12X12

Here is my bid in Michael Kline's 12X12 challenge.

Large cereal bowls and medium bakers

Just for Fun

I'm still trying to achieve that harmonic perfection where my pickin' and voice cancel each other out. In the mean time I'm taking this fun little tune to Sunday night's jam session.

Thank You!

A big thanks to everyone who has responded to the last post about helping Joe Frank McKee and his family recover from his studio fire. Extra thanks to John Britt for Sharing on the CLAY CLUB Blog and to Meredith Heywood and Tracy Broome for spreading it through their Blogs. Joe Frank's wife Kelly has posted about the fire here https://www.facebook.com/kelly.mckee.739/posts/10200815075645056 In addition to helping the family directly, the lovely and talented Alysha Baier is running an online auction to help out. You can view and bid at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Benefit-for-Joe-Frank-Mckee-and-Family/313627655406530.

Here is a quick photo update of what has been going on here.

Blondie is not intimidated by the return of the red menace.

 Six inches of the early spring that the Groundhog promised.

Turns out Brenda from Liberty Stoneware grew up near us.

This is for her to see how the river looks today. If you don't 

follow her blog you should.It's not big on daily doings but

when she publishes, she is very informative about kiln site

excavations and early firing practices. She also makes very 

nice traditional country stoneware.

A Friend in Need...

Joe Frank McKee is a potter and gallery owner in Dillsboro N.C. You may know him through his work or because he puts on THE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA POTTERY FESTIVAL in Dillsboro every November. Last night, his studio at his home burned to the ground. The fire did not reach the house and everyone is fine but the studio is a total loss. He is scheduled to do Raku and Demos at Mike and Karen Baum's Studio sale in Lebanon, Ohio in a couple of weeks and says he still plans to attend. Here is the letter I got from Mike and Karen...

Clay Alliance Members:

We just heard some really bad news. Our good friend and potter, Joe Frank McKee, of Dillsboro, NC, lost his entire studio in an electrical fire last night. Luckily, no one was hurt. As many of you know, Joe Frank is the guest artist at our upcoming open house, March 22 & 23. Trooper that he is, he is still coming but he and his family need our help to rebuild. The scope of his loss is incomprehensible.
If you can please send a check to:

JOE FRANK McKEE
TREE HOUSE POTTERY
148 Front St
P.O. BOX 253
DILLSBORO, NC 28725.

You can also show your appreciation and support by purchasing his pottery at the openhouse.

Joe Frank is one of the hardest working potters that we know; please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Thanks,

Karen & Mike Baum

Tool Time

Meredith Heywood recently posted about her favorite tools and inspired me to do the same. When I first started potting, I bought a lot of tools. Their most important function is to cover up the few tools that I really do use. Many of the tools I like best, I make myself. . One of the materials I really like is scrap plastic from old Rubbermaid tubs or trashcans.You can cut it with scissors and quickly smooth the edges with sandpaper.Here are a few tools that I made for special purposes that I keep reaching for.

The outer legs are fixed, the center one slides

The exposed section of the center dowel shows 

the thickness of the bottom and leaves no hole.

The dowel has a 5/16 long brad in the end. Stick it in the center of the 

plate you are throwing and it imprints the depth you need to open to.

the big rib flattens the bottom of the plate ,sets the radius of the bottom,

 and sets the curve that transitions the bottom to the sidewall.

Special purpose ribs and my "chop"

This one is really handy.