Covered Porcelain Box with Decals
Seashore themed porcelain box with decals
This covered porcelain box is long overdue! Make that past due…. I made this on my Mom’s request as a gift for my niece for Christmas. Yep – I said Christmas. I’m only, what? 3 months overdue. Ouch. The box was constructed, bisque and glaze fired in time – however it didn’t survive the glaze fire entirely. The lid was glazed shut and 2 of the feet stuck to the kiln shelf leaving some rather large divots because my new Skutt 1027 is firing really hot.
Back side of porcelain box with decals
I managed to pry the lid off with minimal damage and also filled in the feet with paper clay. I sanded problem areas down and refired. When I added decals to my kid’s cups last week, I decided to decal this porcelain box too – based on my Mom’s original request which was a “sea shore theme” because my niece, brother and sister in law spend time at the shore nearly every year. It’s one of my niece’s favorite pastimes. 
So, here it is, finally finished and looking mighty good, I might add! Mom, I hope to have this in the mail to you this week sometime – sorry for the delay.
Back of porcelain covered box
Meanwhile, I really like using Ubuntu – in fact I’m writing this post on my Ubuntu sign on. For the most part it’s fairly intuitive, but I have had to familiarize myself with the OS and have been customizing my space. I do have a dual boot – so I have the option of booting into Windows or Ubuntu when I fire up my computer. I’d like to cut the cord, but haven’t had the nerve yet. I like all the FREE (free as in libre) open source software that is available – there isn’t one software package that I can’t find to replace what I have on my Windows sign on. The only bummer about writing this post is that all my photographs are saved in Windows and I can’t access them from Ubuntu. I’ll have to switch over to Windows to finish this post. Firefox, my favorite browser, also behaves much better under Linux – yesterday Firefox crashed at least 5 times when I was in my Windows login.
There is even a little decal on the lid of the box
There are many different distributions of Linux – Ubuntu happens to be friendly for beginning Linux users. There are other beginner friendly Linux distributions out there too, but I decided on this one thanks to the very helpful Ubuntu Community. I know I sound like a newly converted evangelist – but seriously, I’m not sure more people don’t know about alternative operating systems. I can’t compare a MAC OS because I have such limited experience with it – but I know it’s not free.
| Operating System | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu (Linux distribution) |
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| Windows XP |
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Okay, there are more pros and cons out there, but this is what I’ve noticed so far.
Happy Sunday,
~Cynthia
Slab Built Clay Projects
Lino-Cut Printed Covered Box
I finished the lino-cut printed box on Wednesday and sort of like how it turned out. When I make another, I plan on making the feet larger because I would like to see it raised up just a tad more. I also incorporated the printed flower motif into the knob which works – after bisque firing, it will be decision time in regards to glaze firing since this is always a stumper for me.
In the meantime, I borrowed a Bill van Gilder DVD from the Colorado Potters Guild library about a week ago. The video was produced in 2008 by the Jackson Pottery & Clay Guild and the Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History and is titled Bill van Gilder The Functional Pot: Tips, Tools & Techniques. I haven’t watched the entire video yet, but based on what I have watched, Bill has some excellent tips and techniques that he shares with viewers. I think I’d like him in real life – he seems genuine and down to earth.
Slab Bowl with Stamps
This shallow Square shaped bowl is one of the projects that he shares on the DVD – easy to make, and is endlessly customizable to suit one’s style. I just happened to have some rubber stamps sitting around to test adding texture to the project. I rolled out a slab about 8″ square and then centered the slab over a 2″ block of wood. Where it dried inverted until it was leather hard.
Side View of Slab Bowl
The side view of the bowl is pretty dramatic since I gave this a fairly wide rim. I did use stoneware clay in the hopes that the rim won’t slump during glaze firing – but I suppose the results of this experiment will dictate the rim size for future bowls. I also added feet to the base to raise it off the table top ever so slightly.
Oval Slab Bowl with Handles
This oval shaped bowl was also a project that he demoed in the video – and I just happened to have a form that I was able to use to mimic his project. I added hollow shaped slab handles to each end. I can’t remember if he added handles to his or not – he might have used coil handles since he demoed that technique quite a bit in the video.
Oval Slab Bowl with Handles Side View
After taking this photo, I adjusted the height of the left handle to match the right one which sits at a lower angle. Sometimes, my eyes don’t see what the camera does and vice versa. I debated whether to add feet, or a rolled foot to the base, but I knew that I wanted to raise it off the table surface for glazing purposes. When I’ve made slab bowls in the past, that’s one thing I’ve wanted to correct because when there’s a flat expanse in contact with a table top or kiln shelf, it makes glazing a pain in the behind.
Now, I really have to run. My daughter in interviewing at the Denver Center for International Studies this morning for middle school and we don’t want to be late….
Have a great weekend,
~Cynthia
Happy Belated Birthday Mom!
Stoneware Poppy Box
I’ve been a bad girl. When I say “Happy Belated Birthday” – I really mean inexcusably late, like maybe I should save it till next year late. My mom’s birthday was July 11th – yep, I’m 5 months late in finishing her birthday gift. Spank me now.
Poppy Box
No excuses really, just procrastination to the extreme.
Poppy linocut
After all, I carved the linoleum back in June and after looking at my original files, I constructed the boxes on June 9th – which would have given me a month to finish her gift.
Unglazed
This was even bisque fired in Sept – so I’ve had plenty of time. Mom, I’m so sorry and I hope you know that I love you! I’ll pop this in the mail this week. Think of it as a Christmas appetizer – xoxo
Till later,
~Cynthia
