April 29, 2009

It's getting hot in the studio

I just fired up the glaze kiln...three shelves worth of tiny bowls, mugs, planters and garden stakes. This time I've added more herbs to the mix - cilantro, sage, chives, thyme and maybe something else that slips my mind at the moment. The S&P shakers on the right feature my "Sand and Sea" glazing. Funny how the raw glaze doesn't at all reflect the final product, isn't it? Oh and can you see there's a Desktop tray there too? It's the Desktop Business Bunny, first cousin of the Desktop Business Frog. Should be just as eccentric.

High glaze firing takes the kiln up to just over 2300° for cone 6 stoneware. That usually takes about 14 hours or so and then the cool down takes another who knows what. I just know I have to tie my hands down to my sides and not go anywhere near the kiln for 30 hours after I started it. The slightest gush of cooler air into the kiln--even at a cool 250°--can cause the pieces thermal shock and invite cracking and shattering. I won't admit to how many kiln loads I've trashed because I opened up too early.

"Never fall in love with any of your work until it comes out of the kiln for the second time," was what I was told during one of my early formative potter moments. Yeah, but easier said....


April 22, 2009

Happy Customer

Recently the amazing BeneathTheRowanTree.etsy.com bought my last four Sand and Sea Tiny Tea Bag Bowls. Not only did she leave me stellar feedback (*blushes*), she also featured my bowls on her own blog!

Beneath the Rowan Tree: None of Your Beeswax! No, wait...

Lori of BeneathTheRowanTree specializes in handcrafted toys and such made from only natural materials Check her out...she's an inspiration!

A million (!) more tiny bowls are in the works, stay tuned...

April 21, 2009

Career Day


"What are you?" was the question most asked as I sat throwing at the pottery wheel at Lincoln Avenue Elementary School's annual Career Day last week.

"I'm an artist; a potter," I said with a gleaming sparkle hopping off one of my front teeth.

The wheel itself that they brought for me to work on was severely under par. I had to compensate by using more strength and I have the sore muscles to prove it, but otherwise the day was a joy! The kids showered me with "ooooohs and "aaaahs" and that did wonders for my ego!

Interesting- the younger ones were so verbal, asking me a million questions. The fourth and fifth graders were already more self aware and very cautious about what they asked lest they might sound silly. They wouldn't have, of course...no question is a silly one. Still, they were as glued to me as the little ones were; some even resisted the magnetic pull to join in the Freeze Dance that the DJ was conducting. ..gosh!

April 16, 2009

Love Letters

I successfully ambushed my husband today and got him to add a dynamic link here for the love letters that I send in for my daughters each day. They love them and I love writing them. Plus, it gives me an outlet for my creative twitch. Click to view the current album (I will be adding more on a regular basis...I've been collecting these notes for YEARS already!).