Idea!

Here's how I keep track of my rings while I am working in clay. I used to put them in my pocket, but I was always worried that they would fall out while I was at the wheel, so I'd have to keep checking. This way I can feel the weight reassuring me that, indeed, the rings are still there. Not only that, but I am still wearing them!

Meltdown!

I am wracking my brains to figure out how this could have happened. Obviously, this former bowl (and two others in the same firing) was made out of a lower temperature clay than the Cone 10 stoneware that this soda firing called for -- but how? I know all were made from recycled clay; I know I used a low-fire body in my studio briefly, about a year ago, and hubby has been experimenting with a local earthenware clay. But we were very careful to keep the earthenware separate (at least, we thought we were), and it's very visibly obvious in the green state that it is not stoneware. So...I don't know. Obviously we screwed up.
The good news is that none of the pieces which I really needed from the firing were damaged, and we were able to save the shelves.
More careful in future!

Passing it On

My niece and nephew are up for a visit! As it happens I am loading and firing this weekend as well, so I exploited their curiosity and put them to work. Here's Danny, 15,  helping out with glazing, while Hallie, 13,  rolls the wadding into balls prior to loading. (So much better to have the wadding pre-rolled...avoids getting smears and scars on pots) Hallie also helped me load the kiln, in the drizzle and dark -- a real trooper that kid is. 
The other obsession I passed on? Star Trek, TNG! They've never seen any of the Star Trek series. It's so much fun to have someone who really wants to know all the details of the Star Trek universe.

Throwing List

• 25 Cat Urns
• Wedding Platter (yes, again)
• Small S&P shalers

edit 11/10: I didn't get any of the items on my list thrown over the weekend.

Apple Crisp for a Cold November Day

I like to tell my students that functional pottery is artwork which is not finished until it is in use. With that in mind, I thought I'd share an image of one of my baking dishes in use, and a recipe.
In Maine in the fall, apples are plentiful and unbelievably good -- fresh and tart. I got a big bag from the Apple Man -- just this old fellow who walks around town selling apples.

My First Ever Apple Crisp

• 4 cups chopped MacIntosh Apples (about 5)
• 2/3 c. brown sugar (pack)
• 1/2 c. flour
• 1/2 c. rolled oats
• 3/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/3 c. softened butter

Place apples in baking dish. In mixing bowl, blend other ingredients until crumbly. Spread over apples. Starting in cold oven, bake 40-45 minutes. Serve immediately. 

I have a confession to make: I am planning to have some of this for breakfast tomorrow. Come on, all those oats and apples, it has to be healthy.