Little Dip Bowls Off the Hump

I spent some time in the studio today throwing little dip bowls off the hump. These are fun to make and a so useful too. I will trim them and apply slip tomorrow then do a little scraffito work. I can cover them with plastic and keep them damp for a few weeks to carve later. Here are a few bowls that have already been carved and are waiting for the next firing.
Throwing off the hump is a little weird and takes some getting used to. You really have to listen to the clay. This clay was telling me it was oversaturated with water. I will rewedge these blobs and try again some other time.

New Work in Progress

My kiln shelves are clean and have a new coat of kiln wash and my husband kindly replaced my kiln elements, so Shadrack is all ready for firing. After months of nonproduction I was finally able to spend some time throwing pots this weekend. I threw these and a few others on Saturday, then handled them Sunday. It felt great to get my hands back into some clay. My first 4 or 5 pots were total disasters and had to be rewedged. All went well until I got to the rolled rim. It has been so long since I made these baskets that it took me a while to figure it out. I just needed to sloooow down, use lots of water, relax. I finally got into the swing of things and enjoyed making these. They are drying under plastic now, but should be ready to bisque this weekend.

100th Sale on Etsy

Today was my 100th sale on etsy. I orignally opened shop November 20, 2006. My first sale was in January, it was the set of four mugs pictured above, which I excitedly shipped out to St. Cloud Florida. I can still remember this first online sale. I was so excited I jumped up and down and screamed. I had sold some work to friends and a bit at a craft fair, but this was the first time it that didn't seem like a sympathy purchase. This was my first actual set of matching mugs. I think they were pretty cute and the buyer got a bargain at $40 for the set and $6 for shipping, double boxed. I actually drew out a pattern for these mugs and planned the color scheme ahead of time. I still have the pattern in a file in the studio. Since then my work has improved tremendously, along with my photography and descriptions. It took me two and a half years to reach 100. I am hoping I can make 200 sales by the end of the year. I better get to throwing. Thanks to everyone for your support.

Blog of the Day

I just found out I am the Blog of the Day today on fuelmyblog.

Finally Fired

I finally fired my kiln and unloaded it last night. It took me forever to get this load glazed and ready to go. I have been working lots of hours at my nonpottery job. Here are a few of my favorites from this firing. These tumblers are a super glossy celedon green glaze that I consider to be highly lickable, a very important feature in a tumbler. I am sticking with the slightly curved shape and fat foot that I have been throwing recently. I think the size, weight and stability feel good in the hand. These are available for purchase in my etsy shop.

I noticed in this firing that my top shelf did not reach cone 5. My little witness cone was barely bent at all. I had a couple of items on the top and bottom with the same glaze. The ones on the bottom shelf turned a much richer color. Time for my first kiln repair. I am a little nervous.

Lucious Lime Green

I received two lime green goodies this week. The first is a cute little monster made by my daughter in ceramics class at school. Talk about 4 eyes! The second is a seed pod vase by Mary Anne Davis. I was thrilled to win this little beauty in a contest on her blog. Both are now happily displayed together in my kitchen.

In the Mood for Some Color

My pottery was featured in two lovely etsy treasuries today. These treasuries were curated by LilithEvy from Quebec who makes all kinds of bright, beautiful paper goods and JaEmArt from Australia who makes wonderful handmade vintage inspired clothing. Both treasuries are so bright and beautiful, they really put me in the mood for glazing and I have a lot of that to do.

Glazefest '09

Here is a little sample of the bisqueware I have fired and ready for glazing. I always find the pure whiteness of porcelain so intimidating, each one a blank canvas. The tumblers are similar to the ones I used in my last glaze test. I was so pleased with them I decided to make some more. I am hoping I get the same wonderful colors this time around. I carved a few one of a kind tiles, you can see the bird here. His feet are a little goofy, but we will see how he looks after glazing. Another tile I made will incorporate some melted glass bits, something I have been wanting to try for a long time.

I have been working several days a week, so I haven't had much time in the studio. It has probably been 3 weeks since I have touched clay and I have so many new things I want to make. This weekend is my daughter's dance competition. Go P&D! so that has kept me busy, next week she is getting her braces on, plus I need to have my car repaired from my very bad day last week in which I backed out of my driveway and hit a parked car and then a few hours later my car was hit on the other side by a friend. I am planning on taking Tues and Wed off for a glazefest and to throw a few pots. If all goes well these will be fired and available next weekend.

Etsy Front Page on Earth Day

I just found out that my eARTh Bowls were on the front page of etsy on Earth Day. I was also featured in the Esty Finds section of the Storque. Here is a link to that http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/etsy-finds-home-sweet-home-3815/

eARTh Day Giveaway

Congratulations to Debby the winner of my eARTh Bowl Giveaway. I was thrilled to learn that Debby is an art student and a potter. Debby has a blog of her own called Mud, Pies and Pots. She was nice enough to blog about my contest there and so she got an extra 10 entries.