Whistle Creek: Busy Busy Busy

Friday, January 15, 2010

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.

2 comments:

Linda StarrJanuary 15, 2010 at 1:08 PM
You pitchers look great love the adapted Malcolm shino. I feel so bad you were forced to get a flat screen Ha! I hope to get one once we are moved. We're planning on moving too the southeast somewhere and Tennessee and Florida are on our list to check out; we're headed out there in our RV next week, so glad I found your blog via Jewels.
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Dennis AllenJanuary 15, 2010 at 3:35 PM
Thanks for the comment.When you blog, sometimes it feels like sending radio waves into deep space. You never really know if anyone is out there.
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Why Whistle Creek

Whistle Creek is near the area where my ancestors settled in East Tennessee. It is about 6 miles west of I-75 and 8 miles south of Jellico.At various times the land was claimed by England, France, Spain, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky,Tennessee, the Union,the Confederacy, and the Cherokee.My family was there around 1800 and possibly before.My brothers and I still own the top of the mountain and it is still very rough country. I named my studio Whistle Creek in memory of the Allens who scraped their living from the earth and managed to keep it for two hundred years.

Bricks,Bricks, Bricks

I have two loads of kiln brick at home and one more to go. Weather permitting I will get some help from my newly retired brother and haul the rest home next week. I'm still early in the planning stages for the kiln. I haven't decided yet whether to make the firebox perpendicular to the arch a la John Theis managama and groundhog kilns or to place it parallel to the axis of the arch. I do know that with #2 three inch arch brick It will be a 3"6" sprung arch on top of low walls with a sunken firebox. If i can find a saw that will cut 41/2" I can rip some of the arch brick to fill in the ends of the courses and use the arch brick on edge to make 9" thick walls. Any input appreciated.

The Pitcher and the Nun

Yesterday a couple of sweet elderly ladies came into my booth and fell in love with the pitcher from the last woodfiring. (See last Blog entry) They said they wanted to give it as a wedding gift, then they said the fatal words-" Do you take Mastercard? " I replied-" No, but I want this piece to go to a good home and I believe that if I send it home with you, you will send me a check." They agreed and we exchanged info. It turned out they were nuns.Instead of mailing me a check, they brought back a check and some homemade candy a couple of hours later.It was nice to make the sale, but even nicer to send out a little faith in mankind and have a good deed returned.

Ohio Slip

More Spring Fair Prep....

Today was spent loading a bisque kiln with pots I have been throwing the last few weeks.They are made with a really nice red clay that a friend sold me when I couldn't get earthen red at Highwater. I should be able to glaze Monday and fire the whole load again next week. This is the only clay that I fire in the electric kilns but it gives a look that a lot of people like and I can fire economically. This plus pots on hand and pots I have been glazing for the gas kiln should be plenty for spring fair so now I can concentrate on the booth.

Spring Fair

The main project of the week was to try to finish throwing a batch of red clay that I have been working on so I can get the pots fired and glazed for the big Spring Fair sale that the Clay Alliance is holding on May 2. This is the big annual sales event for the club and I am very happly to be included this year but I do feel a little pressure to up my game and have a booth that doesn't look like a yard sale. Once I get the pots fired, I will have to spend some time focusing on display space and building some nice shelving. The sale is 11 to 4 at the corner of Madison and Woodburn ( DeSales Corner) Just take 71 to Edwards rd., Edwards to Madison, Right on Madison and you will be there in a few minutes. You will have a great time and get to meet 40 of the best potters and ceramicists in the region. More info at http://www.clayalliance.org/.

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