Broke a bowl...sob

I broke a bowl that I particularly liked while loading the kiln.  I made the little flower stamp that I used to texture the bowl.  Think it's kinda cute and will use it again. 

This little dish came out well.  It's the first time I've like one of my glazes (opal)on the white clay.  On white, opal is looking greener than on the red clay.  It broke well over the edges also.  So, hallelujah!  This oval bowl would be good as a soap dish or to hold little pieces of jewelry. 



Here's the opal on red clay.  Much bluer than above. 

I think I could try to sell both of these on etsy.  If I could ever figure out how to make the shop banner.  lol

New pottery pieces

Thought I'd post some of the pieces I have been working on at Pam's studio.  First is a plate I made, a knock off of something I saw in a catalog.  I call it "Starburst". 

I glazed it in Lucero White which broke very nicely at the edges.  I had intended to center the starburst on the plate, but it isn't and I like it much better off-center. 

Then I made a small square tile using the same concept.  It's glazed in Randy's Red.  I'd like to make a set of coasters like this. 

Back in January I posted some pics of a couple birds I made.  These are now glazed.  One has a matt green head with opal body. The other is all opal.  I like them. 

A few new pottery pieces

While J was here over Christmas break, she had clay playtime with me.  At first she couldn't just relax and let the pottery take shape, but after a couple hours she made a few cool pieces that are drying right now.  I only took photos of 2 pieces, but here they are...a small tray (about 3" x 5") and what she thought would be a pencil holder, but it's probably too tall to work as that.

Pretty good for the first time, huh?  I have a few new pieces also.  This vase was made from two textured slabs:

I also made 2 more birds.  Can't figure out what colors to glaze these:

And, lastly, I made 2 small bird "dishes".  Don't really know if they are dishes or bowls,  I curved the edges, so it should hold small pieces of jewelry:

Also have some other pieces in the works....stay tuned
Joy and Peace,
Kelly

First Snow and Bird Ornaments

We spent a wonderful weekend at the cabin and even got to enjoy the season's first snow.

 

I just love seeing the first snow and tried to get a few pictures of Baxter in the snow.  Not much success there.  This one by the fire came out better.

 

I tried to take a picture of how beautiful the snow was dripping off the pine tree, but since this was taken with my cellphone the quality isn't very good.

 

On the way home I picked up a "new" used crate for Baxter so we won't have to lug his back and forth to the cabin.  I've been looking on Craigslist around here and haven't been able to find anything under $40.  But, this guy in Staunton was selling one for $30, so I nabbed it.  It's a bit smaller than the one here, so it should also be easier for traveling.  

Since I'm talking about my sweet dog...I should also say that I'm mad at him.  Yesterday, I was cleaning the two extra bedrooms and saw a little yellow spot on the carpet.  And then I saw another larger yellow spot.  Pee!  When we adopted Baxter a year ago, we had a hard time getting him house trained, but I really thought this was behind us!  I pulled out the trusty Little Green Machine, but for some reason, it wouldn't suction properly and just spread the urine spots.  I must have used 49 paper towels trying to dry the spots.  

Today I attacked the urine spots again.  They are better, but the urine smell is still there.  Argghhh! 

I finally hung the bird ornaments.  J saw them when she came home from Auburn...thought they would be ok for Etsy....I wish.   

 

 I still wasn't able to photograph the blue one well and it is such a beautiful blue.

 I finished reading Unbroken by Laura Hildebrand.  Excellent book; it's hard to believe that Louie went through such an ordeal during WWII.   I found especially interesting how Louie dealt with life after returning home.  He didn't want anything to do with the church and he was consumed with trying to exact revenge on his POW captor.  Then he went to a couple of Billy Graham seminars and remembered a promise he made while floating on a raft in the Pacific Ocean....that he would devote his life to God.  It turned his life around.

Makes me think.....

Some new pieces

Was able to put some underglazing on the whale bank yesterday.  It is going in the kiln this weekend so I should be able to finish glazing it next week.  Keeping my fingers crossed that I like the final product.

I was also able to pick up a few pieces I made.  The first is a tile dogwood blossom tile.  Some photos:

I am pretty happy with this tile.  I had problems with the background glaze.  It flaked as I applied it.   Pam thought it would still come out ok. I'm not crazy about the color though.  I am thrilled that the stamens (is that what you call the center of the flower?  I can't remember) stayed attached.  I was afraid they would break off somewhere in the process.

I also made a couple birds that I want to make into ornaments. The lighting isn't very good, so I'm going to try to take more pictures later.  I love these little birds.  The blue color of the first one is so, so rich and deep.  Love it.  It feels so, so good to make something.  Pottery is so cool because you just don't know what it's going to look like when it comes out of the kiln.  Maybe I'll give them away as Xmas gifts.