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.

New Pots

I thought some of you might like to see the new pots that came out of the kilns last week. The pitcher is part of the group for our daughter's wedding and the tea pot may just live with us for a while.The mugs are in the style of 1950's Swedish potter Hubert Jass. He was known for his oversize vessels and at 32 to 40 ounces these are definitely some Hugh Jass mugs.If you drink one full of beer in the evening, you may need one full of coffee the next morning.

I had a great time attending a Japanese Tea Ceremony with friends from the Clay Alliance Saturday night. Yunomi, I still don't know which chawan is which but I am trying to make a few anyway. I should be able to post some greenware pictures next time.

If you are in the area, stop out at Maplecreek this weekend and say hello.I will have lots of new mugs and soup bowls and some very nice cookie jars.

Busy Busy Busy

Our daughter Kate is getting married in April and has asked me to make pitchers to be part of the centerpieces for the tables.I have all of them thrown and just a couple glazed.This glaze is a version of Malcomb Davis Shino that I added Newman's red clay to. I really like the flashing where it is thin and the carbon trapping adds to the rustic look as well.She wants assorted glazes so I'll do 2 or 3 more like this then a couple of other glazes. I should have them pictured here in a month or so.

I also glazed and fired a kiln load of red clay pots this week and will be unloading them tomorrow.Some of the baking dishes are pre sold so I am really hoping for good results.I started a new kids group this week, agreed to fill in with the high school clay class Saturday, had a clay club meeeting, and am heading to a Tea Ceremony tomorrow to learn the nuances of tea bowl making. Tina is still in Florida so I'm here with Stuart and Blondie so it has been a little hectic.

The disaster of the week was the old faithful tv went out so I was forced to go out and buy a flat screen for the living room.I got to ditch the converter box and one of the remotes so that was good but I am having trouble finding time for the mandatory break in period of watching it 16 hrs a day for the first 30 days.

With the frigid weather and snow, studio construction has been on hold but we are expecting a break in the weather so hopefully the electrician will be able to start soon.Don't forget The Clay Affair at Maplecreek on the 23rd and 24th. Should be fun.

Quick Notes

Bloggers I follow in Virginia and North Carolina have been complaining of cold snowy weather and frozen pipes. Well the Ohio Valley is being blessed with a little more snow too. Probably 5" on top of the 2" we have already. Kids Clay is already canceled for tonight and two of the dogs and I are curled up inside and planning to stay that way. Tina took the other three dogs and headed for Florida in the motorhome Monday.She reports cold weather down there too but it's still better than what we have here.

The electrician promised to get the power to the barn this month but with this weather I can't expect her to work outside so that is on hold.I need to do interior finish work in the barn but it is too cold to do that too. I think I'll have some more coffee and tune in to folkstreams.net. They have some nice film of traditional pottery methods and some great film of old time musicians as well.

I have signed up to do a show at The Artisan Center at Maplecreek on the 23rd and 24th of January. There should be between 10 and 20 potters in attendance. It is a good chance to sell a few pots in the dead of winter and see some friends at the same time. Come on out if you get a chance.

Gullible's Travels

It all started with our daughter Kate wanting to buy one of my woodfired pots. Her future Mother-in law had requested one and I had promised to send Kate some pictures, then mail the pot she selected. As usual, I waited too long and decided since I was overdue for a road trip anyway, I would just drive down to Charlotte with some. Hauling pottery to North Carolina in a blizzard was a fool's errand so I was the obvious man for the job. I knew it was a hellofa storm that hit West Virginia Friday afternoon and into the night. That is why Friday night and Saturday I checked the West Virginia DOT website for info. That is why I called their hot line repeatedly on my way to Charleston Saturday morning.Every updated report said the turnpike was snow covered over Flat Top mountain. Sounds like-it's open, we're plowing, we'll get it cleaned up soon.After driving over roads with some slush and a few slick spots, I got to the first tollbooth where I was told the turnpike had been closed for 20 hours already and there was no hope in sight. Trucks were jacknifed all up and down the mountain and the national guard was trying to rescue people who had spent the night in their cars.So much for Saturday. I turned around and went back to Ohio. If I had stayed over, there was no guarantee the road would be open Sunday,or even Monday.

Sunday I decided to take a chance and go through Asheville.The route is a hundred miles longer. With I-40 closed at the rockslide by the N.C. border, you have to take I-81 north to Johnson City and pick up I-26 over the mountains to Asheville.It was a very long drive through an area that had had up to 24 inches of snow Friday night. There were cars abandoned all along the road and wreckers working hard to pull them out of whatever hole they had slid into but the traffic lanes were open. As long as I kept the truck pointed south, I was fine. Any stops for food or comfort involved parking lots with slush a foot deep.Reports from potters I know in the area above Asheville reported power outages and paralysis but the traffic lanes were open on I-26.

I got to Charlotte about 11 hrs. after I started what is usually an 8 to 9 hr. trip. I had a lovely visit with our daughter and her fiance. They settled on a woodfired teapot for his Mom.(see picture) I wouldn't be a good Dad without geting Kate a Christmas gift so we went to Trader Joes and blew it all on wine. Nothing like the gift of alcohol to show your kids you care.

The trip home Tuesday was the same long route except that I stopped at Highwater and got a truck load of clay and stopped to see a friend and swap pots and stories before heading North. No trouble in the high country just the Ipod jacked into the radio and Robert Earl Keene, Guy Clark,and Ramblin' Jack cranked up loud.I finally got home about 8pm tired but alive.