Footed Bowl

I realized the other day that I was out of larger bowls.  I hadn't made any bowls in a long time and had almost convinced myself that I didn't really like to make them.  These started with about 4 pounds or 4.5 pounds I think.  It might have even been 5 pounds.  That is a pretty basic bit of information that I should remember, but alas.  

I left a lot of clay in the bottom so that I could trim a big foot on the bottom of the bowl.  Allen has taught me to use a push pin in the bottom to keep from trimming too much clay away.  

Once I cut the bowl off the bat, I centered it on a foam bat so that I could trim it.  

First, I removed clay from the outside edge.  I trimmed in until I had the outside edge of the foot the size that I wanted. 

Next, I removed the clay from the center.  I slowly worked until I felt the push pin that I'd pushed in from the  inside.  That left about a quarter of an inch of clay in the bottom of the bowl.  

After that, I did some cleaning up.  

Then I worked to trim the outside of the bowl.  I had to trim away some of the clay to make the curve look nice coming into the foot.  

The finished bowl. 

I am really happy with how this turned out and I enjoyed making it.  So it turns out that I am better at making bowls than I remembered.  Of course, now that I've said that out loud, the next time I try it won't go as well.

Recovery

It feels like last Saturday's Carolina Pottery Festival was months ago.  First of all, I need to say a BIG thanks to everyone who came out.  Of course, HUGE thanks to those who made purchases,  but even if you didn't, it was good to see you.

After being on my feet selling pottery all day, getting packed back up and loaded up in the car, and then unloading once I got home that evening, I was exhausted.  Then, of course, I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about all that needed doing to get the pottery unpacked and back on the shelves where I store it.  It is not normal to be up at 2 am unpacking boxes, but I did it.  I've learned that it is just better to get up and do whatever it is that is keeping me awake.  So Sunday was a strange day after being up half the night.

This week has been what I'd consider much closer to normal for me, so I've had a chance to rest a bit.  I even took a nap this afternoon!  I got back to work in the studio Thursday night.  Got started on replacing some of the pieces that I sold last weekend.  I started out by throwing a large bowl.  My intention was to make that part of one of the chip and dip sets like I made earlier this fall, but it was too pretty.  I couldn't smash it. Then I threw another large bowl, smashed the side of it, and then threw the small bowl that goes with it.  After that, I threw two bowls for a different kind of chip and dip set.

I went back to the studio on Friday morning.  I joined the bowls on the first chip and dip and then worked on the second one.  For this set, I cut off one side of one of the bowls and joined them.  (These pictures are actually from one I made some time ago.)  If you look at this from the top, it looks like two intersecting circles.  They are rather labor intensive, but I think they are really cool.  I wouldn't want to do it every day, but sometimes the challenge is fun.

Can't Let Go

I did something this weekend that I'd not done before.  I had this cookie jar all packed up and took it to the pottery show on Saturday.  I unpacked it and then couldn't put it out for sale.  Yep, I put it back in the car and  took it home.  I guess I am not ready to let this go yet because I couldn't stand the thought of selling it.  I might have to keep it for myself.  I absolutely LOVE it.

This is a white clay called phoenix and the glaze is called Mexico Point Blue. This piece was fired in a gas kiln at reduction (where the amount of oxygen is reduced at certain points in the firing) probably at cone ten (real hot).  In an electric kiln, where there is no reduction, this clay and glaze combination results in a blue that looks a lot like Carolina blue.  I'm really not a big fan of that particular shade of blue.  At reduction, the clay body turns gray and the glaze ends up looking kind of faded out and antique.  

Our friend (and learned colleague) has sold his gas kiln, so this is the last piece that I will be able to get that looks like this.  Knowing that I'm not going to be able to reproduce it makes it really difficult to let go.  I'm going to have to give some serious thought to whether or not this needs to be in my kitchen permanently.

Pottery Festival Tomorrow

I spent today getting ready for the Carolina Pottery Festival.  It happens only once every 365 days and right now, I'm really glad.  I am TIRED.

It's been a very busy couple of weeks and today was really the first time I've been able to think much about getting ready.  I don't like to leave everything to the last minute, but sometimes there's no way to avoid it.  This morning, I packed up all the pottery, shelves, lights, and tables in the car.  It actually took all morning to get that done.  Then I spent the afternoon getting set up over at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds.  After standing up on the tile floor at home all morning and the concrete floor in my booth all afternoon, my legs and feet are really tired and a little bit sore.  (What's up with that?  I'm supposed to be a triathlete and fit.  I should NOT be so wimpy about this.)

I had some really great help in getting set up from my mom.  She is so much better at arranging things than I am.  She's also responsible for all the table drapes that I have.  So if my booth looks good, Mom gets the credit.  I just made the pots.  My good friend Athena also came over after work and helped me make sure that the new credit card reader was working properly.  I am very appreciative of all of their help.  They are also both really good company, so just having them around is fun.

I did get a nice surprise this afternoon.  I have a new booth space this year.  I have been moved to Dorton Hall--something that I've been hoping would happen for a couple of years.  The building is older, but the booth spaces are a little bit bigger.  The tables and shelves are all set up and there's enough room for a couple of chairs and a table for wrapping out of the way.  This is going to be a huge improvement.

I'm actually quite excited about tomorrow.  This show is such a good time.  I get to see lots of people and some of them even buy my pottery.  Honestly, I'm still kind of amazed that I can actually sell my work.  Grateful, pleased, honored, and amazed.  How the heck did I get here?  Tomorrow will be fun and I can't wait!  I just hope I sleep tonight.

Only 4 Days....

There are only 4 days before the BIGGEST POTTERY EVENT OF THE YEAR!  (Notice how I introduce things like the announcers on TV these days?)  The Carolina Pottery Festival is on Saturday, Nov 12 and will be open from 10 am to 4 pm.  There will be close to 100 potters showing and selling their work.  This is an excellent chance to see lots of pottery of all different styles and to take care of some early holiday shopping.

There was an excellent article in our local newspaper on Sunday about the local potters who will be selling their work at the Carolina Pottery Festival on Saturday, Nov 12.  (Click HERE to see the article.)  Be sure to scroll through all the pictures.  You'll definitely see some folks that you know.