Whistle Creek: February 2010

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Snow, Snow, Snow

This is the snowiest winter we have had in many years.So far we are at 23 inches for February after a January that had snow on the ground almost the entire month.The electrician who was going to upgrade our service and bring power to the new studio has not had a prayer of getting started so the studio is just sitting for now.What has not been sitting is my little diesel tractor.When you are supersized and well into middle age, the last thing you need to do is shovel large quantities of snow. The tractor has been great for digging us out. Just a few minutes of plowing has replaced hours of shoveling by hand.I'm really glad I got it and I'm also glad I have a wife who didn't complain when I did.

On a pottery note, John Britt posted some glaze tests and has nice things to say about Ohio Slip at ncclayclub.blogspot.com. Ohio Slip is a local glacial clay that Gary and Pam Adkins dig and process out in Bethel,Ohio.It is a very good substitute for the old Albany Slip and you will never meet nicer people.If you haven't tried it, check it out at akclay.com.

Pray for spring but keep a bag of rock salt around just in case.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Pitchers

Regular readers know that I have been making a variety of pitchers for our daughter's upcoming wedding.I got several out of the gas reduction kiln today. Most were glazed with a variation of Malcomb Davis's shino that carbon traps like crazy.They were in a section of the kiln that went to cone 11 and had heavy reduction as well.The pictures can't show the variety of color as well as I would like but you will get the general idea. The yellow ones are done with a very thin coat of Val Cushing's yellow matt.Sometimes it will try to go green but it is very nice when the yellow holds true.

In other news, we are expecting another dose of the White Death that will cause widespread panic throughout the area.Some reports are calling for six inches, others up to a foot.I don't really mind the snow except that it pushes back the electrical work that will finally get me into the new studio. It will happen eventually.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Bisque Fired Pots

It looks like the Cincinnati Clay Alliance may be having a Tea Bowl Show later this spring. The details are still being worked out but we are hoping to join with the Krohn Conservatory in Cincinnati to participate in their Japanese themed spring butterfly show. Anyway...I had never paid a lot of attention to Japanese tea bowls, figuring that they were a mystical specialty that no westerner could really understand.I still feel that way but not to be left out, I am trying to make a few.I don't really know if I am on the right track so I have posted some bisque fired pots this week. I know that some of you know more about this than I do so chime in at the comment section. Don't worry you won't hurt my feelings on this one.

These are more of the pitchers for the April wedding of our daughter Kate. I have about 15 in all and it is time for glazing and firing so I have time to re-do some if they don't turn out. Yes they are supposed to be assorted styles. Lastly, Thanks to those of you who made it out to Maple Creek last weekend. I saw a few friends and sold a few pots but overall it was a lot of work for a small return. Hey,hope springs etc etc and spring is coming any day now.

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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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