tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23074902012-01-17T07:23:22.922-06:00AgruArts CeramicsA day in the life of a ceramics artist who also happens to be a wife, mother and multiple pet owner. Check out the shop at agru.etsy.comaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.comBlogger681100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-6696835344707633682012-01-12T07:59:00.000-06:002012-01-12T07:59:41.063-06:00Happy New Year!
I'm back in the studio and one of the things I'm working on is another Passover set with an Elijah and a Miriam cup. I wanted to use something different on the Miriam cup this time and came across these lampwork beads from an Etsy Israeli Artist named Meital Plotnik:
Distant Seas
Their color is absolutely luscious, bringing in the azure blue of the sea and the wonderfully aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-77611542940291284852011-12-02T09:16:00.000-06:002011-12-02T09:16:01.577-06:00I know it's not even Chanukah yet -- but I believe in starting early, so I've been working on Passover these past few weeks.
Mostly, I've been intrigued by the new tradition of including a Miriam's Cup in the Seder ritual. The following is taken from a website dedicated to this new addition: "New rituals include the addition of "Miriam's cup," filled aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-32478637243832580422011-11-13T16:17:00.000-06:002011-11-13T16:17:56.089-06:00The standing lamp for our "new" living room is finished. We took all the pieces and, this afternoon, put them together. I made sure to document the process (beginning with an earlier post chronicling the part where I made the different pottery components). So, here it goes.
First, our list of supplies:
A standing lamp (which we disassembled by removing the electric cord)
Pottery pieces (enough aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-40666120869812567582011-10-30T10:25:00.000-05:002011-10-30T10:25:47.663-05:00My husband Avi and I are big coffee snobs. Morning coffee during the week involves the use of a Chemex coffee maker, a special filter, recently roasted beans which we grind ourselves, and water heated to exactly 195 degrees on an induction cooktop. All in all, the process takes about 20 minutes and yields an incredibly complex and smooth cup o' Joe.
The other day, our favorite high end coffee aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-77198132229083785232011-10-18T19:36:00.000-05:002011-10-18T19:36:56.203-05:00Time for an update on the standing lamp.
All the pieces have been through both the bisque firing, been glazed with "Hi Fire Clear" and fired up to cone 5. I brought them home, all excited about putting the lamp together this evening. Here are the pieces lined up on our coffee table:
Then we hit our first glitch. I knew we would be able to unscrew the lamp pole from the base; but I completely aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-87316469577992804982011-09-29T19:18:00.000-05:002011-09-29T19:18:14.442-05:00You've seen the home side of the new living room project. Now I'll show you what's happening in the studio.
As I said in the previous post, I'm working on making a standing lamp from ceramics. The idea is to throw the lamp in sections. My forms are made so the bottom opening will sit just over the rim of the top opening, locking the pieces in place. They're thrown to fit around a two inch pvc (aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-8609144167456519542011-09-26T17:56:00.000-05:002011-09-26T17:56:13.743-05:00The "Cascade Effect" has hit my house. We decided to redo the formal living room, which has now spread to the family room AND the kitchen. Upholstered furniture has been purchased, but I HAVE to leave my mark on things. So, I have several projects in the mix -- one of them even involving clay!
The non-pottery designs are a coffee table and end tables featuring wonderful Chinese silk embroidery aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-80417146026944730772011-07-01T10:10:00.000-05:002011-07-01T10:10:37.285-05:00Last night I did a workshop in our studio on layered underglaze/colored slip surface decoration. It's a technique I learned when I attended The Surface Decoration workshop through the Potter's Guild in Temple, TX a couple of months ago.
I've been playing with the technique all week and have become incredibly inspired by the process. I'll walk you through the workshop so you might become inspiredaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-60759590941002204702011-05-31T09:22:00.000-05:002011-05-31T09:22:40.147-05:00This is a bit more of the pieces I saw at the Ceramics Museum in Havana. This next group begins to give a feel for the lack of "things" in Cuba. Many ceramic artists have little or no access to the basic chemicals (not the lack of glazes on these pieces). As a result, many of them use oxides and firing methods to color their work.
A future post will deal with an artist I met at her studio in aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-62199081142395308452011-05-08T17:51:00.000-05:002011-05-08T17:51:53.892-05:00And yet some more wonderful pieces from the Ceramics Museum in Havana.
A wonderful altered and cut piece.
As a birder, I love this clever piece with two owls sitting atop it.
A closer look at the two owls. Texture is sometimes a key element in design.
The next two photos are "sets". I always find it interesting how an artist can create different pieces that have the same voice.
aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-33458466967234482742011-05-04T18:47:00.000-05:002011-05-04T18:47:04.374-05:00Let's see some more from the Ceramics Museum in Havana, shall we?
Over the years I've come to appreciate how surface treatment/decoration can elevate even the simplest piece.
Don't you love how the decoration works to elongate the above bottle shape?
And how about the modernization of a dragon theme?
This "book" was wonderful. I marveled at how thin the artist was able to get the "pages".aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-87149076601726092092011-03-17T21:51:00.002-05:002011-03-17T21:53:58.616-05:00Just got back from a ten day trip to Cuba. It was a trip concentrated on birding -- but I was fortunate enough to visit an artist who lives in Camaguey, as well as the Ceramics Museum in Havana. So, over the next few weeks I'll be slowly posting photos of some of the work I saw.
Let's start with wall hangings and murals. This first one is a tiled fish at the Ceramics Museum in Old Havana (Habanaaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-90909063443883522252010-11-07T09:24:00.003-06:002010-11-07T09:29:39.199-06:00My recent labor of love, the Representational Seder Set is done and it is, if I may say so with the greatest of humility, wonderful! I know this is true because my husband, Avi, says so!
Here are the pieces and a bit of the thought behind them. The photo precedes the explanations for the pieces.:
Charoset - Charoset symbolizes the mortar with which the Israelites bonded bricks when they aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-17633105048236111182010-10-29T09:39:00.002-05:002010-10-29T09:41:38.528-05:00Avi and I are on a road trip through the Southwest (we’ve named it our Southwest Boogie and you can check it out at my other blog: Deep in the Heart… While we were waiting for our tour to begin, we came upon an incredible piece of pottery by an Acoma Pueblo indian named Marilyn Ray. It was several sculpted pieces creating a tableau – an Acoma grandfather storyteller and all the children who have aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-47937163828457652332010-10-22T08:43:00.002-05:002010-10-22T08:46:38.044-05:00I've just finished three teapots. Count them, THREE! Why three? I received a commission for a teapot to match a pair of Saba and Savta (grandpa and grandma) mugs. We agreed on a 3-4 cup capacity. While throwing I ended up with the Three Bears.
The first teapot was way too big. But the owner of my studio loved the size and asked if I could finish it for her as a gift. So I threw a lid and a spoutaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-74819480122119730962010-09-30T09:59:00.001-05:002010-09-30T10:00:42.412-05:00As we approach the end of this year's High Holiday cycle with the celebration of Shemini Atzeret and Simchas Torah, I've turned my creative eye to Passover. I've recently sold the Seder Set in my shop, leaving an open spot for a new design.
I've always liked the deconstructed Seder Sets and have decided to turn in that direction and create a Representational Seder Set, with pieces designed to aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-48556418276080885782010-08-13T16:29:00.001-05:002010-08-14T08:48:01.162-05:00Well, true to my predictions, I've become underglaze crazy. In fact, I'm trying to switch from my Mason Stains in slip to Amaco Velvet Underglazes for most of my work calling for that type of application. But this switch has not been without its issues.
For one thing, I still get some fading with many of the colors. I've now printed out a color variations chart for them, indicating what they aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-79156717477134933592010-03-18T08:48:00.000-05:002010-03-18T08:48:19.596-05:00The baby plate in my previous tutorial is finished.
It was bisque fired to cone 06. Then I brushed on a thin coat of clear glaze. I brushed on the glaze rather than dipping the plate in it because there are very few true clear glazes. Most of them have some sort of color where they are a bit thicker. By brushing it on I have better control over how thickly I want the glaze applied over my aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-78670093965891892602010-02-21T13:34:00.002-06:002010-02-21T14:11:18.919-06:00I've been promising a demo and I needed to remake the baby gift that blew up in the kiln, so I took the opportunity to combine the two. So, these are the deep dark secrets of my upcoming custom baby plate series using the wonderful art of my good friend David Kaminsky.
I begin with a plate that has dried to almost leather, meaning it's no longer tacky to the touch, but still has a decent amount aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-23172679090409353012010-02-15T09:41:00.000-06:002010-02-15T09:41:10.746-06:00I guess two out of three isn't bad.
I made three plates. One was a 12" (ok, so it only came to 11" after bisque) commission. Thank goodness, that seems to have made it through the bisque firing. Another was a prototype of a customized baby name plate I'd like to begin offering in my etsy shop. I even got some underglazes specifically for the purpose. The last one was another Hebrew baby name aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-6370203563892388362010-02-07T07:29:00.005-06:002010-02-07T07:37:20.319-06:00It's been a slow week in my etsy shop, but a busy one in the studio. I threw several mugs of different ilks: Hebrew, birding, and a La Taza mug for a local coffee shop that sells them. I threw a tile to fire a large commission plate on (so it doesn't drag on the kiln shelf as it shrinks in firing). And I finished underglazing two baby name plates using my friend David's drawings.One of the name aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-83558779004328625962010-01-27T08:00:00.004-06:002010-01-27T08:21:57.777-06:00I thought I'd take a few minutes to explain why I decided to go with colored underglazes rather than majolica glazes.The first reason is movement. In my experience, underglazes and colored slips (both contain clay) tend to adhere better to surfaces. I've had no experiences with it running under a final coat of clear glaze. This gives me sharper lines in my carving.Secondly, I want strong, intenseaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-31544177811568421232010-01-26T07:59:00.005-06:002010-01-26T08:13:35.393-06:00I'm moving into a new world and that world contains Amaco Velvet Underglazes."Why?" you may ask.I recently completed a weddding kiddush cup commission. The customer wanted it in Northwestern University purple, which is a rather intense color -- one I knew I couldn't achieve using Mason stains in slip. So, I broke down, asked around, and came up with Amaco's Amethyst underglaze. The kiddush cup aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-16013869024068494272009-11-10T06:56:00.003-06:002009-11-10T07:05:46.665-06:00As I slowly recover from the loss of my mother, I've been working a bit more in the studio and had an interesting thing happen.An East Indian man walked in one day looking for "pots". When I directed him to the small gallery in the front of the studio, he explained he wasn't looking for "those kinds of pots," but the type of cooking pot that would double as a musical instrument.The owner of the aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-6448483002604306912009-10-02T08:51:00.002-05:002009-10-02T08:57:55.251-05:00Sadly, I lost my mother to lung cancer on Sept. 11. It was an intense summer and I'm now trying to slowly reboot my life.One of the best things has been my return to work in the studio. I quickly got a commission from a previous customer when I reopened my etsy shop. She wanted a platter to match the tree of life Kiddush Cup (goblet) she bought from me a while back. It was the perfect challenge aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-80924408489202260652009-06-19T10:55:00.003-05:002009-06-19T11:01:39.446-05:00It's been a while since I've been able to post. Actually, it's been a while since I've been able to do anything that requires dedicating time to myself.One of the biggest reasons for this has been my mother, who probably has lung cancer, but whose struggles with the mazes of health insurance has delayed adequate testing for a definitive diagnosis.But this is a pottery blog -- not a political/aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-52964873238528276022009-05-24T12:43:00.004-05:002009-05-24T12:49:19.857-05:00A while back we had a stamp exchange and I received several wonderful stamps from fellow potters. I decided to use them in a quilt-patterned project and decided to make a funky vase. You can see the prototype below.I'd like to try making a couple more, modifying some of the techniques I used in this prototype. For one, I'd use the glazing techniques in the original. In the other, I'd like to try aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-48802522886609547942009-04-10T12:00:00.002-05:002009-04-10T12:06:04.308-05:00I've now created several mugs in my "Birding" series. Whether they sell or not, they're a lot of fun to research and create. Part of the enjoyment is finding bird families that can be easily identified by their profile, rather than detailed markings.As a birder, I've often preferred migratory songbirds to shorebirds, since shorebirds all seem to have similar colorings and markings, making it seemaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-68853990079594906262009-03-15T10:56:00.004-05:002009-03-15T11:04:46.977-05:00A few of the bowls I've made so far for the Empty Bowls fundraiser in San Antonio, TX -- to be held the first weekend of May.aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-20527508588887579132009-03-01T11:31:00.010-06:002009-03-01T13:12:11.250-06:00I've been pondering the mantra of "etsy success" for quite a while now, combining it with what I see regarding all the rest of the advice out there -- good photos, marketing yourself, participating in forums, chats, blogs, twitter, etc., etc., etc., until you don't have a second left in the day to create your product.I think people have it all backwards. You don't list a bunch of stuff and then aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-66181956529468022202009-02-24T17:37:00.003-06:002009-02-24T17:46:53.760-06:00The first weekend in May is San Antonio's Empty Bowls sale. As potters know, that isn't too far away when we're talking about our craft.For those of you who aren't aware of what Empty Bowls is, the following is an explanation and history lifted from the San Antonio Potters' Guild website:Empty Bowls is an international effort to raise funds for charities that support the hungry and homeless. It aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-8660641567602993732009-02-20T20:46:00.006-06:002009-02-20T21:28:38.137-06:00Remember I was talking about blue slip? Well, the pieces finally came out of the kiln and looked great.Sadly, another piece (a wedding gift) also came out of the kiln looking lousy.Can you tell which is which??? I'm SURE you CAN!aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-80604015115586569062009-02-08T19:58:00.002-06:002009-02-08T20:05:24.386-06:00If you've been following my blog you know I've gone a bit ga ga over slip.On Thursday I took out my unused jar of Sky Blue Mason Stain and mixed it with the bottom of two days' worth of throwing sludge (otherwise known as "slip"). Some of the result now sits on mugs that have been sgraffitoed or had dragon's eye sprigs scattered over the painted slip band.They now sit on the bisque firing shelf aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-76218066144042244852009-02-01T09:27:00.007-06:002009-02-01T09:35:20.695-06:00SgraffitoNo, it's not something you spray on the sides of buildings or subway cars. It's a pottery technique. Basically, I took greenware (dried, but not fired clay), crushed it into a powder, added water and black mason stain (though you can add many different colors), and blended well.Then I used this as a coating on the outside of leather hard pieces, after which I carved through to reveal theaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-92196611276590371302009-01-18T09:21:00.002-06:002009-01-18T09:26:29.883-06:00It's been a great week in the studio with sgraffito (carving through colored liquid clay to reveal the lighter clay beneath) galore.In addition to aba (father), ima (mother), saba (grandpa) and savta (grandma) mugs, I took some of David's animal sketches, along with a stencil, and made three whimsical mugs. There was one I love so much it might well wind up in my cabinet for coffee, rather than aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-87438258949164590012009-01-09T10:47:00.003-06:002009-01-18T09:27:12.564-06:00It's nice to have a friend who makes wonderful doodles. Especially when he leaves them at your house, they inspire you, and then you get permission from him to use one of them as a centerpiece on your new deconstructed Seder set for Passover.Thanks David!aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-20308713541940403062008-12-21T13:43:00.002-06:002008-12-21T13:47:38.341-06:00Between a busy selling season and a cruise, I feel I've neglected those of you who read this blog. So, as my holiday gift to you, I'll offer an easy, delicious treat recipe that goes well with gifts of pottery:Peanut Clusters1 package white chocolate chips1 package peanut butter chipssalted peanutsMelt the two packages of chips in your microwave until softened, occasionally stopping the microwaveaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-18845194504405227082008-11-27T08:49:00.003-06:002008-11-27T08:52:00.518-06:00Just wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-89519138360394909362008-11-22T18:18:00.005-06:002008-11-22T18:31:48.553-06:00Today I'm going to feature another ceramic artist. Why? you ask. . . Because I can, also because I understand what's involved in creating works of this quality.The shop is creativewithclay.etsy.com and the artist is Charan Sachar.His forms are incredibly sexy. The mug I purchase from him (similar to the one in the photo at left) feels so good in the hand.In addition to the tactile, he also amazesaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-84528181056080083222008-11-12T09:32:00.002-06:002008-11-12T09:34:04.930-06:00I'm thinking of departing from Judaica for a bit (after my Hebrew name mugs are done), and making a few finger labyrinths. At the moment, this seems like a fairly straightforward challenge. It will be interesting to see what bumps the task really presents.aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-89419530471908753302008-11-07T10:03:00.004-06:002008-11-07T10:08:28.234-06:00Aaargh! The bowl was beautifully shaped and the wheel process went without a hitch. The trimming was done at that perfect point of leather -- when the clay comes off in beautiful ribbons. Then the feet were sooo pretty.But the glazing!! I couldn't get the outside glaze (Electric Blue) to adhere properly. I knew I was being lazy when I put it on the glaze firing shelf. I should have taken the aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-11259585890279225452008-10-17T16:58:00.002-05:002008-10-17T16:59:49.906-05:00A second Chanukiyahaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-33956258164500935382008-10-01T08:41:00.001-05:002008-10-01T08:44:21.587-05:00aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-16269979018554836582008-09-27T16:18:00.002-05:002008-09-27T16:23:29.071-05:00I've begun thinking more and more about form and function lately. I've managed to decide exactly why I dislike certain mugs (handles feel yukky in my hand, cup seems unbalanced, colors unpleasing to my eye....). But, try as I might, I can't decide exactly what factors attract me. At least, I can't decide on the common factors that would allow me to create mugs that make others die to touch and, aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-16739433673062504722008-09-23T19:37:00.002-05:002008-09-23T19:42:31.814-05:00'Tis the season -- and I don't mean xmas. Chanukah is fast approaching -- well, December. I've just finished a series of family mugs for Aba (father), Ima (mother), Saba (grandfather), and Savta (grandfather). I'm considering making a few Morah (teacher) mugs to fulfill the need for day school and Hebrew school instructors.I've also been working on a new handbuilt design for Chanukiyot. One is aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-34824963005836110452008-07-29T09:13:00.003-05:002008-07-29T09:25:22.984-05:00I work in a teaching/working studio, with a combination of students and artists. As a result, I get to see a lot of other people's work on the shelves all over the studio. This made me interested in form and function vs. esthetics.After checking around, I purchased the book Functional Pottery: Form and Aesthetic in Pots of Purpose by Robin Hopper. I'm only partway through it, but what a great aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-73368598559350450292008-06-20T09:58:00.002-05:002008-06-20T10:12:51.032-05:00I just realized I never posted the outcome of the Pottery Party at my house.Above all, everyone, both artists and attendees had fun. The setup wasn't as grueling as an outdoors craft show. All we needed to set up were a few extra tables and some tablecloths. There were five of us displaying and each artist got their own table. There was an additional table available for seconds. No fees were aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-25549463834559205762008-06-05T08:48:00.003-05:002008-06-05T09:00:44.778-05:00On Throwing Eight Pounds of ClayI received a commission for a kitchen utensil holder. When I asked the buyer for the size, she specified 8 inches in diameter by 8 inches tall. That's a HUGE piece -- but I figured I could just throw it in a few minutes and gave her a quote that, in retrospect, was way too low for what I was about to face.At the studio I cut 8 lbs. off my clay and decided to wedge aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-91261179202208678642008-05-31T08:53:00.003-05:002008-05-31T08:59:32.357-05:00Not having done overly well in craft market situations, I decided to host a Pottery Party at my house. To make it more interesting, I've invited whom I consider to be the better working potters at my studio. Since each one has his or her own specialty, there should be a good variety from my attendees to choose from: Judaica, crosses, large bowls, glaze masters, etc.I asked everyone to invite as aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-46644178951242798992008-05-04T08:16:00.002-05:002008-12-12T22:16:21.931-06:00Empty Bowls in San Antonio is today. Here in San Antonio it is sponsored by the local Potter's Guild, held at the Southwest School of Art and Craft, and benefits SAMM Ministries -- a program to help the homeless get back on their feet.The website describes it thus:For $15 guests may select a bowl crafted by one of our local artisans along with a serving of soup and bread donated by local aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-28446065081672369822008-04-02T10:01:00.006-05:002008-12-12T22:16:22.481-06:00It seems that salt cellars are a good seller -- at least the ones I've listed lately. I've been throwing them as closed forms and then opening them in different ways, testing out different effects.The ones to the left and right were closed off, trimmed inward around the perimeter and NOT cut off the wheel. Then, when they were leather, I cut at the bottom of the trimmed portion. Following that, Iaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-42789073586955918642008-03-24T22:07:00.002-05:002008-12-12T22:16:22.712-06:00Been a while since the Austin craft fair, but still worth a brief report.Crowdwise, it was a bust. There wasn't enough traffic to generate sales. As a result, I only sold $22 worth of merchandise that day.However, it was certainly a worthwhile experience in thinking through the "how" in the process. Happily, the owner of the studio in which I work lent me most of the equipment for the sale: aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-90304492962680219502008-02-27T08:51:00.003-06:002008-12-12T22:16:22.851-06:00I've been thinking quite a bit about form lately. As a result, I've been throwing mugs with different shapes and sizes, both the see how they function AND to see how they sell. My latest collection is a group of very wide cappuccino/latte mugs, after having read about and watched videos of "latte art". You can see examples of it here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDZs__m5iAII also threw and aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-22975432031286531322008-01-18T09:58:00.000-06:002008-12-12T22:16:23.057-06:00I've decided the Neti Pots were a failed experiment. They came out nicely enough. But as I read more, such as the fact that they need to hold 8 ounces (as an optimal size, but huge in ceramics standards) I decided they just weren't for me.Yesterday I threw several small bread bakers, figuring they would be a nice, relaxing break. They were! So they currently sit on the bisque firing shelf.Of aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-27346237718327278792008-01-13T10:36:00.000-06:002008-01-13T10:40:34.139-06:00I guess neti pots are the newest (well, not quite THAT new) and hottest thing right now. I started to make them a couple of days before everyone on etsy began talking about them. It's been an interesting process. I've pretty much got the shape down and the size in leatherware seems about right, though who knows after shrinkage? However, the spouts have got me a bit stymied. They need to be small aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-43151852662938767612007-11-27T17:04:00.000-06:002007-11-27T17:08:02.863-06:00So, you know how I was happy about all the wonderful stuff that came out of the last glaze firing? I paid for it today. It seemed that each one of my pieces in this particular firing was sadder than the next. My cookie jar with the awesome lid had pinholes all through the cappuccino glaze. My "Age is inevitable Maturity optional" bowl slumped on one side. The tiny bluebird salt cellar came out aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-83360837990675320512007-11-24T20:47:00.000-06:002007-11-24T20:48:46.412-06:00Lots of nice stuff out of the kiln today -- it will slowly be listed at the etsy store and, hopefully, will eventually sell.Meanwhile, I got a beautiful review at a judaica blogger's site. You can check it out at: http://www.judaicajournal.blogspot.comaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-71690221825754265722007-11-16T22:13:00.000-06:002007-11-16T22:17:53.926-06:00This week I felt like I was a production potter. I received a commission for a pair of mugs. But, as most potters know, when you need to make two of something you need to make at least 6. I worked on 6, had the handles crack off because I let them dry unevenly, so threw 6 more the next day. Apparently I was pushing my fingers too deeply into the bat under the clay, while pulling up. The grog on aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-35343182082339228392007-11-12T17:11:00.000-06:002007-11-12T17:15:53.750-06:00My brother asked a funny question today. "How long does it take you to make something?"I tried to figure it out and had a hard time. Ceramics is an animal that's a bit different from other arts/crafts. There are so many steps and you can't do them all in the same day.There's throwing or handbuilding the piece. Then there's "finishing" the piece -- making sure the joins are going to hold, that aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-7982611045811118472007-11-05T10:34:00.000-06:002007-11-05T10:35:22.037-06:00I realize I have a ton of "stuff" at the studio waiting to be put on the bisque fire shelf, needing to be glazed, AND my daughter wants me to make a few mugs for her to give to her teachers and bosses. OY!I guess I'll really be putting in some hours this week, which is good, since it's time to get a few more things done for sales.aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-27032594366944623582007-10-24T10:31:00.000-05:002008-12-12T22:16:23.501-06:00Very, VERY happy how my new cups came out. Of course, they're for specific handed people, meaning, right now, lefties can't comfortably use any of the cups that have come out or are soon coming out of the kiln.Next week I'm going to have to make some "Lefties only" cups. After all, need to be PC!aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-50172472278599465292007-10-22T09:55:00.000-05:002007-10-22T09:57:21.961-05:00The etsy shop is open. I've even had three sales and I've been pretty productive at the studio, which means less tea/conversation and more work.Not sure where this blog will take me. But I'm hoping it will be read by people interested in my life, my work, or ceramics in general.aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-1107362493591766562005-02-01T12:41:00.000-06:002005-02-02T10:42:14.530-06:00So, I forgot about this! Now I guess I'll have two blogs -- one on the "other" blogging site about birding here in Texas, and one here about everything else.
So, it's four years later and we're now in San Antonio, TX. Homeschooling worked for Alana, who is now a Ballet Mistress. Dan is at Texas A&M -- an Aggie (WHOOP!).
It's just Avi and myself in the house now, even though we purchased a home aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-1107191845246092282005-01-31T11:15:00.000-06:002005-01-31T11:17:25.246-06:00WOW! I absolutely forgot that I had this blog! Nice discovery on a cool, rainy day.
However, I already have my newest posts up at the "other" major blogging spot. I'm going to have to study this situation and see what I can do about it.
I guess I COULD split into my birding vs. other topics blogs, as do others. But can my small brain absorb so many sites to remember, so many blogs into which I aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-41388192001-06-19T07:56:00.000-05:002007-11-06T09:13:06.639-06:00My older dog, Rudy, died Sunday night. For him it wasn't bad. He went into heart failure, breathed hard most of the day, and then passed peacefully on our hallway floor with my husband next to him. For us, it was awful. The loss was bad enough......I cried, my husband cried, my daughter bawled, and my son tried to remain stoic. We wrapped Rudy in a winter blanket that still hasn't been washed andaprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-38562092001-05-30T07:02:00.000-05:002007-11-06T09:13:06.646-06:00The homeschooling girl child/woman has finished her "requirements" for high school. She's even getting a diploma, courtesy of an umbrella school in Ann Arbor, MI called Clonlara (say THAT three times fast -- but I still think Black Bug's Blood is better!). The only thing I can think of regarding her graduation is, "Now what?"
A segue to more pleasant things at a later date. For now, just a big aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-23314082001-02-11T11:44:00.000-06:002007-11-06T09:13:06.656-06:00One of the few small pleasures in life, going to watch one of your kids do something. Last night we attended the high school's Saturday night performance of Meredith Wilson's THE MUSIC MAN. You remember...."76 trombones led the big parade." But last night my son played the tenor sax in the pit orchestra. Not a bad production, as school productions go. The only problem? Now I'm going around aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2307490.post-23075352001-02-09T08:58:00.000-06:002007-11-06T09:13:06.663-06:00So, this is where I begin. Who am I and how did I get to this place in my life? Maybe journaling will help me find that out. Maybe sharing it will show other people alternate paths to insanity (or sanity).At any rate, I'm 46, happily married (that, in itself, is extraordinary!) with two kids -- one in school and one homeschooling. Go explain THAT to your friends and neighbors. BTW, we also have aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601211275667261022noreply@blogger.com0