Blog Archives

more from yesterday

4/27/2016

The day after I fire the kiln I get the glorious honor of washing the smoke and bits off of the work. Oh joy.

I do find it better to do the task the day after the firing and not wait until the last minute. First, last minute doesn't work that well for raku because the smoky aroma (I'm being PC using "aroma") is usually pretty strong and can waft through the booth in a not good way if the piece is not washed (and dried)...so last minute can not be the night before a show. Last minute in the case of raku is a couple weeks before the event. BUT, more importantly (sort of) is that I find that if I wait, I seriously dread the job more...or at least for more days. So, while I'm not really a finisher but a great starter...this is one of those jobs that is better finished sooner than later...like today in the case of the recent firing.

The good news is that as I'm washing I get a very good perspective on each piece. I have a unique opportunity to evaluate pieces within their firing context and before I forget what I might have applied to them.

smallish load...but quality is better than quantity right?

4/26/2016

Today was the last raku firing before we head on down the hill to Pasadena and Vogue Knitting LIVE in just two weeks. At the same time that I'm getting bits ready to go to Pasadena, I'm working towards TNNA in June, building out (and stocking) our own shop, finishing a custom image job for a shop on Cape Cod, working three new product groups, building stock for out Amazon shop and oh my...we will be at the Black Sheep Gathering just 10 days after TNNA.

Of course I have a little one day fair here in town this weekend. What was I thinking when I signed on for that one anyway?

It's crazy busy now. That's a good thing right?

silly mistake (okay...it was stupid)

4/25/2016

Today I'm working on some pages for the new website. It's rained recently and the clay stuff just doesn't want to dry enough for me to work...that's my excuse anyway.

It's been interesting stretching my brain around another website. The first one (about 20 years ago) was much easier to construct. Of course it was also simple in that it couldn't provide all that much either. I suppose like anything there are trade offs.

The silver nitrate marks from the recent firing have started to go away. I didn't wear gloves. I won't be making that mistake that again anytime soon. I was thinking that a brush distance away was going to be enough. I mean with the dilution of a bazillion to one and then application with a brush what could go wrong?

Luckily it wasn't in my face. Not that I'm vain, I just like my eyes the ways they are. So with that in mind, safety glasses go into the shop beside the boxes of gloves that could've/should've been used but weren't. The gloves are in a dispensing rack next to all the chemicals.

So why would anyone use a chemical that leaves black marks behind when contacting the skin? I suppose for the same reason that one might do pottery at all...it's alluring...it draws you in...and in my case it's very much an addiction.

it's all good

4/24/2016

Another day "in the trenches" I suppose. I often find myself going to another place and time when I'm making the button blanks...sort of zone out if you will. It's a Zenish thing...the process is a means to an end. By working towards perfecting my process, the end product becomes better. Each button is approached with the goal of a better process than the one before so that the button following can be better.

One of the most marvelous things that happens as I "Zen out" on the process, is that I come up with more ideas based on the process. New patterns, new techniques and new color ways all sort of appear as I work along.

So while I might share that there is a mundane nature in this part of the process...it's all good.

more lickin flames

4/23/2016

I love the shapes made by slow flames lickin across the surface of the logs in a cabin fireplace. Flames are not the reason I love raku and saggar firings but they certainly are an added benefit.

forty schmorty

4/22/2016

A couple weeks back, I was at the ceramic supply store and the wonderful and very helpful associate looked up from my "want list" and said, "Are you sure you need a pound of that, it's $40 per pound." I told her that I did...and then closed and kept my mouth shut.

What I didn't tell her was that one of the chemicals I use is about $1 per GRAM...that's about $450 per pound...heck, $40's a bargain right...sort of like buying a $200 pair of shoes on sale for $100...so what if they're yellow with green dots...and those pink feathers? ...they'll fall off in a couple of evenings.

is mayhem predictable?

4/21/2016

Sometimes the back is as interesting as the front. This is a new variation on one of our standard glazes. Predictable Mayhem...I should call it that.

is this really work?

4/20/2016

Sometimes I forget that what I do is "work"...just too much fun. Today was one of those days...75 degrees and it really didn't bother me all that much that I was inside, because I was in that strange "zone" when time slips by and it's all good. Even making more boards of buttons didn't phase me. Got to love it, but can this really be called "work?"

Where do ideas come from

4/18/2016

I am frequently asked where I get my ideas...where do the inspirations come from if you will. Well...how about just outside my front door? I think that the inspirations come from a lot of places and things for some people...but that other folks don't allow themselves to be open to the inspiration to be nurtured.

If you think about it, many of us have been to Yellowstone or Yosemite or driven across the Golden Gate Bridge but not all us were inspired by the event in the same way. It's really not about being inspired by something as much as it is about letting that something inside us and then nurturing it so that it grows into something new and exciting.

odin in the house

4/17/2016

Odin is up at Hobnob for the weekend. That gave us time to work on his special project (and Mother's Day gifts). First time he's had his hands in the clay. He use all his muscle power to roll the slabs and then ALL his self control not to flip his hands when I brushed on the color. We went over how to spell his name in capitals (he's good to go on the lower case version)...and practiced the stamping on scrap.

He was not happy when we finished...he had a good experience. Getting clay on his hands and clothes is a good thing...he didn't get any in his hair...next time.