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.





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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.