Sugar and creamer sets

Today I made some sugar and creamer sets.  I changed them up a bit from my usual.  First they are smaller (I have figured out that in the past I made things for my husbands family, which is huge), second the lid is made differently, third I decided that there is no need for a handle on the creamer since you can quite easily hold it in your hand.  I also made a molded tray using the technique learned at the Potters Conference.     

I have become addicted to making treasuries on Etsy and generally checking out the teams and stats all day long. Here is my latest attempt.  I am hoping that eventually this will help with sales, but right now I feel like it's a big waste of my time.  Lately I hadn't been featured in many treasuries and was getting a little sad but today I finally was featured in a few. Check them out. Here, Here and Here.  Feel free to comment and favorite if you like.

More Extra Large Vases

Today I decided to make extra large pieces.  They need 3-4 weeks to dry before they can go into the bisque load, so I thought that I needed to get them done so I can have them for sure by the Sanford Pottery Festival.  These pots require two pieces being attached together to make a large pot that I couldn't do in one throw.  I have shown how I do this before but figured that it has been awhile.  First I throw the two pieces.  Then after they are both leather hard, I score and slip the two adjoining pieces.  I place the pieces together and with hand on the inside and outside, I press the clay from the top pieces down and over the bottom piece with my thumbs.  Then I use my metal rib to smooth the outside surface.  My hands usually ache after doing these vases.   You can see below the three pots I made today using that technique.  The pot on the right has hand built feet and the one on the left has a split rim.  I also made 2 pitchers.

I  realized last week that I needed to in gear and start making lots more pots.  So, over the weekend I made brie bakers, berry bowls, cake plates and pedastals.  These are items I can make large quantities, quickly.  But I did make half of them with split rims which I think makes them look more elegant. 

More inspiration pieces

Yesterday I worked on more pieces inspired by recent workshops I have attended.  The plates to the left are my attempt to facet/etch the rim of a plate. There was one try that didn't work and went in the scrap bucket. 

Bill VanGilder made this plate (right) using a streatched spring and using an up and down and side to side motion.  My first attempt (upper right) I only did the up and down.  The third try (upper left) was better.  His plate looked better than mine.  I imagine that he has had a lot of practice. 

                 I tryed the two casserole dishes Bill made.  The first one was made by throwing a round casserole dish and cutting out two slices (see left) then squishing the sides until the slice closing up.  This makes a rectangular shaped dish. (upper right). The other dish (upper left) you throw a round dish with a inch wide rim, then you cut away most of the rim, leaving two handles.  Sides are flattened for oval.

At the North Carolina Potters Conference Jake Johnson had these condiment dishes on display in the gallery(right).  He didn't show how he made them, but I liked the concept and made my version (below). I started with three but one didn't make it to completion. After this photo was taken I pushed the center up to hug the dishes more.  I may make some spoons later.

Check back for more inspiration pieces.  I have more ideas.  Some of the pieces are more complex and will take more time.

Inspiration pieces

                        Today I worked on pieces inspired by workshops taken the past few months.  The pitcher above used the technique of making legs with a triangle shaped slab attached to the bottom. I tried this a few weeks ago on a few candy dishes and liked the look.  Alison did her demo on a bowl (left).  The cup was faceted, one of the techniques Bill Van Gilder showed.

 At the Potters Conference this weekend Martha Grover made a lidded box out of porcelain (above). I really enjoyed her style so I decided to give it a try.  See my attempt at a butter dish/lidded box below

I am not very adept at handbuilding, so this is always alot of work for me.  I hope it turns out.  The jar next to it is thrown in one pieces then cut to make a lidded jar.  I have seen this before but never attempted it.  Both Ronan Peterson and Bill Van Gilder had a version of this so decided it was time to try.  It turned out well. 

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Falling Rivers Gallery & Potters Conference

Thursday I set up my booth at the Falling Rivers Gallery in Albemarle.  The gallery is a cooperative sales venue of the Stanly Arts Guild and is staffed by vounteers who show and sell their creations.

Then I traveled on to Asheboro to attend the 25th Annual North Carolina Potters Conference.  This is the 4th year I have attended.  I really enjoyed the format this year.  They invited 3 master potters (Cynthia Bringle, John Glick, Jack Troy) who then in turn invited an up and coming potter (Ronan Peterson, Martha Grover, Jake Johnson)  This made for a very full weekend of non-stop ideas.  I do not know what  pieces to try first.

Today I had to attend to my children.  One was sick and the other is moving home for awhile.  But I will be in the studio tomorrow and I will be trying out all the ideas from this weekend and the workshop two weeks ago.  You will see more photos from the weekend compared to my attempts at making items.

In the next month I need to buckle down and throw new pieces.  In May I have two shows and right now I only have a few boxes of pots available for shows.  Most of the items I had available either went to the Falling Rivers Gallery or are now for sale on Etsy. 

Over the weekend a yarn bowl of mine was featured on Uniquely Yours' blog.  It's a fun blog that features items from Etsy.

My wine coaster was featured on the Its a Madcap Life Blog today.  This blog features art, culture and design.  All items featured are for sale on Etsy.

Yesterday I added two yarn bowls to my Etsy site.  Last week I had my first sale of the year and it was a yarn bowl, so I decided that perhaps I needed a few more.

Today I will finish glazing since it looks like it won't be raining.

Visit to the Cabin

This past weekend we went up to our cabin in Bat Cave, mainly to just check on it and chill.  Sunday morning my husband asked me "what do you want to do" and I said "Biltmore".  Check out my cabin blog to read about our cabin and our adventures in the Carolina Mountains.  This summer you should see more photos of nature, since I asked and got a camera for Christmas/Birthday from my mom.  Today the battery died after I took a few photos out front.  Forgot to charge the battery after my son's Regional wrestling tournment last weekend.

Back to pottery.  I will be going out to the studio in a few minutes to wax resist and I plan on glazing tomorrow morning.  Weather permitting.  I have to spray outside so can't do it if it's raining or very windy.

New glazes and casserole dishes

This last glaze load had some experiments.  My plan this year is to phase out all lines except the blue and brown dragonfly line.  I wanted to add some black and white to that line for a more cohesive look.  These are some of the pieces that I liked.  Would love some feed back.  The piece in the back is the cake plate/chip & dip.  I did some glaze tests on some egg separators and they turned out great.  In future glaze loads I plan on trying some on vases.

These pieces will most likely to going to the Falling Rivers Gallery in Albemarle.  I will be setting up the display next Thursday on my way to the North Carolina Potters Conference in Asheboro.

This is the first casserole out of the kiln. I decided to decorate the underside of the lid for a surprise.

Bill VanGilder and Silvie Gratanelli Workshop

Over the weekend I attended the Claymatters Winter Workshop.  The featured artists this year were Bill VanGilder and Silvie Granatelli.  In the photo to the left see a photo of Silvie and I and the piece I had to have.  To see the photo of Bill and the piece of his that I had to have, check out my Facebook page.  I learned so many new techniques that it will takes months for me to try them all.  So check back for photos of my pieces inspired by what I learned.  Also, check out the Claymatters website for a more detailed account and photos of the workshop. (ps. I am the webmaster of that site as well).

I will be glazing tomorrow, I hope.  Lately it seems that life has gotten in the way.  This year I decided to try to live life more and part of that is getting to the Y to work out most mornings.  This means that instead of working in the morning, I don't start until after lunch.  It seems like there are always things I have to attend to in the afternoon, children, groceries, appointments, etc.  So, hopefully by Wednesday there will be photos taken and posted.