Pottery. Photography. And All Things Handmade.
Dusted off and updated from an August 2019 post It starts with a lump of clay... A lump of clay is centered onto the pottery wheel then shaped into a simple cylinder and shaped some more. After shaping, the mug is ready to be taken off the pottery wheel and set aside to air dry.... 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 →
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... 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 →
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 →
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 →
“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 →
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 ☕️
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... Continue Reading →
Due to the rain and high humidity, the weeds have taken over. Daisy, Purslane & Thistle Yellow Woodsorrel (sour grass) Spotted Spurge/Prostrate Spurge creeping into the cucumber bed Largest Dandelion Ever Crab grass, purslane and yellow woodsorel making a home among the dill, basil and oregano I'm reading a lot about common weeds. Why? Because... Continue Reading →
Mine Mine and Mine 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... Continue Reading →
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 😉Next,... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
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. Mugs, after their 1st firing, waiting to be glazed. Glazed mugs drying. When I'm not glazing and firing,... Continue Reading →
The three cats are growing used to their new home so much so they have taken to venturing outside. The ginger cat has always been an indoor lap cat. King of his domain not sharing his human, food and space with other cats. Now look at him (photo in slideshow below)! All brave and outside,... Continue Reading →
We have had many cats through the years. Five over the past 30 years. When Miss Kitty passed away in October, I was done with cats and gave away all of our cat things. The cosmos laughed and laughed. Meet the newest additions to our empty nest . . . Yes, that's three cats. THREE!... Continue Reading →
2020 has sucked. It has really sucked. I lost my mom in June. Lost my mother in-law in September. And this week we lost Miss Kitty who was 20 years young. “The earth will never be the same againRock, water, tree, iron, share this greifAs distant stars participate in the pain. A candle snuffed, a... Continue Reading →
Back Porch Studio 