Pottery. Photography. And All Things Handmade.
Another humid week last week! I don't mind the heat but when the air is as thick as pea soup and there is no breeze I start to feel a wee bit uncomfortable and grouchy. Luckily, my attention has been on things I can do inside in air conditioning! As I mentioned in my previous... Continue Reading →
Did you hear about the big Pottery scandal? Everyone involved was fired. 😁 My latest batch of pottery pieces have completely air dried. At this stage, the dried clay is called greenware. This stage is also when the clay is most fragile. Over the weekend, I fired the greenware in the first of two firings.... Continue Reading →
I'm trilled to have help with seemingly mundane household chores. Laundry, especially. Laundry seems to be one unending chore. When dear husband helps, I love it. Lately, however, his help has created a small problem for dear daughter and me. You see, dear daughter and I are approaching the same size in everything. As I'm... Continue Reading →
JULY UPDATE!!! In May I blogged about this weed that took over the garden and I mistakenly identified the weed as heal-all. The plant that over took the garden beds this spring is NOT heal-all at all. It is Red Dead Nettle instead! For more information about Dead Nettle scroll to the bottom of my... Continue Reading →
Just when I was getting into the grove of things . . . Throwing and firing. Firing and throwing. My kiln snapped. My kiln crackled. And my kiln popped! Had to call in my technical guru, other wise known as my husband. 😍 My technical guru checked connections, cleaned electrical contacts, switches and circuits. And... Continue Reading →
Over the weekend, I started glazing some small bowls, cups and spoon rests that I made and bisque fired over the past few weeks. My glazing techniques vary from dunking pots into a bucket of glaze to brushing glaze onto pots. For my pet dishes and bowls, I stamp a paw print in the center... Continue Reading →
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,... Continue Reading →
As a potter, not everything I make comes out how I planned. 😱 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... Continue Reading →
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,... Continue Reading →
Hooray! Spring sprung! The much anticipated warmer weather, blue skies and tons of sunshine has arrived. Nature rejoices and so do I!!! Spring training on my back porch studio. Warming up with a small lump of clay (about 1/2 pound) this week. Spring training on the soccer field. Our grandson behind the ball and me... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
Back home. . . These two are waiting for warmer weather and long sunny afternoons to return to the back porch. Who needs fancy store bought cat beds when a good old box will do. Notice they are plugged in. Because both are elderly cats, the warmth from the heating pad beneath the blanket makes... Continue Reading →
Feeding birds through the winter has been a family activity for over 25 years. It started as a homeschool project where we could observe wildlife first-hand. We learned about bird identification, social behavior (pecking order on and around the feeder), and which physical characteristics of birds dictated food choices (sunflower seeds, thistle, millet, nuts, berries... Continue Reading →
It is official. I am completely sold out. 😳 All of my pottery pieces found new homes in 2022! 🥳 Meanwhile, I am enjoying a few of my handmade kitchen prep bowls and wine glass that had slight imperfections such as cracked bottoms or a glaze snafu. These imperfections don't happen often but when they... Continue Reading →
Time marches on.Trying to age gracefully.Suffered loss this year.Blessed gain this year.And . . . I still cannot comment on some WordPress blogs. The Happiness Engineers told me I needed to contact Akismet because my comments may be viewed as spam. 🙄 Not sure I'm up for this. I'm trying to age gracefully and technology... Continue Reading →
We have survived husband's first year of retirement! His retirement started off with a bang when we both came down with covid this time last year. I barely remember last December but we have pictures to prove that we, indeed, celebrated Christmas. Wow! The lawn and building a new deck kept husband busy spring... Continue Reading →
“Once you have tasted the taste of sky you will forever look up.” – Leonardo Da Vinci Trying to regain my footing after the passing of my Aunt last month. The volume of work that needs to be attended to after a death is far greater than I imagined. I found refuge in the clouds... Continue Reading →
Last week began on a sad note with the passing of my Aunt as a result of a fall. The week ended on a happy and joyous note celebrating the marriage of our son to the love of his life.
Happy as a clam yesterday as I seized the day with a cup of coffee. Today, not so much. A beloved family member had an accident leaving her in dire need of prayer, positive thoughts and vibes. I am seizing the day with prayer.
Up early this morning. Firing my last kiln load of the season. These two are up to something. I'm not even going to ask. Wedding bells for our son soon! Much deep cleaning, baking and merriment ahead. But first, coffee ☕️
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! Gray Tree Frog 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... Continue Reading →
Back Porch Studio 