One Step Closer

At first I said he would never get the truck back there. Now I don't know if he will ever get it out! Concrete is a great thing to have and it puts me very close to bidding farewell to the pole barn crew. The only thing left for them top do is hang the overhead door. That will probably happen Monday, then I can get going with electric service and finish work. The kiln shed is cleaned out and the gas kiln can come as soon as I can arrange to move it.Progress marches on.

Progress

Well,the project continues.The rest of the siding order showed up Thursday and the boys put it on yesterday.Here is what the finished exterior looks like. We still need to pour the concrete floor and install the garage door. Hopefully that will happen this coming week so I can get on with wiring, gas service, insulation,and oh yeah, getting the gas kiln set up!

Here's hoping for a great Western N.C. Pottery Festival in Dillsboro today. I really wanted to go but with everything going on here I just couldn't work it in.Hopefully, next year.

The Short Report

The barn is coming along with a few snags. The lot was not as level as it was supposed to be so we had to build up the back and sides with extra 2x8's at the bottom and fill with much more gravel than anticipated. At this point I am probably $1000 over budget but that's not too bad. I was also disappointed to find out that the builders did not order enough siding and more will not arrive until the end of the week.All this beautiful dry weather is going to waste.All I can do right now is order more gravel and hope things go smooth next week.

Last Sunday was Empty Bowls at the Baker Hunt in Covington.I had donated a dozen bowls and several large boxes of seconds. After I worked my shift on the Early Set Up crew it was great to see the hundreds of people that turned out for the event.The "seconds" were a big hit and mine were flying off the tables. It is a wonderful feeling to see people walking around hugging your pots.The event was a big success and many hands made for light work and a good time for all.

Construction and Simon Leach Workshop.

Sometimes you can't find any news of interest to write about( as my readers will attest). Sometimes you have too much news to fit it all in. This week is one of the latter. The big story is that my studio is rising in the back yard as I am typing.The crew from PDQ Pole Buildings is living up to their name and working hard in tight quarters.They broke ground yesterday and even with a four hour standstill while waiting for a footer inspection the framing will be finished today.The studio space is 24x24 large enough for a one person workspace but small enough to heat.The bay on the left is a 12x24 covered "carport" where I can park the boat.Here's a picture of the boys doing the rafter dance.

Over the weekend I attended a workshop led by internet sensation Simon Leach. He was very entertaining and I learned a few things as well. It was hosted by Amphora Studios(Core Clay) and Laura Davis and her crew did a wonderful job with hospitality and facilities. If you get a chance to go to one of their workshops, don"t miss it.Here are Simon throwing with his hands and Daniel Luck throwing with his feet.

They say the barn is coming!

The back yard is excavated.I have 20 yards of gravel on site.The permit is issued. All I need now is for the builders to show up.I talked to them yesterday and we are hoping to start next week (weather permitting of course.) I am starting to get excited now that it looks like having my own studio is going to be a reality in a few weeks.It will be nice to have some elbow room and 24/7 access.Stay tuned for updates and news of the christening party.

                                                  In other news. Empty Bowls is in two weeks and I have a lot of greenware bowls that I am going to bisque fire Monday. They should be glazed and fired in time but they may still be warm when I deliver them.

One other pottery item, I have just started trying scraffito on some pots.Maybe I should have learned to draw first.

Well, Tina has been touring the south in the motorhome for two weeks and last night she said she was going to start meandering home. I have to get busy hauling out the liquor bottles and sweeping up the confetti before she gets here!