Ready for Saturday

Spring Pottery Fair is this Saturday in the East Walnut Hills section of Cincinnati at Madison and Woodburn. I'm basically packed and have room for a box or two of last minute additions. I'm hoping for good weather but it is spring in Ohio which means warm and sunny with a chance of snow. You can never tell.Any way here's a song for my customers.If it doesn't open you can go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qeVci35Ug7U Enjoy.

Almost Silent Movie

I used to use valve grinding compound for this job. Michele Hastings said she uses soft scrub. I think the grinding compound might cut a little better but the soft scrub is cheaper and a whole lot cleaner. Thanks for stopping by and as always, if you have trouble getting the video to play drop a comment and include the device you are using. That will really help me get the bugs out of this video thing. OK, one quick rant. Why don't tablet apps ever have any instructions? !!!

Or try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fslO-wwD2M

Quick Pic

Here are some samples of what I got out of the gas kiln at Middletown yesterday. The pictures really don't do them justice.These really rock in person. I sprayed on a coat of Indiana Shino then sprayed a light coat of Malcomb Davis Shino with some Newman's fireclay added for flash.the surface tension between the two caused a small tight reticulated surface similar to Salt Glaze that I really like.

Branded

Regular readers will remember me pondering what to do with my Christmas gift from the sign shop.Thanks again to all of you for your input. Well, I'll never get a tattoo but I have been branded. I finally made up my mind and got a banner for the booth, some shirts, assorted hats, and a large rubber stamp.I really don't know if it will make a huge difference in the short run but anything that makes me look more together should increase buyer confidence.

 

In other matters, Springfair is in two weeks and I have one more load to bisque and glaze so it looks like I'm on track.On a different note, in answer to Patti's comment- No, Patti. I think Crazy as a Loon applies to me singing in public.

Crazy as a Loon

The last time I posted video, I received info that some of you had trouble watching it.Not the " I can't stand to look at it" kind of trouble. OK maybe some had that but technical trouble. Today I tried to record on my android tablet and post on youtube to see if it worked better. June Perry had a tip for me after she couldn't see it so here is my second try to post a song that I'm not ready to play in prime time. On the pottery front, things are coming out of the cone 6 kiln and I think I have one more load to do this month to be stocked for several shows. If you have trouble (technical type) viewing, please let  me know and I will keep at it.

Thanks for your help.

These Things Really Suck !

Do you ever wish you could dip a pot in the glaze bucket while holding on to the foot but there is no foot just an ungrippable slippery surface? These little suckers are $2.99 each at Harbor Freight. They are sold in the auto body dept for pulling out dents in sheet metal. With the flip of a lever, they will hold on to flat bottomed pots by vacuum so you can dip them and keep the foot clean. Also this way  your glaze is thicker at the top of the pot and thinner at the bottom which is usually a good thing.

Pictures, Pictures

OK kids, I promised you pictures and here they are.Three kiln loads in 6 days. Tons of cone 6 stuff for spring fair in four weeks.The blue glaze may have deflocculated because it seemed thin and fired accordingly.I'll tinker with it and re-glaze some bowls that I was not happy with. Other than that, the green looks great and I went all out on black with red and made 4 place settings plus some service pieces. All killer but damn shiny and hard to take good shots of when you are in a hurry and using your cell phone. Thanks for stopping by.

Great Day

Sometimes life just hands us a great day. Got this from Paul Thorn.

Shelf Yourself!

I know it's been a while since I posted pictures of new pots. Except for one little test  mug you are going to have to wait til next time.The second of 4 glaze firings is cooling now. I'll try to get pics up in a day or two. In the mean time, there is more to it than just making the pots. You have to display them and sell them too. In the past, a couple of my racks sat on top of 6 ft "suitcase" style tables. This worked OK and with a table cover it looked good and gave some hidden storage. This year, I thought I would try a folding base with shelves for extra display space. The unit is made of one 12 ft cedar 2x6, some dowels, 4 hinges and two 24' doors ( I will add another but I only bought 2 doors so far). Total cost about $100.  They are light weight, very stiff,and set up in seconds.I also assembled the unit so that when the shelves are in place there is a 5/16 inch rail across the back edge so the upper rack that sits on top does not get bumped and slide off . Shows start in May. I'll show you the full set up then.Until then, here are some quick and fuzzy cell phone pictures that will give you the general idea of how it went together.

I know I promised you a pottery picture. Here is my recently adjusted cone 6 black decorated with a commercial glaze. I think it shows promise and it should be very reliable.

 

A final note, I am endorsing recently announced candidate, potter and kiln builder Shane Mickey for North Carolina Governor. My suggested slogan- If you want your lawmakers to do better, Slip Them a Mickey! Thanks for stopping by.