Posts Tagged “stoneware”

Relief printed hand built stoneware mugs

I meant to write a blog post yesterday or this morning, but my flash image uploader in my wordpress dashboard wasn’t working and I was forced to upload one photo at a time.  Quelle horreur!  Stomping my feet impatiently and yelling at my laptop didn’t seem to solve anything.  So, today, I did a little computer clean up and also investigated the image problem.  After perusing the WP support forum, I discovered that the new version of Adobe Flash 10 is not compatible (apparently this will be fixed with the next release of WP) - so I had to roll Adobe Flash back to version 9.  What a pain - but, I’m happy to say that my uploader is now working fast and properly so here I am writing this post at 8:40pm on a Monday night.

Relief printed frog stoneware covered box

Sales were good at last weekend’s Colorado Potters Guild Sale.  I really wasn’t sure if they would be given the economy right now.  Maybe folks are feeling a little more hopeful with the election results?  I sold quite a bit of my new work and even some older work that doesn’t quite match what I making now.  Out of 35 mugs, I took home 5 (deservedly so - I will be reglazing them this week).   I love getting this kind of feedback!

Lots of folks remembered my covered boxes from the spring sale and were asking where I hid them.  I only had about 5 and came home with 0.  I meant to make a bunch of boxes for the sale and just plain ran out of time.  I accepted a couple of special orders for boxes at the CPG sale that I’m going to start working on this week at a leisurely pace.  These aren’t something that I can rush - they take time and careful consideration depending on the theme.

Hybrid mugs - hand built and wheel thrown

People really liked my new mugs - good thing since I like making them!  The relief printed ones in the top image of this post were the first to go, I guess that means that I should really make more of these in the future and also expand my lino-cuts.  I haven’t committed to any more sales events before the holidays - something about which I’m happy.  I plan to continue exploring shapes and different ideas and will also stock up my Etsy shop, which is currently empty.

Hybrid vases

I like the vases - but need to refine them just a bit more.  They would also make a good sized pitcher if I added a spout and handle.

Meanwhile, I spent yesterday reading and commenting on my favorite blogs since I hadn’t had the time to do so the week leading up to my sale.  It feels good to get back to a normal routine.  I know my family has enjoyed having me back. 

The good news is that I have a full kiln load of glazed work that I didn’t get fired in time for the sale which will help fill my Etsy shop.  As soon as I reglaze the mugs, I’ll push the start button.  This week I’m also going to start adding images to my gallery page - I’d say it’s about time, wouldn’t you?

Have a great week,

~Cynthia

Hand built stoneware cup with square base

I’m continuing to work on the lessons I learned in the workshop that I took last weekend in an effort to make the work my own.  This cup is one of the results and one I’m going to continue developing.  I like the square base and the round top.  My original intention was to make the entire cup square, when my husband mentioned that a square rim might make the functionality tricky.  He asked if the user would have to drink from a corner.  Given that it’s a fairly large cup with a large rim expanse, I tended to agree with him.  So, this cup was the result of our discussion.

Poppy relief printed stoneware box

Remember my lino-cuts?  I finally finished one of the boxes 2 days ago.  It’s drying slowly to minimize warping and cracking.  I also switched my slip from a regular slip made from my clay body to a paper clay slip made with my clay body, which happens to be a white ^6 stoneware called Ash manufactured by Mile Hi Ceramics here in Denver.  It’s gray in color before bisque firing, but will be white once fired.  It’s not as white as the porcelain I throw with, but it does the trick.  In reduction, this clay body (ash) would have a gray cast, unlike porcelain.

Top view of the Poppy Box which is larger at 7″ t x 5″ w not including knob and feet

Hand built stoneware platter with hollow handles

I made this with a combination of the techniques I learned in Annie’s workshop and another Pottery Making Illustrated article titled, “Plate-o-matic” written by Paul Wandless about the work of Amy Santaferraro.  I can’t find a live link to PMI, so here’s the pdf:  Plate-o-matic by Paul Wandless if you want to give it a go.

Side view of platter

The plate was made using Amy’s technique and then I added double sided textured and hollow decorative handles like I learned how to do in Annie’s class.  The hollow handles are pretty darn cool if you ask me and  I need to come up with my own templates now.

In the meantime, I must go and make some more work!

~Cynthia

Sunday afternoon, I made a larger prototype for my organic shaped bowl for which I had received an inquiry from a buyer on WSC . The glazed bowl to the right and on the bottom is my original bowl that I have uploaded to the site and while large at 8″ across and accomodating 24 oz. of liquid, the new bowl will be serving size large. Leatherhard, it measures 12″ across and 5″ high (though it will shrink during the bisque fire) - based on similarly sized bowls it will hold over 60 oz. of liquid. This will make an awesome set!

I only lost 1 bowl during my experimentation - but now think that I can easily replicate the larger sized one. I know I need another studio tool - a huge rolling pin, right now I’m using a standard sized one which just doesn’t cut it when one needs to roll out slabs larger that 12 inches wide. Yes, folks, I hand-roll my slabs of clay at my studio. I have access to the electric slab roller at the guild, but I wasn’t inclined to drive over to there to do my experimentation this past weekend. Now, the trick will be to dry it slowly to minimize warping when I fire it.

Today is a good day - bright, sunny and just right for a morning jaunt in the park after I drop my daughter off at school. I hope to get a good 6 hours in the studio before it’s time to pick up my Mile High Scholar at the end of the school day. Yes, she sure has made me proud this year!

Meanwhile, I’ll leave you with this image:

Bubblicious, white earthenware with acrylic paint by my daughter at age 9

He greats me every morning, pierced tongue sticking out at me, when I stumble down the flight of stairs to the kitchen looking for my caffeine fix. Thanks Jazz I love him!

I must get moving now,

Cynthia