Glazing Redwood & Moss

Today I glazed the Redwood & Moss line.  This glaze is dipped and poured on.  Many of my glazes I spray on for even distribution, but this glaze turns out very flat when sprayed on.  This is my most annoying glaze, because if it is too thin it is a flat brown, and if it is too thick it runs onto the kiln shelf and ruins the piece. It is also very messy and does not clean up easily. I keep using it because when it turns out right, it is my favorite glaze.  I even have a canister set, cookie jar, cereal bowls and appetizer dishes of my own in this glaze. To see more photos of todays glazing, check out the "In the Studio" page.  All this week I will be glazing, so check back for photos of finished pots..

Etching

Yesterday I played around with etching on these two small vases.  I think that if I pick the right glazing technique they could look really good.  I need to think on it. The bisque load is going now and tomorrow I will start glazing.  It will probaly take 3 or 4 days & 5 or 6 loads to finish.  At times like this I wish I had a larger kiln.  I decided to go ahead with glazing because my bisque shelves were overflowing.  Afterwards I will price and pack everything and won't have to think about my first show until a few days before.

Extra Large Vases

Today I made these xlarge vases.  Each takes two pots put together to make one vase.  I really like making these, but there is not as much demand for them as there is for functional pieces.  I don't really need them in inventory, but it takes about 3 weeks for them to completely dry.  The only thing I have ever had explode in my kiln has been one of these large vases, because I didn't let it dry well enough.  I always make 3 so that they can fill up one half kiln shelf.  I like to fill my kiln to the top and this way doesn't leave too much empty space.

Mom, I need you to drive me....

Lately I have felt like nothing I have done has been very inspired.  Partly that is due to my goal of stocking up my popular items for the fall shows.  Today I set out to do the items on my list, but these two vases just came out.  I especially like the handles.  I still have about 4 more weeks of throwing before I start glazing, so there won't be any finished product for a while.  Sometime this week I plan on making 3 or 4 extra large vases.  They are alot of fun but more difficult to make since I make the body in two pieces. 

My Mom booked her plane ticket from Montana for mid September.  She is coming here to NC to help me with my fall shows.  At some of my shows I increased my booth size so that we would be more comfortable.  A 10x10 booth is small for two people.  I am sure that my husband is happy that he doesn't have to help me with the 9+ shows I will be doing.

Last week my oldest went back to college and my youngest starts back as a sophmore in high school this coming Wednesday, so it will be much quieter at home.  It will be great to not hear "I am bored" or "Mom, I need you to drive me.."

Lobed Jars & Teapots

Today I made 4 of these lobed jars, this teapot, a cookie jar and 2 handled bowls. I also loaded the kiln with a bisque load. I was in the studio from 9-4, which is a long day for me.  I am gearing up for fall and am about 1/3 of the way done stocking up my inventory. Yesterday I worked on my blog.  I changed some of the pages and added a "Pots in use" page.  If you have any of my pots and would like to send me a photo of them being used, that would be great.  I love seeing my pots in "action".  I also added some more information on the For Sale page, with a list of some of my regular pieces I usually have in inventory.

Cracker Tray

Today I am getting the pieces ready for the Carolina Claymatters Guild Display at the Charlotte Douglas Airport.  The display is changed out every 6 months and these are the two pieces I am sending in for consideration.  The quilt under it is a table runner my Mom made for my dining room.

The last couple of days I have been working on cracker trays.  I have included a group of photos showing the process.  Although the trays seem very simple, they actually take much more time than you would think.

Detail Work

Today I finished up my berry bowls (below) and did some slip trailing(above).  I would like to load the kiln for a bisque load soon, but I need to get some more stilts and shelves.  I find that I don't always have enough of either to fill the kiln completely.  I also have a shelf that is cracking and could break at any time.  I could probably load the kiln 3 times with what I have so far.  The last few weeks I have been working with a schedule to fill up on stock for the fall.  It is very hard to motivate myself when I do not have immediate need for something. 

I got my acceptance letter for the Festival in the Park.  That will be my first show this fall and I am looking forward to it.  Hope it doesn't rain as much (or at all) as it did last time. Lately I have been working on our guild blog http://www.carolinaclaymatters.blogspot.com/ It has been alot of work but I think that the site is looking really good, maybe even better than my own site.