Working away and pimping my Facebook profile
Anti-fatigue mat for standing and throwing
On Friday, I drove to the hardware store because I was out of mapp gas for my torch and while I was there, I decided to pick up an anti-fatigue mat for my new wheel set up since I’m pretty sure, I’ll never sit down to throw again. The mat is cushy and much more gentle on my legs than bare concrete, but it has that noxious rubber/new carpet smell that makes me nauseous. Anyone know how to get rid of that smell?
On a side note, I was very sad to pull into my favorite mom and pop hardware store that’s been in Denver forever. The doors were shuttered and a sign read “Out of Business”. Instead of being able to run in and out of the store fast, I headed over to Home Depot to find what I needed and wandered aimlessly until I found what I needed.
Wheel thrown porcelain orb vases
This is one of my favorite forms to make. I’m not sure how practical they are, but I like them. I’m trying to figure out how to finish and glaze these after I bisque fire them.
The cool thing about my recent studio push is that a ton of new ideas are popping into my head every day. Making stuff is giving me ideas which makes me think that when I’m having one of those uninspired moments, I just need to do something in the studio – anything. I need to sketch/write some of these ideas in my notebookso that I can explore some of them after the sale ends. Today and tomorrow are really my last day to make work for the Colorado Potters Fall Sale opening in 2 weeks. Today, I’m going to make some butter dishes and tomorrow, I plan on making some ornaments. I figure the ornaments will dry pretty fast.
Hand built and wheel thrown vases with different necks and two in progress
I’ve also been playing around with different thrown necks for the slab built vase bases. I kind of like how no two are alike. Do you ever make stupid mistakes in the heat of making work for a show? I did that on Saturday and I swear, I almost cried and was cussing like a sailor at my carelessness.
2 slab built vase bases and 4 wheel thrown necks hit the deck – err make that concrete floor
Shelving is at a premium right now and I had placed a ware board with 2 vase bases and about 3 wheel thrown necks on an unstable surface…topple, crash, bang, boom. Lesson learned. If I’m going to take the time to make the work, I need to be conscientious of where I place it.
Work is drying everywhere
I think it’s time for me to fire a load of bisque and to start glazing so I can free up some room. My shelves are full and there’s no extra space for work. Consequently, I’m getting creative. If you look closely, that is indeed a margarita sitting on the drywall board. The drink was courtesy of my husband and was his way of saying, “time to quit for the day.” 
Meanwhile, I’ve been having a lot of fun playing around with Facebook. If you’re on FB, look me up. I’ve found a ton of old high school classmates and continue to add clay people to my “friends”. I even chatted with someone from Turkey the other day.
I also have a ton of blog posts lined up – too much to say, so little time. I actually sat down at the computer around 9 pm last night intending to write this post, but I didn’t have the energy to write.
That’s it for today,
~Cynthia
andrea
October 27, 2008 at 9:33 am //
Those orb vases would be awesome hearth decorations, depending on the size. As for Facebook, I need to check in there sometime and attempt to renew my enthusiasm.
Janet
October 27, 2008 at 9:50 am //
I have the same anti-fatigue mats. Eventually the smell dissipates, tho never totally goes away. Keep them outside and bring them in as you need them, tho that really is only a “make work” solution.
LB
October 27, 2008 at 10:01 am //
I prefer the Facebook page. It is much more business like, and helps maintain my anonymity!
Also, I created a Facebook page for my Etsy shop! Have you?? 
Undaunted
October 27, 2008 at 10:36 am //
Those new vases look great, and I love the orb vases! Wow, how on earth do you get the hole so small? And on the part hand built, part thrown ones, how do you make the joins (vertical and horizontal) without spoiling the pattern? (you don’t have to give away all your secrets if you don’t want to! I’m just very impressed!)
I know what you mean – I hate the smell of new things like that too. I’m not sure what the solution is though.
deb woods
October 27, 2008 at 2:32 pm //
beautiful orb vessels Cynthia. very graceful.
ang
October 27, 2008 at 3:29 pm //
wow margarita that’s one way to end the day…it’s really sad when you loose those little stores, we lost a little market down the road that’s being replaced by a ‘world class’ shopping centre- bah!!……you have so much going on happy completing and have a great sale too.
Anne W
October 27, 2008 at 6:26 pm //
i wonder if baking soda might help if only a little to absorb some of that noxious smell if you, say, moisten the mat using a spray bottle then sprinkle them super generously with baking soda and left them overnight.. then repeat. Works with other stinky things…
I bought one of those sets of kids’ foam flooring when my girls were babies (you know the ones that look like big jigsaw pieces?). The girls never really liked them so they ended up out in the studio. (renew, reuse, recycle eh?) They have worked fairly well without smelling too too bad.
Linda Starr
October 28, 2008 at 4:05 am //
Hi Cynthia, great new work, love the slab built vases and all the textures. Your orb vases are so beautiful – like I’d want to pick it up and hold it – a single orchid stem would be beautiful in those. I too am wondering how you attach the wheel thrown tops to the slab built vases without the seam showing and the pattern being destroyed.
So sorry about your vases hitting the floor – I know first hand just how you feel – I still havent gotten over my cracked tumblers and today I went to the studio to find my driftwood vase cracked too – same type of crack opposite side from the seam (exposed to the outside breeze is all I can think – I tried patching it with paperclay – won’t be using Dave’s porcelain any more – Windsor or Bee Mix are much better).
What is the advantage of Facebook over having a blog or in addition to having a blog. You meet other folks via there? I joined facebook but have yet to input my profile etc. as I wasn’t sure how folks connect there.
I think the only way to get rid of that smell is time – but putting it outside for a while might help it dissipate.
off this topic but – A while back you mentioned wanting to develop some bright glaze colors and I came across this article about three rare earth elements (now available at a lower cost supposedly) that give some beautiful colors – thought you might be interested.
http://www.brackers.com/special_pages/rare_earth_elements.cfm
I hope you post some of your glazed work for us to see. I wish you smooth saling in these last two weeks before the show.
Jerry
October 28, 2008 at 4:51 am //
This post gave me a chuckle because it is as if facebook is beckoning me to sign up. I just had my 20th high school reunion this past weekend and it seems that I am one of the only few not on facebook. I guess it is time. I’ll definitely look you up once I am on.
Those orb vases are very nice. A grouping of them would make a nice set. I had a thought that I might try to throw something similar with a larger opening (maybe off center), but after letting it dry for a bit, slice the top off (like a jar). Then a frog could be set under the opening to accommodate stems.
Meredith Heywood
October 28, 2008 at 5:17 am //
Interesting link Linda- thanks- what soft wonderful colors- something to come back to!
C- I hate when that happens and there was and still is a time when you have to figure a pot is suicidal- bam- they just throw themselves off the board- jumpers I call them.
It hurts non the less.
And Linda- sorry about the cracking- that is just as hurtful and somehow insulting- how dare the clay come apart when you are not looking- is this a new clay body for you?
I do like the white stonewares for their strength.
M
Linda Starr
October 28, 2008 at 6:21 am //
Meredith, I will be coming back to that link myself, this morning I was trying to find out how much yellow oxide to add to make my olive green celadon a bit greener, not bean green, but greener (muddy olive just isn’t doing it for me) and found it and thought of Cynthia.
Dave’s porcelain is new to me and it takes forever to dry, I am ruling this one out. The Windsor Porcelain is great – I will order more of that next time. On Laguna’s site it is listed as the best for small, medium and large throwing and handbuilding and is more versatile than any of the others – it must have a bit more grog than the others. I have heard of Big White but haven’t used it yet. I just like the color of the glazes on the porcelain better than the stoneware clays.
Mary T.
October 28, 2008 at 9:04 am //
Hi Cynthia,
Well, now that I’m sure you are on the rooster for the sale, I’ll go, as I didn’t see your name there when I recieved my post card yesterday.
I am sort of on face book, just haven’t decided what to do with it.
I’m also in process of getting an Apple and learning to use it. Whew! Still busy. It is best to be so. Good work ole’ girl! Actually, I’m sooooo much older than you.
Cynthia
October 28, 2008 at 10:54 am //
Andrea – thanks! The largest orb is about 8″ x 7″, but I have plans to make larger ones.
Janet – I think I’m going to leave the mat outside while when I’m not using it to see if that will help. The smell gives me a headache.
Diana – I like Facebook too, though I can waste a lot of time on the site. I haven’t set up a page for my Etsy shop because it’s currently empty. boo – I’ll probably fill it up after the guild sale ends. Though, I do have some new jewelry that I won’t be selling at the guild sale that I could start photographing.
Linda U. – I throw these smaller orbs as a closed form and then I cut a hole in the center with an X-Acto knife when it’s stiffened up a bit – though I’ll sometimes use a needle tool to cut an opening while it’s wet. For the larger orbs I’d like to make, I will have to make those in sections. The seam is totally visible where the thrown and hand built sections meet on the vases and mugs and I’m not trying to hide it. The key with the textured slabs is very gentle, minimal handling – but it takes a little practice.
Deb
Ang – Margaritas are one of my favorite adult beverages…though with winter coming, frozen ones are a little to, well, frozen. The closure of small family owned shops is sad….
Anne – I’ll give baking soda a shot. It’s worth trying….
Linda S. – on cracking – I keep my work covered incrementally in stages (tightly, loosely, draped, only on top, off) for at least a week (sometimes more) and don’t expose my work to wind or air once it’s constructed. I use a white stoneware for my slab work to minimize warping, though I do use porcelain for boxes. I also keep my thrown worked covered for quite awhile and I pretty much only use porcelain to throw except for the combo work. Porcelain has a tendency to warp if exposed to an air current.
Facebook is a mini extension of my blog. My blog feed gets picked up on Facebook and my contacts include people that don’t know me through my blog, so it’s new info for them. Facebook is interactive, and blogs should be too, but aren’t always depending on the author.
I’ve seen the rare earth pigment article before and got really excited about them, but alas, the price for the pigments is too expensive from my local supplier but I’ll have to check Brackers again.
Just checked – Brackers has Erbium Oxide (blue/lavender) and Neodymium Oxide (pink), but no Praseodymium (greens) Oxide because of extreme “price increases”. The chemicals come from Laguna – maybe I’ll check out their site instead.
Jerry – Facebook is sort of addicting, but fun. It’s very interconnected the way a blog isn’t because you can see what others are doing from one page.
I thought about grouping these too and also making multiple holes for single stems, but not adding a frog inside. Maybe I’ll give that a try tomorrow.
Meredith – I like that, “board jumpers”. Glad to know it’s not a unique phenomenon.
I suppose it wouldn’t hurt any less if I wasn’t under deadline, but it added a certain anxiety to the moment. Deep breath, Ommm
Linda S. – I think that’s why I use a white clay body because I love how the glazes are crisp and bright. The porcelain I use is very white, but the white stoneware is a little duller, but is really only noticeable to me or someone who would know to look for a difference.
Mary – I had to check the post card…I’m on there in alphabetical order.
I didn’t know what to do with Facebook for the first couple of months and then I just started playing with it. I’m probably not using it to its full potential though.
Undaunted
October 28, 2008 at 12:30 pm //
Thanks Cynthia. I didn’t know you could throw items with no opening.
I’m just amazed how you can join the two edges on your slab built items and match up the pattern perfectly.