Still Not Doing Much

I have to spend more time these days just sitting.  It annoys me, but I have figured out how to use the time that I am forced to sit with my foot elevated more effectively.  YouTube videos.  The main issue with watching videos on YouTube is that I then want to try to make ALL the pots on the video.  New ideas are good and I've been feeling a little stale in what I've made recently.

Here is the best effort from the weekend inspired by a Bill van Gilder video.

Let me back up a bit and tell you how I got there.  I went to the studio on Thursday afternoon after work like the schedule at the studio says that I will.  Sort of anyway.  I was almost an hour late because I couldn't get enough done at work to feel like I could leave.  It is just that kind of a semester. Things will improve after Nov 21, but for now, I am completely overwhelmed and swamped.  I was tired when I got there, and I tried to throw.

I made this.

I decided that I really didn't need to be there, so I went home and sat in my chair with my foot up.  I opened up YouTube on my iPad and stumbled across a video from Bill van Gilder.  Bill is a very accomplished potter who also has a gift for explaining what he is doing.  (If you would like to check out his YouTube channel, you can find it here:  https://www.youtube.com/user/vangilderpottery  There is also a nice website at https://www.vangilderpottery.com/)

Every time I watch another potter work, I learn something.  Every. Single. Time.  Ron Philbeck shared a video on FaceBook this week of the technique he uses to glaze the inside of cups (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5_1dakEWn4&feature=youtu.be).  Now I've got something to try when I need to glaze cups.  He uses a wrist twist that makes pouring the glaze out while getting all the inside covered look effortless.  When I do it, it is awkward and messy.  

By Friday afternoon when I was able to get back to the studio (I was late AGAIN), I was ready to try some of the things from the van Gilder videos.  The pot at the top of the page here is the one that turned out the best, but I did make a couple others that were OK.  

This is small, but if I can do this again on a much larger cylinder, 

it would make an awesome utensil holder.  

This casserole was round and then I squared the sides. 

I had tried this in the past with limited success.  This time, it was better.  The handles are van Gilder inspired also.  I was using up some white clay that I've had for a while.  I can't wait to try some of these things with some nice and soft speckled brownstone.  

A couple of weeks ago, I shared pictures of the communion set that I made for the church.  I got a picture this morning of some of the pieces on the beautiful communion table.  Last time I shared, there was a cloth covering up the inlaid wood detail on the table. 

I spent some time yesterday, dusting and rearranging my pots in the gallery at the studio.  I also put out some new pieces.  If you are in Shelby and happen to be passing by when we are open (The goal is: Tues 12-4, Thurs 12-6, Fri 2:30-5, Sat 10-2), please stop in and see what's there.  

It's a Start I Guess

Over the past couple of weeks, I've kind of passed through the studio a time or two just to check on things.  Saturday was the first time I spent any time there or tried to do anything.  I wasn't sure if I could throw pots with only 1.5 good feet, but it was ok.  Not great, but OK.  All things considered, I'll take it.  

I started with a plate.  

And then I sat down for a while and rested.  

 Next I made a vase.

Then I sat down and rested some more.

Next I made some cups.  I did two, rested, then did the last two.

 After that, I went home and took a nap.  I seem to not have much stamina these days.  It's frustrating, but I'm trying to be patient.

Man, I Was Nervous!

I've been working on pieces of a communion set for our church for several months.  I finally got the last piece fired.

There are actually more pieces to the whole set, 

but this picture gives you the general idea.  

We took them to church this morning.  I expected really to drop them off for Pastor Luke to unpack at his leisure...sometime later.  But no.  He wanted to use them this morning. I tried the "they really should be washed before they are used" argument, but he was not going to be discouraged.  Nothing would do but to quickly give them all a wash and get things set up for communion right away. 

I was so nervous.  I kept imagining bad things that could happen like the moisture leaving marks on the communion table, the chalice coming apart in the middle of serving, and the pitcher not pouring neatly.  I would have been so much more comfortable if I hadn't had to witness their first use.  Surprise, surprise there were no calamities. 

While I had the light box out yesterday, I took some pictures of a couple of the casseroles that came out of the last fire.  These are my two favorites.  

I'm not sure when I'll be able to get back to making stuff in the studio.  Soon I hope.  Right now, it's all I can do to go to work and then come home and elevate my foot to try to reduce swelling.  I am trying so hard to be good and not over do it so I will heal quickly.  It's been about a week and a half and I'm tired of this recovery crap. Once the bandage comes off this week, I think some things will ge easier, but it is still going to be a long time before I'm back to normal.