clay

Doing Some Carving

March 18, 2024

It's been forever since I carved. Did a few this weekend and hit them at the exact right texture.

This first one is an is an idea I had for a giant sunflower. Doing Some Carving


Some smaller sunflowers

Doing Some Carving


Amazing job right? Ok I didn't carve this, this is lace. I'm having a lace moment

Doing Some Carving




clay

Calla Lily Candle Holders

March 14, 2024

I neglected to post these earlier in the week. I've been spending a lot of time tediously migrating photos off of Google so it feels like I'm spending a lot of time blogging, but in fact I'm not. I have to edit each post by hand. It's not that hard to do the posts with only 1-2 pictures, but all the posts with the kiln results take about 20 minutes each. I'm only in November of 2023, but I will keep trucking along. In the mean time I made a batch of calla lily candle holders this week. These are one of my favorite things to make and something which I get a ton of people who come into my booth at shows to look at them. I love calla lilies and saw something that inspired me to go make these. While I made a template for these, each one is intentionally unique as I shape it into its own flower. Calla Lily Candle Holders




Calla Lily Candle Holders




Calla Lily Candle Holders




glaze

Kiln Results 3/7

March 11, 2024

The ginko came out so amazing! The glaze has depth, but somehow still didn't lose the texture. I'm so happy with it. The lavender isn't new, but the shot glasses are. Somehow the lavender always makes me feel somewhat peaceful.


Kiln Results 3/7
KY Mudworks Sunflower x2 (Heavy Coats)
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Close Up KY Mudworks Sunflower x2 (Heavy Coats)
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Colors for Earth Bright Violet and Laurel Green
Mayco Lavender Mist x3
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Colors for Earth Bright Violet and Laurel Green
Mayco Lavender Mist x3
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Colors for Earth Bright Violet and Laurel Green
Mayco Lavender Mist x3
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Colors for Earth Bright Violet and Laurel Green
Mayco Lavender Mist x3
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Colors for Earth Bright Violet and Laurel Green
Mayco Lavender Mist x3
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Colors for Earth Bright Violet and Laurel Green
Mayco Lavender Mist x3
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Colors for Earth Bright Violet and Laurel Green
Mayco Lavender Mist x3
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Colors for Earth Bright Violet and Laurel Green
Mayco Lavender Mist x3
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Colors for Earth Bright Violet and Laurel Green
Mayco Lavender Mist x3
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Colors for Earth Lemon Peal and Laurel Green
Mayco Lavender Mist x3
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Laguna 60 Coyote Oatmeal x2
Kiln Results 3/7
Laguna 60 Mayco Black UG wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Laguna 60 Mayco Black UG wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Laguna 60 Mayco Black UG wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Laguna 60 Mayco Black UG wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Laguna 60 Mayco Black UG wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/7
Laguna 60 Mayco Black UG wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear

glaze

Kiln Sneak Peak 3/7

March 07, 2024

A more varied kiln this time. Still some leftover crabs, but also a lot of lavender. There is a ginko platter that I"m excited about too.

Kiln Sneak Peak 3/7




clay

Calla Lily Not a Menorah

March 05, 2024

I had this idea in my head for a menoray made of calla lillies. I rolled out all the clay, including cutting out the base. Then I went to attatch things and realized - the base was way too small. So now I have a candle holder for skinny candles that is NOT a menorah. I'm going with it because I think it's still really cool looking, but I will need to make this again with a longer base as an actual menorah. Menorah




glaze

Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!

March 04, 2024

I can't believe that it's March already. I've made a lot, but this is the first kiln to make it all the way through. It is all crabs! Nothing but crabs. There will be more exciting stuff soon. I did have one crab test in here with blue crabs, but I'm not loving it. The red just pops the way the blue on blue doesn't.

One other small test in here with diagonal crabs in the trinket dishes. It made it so much easier to glaze, will be doing this again.


Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!
Laguna 60 Mayco Black ug wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!
Laguna 60 Mayco Black ug wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!
Laguna 60 Mayco Black ug wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!
Laguna 60 Mayco Black ug wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!
Laguna 60 Mayco Black ug wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!
Laguna 60 Mayco Black ug wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!
Laguna 60 Mayco Black ug wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!
Laguna 60 Mayco Black ug wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!
Laguna 60 Mayco Black ug wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!
Laguna 60 Mayco Black ug wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!
Laguna 60 Mayco Black ug wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!
Laguna 60 Mayco Black ug wiped back
Mayco Hot Tamale x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear
Kiln Results 3/2 First Kiln of 2024!
Laguna 60 Mayco Black ug wiped back
Mayco Moody Blues x2
Mayco Norse Blue x3 Light Flux Sweeps
2167 Clear

glaze

Glaze Sneak Peak 3/2

March 02, 2024

This kiln is all crabs. Nothing super exciting, but glad to have some inventory. I do have a couple of blue crab tests in here. We'll see if that becomes a thing or not.
Glaze Sneak Peak 3/2




pottery

Glazing, Glazing, Glazing

February 27, 2024

I'm finally getting around to glazing everything I've made in 2024. It's at least 3 kiln loads, but I'm guessing a few things won't fit in that. I started with all things crab. I was watching ClayShareCon on Saturday while doing this and it took me all day. I did all the crab arms and legs first, but in batches. In my day job I spend a lot of time getting teams to break things into smaller batches and to stop starting and start finishing. I'm always looking for ways to apply that to the rest of my life. Since the arms and legs take so long to do I broke it up doin a half a table at a time. Same for when I was glazing. I feel like it made the whole thing go faster.

Speaking of ClayShareCon, it was amazing. It's hard to pick favorites, but here are a few:
Colorful Clay Plants - Michael Harbridge (this one is only available to prime members)
Hydrangea and Bluebirds - Paula McCoy (also prime only)
Monoprints and Clay Bisque - Kathy Skaggs
Decals Can When Brushes Can't - Melanie Kaffl
Making a One-Piece Travel Mug with a Handbuilding Jig - Alex Mente
Scoops, Spoons and Square Stacking Bowls - Debbie DelaCruz
Pattern Placement for Shaping - Annie Crietzberg
Honorable mention - the reveal of the new 2024 Mayco Glazes. I can't wait for them to be available in March. I think that Purple Aster is going to be a new favorite of mine. I already love Lavender Mist, adding blue crystals can only make it better. I'm also intrigued by the engobes. Not sure how they'll play into my work, but we'll see. Another to the Raku Firing of leaves with Michael Harbridge.

I feel like I bought less than I have in years past now that I have a a lot of things already, but still will have a few new toys in the near future. The discounts last week were amazing.

Glazing, Glazing, Glazing




Glazing, Glazing, Glazing




Glazing, Glazing, Glazing




Glazing, Glazing, Glazing




Glazing, Glazing, Glazing


Doing a test with some blue crabs for Maryland. We'll see how those turn out soon!

pottery

Reorganizing Forms

February 26, 2024

Last week I saw a studio tour during ClayshareCon (more on that tomorrow) and I saw the puzzling forms being stored wrapped in their velcro vs piled. I decided to give it a go and it actually freed up a lot of space (good thing since I ordered more). While I was there I reorganized my gr forms as well based on what I use most frequently vs trying to keep shapes together. I'll keep you posted how this works out.
Reorganizing Forms




clay

Ring Holders

February 15, 2024

I get asked all the time if my gnomes are ring holders. I thought I would try to make a few with that purpose. They are mostly the same as my normal gnomes except the hats are much straighter. I don't know why I added the bird other than I thought it looked really cute. I made one as just a ring holder without a gnome body. I like the simplicity of that one too.

Ring Holders




clay

Wine Gnomes

February 13, 2024

A lot of people don't realize the time it takes to finish pieces. Generally I need 3 days in a row where I can work on pieces before I just leave them to dry. For mugs, cups, bowls, etc. that is.2 days in a row and then a third day a few days later when the rim is solid. I've been traveling a lot for work so it's made working on things difficult. Last week I put all my mugs, shot glasses, and the two wine goblets into my dry box to keep them soft enough that I could finish the rims.


This week I ended up getting home on Friday, but I was so tired that I did not make any pottery. I flew right back out early Monday morning so I didn't really have the time at home to make a lot of things. I really felt like making something though so I made some wine gnomes. These will eventually get glued onto corks.

All gnomes start as a couple of different pieces. I like to get the bodies, hats and noses made in batches as you see here. Then as I pick up each body, I decide which hat and which nose fits that body. Then each one gets a custom face. Wine Gnomes




Wine Gnomes




Wine Gnomes




Wine Gnomes




Wine Gnomes




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