Busy, Busy, Busy

On Friday, I wondered out loud whose big, stupid idea it was to have a sale at my house.  I was tired and cranky and had lots to do to get ready.  On Saturday, it was all worth it.  The food was cooked, the house was clean, the pottery was set up, and I got to enjoy the day.  Wonderful!

A BIG thanks to everyone who made the trip out to the wilds of the greater Boiling Springs area to come look at pottery.  It was great to see you all and I am truly touched that you bought my pieces to give as Christmas gifts.  That might sound silly to you, but I am amazed and honored that people buy my pottery in the first place.  Something I made you like enough to buy?  And then you buy my pieces to give away to people you love.  Just wow.  That is a HUGE compliment.  

So that was this weekend.  LAST weekend I worked in the studio more than I had in a long time.  (And my lower back let me know that it was not at all used to all that stooping over the wheel.)  I had promised to do some things for Christmas presents and realized that it was December already and I'd better get started.  I won't go into detail or show pictures until after the holidays, but I'm excited about some of the new things that I've tried.  I am happy to say that everything that I promised to make is well under way and as long as there are no mishaps (exploding kiln or badly misbehaving glazes), I should be able to deliver on those promises.  I'm still keeping my fingers crossed though just to be safe.  

Christmas Sale

Susan Jones Pottery

Christmas Sale

Saturday, Dec 8, 2012

10 am to 4 pm

At the Jones's house:

1961 Maple Springs Church Rd, 

Shelby, NC 28152

(Contact us if you need directions)

I Call a Mall Success!

Yesterday was a really great day! 

It turns out that the mall was a really great location.  I was worried that the pottery-loving crowd would be down this year since the location had to be changed, but that didn't seem to be the case.  There were LOTS of people there, and all of the comments that I heard about the location were positive.  Since the potters were spread out, it didn't feel as crowded.  Everything was all on one level so we didn't have to worry about folks tripping.  It was much easier for those in wheel chairs to move around and see everything.  The temperature seemed to be more comfortable--not cold in the morning and hot by afternoon as is usually the case.

I saw a number of good friends yesterday--many that I'd not seen in a while.  It's always good to catch up.  Thanks for coming to visit Claire, Lilly, Joyce, Beverly, Cindy, Millie, Jeanie, Jordan (social networking at its best!), Amy, David, Athena, Michelle, Violet, and I'm sure that I'm leaving some out.

Here are some more pictures that I took right before we opened for business.  

This is the area where my booth was set up.  We were inside an empty store between the Hallmark and Bath and Body Works.  

In addition to the groups of potters in the other two empty stores (the old Walden Books location and Belk's Juniors department), there were booths set up in the hallway stretching from Kay Jewelers...

...all the way to Belk's.  

I'm all set up for the pottery show tomorrow.  Thanks to Mom and Dad for coming to help me with the set up.  It is not particularly fun, but many hands make the work go faster.  Sometimes many hands make the potter a little crazy.  I'm grateful that they are willing to put up with me.  We got finished in just about two hours which makes me wonder what I've forgotten to do.  I guess I'll figure that out in the morning.

I'd share a picture, but things aren't quite picture ready yet.  My booth is in an empty store right across the way from Chick-fil-a.  I'm in good company right next to Robert Martin and across from Ron Philbeck.  (I really hope that I am too busy tomorrow to get to talk to them much.)  Anyway, where my booth is located I had to leave room for the gate to close for the night.  Once it is opened up in the morning, I can spread out a little bit more and then finish getting all set up and ready for customers.

If you are in the area, I hope that you will come see us at the mall tomorrow.  This show is always a lot of fun.

Pottery Show Moved

For the past 11 years, the Carolina Pottery Festival has been held at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds.  This year, we have had to move.  There was an outbreak of E.coli at the fairgrounds earlier this fall that has not yet been resolved, so the decision was made to move the festival to be sure that no one is exposed.  

The 12th annual Carolina Pottery Festival will be held on Saturday, Nov 10 at the Cleveland Mall in Shelby. Kudos to the Board of Directors for making this difficult decision and for finding another location that would suit our needs.  

Potters will be set up in public spaces and several empty stores on the Belk's side of the mall.  Due to the open setting, there will be no admission charged for entrance to this year's festival.  The money raised from admissions normally makes up a significant portion of the operating budget for the next year.  The loss of this money could impact next year's festival, so if you attend, I hope that you will consider making a donation.  

Tradition Turners Pottery Festival

I will be at West Lincoln Middle School tomorrow (Saturday, Oct 13).  The show opens at 9 am and will be over around 2 pm.  I decided to do a minimal booth this year and left my tall shelves at home.  There's still plenty to look at if you decide to come to the show.  

I found myself looking at everything all set up and feeling pretty good about it all.  I know this sounds out of character for me.  Normally I am more disappointed in pieces as they are fired than I am excited by them, but looking at everything together (which I only do when setting up for a show), its not so bad.  It also doesn't hurt my ego any when other potters come up and tell me how nice my work is.  I don't believe them, but it is nice for them to say.  

At least I left the gym tonight feeling good about things.  Tomorrow if I don't sell much, it will be a different story.  

Raku Experiment

Remember these little guys from a few weeks ago?  I decided to raku fire all of them.  Really I didn't have much to do with the actual firing.  I put wax on them (to keep the glaze off the parts that I wanted to be naked.) and then Allen then took them to Gaston College and glazed them and fired for me.  

When they'd been fired, I ran them through the dish washer to clean all the soot off of them. 

And then followed that by a little shoe polish on the black parts and some future wax on the whole thing to give it a nice shine.  I am delighted with the outcome!  

I gave the shoe polish/future wax treatment to the other raku piece I had from last year.  Now Allen's finger marks are shiny.  

Re-Visiting Some Old Favorites

I haven't made any cookie jars in a long time, so I gave it a try this weekend.  This started with 4 pounds for the jar and 1 pound for the lid.  I think the lid could be a little smaller and work better, but this isn't bad.  I will likely do some more of these in the weeks to come and will experiment with different shapes and lid types.

I'm also continuing to work on chip and dip sets.  I've had a lot of trouble with these cracking on the bottom as they dry.  We shall see if I have found a solution to that.  It is very frustrating to work hard on something only to have it crack and have to be trashed in the end.  

Starting Out Small

I managed some studio time this weekend.  It had been a LONG time since I'd thrown anything, so I started with some small things.  The vases you see were thrown from 2 lb, 2.5 lb, 3 lb, and 2 lb.

Each piece started as a cylinder and then I shaped them differently.  The one on the far left has a shoulder and is flared out at the top, The next one has sort of a gradual flare all the way up, next is a piece with a belly and a flare at the top, and finally on the far right is a piece that is bellied out and closed in at the top.

The piece on the far right is also going to be raku fired eventually.  Allen had some clay that is specifically for raku and he suggested I try a little bit.  You can tell in the picture (I think) that it has a slightly different color than the other clay.  It also has more grog in it meaning that it feels more gritty when you work with it.

The last piece of mine that was raku fired turned out really well.  In fact, I liked it so much that I have it in my house.  The glaze did amazing crackly things, but what I love the most is Allen's finger marks at the bottom.  I was trying for roughly the same shape in the piece that I threw on Saturday.

Messy, Messy, Messy

This is a picture of the mess I made glazing a few pieces last Saturday.  The picture really doesn't do it justice.  It was much more unpleasant in person.

It has been a really busy week, so I've only been able to stop by the studio quickly on my way to work one morning.  Based on what I could see that came out of the last glaze fire, the mess is not over.  I don't know if the kiln malfunctioned in some way or if I just goofed up big time putting the glaze on.  That was the most horrible mess I've ever seen.

Is It REALLY August Already?

I'm not sure how it happened, but the summer is gone.  I've been back at work for three weeks, registration day is next week, and classes start a week after that.  I'm also not sure why I am surprised that the time has flown.  It always does.  What is different is that I used to get more time in the studio and would get to a number of projects at home in my time away from work.  No so this summer.

I've sort of been struggling with ideas and motivation lately.  I realize that this is due, at least in part, to the fact that I am spending a lot more time exercising that I used to.  Since I decided to register for two more triathlons and a half marathon over the next three months, training for those races is taking up more of my time and energy.  There's not as much "free" time to get to the studio and sometimes when I get there, I'm too tired to do anything.  Sad, but true.

All that being said, I have been working since last spring to build some inventory for the fall shows.  On days when I have no other ideas, I'll make a set of mugs.  I've also tried to stock up on the napkin holders that sold well last fall. I've got several, but could probably use some more.  Lately, I've been working on making chip and dip sets.  Those take a lot of time, so the going is slow.  This realization also is causing me to re-think how I price those pieces.

We are also all doing some experimenting with new glazes...or maybe I should say new combinations of old glazes.  The mug in the picture is an example.  I don't think the colors came through very well--the dark glaze is sort of red/brown.  What I like the most is where the glazes overlap.  This makes a very smooth surface look more interesting.  The trick will be to see if I can do this again.

So Pretty!

It's always so nice to see my pottery being used.  This bowl lives with our friends the Lloyds in Durham.

Spring Leaves

When these dry, the leaves will pull out or they will burn away in the bisque fire leaving an impression.  I plan to stain the leaf impressions with red iron oxide stain and then glaze the rest of the piece.  If I can pull it off, they will look really cool when they are done.  These are red bud and confederate rose leaves from my yard.  

Stacking Bowls

Here is the set of bowls that I made earlier this winter.  Finally glazed and finished.  I am very pleased with how these turned out!  And they stack!  

These took so long to get finished partly because there was a lot of stuff that needed to be fired.  But then, when the last of them made it into the kiln, another pot exploded and bits of it ended up inside one of the middle bowls.  I had to grind out the offensive bits, re-glaze and then re-fire.  

Lidded Casserole

In this picture, it is finished.

The picture isn't so great, and to be honest, I don't love it as much as I'd hoped to. The lighting isn't great--it's green and blue.  

First Time for Everything

The two pieces in the front of the picture at the right are the parts of a lidded casserole.  This is my first attempt at one of these.  (Ok, confession time: I did make one a long time ago, but it was not a good experience, so I pretend that it didn't happen.)  The low flat bowl shaped thing on the left is the lid and the slightly deeper bowl shaped thing on the right is the bottom of the casserole.

Now a smart person would have checked to see if the lid fit BEFORE removing it from the bat.  That way, if it is too large, it can be trimmed easily while it is still centered.  I'll do that next time.  (Sometimes the first time to do something new is a valuable lesson in what NOT to do.)  Sure enough, the lid was too big and I had to wait until it was dry and then sand the heck out of it to make it fit.  I was significantly too big, so I sanded and sanded and sanded and sanded.  Then I'd check the fit and do it again.  Not fun, but eventually effective.

I realize now that it would have been nice to also have a picture with the lid on.  Oh well.

We shall see what happens in the following steps of firing, glazing, and firing.

When the bowls just have to be the same...

At some point in the last week, I watched the video that I made to show how I throw my cake pans. This video is uploaded to YouTube and embedded in this blog.  After my video played itself out, there were links to other videos that a viewer might be interested in watching.  I think there's a way to make this NOT happen, but I haven't figured it out yet.

I watched one of those videos just to see what another potter might be putting on YouTube. His video was like mine in that he had his camera on a tripod while he worked at the wheel and talked about what he was doing.  This guy (I confess that I cannot remember the man's name.) was making condiment dishes and I thought I'd give it a try.  These are small little bowls that I cut off the bat and joined together (sort of mushing them) while they were still wet.  I let them sit overnight in the wet closet and then attached the handles when they were leather hard.  I've only made the two sets that you see here so far, and I have no idea how they will turn out.  The challenge here is to throw two bowls that are as nearly identical as possible.  Let's just say that I'm not an expert at this yet.  There's a trick to it that I've tried and will try to either photograph or video to share with you later.  I'm also still trying to decide what type of handle I want to put on them.   I'm not sure that either of these is the answer.

My other project for the weekend also involved throwing two bowls that are the shame shape and size.  These I then joined together to make a chip and dip.  I've done a number of these in the past they always sell.  In fact, while at the opening reception for Treasures of the Earth the other night, I got an order for another set since the one that I had in my display sold quickly.  (Keeley family if you read my blog, you'll see your chip and dip in construction.)

Booth Set Up

After I taught my Precalculus class this morning, I headed over to the Arts Council to set up my display for the Treasures of the Earth Pottery show and sale.

The opening reception is Thursday, Feb 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.  I'd love to see you there.  

Throwing a Cake Pan

For Jenni who wanted to see how I make cake pans.  

Bowls Bowls Bowls

Here's a photo of the set of bowls mentioned in my last post.  Five, four, three, and two pounds.  

So what have I done lately?

Since I've mentioned before that some days in the pottery studio are easier and more productive than others, let me tell you about my week.

Thursday afternoon I actually left work at the time I've scheduled myself to leave.  (This is noteworthy, trust me. I'm bad to work more than I'm supposed to.  Even after 20 years of teaching, I still hope to get DONE before I leave work.)  Leaving "on time" allows me time to go for a run before the official start of Thursday night pottery time.  I felt pretty good Thursday afternoon, so this plan seemed like a good one.  I changed, drove uptown, and did my run.  Cooled down, changed again, and prepared to do some pottery.  By that time, my energy was gone. Kaput.  I had nothing.  I was sweaty and hungry and couldn't focus.  I couldn't center and couldn't throw.  I couldn't make decisions about glazing the pieces that were ready to glaze.  I'm learning that when this happens, it is best to just go somewhere else.  In this case, I went home and crashed in my recliner.

Friday early afternoon I had about an hour to fill between leaving work (again very proud to say that I left "on time") and an appointment.  So I went to the studio to see what, if anything, I could get done.  I managed to throw 6 mugs.  Actually it was 7, but one slipped off the bat while I was working on it, so it had to be smushed.  (Yes, 'smush' is a word no matter what the spell check thinks.) Andy, one of the other pottery students, looked over at my side of the work space and commented on how productive I'd been in just under an hour.  Like I said, some days are better than others.

Then on Saturday morning, I was "on" again.  I made and attached handles for the 6 mugs that lived from Friday's throwing bonanza.  These are all on white clay and I actually have a plan for the glaze.  Often, I make stuff with no idea what I want to do with the glaze.

I also threw a couple of bowls.  I'm going to try to make a series of bowls of different sizes that I will glaze the same way.  Would anyone want a set of bowls that matched?  I don't know, but this is going to be a good exercise for me I think.  The one on the left in the pictures below was made with five pounds of clay and the one on the right is four pounds.  I think I'll try to follow these with a three pound bowl and then a two pound bowl.  The trick is to try to make them the same shape so that they actually look like they go together.  I'll try to remember to keep you posted on the progression of this project.

For your sofa table?

This post's for you, Judy Dover!  

Here are some things that might work on the sofa table you were telling me about.  The first two on the left are in two of the glazes that you liked from the cake pan you saw.  The other two are in a glaze combination that I really like that might also work for you. I was also thinking about vases and stuff that would work on a table and be pretty to look at.  Below are individual pictures with a little more detail.  

Green jar with lid.  About 7 in. tall.
$30

Red vase.  A little over 8 in. tall.
$25

Red/ivory vase.  7 in. tall.
$20

Smaller red/ivory vase. About 6.25 in. tall.
$18

MUGS!

I've had some folks express interest in purchasing mugs from me.  Since these people aren't close enough to actually come see the pottery in person, I thought we could try pictures here.  I've numbered each to make them easy to identify and indicated how many of each I have on hand right now.

I've also included a ruler in each picture to give an indication of approximately what size for each one.  Mostly the mugs that I make range from 4 to 5 inches tall.  For the ones that I have multiples (2, 3, or 4) the others that "match" may vary in size just a bit.

#1: One like this

#2: One like this.  

 

#3: Two like this.

#4: Two like this.

 

#5: Three like this.  

#6: Three like this.  

 
.

#7: Four like this.  

 

I HAVE been working....on pottery

The holidays are behind us and I am back at work.  (Classes start tomorrow.)  Lately, I've been really unenthusiastic about touching the computer.  Sometimes anything with the computer seems like WORK, and I just couldn't make myself do it.  I guess I needed a break.  Now that I'm back in a routine at work, I hope that I'll be able to keep this blog updated more regularly.

Even though I took a break from the technology, I have still been working away in the studio.  I've been busy getting some things done for Treasures of the Earth.  After the fall sales, I was completely out of some of the things that I've been making this year.  In the past few weeks, I've been making napkin/letter holders, mugs, bowl (of various sizes), chip and dip sets, and cake pans.

Be sure to put the opening reception for Treasures on your calendar.  There will be pots galore, food, drink, and good company at the Cleveland County Arts Council on Thursday, Feb 9 from 5:30 to 7:30.

Between now and then, I'm going to keep working on new stuff to show off (and hopefully sell)!