I mentioned earlier in the week the class that I have been taking. There's been a lot of focus on texture in that class. In the class we were shown how the texture can just be joined together. I'm finding that in my work I either don't want a seam at all (like in the lavender earlier this week) or I want to accentuate the seam like I've done here. I'm learning a lot, but also finding my style. January was a really busy month for work so I'm really behind on the class, but finding time to catch up and experiment now.

I had saved the last of the lavender from my garden last year. Threw it in a baggy in the freezer. It only took 10 minutes or so for it to thaw out enough to use. Lavender is pretty hearty when it comes to pressing it into clay. I made some of my normal mug size for this. The fun thing about the lavender is that even though I'm using the same 12 or so pieces - I never put them down exactly the same so each piece is unique.




I've been taking a virtual cups class in January and got this cute little shot glass template from it. It's the reverse of most shot glasses since it has a larger base, but I think it's going to be really sweet. With the lavender on it I think it could also be a really sweet tiny bud vase.






Also from the cups class comes this new truncated cone mug shape. I only made a couple because I'm worried its a little tippy. Going to see how the finished product comes out and decide whether I modify it any. I have an idea for a wine/drink cup that has this shape on the top and then a cone bottom. I'm experimenting now to get the right shape.

When I was dropping items off last fall at the Carrol County Gallery of Gifts I picked up a handful of ginko leaves. Literally picked them up off the ground. We don't have any ginko near me that I'm aware of, but the street there was lined with them. I put them in a baggy in the fridge when I got home intending to use them "soon."






Well, time got away from me. This weekend when I pulled the leaves out they had dried out. Still usable, but now one time use vs being able to use them again. The leaves provided a nice texture, but were not easy to get off the platter. I ended up using tweezers and still didn't get all the pieces off. They will burn off in the bisque kiln.






I'm still thinking on how to glaze this. I think I want the leaves to be the golden color from when they fall, but I don't think I have a glaze that's that color golden that will keep the fine line detail from the leaf texture. Maybe I'll go opposite and leave the leaves and do the gold around. Any suggestions?

No one tells you how difficult it is to clean a hollow die. When it comes out you can barely even see the metal.

The extruder is fun. The teeth on this one make it so that I'm never exerting too much force. I saw videos of people who are like standing on the wall and still struggling. This isn't no effort, but it is somewhat light effort to get things through.

I made all of these into vases by cutting a bottom and adding it on. I'll get fancier as I experiment more.

This reminds me of the symbol from the TV show Charmed, but I think it will make a really cool bud vase.


This die is like a giant noodle. I think it's going to look awesome with a glaze that breaks.




This one came out with some personality




There's something about a hexagon. I think this shape might make a really nice size mug.

I bought myself an extruder for the holidays. Just got it mounted. Craig decided it needed to be mounted to a board then to the wall so that it was attached to two studs. It might be overkill or it might be saving the walls. I went with one from Steel Potter at The Ceramic Shop. It's not well known, but I was obsessed with their dies.