Deco'd Jar

Slipping

Sarah took a bunch of photos of me working in the shop slipping pots yesterday. Today I'll have her taking a few more of the decorating process.
Below is one of the wavy rim plates I made last week. I like them because they aren't TOO wavy but aren't just straight either.

Jeff Oestreich Pots

My pal Tom Gray sent me these two cups from his collection last week. They were made by Jeff Oestreich, who lives in Minnesota. Jeff was trained at the Leach Pottery. I'm guessing these were made sometime in the 80's. Jeff is known these days for his soda fired work. I love these two pots and have used them numerous times while visiting Tom. The one on the left is porcelain with incising/combing under a celadon glaze, the one on the right has brushwork over a celadon.
These two pots make a great addition to our collection. Thanks Tom, we'll use them often.

Do I Need More Social Networking?

So a couple months ago I joined Facebook to see some photos of a potters work. I didn't plan on getting 'friended' all of a sudden and now I've friended people etc etc. I don't really get F.B. like I do blogging. But I'm on there.

Then yesterday I was listening to NPR and caught a bit about Twitter, which I joined up on this morning to see what that was all about. Not much. I mean how many times a day can I log into T and answer the question "What are you doing right now?" ?

I stay on this machine way too much as it is. I need an intervention. I don't know if I'll keep my F.B. account much longer and I just deleted my Twitter account. (Sorry if I Tweeted you today, you're now on your on).

Blogging is plenty for me.

Oh I Forgot

The main reason I mentioned that show below is because at one point Bittman and C.B. were served a roasted pig in this awesome shallow, oval, earthenware baking dish. It was totally cool. I hoped to find a pic of that but couldn't. So watch episode 9 if you get the chance.


Ha! Found it! I'm a good cyber detective. You can tell that pot has been in and out of the oven a few times. Beauty. (I bet that pork was tasty too)

Spain... on the road Again: Episode 09

I caught this show on the tube last night. I really want to travel soon. Italy looks pretty good right. Bittman and Claudia Bassols (oh la la) go to some cool places in this episode.

Thursday Stuff

I had an appointment with my acupuncturist today in Charlotte. I've been going for a couple months now and I've really seen some improvement in several areas, physically, emotionally and mentally. She is treating my depressed tendencies by changing my diet (no dairy, less acidic foods, etc) and with herbs. I've really felt more upbeat recently and I think it has a lot to do with this treatment. The acupuncture is part of this as well and also for some physical pain in my arms, neck, shoulders, and back. Today I had a cupping treatment. Visit that link to get an idea of what it is. I had 14 of those cups stuck to my back while sitting up. It was pretty cool and felt great. My back looks like it was attacked by a giant squid now though.

Well none of this has anything to do with that goat dish. I just put it up there so you'd have something nice to look at!

I've got pots waiting under plastic to be slipped and decorated. I need my photographer (Sarah) to be around as I'm submitting photos to a book that I hope to be included in. Hopefully we'll get some images shot on Saturday.

Today I bought some containers of underglaze so I can play around with some color. I'm planning on making some small dishes next week and just having a couple play days. Should be fun. I picked up a couple watercolor brushes today too, small sizes for fine lines.

All right that's it. Thanks to Gary for posting about me and Doug and Matt. Hi to all of Gary's army of followers out there!! I'll be returning the favor soon.

Warren McKenzie Drop Rim Bowl

This is one of my favorite pots Warren makes, the drop rim bowl. If anyone has one that they want to send me just let me know, I'll be happy to have it.

Hollyford Clay

Made this little cup from the Hollyford woodland clay that Doug sent me.

Back to Making

I finally got in the studio yesterday after lunch. I needed to make some cups for family gifts and a few odd pots to shoot photos of the process. Anyhow it felt great to be back on the wheel. It was a quiet, damp day with only the sound of my treadle clicking away. It was nice not to be working in a hurry, towards some show or deadline. I made a point to throw slowly and intentionally.

These plates have a wavey rim. I'm not sure if I like them yet. I'll get the feet cut on them tomorrow probably. Then I'll know more.Today a few more cups, but other than that just finishing up anything that's ready. More later probably.

Looking for Something a Bit Different????

This fellow(?) from London is not your ordinary potter. Here is an article on him winning the Turner Prize in 2003 and click here for some of his work.

Thanks to Hannah for telling me about him/her.

Craziness

Some of the pottery madness happening around our house....

Clutter and Piles

No potting today. I almost blew my stack when I opened up the cupboard today and the balsamic vinegar fell out and hit the floor. Thankfully only the cap shattered and shot not too much vinegar across the kitchen.

Things had been piling up around here for a week or more. I had to do some serious organizing and throwing out today. I can actually see the top of the kitchen table now, and I organized two cupboards and a drawer in the kitchen. I also cleaned out the refrigerator.

We have waaaaaaaaaay too many pots.

I may have a pottery clear out in the Spring. (If Sarah doesn't kill me before then for bringing more home)

Sorry no images or anything exciting. I feel a bit better though.

Goneaway Pottery Sale

My pal John from Charlotte is having a Sale this weekend. Go see him. He's a hoot, and he makes some good pots too.

Wish I Made It

Not long ago, Doug sent me this link to a page featuring Cyprus Sgraffito Pottery from the Guzelyurt Museum and the St. Barnabus Museum. I had never seen these pots before or known that the amber and green glazes were used on this ware in this manner. I've been doing something slightly similar, and honestly I'm not sure where I got the idea. Possibily from a contemporary potter who HAD seen these pots. What ever the case, these are some sweet pots. I love how the sgraffito fills up the interior of the bowl and I esp. like the energetic squiggles and loops on some of these. Enjoy.

Ink and Brush

I tried a few pages of drawing with a # 1 water color brush yesterday using India ink. I like the lines the brush makes. I certainly have never felt very comfortable with a brush. Practice I guess. I may try a small one like a zero, I'll have to check them out when I go back to the art supply.

Just Some Drawings

Well you can see I haven't done much potting. None really. Mostly reading and drawing this weekend.

I have some mugs and jars to make this week so I'll get in the workshop tomorrow to do that. It will be a small load, mainly things for gifts.

All for now.

Star Wars according to a 3 year old.

This is just tooo cute.

Plates

I've added a few plates to my Etsy Shop.

This and That on a Damp Thursday.

More Art-O-Mat madness. Here are several of the board members from the Cleveland County Arts Council showing off the artwork bought out of our new Art-O-Mat. Look how happy they all are...art has that effect on people.



Today I went into Charlotte for several hours. I had lunch with my pals Jen, Amy and Julie. Julie doesn't have a web presence so I thought I'd put up a shot of her work. It's fun stuff. I got one of her mugs last week and have been totally enjoying it.
After lunch I headed to Cheap Joe's for some art supplies, pens and journals and then over to Clayworks to pick up some work of mine from our sale last weekend.

I have some nice pots left over, mugs and plates, so I'll try and get a few of them up om my Etsy shop in the morning. I have been pleasantly surprised that I sold 7 of the 12 mugs I posted Tuesday. Those all have been delivered or shipped.

I had a bit of a chat with Michael Kline today on the phone. He seems well, anxious to get back to making pots. I really need to get up to visit him and see his new studio and showroom.

Well that's it for today.