February 21 - Thursday dinner with good friends

Thursday I drove from where I was working in Wadesboro directly to Local Dish in Fort Mill, SC to have dinner with good friends.  It was nice to see Minke, Elaine, and Daniel again as its been a while.  It was fun to catch up over a fine meal.

Afterwards we took a stroll around downtown and looked in shop windows.  Fort Mill has quite a quaint downtown.

After a relaxing meal and walk, all too soon it was time to rush off again back to regular life.

Minke, Daniel, Elaine

A nice old building.

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February 20 - Wednesday face pot

I worked on the first of two face pots.  At one point this one's mouth reminded me of John Travolta, but not as much now.  I like it but I have a long way to go with them.

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February 17 - Sunday Ellen Shankin workshop II

When I got up on Sunday morning there was still a lot of snow outside from the preceding evening.  It was beautiful, but the most beautiful part about snow in Charlotte is that it will be gone by the afternoon.

The second day of the Ellen Shankin workshop was great.  Ellen educated us and entertained us with stories.  It all seemed to fly by and all too soon it was over.

When the workshop ended I headed to Clayworks to drop off the wheel and other equipment I used for the demo in Lancaster which was still in my van.  While I was there I got some glazing done.  I am curious about the outcome since I am using some of my favorite glazes but on white clay this time instead of the iron-heavy clay I usually use.

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February 16 - Saturday Ellen Shankin workshop I

Saturday was the first day of the Carolina Clay Matters Pottery Guild's Ellen Shankin workshop at CPCC.  Ellen was a joy to watch work and amazing to listen to.  She shared stories about her life, education, and career with us.  She studied with Gwyn Hanssen Piggot* at Goddard, then with Val Cushing at Alfred.

She shared her philosophies on life and pottery in her easy-going way.  I was in the right place at the right time to hear what she had to say.  I was very inspired by her ideas on form and function and her general philosophy on making.   I see changes coming in my own work.  Thank you, Ellen.

*I have included some links to Gwyn Hanssen Piggot's work here and here.

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February 15 - Friday night

Friday night I was at Chastain's Studio Lofts in Lancaster, SC for an opening that was also a fundraiser for Clayworks.  Part of the proceeds went to Clayworks educational programs so I did a wheel demo for part of the evening.  Kim took a turn while I took a break.

It was a nice evening with lots of happy people enjoying the event.  Carolina Blue played live music and, there was food and libations.

Kim at the wheel

Kim, Scott, and Shellie

Carolina Blue

Lots of folks in attendance.

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February 22 - Friday stolen video

Chris Staley, Penn State Laureate 2012-13 has some interesting thoughts on mistakes.

I saw this video on Michael Kline's blog and really like it, so in following Michael's wishes, I am posting it here.  Enjoy.





How'd I do Mr. Kline?

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February 12 - Tuesday kiln and plant stakes

Tuesday terra4m got together to make plant stakes for our upcoming Spring Sale (shameless plug:  Sunday, April 14, 2013).  Becky and Kim were firing a gas kiln so while waiting for it to finish we made our stakes.  It was good to be back together in the studio as it has been a while.

Becky, Kim, Chris, and Elaine.

I was obviously thinking of my yard when I  made my stakes...

I really liked the look of these stamps standing on end.

I think it's the depth and the random grouping.

The back pressure from the kiln peephole.

Becky checking the bottom peep.

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February 10 - Sunday weeding

When we planted our grass the straw we used was far from sterile and we now have a nice crop of hay coming up in the front yard.  On Sunday I started pulling it and used one of the empty buckets from the garage.

It wasn't until I had been working for a while that I realized which bucket I was using.  While the northeast was digging out of a major snowstorm I was using an old ice melt bucket to carry my weeds to the compost pile.

Oh, and I was outside working without a jacket.

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February 1 - Ben Owen III reception

Ben Owen III arrived tonight for the workshop this weekend.  We had a nice reception tonight with a great turnout.  Ben's slideshow documented his family history and that of the Seagrove area.  It also detailed all the steps he goes through to mix his clay and how he makes some of his large pots.

After the reception a group of us joined him for a late supper of sushi.  It was a relaxing meal with good friends and the perfect end to a tumultuous day.

I am looking forward to the workshop this weekend as it promises to be a good one.

That's Ben on the left.

Good slideshow/talk.

After a good meal.

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January 31 - Photos from the week

In the last week I made some new work and took some sun photos.  While I like to take photos of the sunlight at different times of day, I don't want to exert myself so I took these outside photos from the comfort of my car. 

I'm working with some loafers glory right now.  I thought I'd like to try some of our glazes on a white clay body instead of the iron-heavy clays I've been using.  We'll see how it goes.

By the way, I'm proud to say that Goneaway Pottery has reached 100 likes on Facebook.  Thanks everyone!

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