I have been asked by several people about making slow feeder bowls for their pets. I didn’t know how to make them and felt a bit intimidated because there is not much information on how to make a slow feeder. But when my Grand-dog asked me to make one for him, I just couldn’t say … More I Didn’t Think I Could
Temperatures in the 70’s this week! I am finally back behind the wheel after a very cold and wet spring! Grand-dog came by for a visit and curious as to what I was doing. Warming up my throwing muscles. Starting with 1/2 pound of clay. Making small bowls to sell as trinket or ring dishes, … More Warming Up!
As a potter, not everything I make comes out how I planned. đ± Sometimes my pieces crack or warp. Other times, my pieces never make it off my pottery wheel . . . . . . or a cat decides to sit in or on one of my pieces. And those unfortunate pieces end up … More Reclaiming The Earth One Bucket At A Time!
What beautiful weather we had last week! Clear blue sunny sky. Flowers blooming. Birds, bees and kitties busy. Note the elevated Kitty water bowl: a TONKA Toy dump truck. This TONKA dump truck has been through two generations (children & grandchildren) and now serves as our back porch watering hole for cats, birds, squirrels, … More Well, Sleet!
2023 has presented me with challenges. Challenges that require my energy to be in many places other than my Back Porch Studio. In 2023 -2024 I will be selling only ready to ship items as my time allows.  I plan to focus on pet dishes, mugs and wine cups May through October in preparation for the 2023 Holiday Season. If you are NOT in a hurry, please … More Throwing Season 2023
When leaves fall as well as the temperature, it is time for me to call an end to my throwing season. Because my back porch is not enclosed, I throw things during the warmer months. The warmer months tend to be May through October around here. But much work remains despite putting my pottery wheel … More The End of A Season
One of our many visitors this summer! One of the reasons I love throwing on our back porch! I had my hands in clay. Grabbed my camera and took a shot! My camera is a little muddy .
Waiting for me in my splash pan this morning! The frog wanna-be-potter was placed just off the back porch onto a nice cool shady rock. The frog climbed up onto a fern frond. The frog watched me for a seemingly very long time. I honestly thought it was contemplating whether or not to leap back … More Just Frogging Around
It has been a bit hot on my back porch this month. I have been firing loads of greenware (air dried unfired clay) in the kiln for a bisque firing. The bisque firing prepares the air dried clay (greenware) for glazing. Days are growing shorter. Kids are back in school. It is the end of … More Summer! Where did you go?
New items will be in my shop next month! Meanwhile, enjoy your summer. Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I need extra hours in the day and extra energy to complete all that needs done. Planting Mowing and weeding Weeding and mowing Soccer Baseball Each and every day, I wake up, thank goodness, and seize the day clay! Oh yeah . . . …and laundry!
It starts with a ball of clay. Each ball rolled out flat into a slab then placed over a hump mold. A hump mold is a convex form over which clay slabs are draped until stiff enough to hold the shape. When the clay is stiff enough to hold the shape, it is set aside … More Start to Finish
Spring has sprung! 100 pounds of clay! Playing in the mud, indoors, of course! Still a bit too chilly for the back porch. I am making bowls using slabs of clay draped over a mold. Finishing the rims of these three bowls while enjoying while enjoying a cup of coffee in a handmade mug đ … More Life in April
The falling leaves gather around my pottery wheel. My throwing days have come to an end for the year. The temperatures have dropped quite dramatically this week making it a challenge to photograph my pottery on my back porch. “They” say it may snow this weekend! This month I have been busy with many behind … More Take Time
Would you look at that! It’s mid-October. And here I am running around like a squirrel gathering nuts before the snow falls! Instead of gathering nuts . . . I’m glazing and firing. Glazing and firing. Repeat. When I’m not glazing and firing, you will find me on my back porch unloading the kiln and … More Squirrel!
Soaking up the sun on our back porch. Why, yes. I made the mug! đ Test tiles waiting to be fired then glazed and fired again. I feel like somebody is watching me! This is Midnight. He is the Semi-feral cat we adopted. He seems to be adjusting very well and has become the most … More A View from My Back Porch Studio
The snow has melted. Temperatures on the rise. Dusted off my tool box. Unearthed my clay. Started some slab work. From a ball of clay to a slab of clay then onto the hump mold. Bowls made from a slab of clay air drying. Resting.
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