new stuff

I've been working on some new forms for the Spring. I know...it's Summer, but I work ahead on these types of ideas.

The two oval forms in the middle are about 17 inches long. They will be slightly smaller when all the processes are applied...so maybe about 16-16 1/4 inches. The round plate will be approximately 10 inches across when it's all said and done.

At the same time I'm working on these plate-like forms, I'm also working on some wall pieces. I'm planning on framing them with some locally sourced wood...something other than pine.

The pine beetle damage is so bad that, coupled with the fire loses from the major fires last year there is a bazillion board feet of pine around. It's cheap to free in it's log form. Unfortunately I have my heart set on a more refined look. But fortunately, there are firms in the area which specialize in urban forestry and process ornamental trees as they become available.

I hope the prototypes will be finished sometime around Thanksgiving.

I'm not firing the raku kiln anytime soon. We live in fire county and it's high fire season.

The last picture is of a bowl that has been in my family for a very long time. It's about 17 inches in diameter...big. My earliest memory of the bowl had my Great Grandma "Mom" standing over it in a "house dress" and laying a tea towel over the newly kneaded bread. The bowl sort of rocked back and forth as she kneaded the dough.

I plan to make some forms using the bowl as the mold. Should be a very cool shape. I just hope that I don't think about the bread dough image too much and focus on the new shape.

Making it all the more interesting is that I have a couple of Great Grandma's art hanging on the walls of the house.