2018-05-24 - Thursday - Yunomi and fish

Thursday night I made some more yunomi and started on some more fish.

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2018-05-22 - Tuesday - Pots

Tuesday Adrienne was making a stamped platter. I really love the way the different sized stamps give it a lot depth.

I made some darted pots. I enjoy making these and they seem to be popular.

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2018-05-20 - Sunday - Clayworks

I grab a bite at the Common Market sometimes on the weekends and I saw this magnet there on Sunday.

I was taking a break from making yunomi at Clayworks.

When I left, I left some footprints behind me.

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2018-05-17 - Thursday - Raku class firing

At Clayworks we have a Thursday night raku class. Greg teaches it and he pushes the boundaries of the medium. Sometimes he does a tumble stack on a large platter which he calls a dragon's eye. It really makes for some interesting results.

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2018-04-07 - Saturday - Clayworks Spring Sale

Saturday was the second day of the Clayworks Spring Sale & Open House. Here are some photos of my pots on display.

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2018-02-28 - Wednesday - Many things

The May Apples are starting to pop up. I'm always pleased to see that they like it in our yard.

Wednesday night I went to Clayworks and did the slip transfer on the cut rim bowls. Not too bad. I may have to do more of this in the future.

On the way out I noticed that tree again. I checked; it is a Bradford Pear. I'm not a fan, but it sure did bloom nicely this year.

I stopped at the store on the way home and was completely grossed out (again) by the latest Oreo flavors. Please make it stop!

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2018-02-27 - Tuesday - Josh Copus workshop, day 2

I wasn't planning on attending the second day of the Josh Copus workshop, but I couldn't resist going back.

Tuesday was more of the same high energy presentation with lots of fun stories thrown in --and pizza!

I want to thank Josh for the workshop, Denny Gerwin for the program at Queens and Molly Bloomer for heading up the art club and inviting me to the workshop.

Josh demonstrating decorating bricks.
(Molly is taking photos, top left.)

Denny manning the pizza oven.

Lots of goodies.

Denny's got the dough.

Josh is going strong with a new group of students.

That evening I went to Clayworks and made some larger Empty Bowls with cut rims. I'm planning on doing some slip transfer on the rims.

When I was leaving I noticed this tree out back. I'm not sure what kind it is; it could be a Bradford Pear volunteer, but it was striking in the artificial light.

I mean, just look at it.

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2018-02-22 - Thursday - Grass and raku class

I mowed the grass for the first time this year --in February. It's going to be a long summer.

Later, I watched the raku class at Clayworks fire the kiln. I'm not in the raku class, but I wanted to see them do a tumble stack glaze firing. It was fun to watch and yielded some amazing results.

February people! February.

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2018-01-21 - Sunday - Slip transfers

Sunday I went in to work on more Empty Bowls and start playing with slip transfers. I've watched Greg Scott work with the process for quite a while and decided to try out what I'd learned from him.

There was a whole lot of glazing going on when I got there.

Students glazing their work.

I settled into the third classroom to try out some slip transfers with underglaze designs I made. I was immediately taken with the process as the designs really popped when I applied them to the bowls.

Let me back up and give you a bit of the process.

First I paint designs on newsprint paper. I start with the black as an outline and apply color afterwards. Since the images will be reversed, the black is on top when applied to the bowl.

Next I cut the designs into strips and apply slip to the bowl and the strip of paper. I then place the paper, slip-side-down on the slip that's on the bowl, and burnish it with a soft rib.

 Finally, I peel the paper off the bowl and the underglaze design is transferred with the slip. As you can see, I played with applying the design to raw clay, to a fully-slipped bowl, and to a half-slipped bowl, using the transferred design to delineate the sections.

I see more experimentation in my future...

Speaking of Empty Bowls, tickets are on sale NOW. If you'd like to attend this wonderful event, please hurry to the website and get your tickets before they are sold out. I'll be there, and you should, too.


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2018-01-20 - Saturday - Empty bowls gather no moss

I was out in the yard on Saturday and was struck once again by the beauty of the moss on our driveway. You can still see a little bit of snow on the part of the driveway that stays in the shade.

Later, I went to Clayworks and threw some more Empty Bowls.

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2018-01-11 - Thursday - Clay and climbing worms

Thursday night I went to Clayworks and trimmed some more tea bowls (I've been making a lot of tea bowls). More to come.

When I got home I saw something on the garage door --earthworms climbing the door! I was amazed and thought I had found something crazy. When I got in the house I googled it and apparently it happens quite often. Who knew?

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2018-01-09 - Tuesday - Around

Tuesday I started out with a late breakfast (that was actually lunch) of beans and rice. Since it was brunch I put a fried egg on top. It was good.

Yum.

Later, for supper, we went to Taipei South and I got another fortune. I have news for the fortune writers: I have already been called to the high honor of raising two wonderful daughters. I can't think of a higher one.

Fortunate.

After supper I went to Clayworks and trimmed my tea bowls.

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2017-12-17 - Sunday - Bugs and pots

Sunday was filled with insects and new pots.

I found an insect above the door frame in the kitchen. After researching it, it appears to be a leafhopper assassin bug nymph. Sounds like it could be painful to touch it, glad I didn't.

 

I went to Clayworks to pick up my pots from the gas firing and while talking to Kira Campbell about her pots I noticed a brown marmorated stink bug on the handle of her tray.

Stink bug.

I'm really impressed with the camera on my new phone.
Detail of the same photo.

I picked up my pots and was very pleased with the results of the firing. I didn't like the way the re-fired oribe (green) pots came out, but I wasn't impressed with them before they went back in either. The rest of my pots came out great.

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2017-12-02 - Saturday - Manny, Moe, and Jack

I snapped another photo of my three-face pot at the sale. I do like him (and him, and him) so I tend to take photos when I can.

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