My New Extruder

I am so excited that I finally got my new extruder.  My husband installed it yesterday and this morning I started by making some bud vases.  I am having a hard time thinking up ideas.  I would like to try some salt & pepper shakers, but I need to get the stoppers first.  A few years ago I went to a Hayne Bayless workshop and he does almost all his pieces with the extruder.  I would like to try some mugs, but I need the extension to make larger extrusions.  I would also like to make some funky teapots as well.

I also made a few slab build trays.  It takes me so much longer to make slab items than thrown, so I find that I do not make as much in a day.

 After lunch I loaded the first bisque load of the year.  I will start it in a few days when I am sure that the pieces are fulling dried. 

Tomorrow might be the day I make my own set of dishes.  The weather will be warmer than usual and I have room on my shelves.

Soup on Sunday

Today I went to Soup on Sunday with my friend Lynda.  This is a fundraiser for the local Hospice where Lynda is the volunteer coordinator.  I donated some bowls for the event.  I had some great soups and my favorite was the lobster bisque.

I have finished throwing the pieces needed for the orders I have been working on and in a few days I will do the first bisque and glaze loads of the year.  Later today I will put the finishing touches with slip trailing.

At the end of this week I need to make a decision about what piece to put in the airport display.

Small Vases

Day before yesterday I made some small vases.  A few of them are for the order I have been working on.  The others are for inventory.  You can see two pitchers behind them.  I was going to make 2 more, but my hand started to get sore from pulling so many tall items in one day.  Today I was going to make large platters but my metal rib that I use to compress the platters is in the truck, which my husband is driving.  So instead, I made medium serving bowls and cereal bowls.  I was also going to make four desert dish prototypes, but stopped at two after the bat on the fourth flew off the wheel, hitting my knee really hard and landing on the third one.  I could have gotten out more clay and tried again, but my knee really smarted.  I was also anxious to get in the house and try out my new Nook.  My Mom sent it to me for my birthday which is Friday.

Preston Flowers Display

There is a new shop that is carrying my pottery.  Preston Flowers is located in Cary, NC.  The photo to the left shows how some of the pieces have been displayed in the shop.  They have done a great job presenting my work.  I love the flower arrangements.

Seeing this display reminded me of my wish to make my own set of Dragonfly dinnerware.  I need to make more effort to do this.  Perhaps in a few weeks when I get the wholesale order out of the way.

This morning I threw vases and pitchers.  Later tonight I will have to finish with handles. I was unable to do as many as I wanted because my hand was getting sore from doing so many tall pieces.  Usually I try to do a mix of big and small items each day to save my wrists, but tomorrow I have to work at Ruby's Gift and I won't be able to finish(trim) pieces tomorrow.  Vases & Pitchers can usually be finished later in the day after they dry a little bit. So, tonight I will be back in the studio working.

Garlic Keepers, Chip & Dips and Batter Bowls

Here are a few of the pieces I have worked on this week.  It took so long for the Chip & Dips and Garlic Keepers to dry from yesterday that I only had time today to put them all together before I had to leave to take my son to physical therapy for his shoulder injury.  I didn't get a chance to throw anything.  I hope the Chip & Dip's turn out ok.  Sometimes they warp in the kiln.  I haven't yet figured out what causes this.

Jar by Lib Moss

Last night I went to the Claymatters Guild Holiday Party. This year I am the President of the guild and I had to keep the meeting and gift giving moving along. I am very self concious when I am in front of a group of people but everyone is in the group is very gracious, probably because most have been on the board at one time or another.  I had a great time though and came home with this fun piece made by Lib Moss.  One of my goals this year is to not be so rigid with my work and this piece is the sort of thing I need to try.

This morning I put handles on my batter bowls from yesterday and threw some chip & dips and garlic keepers.  I will probably finish & assemble these tomorrow morning.

I need to take a trip to the supply house soon.  I find that I do not have enough bats to keep me busy more than a few hours.  This was fine in the Fall when I was throwing in the morning and glazing in the afternoon, but in slower months I throw for weeks or months between glaze loads.  There are some other items needed to do more handbuilding, which I hope to do more of once I finish the order for the Seaworthy Gallery that I am working on now.

Back from a throwing vacation

I'm back.  I took a throwing vacation for about a month and was supposed to start back on Monday, but it was snowing and in the 20's and 30's all week.  Today when it reached 40 degrees at 11:30 I decided that it was time to brave the cold.  With the space heater on high and hot water in my bucket, I started on the wholesale order that is due by March.  It will probably only take a few weeks, but I wanted to get it finished so that I can start experimenting.  In February I will be going to the Claymatters Guild Winter Workshop featuring Sandi Pierantozzi & Neil Patterson.  I am very excited to see their work and hope that it will help me do more altering in my pieces.

Tonight is Carolina Claymatters Holiday party.  I will be going early to help set up.  It's always a great time visiting with other potters and the food is great(potters seem to be such great cooks).  We do a gift exchange and it's great coming home with another potter's work.  The guild also gives out door prizes.  In the past I have gotten ribs, hole punches, misc tools and books. 

What a mess!!!

Today I decided that it was time to clean up the studio. From the end of September through mid December I worked pretty much constantly with throwing, glazing, packing, going to shows, etc.  When I finished in December I didn't want to even think about making anything for a while.  Well, I took a few weeks off including going on a Carribean cruise and now I am ready to get back to work.  As you can see, my studio became a catch-all.  You can see a tv that needs to go to the dump, and a golf cart.  Plus all the packing paper that was discarted at various times.

Hopefully you can see the improvement in the second photo.  I swept and mopped and threw away lots of junk.  I will be back in the studio in a few days after the Bunko party on Thursday and putting away my Christmas Decorations after that.  I have some orders to fill, plus I need to make some pieces to refill my show inventory.  I would like to do some experimenting with hand building as well.

Friday night is the Mint Hill Arts "Fire and Fiber" opening reception from 7-9.  I have 8 pieces in the show.  It will last thru January.