Photo Dump: So, This Happened...

 It's been a minute since I did a photo dump! The biggest thing that happened in the last two weeks is, I fired the soda kiln. Here's a shot from the first peek inside: 

It was overall a good firing, a no-more-than-expected rate of flawed pots & a nice even coat of soda, with just enough directional effect to make things interesting. Possible I am crazy, but I'm hoping to get two more firings in before the Pottery Tour: one for inventory to sell, one to unload during the event.

I was planning to do a silk screening activity as well, but my friend Ellen, of Peeper Pond Studio (also known as the voice of sanity) persuaded me that it was too ambitious, considering that I have not silk screened anything for 30 years. In my recollection, it is not difficult to do, but making, loading & firing two kiln loads, as well as all the other prep for the tour, really does not leave time for me to remind myself how to do this.

Unloading day means grinding, sanding, sorting, pricing, packing, & delivering. I brought new pots to the Maine Potters Market and to the gallery at Portland Pottery.

You've probably seen some of my clay critters, if you've been reading for a while. I feel pretty confident making bears, cats, birds & rabbits; I've been wanting to figure out otters for a while. This was my first attempt. It's recognizably an otter, but needs work; the head is too big & the forehead too domed. It's a start. 

 Then, this happened! I was shopping an antique store in Hallowell when I saw this mug on the shelf:

The one there in the middle? That's my mug! Not mine as in it belongs to me, but mine as in, I made it! Maybe like 10 years ago? I'm not sure i am old enough to have made any actual antiques! 😄 I was tempted to buy it, as it's only $12, and it's a really good mug, but to be honest, I do not need another mug. If you're local to Hallowell, it's at the Hallowell Antiques Mall.

I might make some more like that, though. I had forgotten about that style.

And last, but hardly least, my crocuses have come into full flower. I am fond of crocuses, and in fact they may be why I am a gardener at all. I have an early memory - I was maybe 6? My family had moved a few months before, from Brewer, Maine to Scarborough, and this was our first winter in our new house. There had been a heavy snow, but it must have been a spring storm, because my mom brought my sister & I outside to the southern corner of the house. She knelt down & brushed away the snow, and lo & behold, there were flowers! Blooming under the snow! To my child's mind it seemed magical. Crocuses still seem magical to me.

And, here's the blah-blah: crossposted from Patreon! If you enjoy this content & want to support, you an subscribe for as little as $1.50/month. 

Thanks for reading! 

Shop Update is LIVE!

Practically hot out of the kiln! 😄
Check it out here. For discount codes, (future) early access to new pots, and great exclusive content subscribe at the Pottery Patron level or above. This month's discount code gets you 10% off, so if you're planning to purchase it might be worth it for that alone. 

 

Shop Update Preview

 I spent the day today photographing ware. I'll spend most of tomorrow listing them online. Choose your faves now! 

Maine Magnets

I found this stainless steel cookie cutter from a shop on Etsy - I may have mentioned, I hate Etsy as a seller but enjoy it as a buyer! I got it for a specific purpose: to make what will become refrigerator magnets for the Maine Pottery Tour. 

Two quick tips for using cookie cutters with clay: 1) cut your shape through think plastic. It rounds the edges, giving a pillowy effect, and saves you some time when smoothing the edges; they will already be pretty smooth and 

2) Place the rolled slab on a piece of smooth fabric before cutting; otherwise it's hard to get the cut piece off the tabletop without distorting it. 

These will be available only at my studio during the Maine Pottery Tour. 

The Fiscardo Wreck

 

Enormous Roman Shipwreck Found Off Greek Island

One of the things I love about being a potter (side note: I start a lot of sentences that way) is how it connects me to history. People have been making things out of clay for tens of thousands of years. The oldest known piece of fired clay is estimated to be 27,000 years old!
With that in mind, I'm interested in stories that highlight the role ceramics has played in human history, like this one: Enormous Roman Shipwreck Found Off Greek Island

We don't know the name of the ship that went down; it's called the Fiscardo Wreck for its location at the northeastern tip of the island of Kefalonia, close to the entrance to the...[read more]

An Opportunity!

 ...for the right person. 
The Northern Clay Center, an institution in the ceramics world for decades, is seeking an executive director. 

I taught at NCC in the 90s. It was an amazing organization then & it has only gotten better. I was (briefly!) tempted to apply for this myself until I remembered that A) I'm probably not qualified and B) I no longer live in Minnesota. (Even then I was like, but I could work remotely? Briefly.)

Anyway, maybe you are qualified, and do live in Minnesota, or are at a life stage when moving is a reasonable possibility. If so, here's your chance! I am the tiniest bit jealous of you. Briefly. 

Unload The Kiln With Me!

I think we can all agree that the best part of being a potter is unloading the kiln; the reward for all our hard work. This post is to offer you two opportunities to unload with me!

First, paid subscribers to my Patreon page get access to the unloading video! When I can get out of my own way, I like to do that live; yesterday the technology defeated me, and I just took a video & posted it after the fact. Your paid subscription also gets you first choice of items out of the kiln, and discount codes. 

And second, I'm going to unload a glaze firing on day one of the Maine Pottery Tour. The tour is May 3rd & 4th this year. The lead up to the tour is crazy, I always have a lot to do even without throwing a firing into the mix, but I find people really enjoy being a part of the aspect - see also "best part of being a potter." I'll open the kiln at 11 am. 

I hope you can make it on the tour! But if you can't (or even if you can!), there's always Patreon.