Whistle Creek: Functional, Yes! Necessary????

Monday, January 28, 2013

Functional, Yes! Necessary????

In keeping with the dedication to functionalism that I displayed in the churn last time I have returned to making jugs this week. When I was just starting in clay.I got a call from daughter Kate who teaches art in Charlotte. She said,"Dad, make me a couple of face jugs". I replied, " What's a face jug ?" She said " Make a jug and put a face on it !" That started an adventure in jug making that lasted about a year. I never really got into making that many faces but I did get into making jugs.They are really good for skills training. It's not easy to get them nice and full at the shoulder but strong enough to support the spout. A couple of the biggest ones have sectional bodies, all have the spouts thrown then attached. They are a fun challenge and I know they will be big sellers, every home needs several to store cider, whiskey, vinegar, etc. I may have finally found that easy money item.

7 comments:

Linda StarrJanuary 28, 2013 at 7:32 AM
Not so easy, great to see all the various sizes lined up together.
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Hollis EngleyJanuary 28, 2013 at 9:55 AM
Yes, Dennis, I suspect the easy money will finally start to flow. I particularly like that bottom jug.
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Dennis AllenJanuary 28, 2013 at 11:31 AM
Thanks folks. Hollis. It's my favorite.I think the spring of the handle works well with the body of the piece.
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Michèle HastingsJanuary 28, 2013 at 2:58 PM
Well done! I hope the easy money comes flowing in.
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June PerryJanuary 29, 2013 at 12:18 AM
Very nice Dennis.
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Tracey BroomeFebruary 2, 2013 at 10:10 PM
Hey, how did I miss this post? Jugs are my very favorite pottery thing. The NC Pottery Center in Seagrove has some beauties, every time I go there I head straight for them. I want to say I like your jugs, but somehow that sounds really profane, haha!
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Dennis AllenFebruary 3, 2013 at 7:42 AM
Thanks Tracey. I'm glad that you like them. I'm glad that I like them too because I suspect I will own them for a while.
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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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