit of variation in the red interior. All the bowls were draped and made not long ago. This second and last two bowls were paddled over the drape molds. The first and third bowls were just draped and the rims cut. All of the rims have to be sanded quite a bit to be smooth.

Amber and Brown Bowl

2.5 x 6.5 inches

Brown is not really my favorite but the amber and brown tones of this bowl are wonderful. If only I took this bowl out of doors to photograph but the cold kept me in. This bowl is a good size for a very generous helping of soup or a serving bowl for vegetables.

Blue Green Bowl

3 x 9 inches

This glaze is continuing to disappoint me since it's supposed to be a shiny green and gold and it keeps turning out blue with slightly green highlights and matt.  Not all kilns or clays are the same. I may want to go back to using Maccabee clay instead of Little Loafers. I used Maccabee in Florida and got used to it's qualities. That would mean I'd have to drive much farther to get my clay.

1.25 x 5 inches

Here are two small bowls where I brushed red clay slip and put the green glaze over the top. I'd like to make a set of bowls a little larger with the copper carbonate and clear glaze over the top. Once I do that then I'll have to test to be sure they are food safe and don't leach any copper. 

Turkey Platter

10.5 x 10.5 inches

Somehow the border on this platter and the rooster platter burned out; I'll have to check my notes. Still they have an antique look and they're suitable for kitchen or dining use.

Rooster Platter

14.25  x 8.75  inches

I did use underglaze for the red on the rooster and it's fine.

Armadillo Platter

14  x 8.5  inches

This armadillo is darker than I expected but he kept his wary eye look which I like. These platters no matter if they are square or oblong almost take up one full shelf. So not much can be fired in a load. Unleass I purchase two more shelves which I may end up doing.

Cobalt Blue Handled Vase

7 h x 4.5 w inches

This handled vase or basket had copper carbonate streaks but the cobalt is a much stronger colorant and the copper isn't visible at all.

Experimental (Color Wise) Ornaments

Most of the ornaments (chemical experiments) I thought were a lost cause ended up being fine. Again cobalt is a much stronger colorant than copper carbonate. The ocher makes a nice bright yellow. It took me what seemed like hours to string jute threads for the ornaments. Not sure they are really worth making but as test tiles which can be sold, I guess they serve their purpose. The lower enclosed room is acting as a passive solar gold mine; I sat out there today perspiring while stringing the ornaments. Who knew enclosing the room would help lower our heating costs in winter. Thanks for reading and for all your comments. 

Ornament Display Tree

Here's the ornament display tree I built yesterday. The ornaments really shine on the display and when they hit each other they clink like a wind chime. I painted the display a cedar brown color so I can use it year round. I need to apply a second coat of paint. The 2 x 2 could have been sanded for a more finished effect. This tree can hold lots of ornaments; I need to make more to fill up the tree. Even with the weight of the ornaments the tree is very sturdy.

Around the base I've placed some burlap fabric I had on hand. At the base I've placed some heart, star, and a teddy bear pendants strung on leather cord. Placing pendants under the tree allows for a double display. I think I'll sew a skirt to place under the tree with velcro to hold the seam together on one side. Thanks for reading and for all  your comments.