The Ceramic Knot

Gnome

November 08, 2021

I might get obsessed with making gnomes soon. They're just so cute.

A couple of weeks ago Michael Harbridge did a fabulous demo on making turkeys from his gourd molds. I have been dying to see how he made them and was really excited to finally see.

Here is the smaller one made with leaves for tail feathers (the cardboard was there for support).

Also made a big one with feathers.

And a fish for good measure.

All of these are made with raku clay. I'm hoping to do my first raku firing ina few weeks.

glaze

Overglaze Decals and Luster

November 01, 2021

I was asked by a friend of mine to make some whiskey glasses for her 9th anniversary. I've recently learned that the gift for 9th anniversary is pottery, who knew (and how did I miss this for my 9th anniversary?!). I ended up glazing them the night after we took Boris to the vet. I remember very little of that night, but I really needed to do something to not be a puddle on the floor. So I glazed. In retrospect, making something with clay would have been less risky. Almost everything came out ok, but the anniversay present did not. I ended up with bleeding hearts. Since I was on a time crunch I didn't have time to remake from scratch. I was just going to send the two that worked, but then I had an idea - luster!

I've never done a luster firing before, but I had a pile of pottery that wasn't popping. I picked some out and tried my hand at luster and decals. Overall pleased with the results and I learned not to over apply white gold.

Bleeding hearts	With mother of pearl and white gold luster
With mother of pearl and white gold luster	With mother of pearl and white gold luster
Mother of Pearl	Sanbao decal
White Gold	White Gold and Sanbao decal
Sanbao decal	Mother of pearl
White Gold	Sanbao decal
Sanbao decal	Mother of Pearl
Sanbao decal	Sanbao decal and Mother of Pearl on the rose stamp

dogs

New Puppy!

October 26, 2021

River has never been alone before. Boris wasn't a great playmate, but he was there for her. We went up to close down the cabin for winter this weekend and River suddenly is afraid to be in the back of the car by herself. Soo we got a puppy!

Meet Willow. She is 5 months old and a yellow lab mutt. So far the two are thick as thieves with just a bit of jealousy. Willow seems to already be potty trained. She has some work to do around listening.

glaze

Kiln Results 10/14

October 18, 2021

So I decided to glaze when we got home from the vet after taking Boris in. I needed to do something and not just sit in a puddlr. So I glazed. Considering I wasn't really in my best state of mind, I'm reasonably happy with the results

Georgie's Autumn Foliage and Zinc Free Clear	Mayco Stroke and Coat - Sunkissed, Jack o' Lantern, Java Bean, Tuxedo
Amaco Iron Luster x3 Seaweed x2 on the rim light coat of Mayco Flux	Had to show the back with the adorable feet
Mayco Eggplant x3, Peacock x3 then Galaxy across the middle x2	Amaco Textured Turquoise x3 Mayco Light Flux x2 on the rim
Mayco Wintergreen x3	Mayco Northern Woods x3
Amaco Glacier x3	Mayco Northern Woods x3
Kentucky Mudworks Seaside x3 Pattern is Jessica Putnam Phillips' New rolling pin!	Speedball Black Underglaze Mayco Green Opal x3 Aurora x2
Mayco Lavender Mist x3 Muddy Waters x2	Speedball Black Underglaze Amaco Lavender x3 Mayco light flux x2
Sanbao Transfer, Inside Mayco Candy Apple Red x3, Outside Amaco Iron Celedon x3, Dragon Foot Amaco Dark Green	Sanbao Transfer, Inside Mayco Candy Apple Red x3, Outside Amaco Iron Celedon x3, Dragon Foot Amaco Dark Green
Speedball Underglaze Pretty sure its Teal (but I didn't write it down) Amaco Weeping Plum x3 Mayco Light flux on the rim	Mayco Frosted Lemon x3 Night Moth x2
Speedball Teal Underglaze Jessica Putnam Phillips 2167 Clear	Speedball Underglazes Jessica Putnam Phillips 2167 Clear
Mayco Sour Apple, Rosey Posey Jessica Putnam Phillips 2167 Clear	Mayco Sour Apple, Meloncoly Jessica Putnam Phillips 2167 Clear
50/50 Mix Gersley Borate Iron Oxide, Clayscapes Oribe	50/50 Mix Gersley Borate Iron Oxide, Clayscapes Oribe
50/50 Mix Gersley Borate Iron Oxide, Clayscapes Oribe