Pottery. Photography. And All Things Handmade.
Who doesn't love sunflowers? Creatures big and small love sunflowers! I started planting sunflowers early spring all to have a creature eat every last sunflower seed! I suspect a squirrel. Photo by Juhasz Imre on Pexels.com I planted another round sunflower seeds. Thrilled to see them sprout to six to twelve inches in height! Yeah!... Continue Reading →
Life has completely turned upside down since the changing of the clocks back in March of 2020. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the dinosaurs returned. Today, the dinosaurs have, indeed, returned much to our grandson's delight! I am delighted the dinosaurs prefer lettuce over sunflowers!
After much thought, reading, note-taking and collaboration with fellow potters, I think I have discovered the reason why I have had pin holes. #1: The glazes were too thick. So early spring, I adjusted my glazes. The result was perfect on two of the three clay bodies. #2: It is a particular clay-body. After talking... Continue Reading →
I'm a list maker and note taker. I make lists of things "To Do" otherwise things will not get done such as exercise, make doctor's appointment, and laundry. I also make "To Do" lists for pottery such as prepare test tiles, reclaim clay, make handles and buy more clay. I make lists for items I need... Continue Reading →
Not much pottery today but a lot of neglected behind the scene stuff. I spent the better part of today at the computer thinking of words. Words. Words describing my pottery in my Etsy shop. I use words every day yet when I try to write, words are elusive. This is why I am not a... Continue Reading →
New glaze combos. Trusty favorites with a new twist. Unearthed and revived old glazes that I haven't used in years. So, that is what the glaze is going on around here!
I have been working on nesting bowls this week. Each bowl is made from a slab of clay draped over clay molds I made last winter. It has taken me several tries to work out all the kinks in the process. The third time worked like a charm! After these air dry, they will undergo... Continue Reading →
Miss Kitty and I are enjoying today's heat wave of 65 degrees! While Miss Kitty roams around the back yard, I set to work on my new molds. Last winter I had one mold to produce unique organic shaped shallow dishes or bowls. Because these dishes sold well, I wanted to increase my production.... Continue Reading →
Just when I was ready to throw in the towel early this month due to groggy clay , I decided to talk to the folks at my local pottery supply store to see if they could recommend a new clay body similar to what I had been using for over ten years. I am SO happy... Continue Reading →
Though the calendar says it is autumn, Mother Nature says otherwise! I am thrilled by the warm dry autumn days because I can continue to throw pots on my back porch! Most recently, I have been working on plates. I have been using a certain mid-fire cone 6 clay for over 10 years and... Continue Reading →
I have been doing a lot of throwing lately thanks to the good weather we have had this summer. I am currently working on new inventory for my Etsy store including mugs, platters and larger pet bowls! By the end of September 2017, I will start adding the new inventory to my shop. For updates,... Continue Reading →
I have been using 112 brown clay for over ten years and have never experienced the problems with grog as I have this year. The particle size of the grog seems unusually large causing a lot of damage and heartbreak. 😦 Looks like I will be looking for a new clay. Save
When given lemons . . . . . .make lemonade! Save
This year's throwing season seems to be going well! Very minimal mistakes plus,thanks to learning about an alternative way to take large pots off the bat, I have been able to throw larger pieces: plates, serving bowls, platters and pet bowls! To date, I have thrown over 35 pieces since Memorial Day! 😀 Unfortunately, I'm... Continue Reading →
Well, this is a first! Apparently one of our cats took refuge in my drying box . . .on a bowl! LOL
Okay, yes. The title of this post is a little dramatic but are not snakes dramatic when you are not expecting them. So, I'm blissfully throwing pots on my back porch today when I notice our cat following something through the yard. I didn't think anything too much about it because, after all, it is... Continue Reading →
We had so much fun at the pottery supply store this week! So many wonderful and pretty things to look at including a huge turquoise ceramic bowl filled with MKM small circular wooden stamps. The wooden stamp filled bowl was right at our grandson's reach. He relished the feel and look of each and every... Continue Reading →
This is an annual move from the basement to the back porch. Luckily, this year I didn't have too many loads to lug up the stairs (12 steps). My pottery wheel stayed under wraps on the back porch over the winter. I was happy to unwrap it, clean it off and set it up! So... Continue Reading →
Over the winter, my thoughts turn to solving pottery problems, learning about new ideas and techniques. One reoccurring problem I have had was making large pet dishes (8 inches or larger in diameter). In almost every single instance, I would ruin the pet dish when taking it off the bat. It wasn't until I had... Continue Reading →
Back Porch Studio 