New Pots

I thought some of you might like to see the new pots that came out of the kilns last week. The pitcher is part of the group for our daughter's wedding and the tea pot may just live with us for a while.The mugs are in the style of 1950's Swedish potter Hubert Jass. He was known for his oversize vessels and at 32 to 40 ounces these are definitely some Hugh Jass mugs.If you drink one full of beer in the evening, you may need one full of coffee the next morning.

I had a great time attending a Japanese Tea Ceremony with friends from the Clay Alliance Saturday night. Yunomi, I still don't know which chawan is which but I am trying to make a few anyway. I should be able to post some greenware pictures next time.

If you are in the area, stop out at Maplecreek this weekend and say hello.I will have lots of new mugs and soup bowls and some very nice cookie jars.

Busy Busy Busy

Our daughter Kate is getting married in April and has asked me to make pitchers to be part of the centerpieces for the tables.I have all of them thrown and just a couple glazed.This glaze is a version of Malcomb Davis Shino that I added Newman's red clay to. I really like the flashing where it is thin and the carbon trapping adds to the rustic look as well.She wants assorted glazes so I'll do 2 or 3 more like this then a couple of other glazes. I should have them pictured here in a month or so.

I also glazed and fired a kiln load of red clay pots this week and will be unloading them tomorrow.Some of the baking dishes are pre sold so I am really hoping for good results.I started a new kids group this week, agreed to fill in with the high school clay class Saturday, had a clay club meeeting, and am heading to a Tea Ceremony tomorrow to learn the nuances of tea bowl making. Tina is still in Florida so I'm here with Stuart and Blondie so it has been a little hectic.

The disaster of the week was the old faithful tv went out so I was forced to go out and buy a flat screen for the living room.I got to ditch the converter box and one of the remotes so that was good but I am having trouble finding time for the mandatory break in period of watching it 16 hrs a day for the first 30 days.

With the frigid weather and snow, studio construction has been on hold but we are expecting a break in the weather so hopefully the electrician will be able to start soon.Don't forget The Clay Affair at Maplecreek on the 23rd and 24th. Should be fun.

Quick Notes

Bloggers I follow in Virginia and North Carolina have been complaining of cold snowy weather and frozen pipes. Well the Ohio Valley is being blessed with a little more snow too. Probably 5" on top of the 2" we have already. Kids Clay is already canceled for tonight and two of the dogs and I are curled up inside and planning to stay that way. Tina took the other three dogs and headed for Florida in the motorhome Monday.She reports cold weather down there too but it's still better than what we have here.

The electrician promised to get the power to the barn this month but with this weather I can't expect her to work outside so that is on hold.I need to do interior finish work in the barn but it is too cold to do that too. I think I'll have some more coffee and tune in to folkstreams.net. They have some nice film of traditional pottery methods and some great film of old time musicians as well.

I have signed up to do a show at The Artisan Center at Maplecreek on the 23rd and 24th of January. There should be between 10 and 20 potters in attendance. It is a good chance to sell a few pots in the dead of winter and see some friends at the same time. Come on out if you get a chance.