Neil Patterson & Sandi Peirantozzi Workshop

Just finished a great weekend at  the Carolina Claymatters Winter Workshop.  This year the presentors were Sandi Peirantozzi and Neil Patterson.  Sandi handbuilds and Neil throws and alters.  I as very inspired by everything they showed us.  Expect to see photos in the next week of my attemps to recreate something similar to the pieces they demonstrated.

In the photo I am standing with Sandi and her piece that went home with me.  It now resides in my curio cabinet next to the McKenzie Smith fish plate I got at last years workshop.

Vases & Pitchers

Here are a few of the fun items I have done this week.  Everything else has been mostly bowls of different sizes.  Today was cereal bowls.  After the new year I decided to consolidate some of my bowl sizes.  Last year I had 6 sizes, this year only 4.  Hopefully this will work out better.

It has been so nice out this week.  The temps have been mid sixtys to low seventys.  It's so nice to sit looking out into the beautiful sunshine while I work.

This weekend is the workshop with Neil Patterson and Sandi Pierantozzi.  I am so looking forward to this workshop and hope to have all sorts of new ideas in the coming weeks.

Triangle Jar

It was warmer out today, so I was determined to try some handbuilding.  This is my first attemp at a lidded jar. When looked at from the top it twists, so I even placed the lide at a twist as well. The feet are stacked triangles.  I will see how it fires and if there are no problems with cracking or separating I will try some more pieces.  Perhaps a teapot or vase.  After the workshop next weekend, I hope to come back with lots of great techniques to try.

This week I will mostly be working on inventory pieces so that I can get caught up for my shows in May.  Then I can concentrate on show pieces.  I would like to apply for my own show at Mint Hill Arts, but I need to make sure I can make enough show pieces in time for a July Exhibition.

Today I unloaded the kiln and photographed some more of my favorite pots.  My best photos have been downloaded on my facebook page.

Floral Cut-outs

Yesterday I threw the most pieces I've every thrown at one time.  A few weeks ago I purchased some more bats and I was determined to use them all yesterday.   I think that I may have gotten a light case of frostbite on my feet.  My feet got so cold they went numb.  It took hours for them to go back to normal.  Even after a hot shower. Today I learned my lesson and wore my husbands wool socks over my socks.

I made this large platter and for a change decided to do some cut-outs.  They make me think of flowers.  Must be thinking that it is time for Spring. 

Today I glazed the Dragonfly line and loaded the kiln.  It's supposed to be warmer next week, so I am looking forward to being able to open the garage doors to see the sunshine.

Tall Pitcher & Teapot

Yesterday I set out to make a bunch of creative pieces, but alas I wasn't really in the mood.  So, I only made these two items and two Chip & Dip Bowls.  Lame really.  Today I put them all together.  After that I did my slip trail beading on all my pieces ready for the bisque load I will start tonight. 

Then I unloaded the glaze load that I started day before yesterday. I was happy with this batch, since there were no defects that I could see.  On Friday I will glaze the Dragonfly series.  Some of the pieces are for the order I am working on but I am completely out of anything in this line right now.  So, I will also be refilling my inventory for upcoming shows.

1st Glaze Load of 2011

Yesterday was near 50 degrees and warm enought to glaze.  Today I unloaded the kiln and reloaded with pieces I glazed today.  Here are a few of my favorite pieces.  The Twilight glaze never photographs well so believe me when I say that in person these look so much better.  Most of the load is part of an order for a gallery on the coast that is due by March.  Others (like the vase) are special orders for individual customers that have called me in the last month looking for pieces.  Some have had to wait almost a month for me to do a glaze load.  I would glaze again tomorrow but I need more pieces bisqued before the next batch can be done.  So tomorrow I will be throwing again.  Hopefully I'm in the mood to be creative and will make some fun items like teapots.  I also need to wedge up some reconditioned clay thats been drying out in bags. That clay is used for my brie bakers since they are easy to make and the clay can be fairly wet when throwing.  There are no more brie bakers left on my bisque shelf, so I need to make some more soon. 

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.