Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Best Pottery Tip Ever

Merry Christmakwanzakah to all my readers and thank you for visiting the blog this year.Thanks to everyone for your opinion on the pitchers last time. For some reason I only got a couple of comments posted to the blog but a bunch of folks responded on facebook. The winner was "C" with "B" close behind.

After a brief hiatus, I have decided to bring Potters Tips back to the blog for this Christmas edition.The tool I am showing you today is simple but very useful.It can measure the thickness of a pot you have on the wheel without putting a hole in it.You can use it on a narrow pot that you cannot get your hand into and lastly, you can use it as a trimming gauge to see exactly how much clay you have left to trim.


Sunday, December 12, 2010

Pitchers Again

Well, Christmas shows are over and the slower season approaches.Our Holiday show a couple of weeks ago was a disappointment so I am pretty well stocked with market pots for a while.I've also been asked to help fill a couple of kilns later this winter.This is allowing me to focus on skill development for a while. I've been making some larger sectional pots and I've been exploring pitchers again after making so many last year for our daughter's wedding. Here are six different options and there are more to come. How about some voting here? Just click on "comments" and list your preferences by letter. Please add any opinions as well. I'm a big boy, I can take it.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Soup and Sales (not Soupy Sales)

We'll start this edition with my favorite soup for this weather.It's very hearty but has nearly zero carbs.
1. Go to Costco and buy a roast chicken. Don't even bother to roast your own. For $4.99 you can't come close. The extra brownness really helps.

2. When you get home, cut the meat off the bones.

3. Throw the bones, wing tips etc. in a pot with onion carrot and celery.Brown this stuff then add water to cover and simmer for as long as you can stand to wait.( 3 hrs is good) Skim occasionally.

4. This is the best chicken stock you will ever have.Strain it, pick the bones and add as much meat as you like back to pot.Season to taste then stuff handfuls of baby spinach into the pot until the spinach wilts.That's it and its delicious without any noodles, crackers, or beans.

So much for soup. Now sales. Don't try to sell pots on Thanksgiving Saturday in Cincinnati. Last year we all did great at our Anderson Twp. Holiday sale but a week earlier this year and hardly anyone came.I made my share of expenses but that was about it.After that I was very pleased to go to Mike and Karen Baum's home sale this weekend.Mike has been a professional potter for 30 years, studied with Byron Temple at Penland and apprenticed in England in the 70's. He makes great unpretentious functional pots. Here are a few pictures from the sale.







Thursday, December 2, 2010

John Boehner Blues

My mind has been wandering again.This little ditty has been evolving in my head. Pickers can use a simple 1,4,5 accompaniment. Add verses at will and share with your friends if so inclined.


I'm sitting here lookin at the TV set,
Need to see the doctor but I ain't been yet.
I've got the John Boehner blues.

Last time I saw the Doctor the Doctor said
You got no insurance go back to bed
You've got the John Boehner blues.

Election night my eyes filled with tears
the writin' on the wall said two more years.
We're gonna have the John Boehner blues.

I've seen the future and it couldn't be bleaker
He looks in the mirror and says MR. SPEAKER!
I've got the John Boehner blues.


Gentleman Johnny leads the party of nope,
No more change,no more hope.
I've got the John Boehner blues.

Johnny doesn't worry if he gets ill.
He goes to the doctor we get the bill.
I've got the John Boehner blues.

John don't care if America's healthy
As long as the rich get a little more wealthy.
I've got the John Boehner blues.

He gives the rich a big tax cut
while he gives it to me in the butt
I've got the John Boehner blues.

Johnny says repeal the healthcare bill
he don't like and he never will.
I've got the John Boehner blues.

Johnny's plan has just one goal
He gets the doughnut I get the hole.
I've got the John Boehner blues.

I've got Diabetes but I'll beat that booger
I'll strain my blood and sell the sugar
I'll beat these John Boehner blues.

Now I can't sing and I can barely pick
but my advice to you is don't get sick 'cause
you might catch the John Boehner blues.