Pots in use this morning.

This morning I had my tea out of one of my favorite mugs.  This mug was made by Joe Bennion of Spring City, Utah.  Joe's pots were some of the first salt glazed pots I saw when I began down this road.  His pottery and methods of selling pots influenced me greatly.  I have several of his pots that Sarah and I  bought when we visited his studio 5-6 years ago.

The bowl with cereal and blueberries is one of my new tall footed bowls.  I really enjoyed putting it to use.  I like the feeling of the tall foot and it was comfortable to hold in my hand while I ate out on the porch this morning.  I have several more of these coming out of the kiln today.

What was your dinner served on tonight?

I am always taken off guard whenever we go to someone's house for a meal and we get boring dishes that came from a department store or that they picked up second hand somewhere. (Or even worse, paper plates and plastic cups!)  I guess I'm so used to eating and drinking from handmade wares that I often take it for granted.

I'm in the process of packing up some pots that we have had around for several years and I'm going to gift them to some folks who I know will love to use them in their home.  I am also going to give some things to people who may not even be aware that having handmade crockery is an option.  It will be a good opportunity to educate some folks and to pass on the joy of pottery.

Tonight I made tortellini with a homemade tomato sauce.  I sauteed zucchini and yellow squash to go on top.  Delicious, and even better eaten out of some of our favorite dishes.

On the left a shallow bowl by Michael Kline, on the right a dish made by Marcia Tani Paul. In the back cups by Stanley Anderson (left) and Bulldog Pottery (right).

We have so many pots in our home that we use constantly.  It's really does make a difference to use a pot that works so well for it's intended purpose.  Just this morning I mixed up biscuit dough in a large stoneware bowl that I made years ago.  It was neat remembering back to when I'd made it and it held the contents of my ingredients just perfectly.  Pots that we have bought from other potters usually carry a story, from meeting the potter, to visiting them at their studio or at a show, that memory comes back each time I take a pot out to use.

In a world where most objects are bland, poorly made, and carry no connection to other human beings its great to have handmade pots in our home to use and enjoy.  I know it may sound cheesy, but they make life better.

Looking forward to tomorrow morning when I'll pick a favorite mug to have my tea in.  Wonder which one it will be?....

Scratching Away

Here's another video from yesterday.  You'll see all the pots in two stages.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Z-GuYtnRo

It was really nice to get some actual work done yesterday and to get these pots, plus a few more, into the bisque.  I have felt so unmotivated over the past 3 weeks or so.  I am getting things done around here but not much more than I absolutely have to.  I feel like laying down most of the time.  I don't feel depressed (not like my normal depression) so I'm not sure what this is.  I've had a couple really good days of late so I think that the Chinese herbs my acupuncturist gave me may be kicking in!

Anyhow, once these pots are glazed and out of the door then I will be making again.  I had planned on doing a cone 5 gas firing soon but my glaze tests came out looking like poo the other day so I'm scraping that idea for now.

Well, more later. I may talk a bit more about some of the recent deco when the new pots come out.  Thanks for checking in.

W.I.P.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfO_jEDME78

The Mugs

Remember this post?

Well today the mugs came out of the kiln and guess what?  The lady came to get them and she cried.  That's right, she loved them.  So much so that tears came to her eyes and she hugged me.  She told me how special they were, especially the personalized one and how she knew that they weren't my design but she appreciated how much trouble I went to to make them for her.  She said otherwise she'd have had to track down the other potter and order a mug and have it shipped etc.  She said she knew her husband had other pots of mine but that these mugs (made bigger, with bigger handles) suited him and he would use them constantly.

So.

So am I a jerk for complaining about this?  Naw.  But, it does make me think that there is more to being a potter than just having a style and making pots that represent me.  These mugs were made for the person who will use them.  They will bring joy to his day.  They are good mugs.

I stood there all smiles as she went on about how happy she was and it really made me feel good inside.  (I also felt like crap for complaining to begin with and I also wondered if somehow she had read the post here on the blog)(I don't think so).

Well maybe I learned something today about kindness, and giving, and generosity, and making things that make others happy.

Two Firsts

I baked homemade buttermilk biscuits from scratch this morning.  My first time.  They came out okay I think.  Maybe could have been a bit more fluffy, but they tasted good.

When I was in Seagrove for the Osmosis show I stayed with Anne and Adam.  Adam got up one morning and made biscuits.  I secretly watched him from the dining room and made a note that I'd try it when I got a chance.  I liked that Adam cut his biscuits into squares so I went that route this morning.

I also made sausage gravy to go on the biscuits.  I didn't take a pic, sausage gravy isn't very photogenic.

Another first is this Butterfly dish.  I've put a Butterfly on a tray along with a Bird and Flowers but this is the first pot with a solo Butterfly.

It went up in my Online Shop this morning.

Unloading the kiln later. Stay tuned for more images.

Video: Throwing a Foot on a Bowl

I recently purchased a Stan Anderson cup with a thrown foot ring.  I tried my hand at this and was happy with the resulting cups.

I like the tall foot and the unique statement it gives to the pots.  It's a different feeling from a cut foot ring: having a softer feeling to it.  I like also that it has the opportunity to carry some throwing marks and carry on the feeling of the rim of the pot if you choose.

So I moved on to some bowls.  Here's a clip showing how it's done.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by0kVP-RchE

The bowls drying:

And a slipped bowl ready to be decorated.

I've decided to slip the outside of these leaving the rim and foot ring bare to show the red clay.  The interior will get some deco as well as the exterior.

Regret

There will be no pictures in this post because I'm so ashamed of the pots I'm about to write about that I will not show them!

A week ago a customer called and asked me if I'd make her husband a certain shaped mug like one that they had bought several years ago from another potter.  Evidently they had bought a couple of these mugs and one of them was the husbands favorite.  He had recently broken it and she wanted to replace it.

So I said yes and for her to come by and see me.  When she got here she showed me the mug and I said sure I can do that.  It was a well made pot, not a shape that I'd ever make and it had a handle that I'd NEVER, EVER make, still I said okay.  Well she said that she thought she'd go ahead and order 4 from me.  No problem.  And since father's day is coming up could I do something special on the one for the husband? (They have 2 small children).  Sure I can.  Can you write Best Dad on it? Yes.  Wait, how about Best Daddy?  Okay, sure, what about the other 3?  Well I just want them white, inside and out.  Okay.

Okay we need a picture here, just to break up the monotony of this story.

Right. So I made them and I won't even stamp my name on them.  I really dislike the way they look and I hate the handles.

Why did I do this?  Well, mainly because I like her husband.  Why didn't I just say, "Hey, I think I can make one of my mugs that I think he'll like, it will have all the qualities of the other mugs."?  I guess it was easier to just say yes I'll do them like the old ones.  She's a bit intense and very chatty and I think my submissive part kicked in at some point while she was here.  Sarah even said that she was surprised that I agreed to make them.

So, lesson learned.  I'll be glad to get them out of the kiln and away from here, esp. the Best Daddy one.  It looks like something straight from the mall.  grrrrrrr.

Self worth

Sarah told me of an article she read about people who get their sense of self, or approval, or self worth from all their cyberspace interactions such at blogs, twitter, facebook etc. I wonder if my last post gave her cause to worry about me?  Ha.

So my friend Anne send me this picture of an old pot of mine that she found in an antique store in Asheboro, NC.

That's a pretty nice little jar.  I'm glad Anne got it.  I should have asked her what she paid for it.  I think back in the day I sold those for $28.  At one time they were probably even cheaper.

This is my new favorite dish that Anne and her husband Adam made.

Salt glazed porcelaineous stoneware with inlay deco.

I love the flashing around the wad marks on the face of the plate.

Check out Blue Hen Pottery for more about Adam and Anne.

No Comment

Back in the saddle here, getting some special orders all made today.  I feel like I haven't made a good run of pots in ages.

Next week I'm starting in on something brand new, sort of.  Just to keep things interesting and to take some risks.  You'll have to wait and see what that's all about.

I have noticed a decrease in comments here on the blog, but looking at my stats I see I still have boo-coos of visitors each day.  I remember early on when there were just a few pottery blogs that the comments were very much like a discussion board.  Now, with all the blogging going on it seems like we all leave fewer comments.   I read several blogs a day, or check in and I don't comment like I used to.  My Reader is pretty much overflowing with unread posts of others blogs.  I like commenting when I can but it's become hard to chime in to all the posts.  Anyhow, thanks to those who occasionally, or frequently, leave me a comment, and thanks also for those who are checking in when they can.

Second Generation Pottery Lover

Ronan's oldest son Nolen shares his father's love of pottery.  This cup is going home with Nolen.  He  special ordered a plate with a diplodocus on it (he loves dinosaurs more than pottery!!).  I'll get to work on that today.

More From the Penland Weekend

Here are a few more pics from my trip up to Penland.

Above: Looking at pots in Micheal Kline's yard.  MK had put the pots out for his studio sale a few weeks ago. Since then the grass has grown so it was a bit like searching for four leaf clovers.

Soda fired porcelain at Gay Smith's pottery.

A tall vase at Stan Anderson's studio.

Michael Hunt (in red) talking to students in front of the showroom.

Recent pots from the Hunt/Dalgish kiln.

Pots from Shawn Ireland's latest wood firing.

More of Shawn's pottery.  Shawn will be having a Home Sale this Friday, Sat, and Sun during the Trac Studio tour.

Treadle Knee

I was splitting wood with the wood splitter today and piece popped out and hit me in my left knee. Ouch. That's my treadle leg you know.

It felt like getting hit with a sledge hammer in the leg. So it's iced up right now, and Sarah made me a gin and tonic so I think I'll be okay.

Stanley Mace Anderson

Ronan took his class out to visit several potter's studios in the Penland area while I was there.  I was excited to hear that they were going out to Stanley Mace Anderson's pottery, so I decided to go along too.

Stan is an icon in the majolica world.  He's been producing his unique style of majolica pottery since the late 70's. (See article HERE).

Stan was very generous and talked to us all about his pots and process.  I love Stan's brushwork and the expressive quality of his forms and decoration.  He had shelves of work waiting to be decorated.

He had been working here at his wheel on some trays when we arrived.

This next image is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen in a workshop. Stan's pots of colored stains.  I imagine these have been 'growing' here as they have been used over the past 2+ decades.

There were also shelves full of finished works.  Cups, yunomi, bowls of various sizes, many, many plates, platters, and other tableware.  All useful, all beautiful and rich in color.  I had to have a yunomi.

Stan shared that he has been brushing some white slip onto the work at the leather hard stage. This is not normally done in majolica.  The slip is loosely brushed over certain areas and sometimes he will scratch through it.  The slip gives some sense of movement under the majolica glaze and the marks give some texture.  I thought this was really brilliant.

I totally fell in love with the separately thrown and added foot on the yunomi.

I'll be trying this soon.  Stan also does this on some tall footed bowls and tureens, as well as ewers and tall teapot forms.

This is the first majolica pot I have ever bought!!  I am happy that it's one of Stan's and I'm pretty sure next time I go back I'll be getting a plate.

 

Penland Weekend

Good day from Penland School!  I came up yesterday to be a visiting artist for Ronan Peterson who is teaching a class here this session.  It was so nice for Ronan to ask me to come up for a couple of days and it's really been fun for me to share some of what I know with his class.

A few early birds in the studio on Sunday morning.

Collaboration in progress between Ronan and me. (Thanks to Mark Errol for suggesting that I do the Rabbit motif and placement on right hand jar)

A few of Ronan's finished pots.

Some of the pots Ronan is working on.

Today we are going out to visit some potter's studios in the area.  I'm looking forward to that, but first Brunch!!  The food here at Penland is always delicious.

More later.

Happy Friday Everyone

Yay Friday!!  Where did this week go?  Well who cares, I've got a good weekend planned and I'm ready to get on with it.

I'm heading up to Penland School to visit with Ronan Peterson's class and do a couple demos for them.  It will be nice to have some time there in that environment full of energy and creativity!

Here's a paper cut that I've been working on this morning.

I am doing okay getting the outlines done, I have to work on getting the little detail cuts inside now.  This is approx. 7" x 4" or so I think.

I broke a pot yesterday and Sarah just broke one this morning! Not good.  Thankfully they were both ones that I had made.  I broke a nice cereal bowl with an Owl and Sarah broke her favorite coffee mug, an Obamaware pot that I made back in 2008.

Thanks to everyone who viewed the videos.  More to come.

My Cup(board) runneth over

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in5VqG7qHN0

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ixZ76zC-zA

I've listed some new pots in the Etsy shop this week.  Have a look. Thanks.

New pots for Osmosis

I'm all packed up and ready to head to Seagrove tomorrow.  Here are some of the pots that I'll have at the Osmosis show this weekend at Tom Gray Pottery.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfBGdEy4s4A

I am also excited to be in Seagrove during the Cousins in Clay weekend.  I'll be heading over there on Saturday to see all the great pots!

Contest!

Hey, its been a long time since I've had any sort of contest here. So here goes.

The first person to correctly name who made the pots in the following photograph will win a paper cut.  (If one of the pots is yours then you can't participate, sorry)

Good Luck.

Cuttin' Up

I was going to title this post "I'm a Cutter" but I didn't want my therapist getting a bunch of calls.

I got my scalpel, blades and cutting mat today!!  So I dove right in and did a few cuts.

Oh, I haven't mentioned this have I?  Right, well I got a bit interested in paper cutting when Hannah was here.  We were at a shop in Charlotte called the Paper Skyscraper and Hannah pointed out a Rob Ryan mug.  She told me how popular he was in England and said I should look him up.  So I did and I totally love what he does.

And it looked not too different than what I was doing with the deco on my pots!  So I ordered a scalpel and some blades and a cool cutting mat.  "Why a scalpel?"you ask.  Why not just use an Exacto knife?  Well, first off because R.R. uses a scalpel AND totally because it's much more cool than an Exacto!!  "What kind of tool do you use Ron?"  "I use a scalpel."  "Wow! You're totally rad!"  Okay so that's just in my head right.

I did this first.

Which I glued to the wall on top of my favorite Tommy Kane print.

Here are my new toys.

And a few more cuts I did.

So I'm just fiddling along, I have no books on this or anything, but it seems pretty straight forward so far. I want to make some bigger ones and some circular ones too.  We'll see.

Fun!!!