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.

Serving Bowls and Platters

Now that I have much of my studio unpacked I located some of  my slump molds. I made these two bowls yesterday. I'd like to do a whole series of animals found in the Georgia mountains. So far I've seen a bear, possum, river otter, coyote, beaver, squirrel, and deer.

Both bowls are about twelve inches in diameter; the bear bowl isn't as deep as the blue daisy bowl.

The other day I decided to make a few platters. Here's my take on a speckled trout; he looks like he's smiling. This platter or serving dish is about 9 x 16 inches.

This platter with texture is about 12 inches square. I made a similar one years ago and liked the symbolic river detail so I decided to make another one. Now I'm remembering some other bowls and platters I made with symbolic rivers a few years ago; I'd like to explore those ideas again.

Here's a cherry tree platter, also about 12 inches square. I'm still working on the trunk. I think I'll order some porcelain sand to place under the platters when they're fired so they can move easily (shrink) on the kiln shelf. Up next a sneak peak at the granite we chose and I'll ask for your advice on what tile to choose for a back splash. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.