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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2013-01-23 Fired Empty Bowls

Wednesday I got my bowls back from the kiln.  I was pleased with most of them, with only a few that may need to be re-fired.  Here are some of my favorites.

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2013-01-20 Glazing Empty Bowls

On Sunday I glazed twenty-three bowls for the Second Harvest Food Bank Empty Bowls event.  As usual, I'm trying out some new glaze techniques and continuing with some of my favorite combinations.  Stay tuned for the finished product.

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2013-01-19 Replacement van

On Saturday I purchased another van to replace the one that got totaled.  It's a 2008 Hyundai Entourage with many creature comforts.  I'll let you know how the space works when I have to pack it for my next pottery sale.

2013-01-13 Plant Rescue

On Sunday Nick, Rick, and I went on a plant rescue trip.  Project Idlewild is a non-profit that helps rescue native plants before the bulldozers come in for new development.

Sunday we were in a tranquil pine forest where I kept drifting off the task at hand to drink in the peace.  We dug out lots of Christmas ferns and had to lug them up quite a grade to the road.  Despite the hard work, it was a wonderful day to be out in the forest and I'm looking forward to going back.

Nick and Rick at the bottom of the grade.

Hauling in quite a catch.

 

My bundles.

Some spent puffballs on a stump.

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Back --again

I have been away far too long this time (even for me).  I have been seduced again by the micro-blogging on Facebook and need to get back to my own little patch of digital earth.

I am not going to try one of my lame "catch-ups" this time.  I am going to hit a few important notes in the near past and move forward.

First things first. 

I had an accident on December 21, 2012 that ended up totaling my minivan.  I was turning across lanes of traffic and didn't see someone in the right turn lane that was apparently trying very hard to make the light.  Everyone was ok, other than a bit shaken.  My beloved van got the worst of it and I lost quite a bit of bisque-ware that was in the back.

Stay tuned.