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)!