Plates, plans and grown up chores

Managed to throw a bunch of plates to fulfill a commission yesterday. At least 4 "Eat your cookies first" plates. The one I had made on a whim sold and then could have sold 4 more times at least! Have a couple of other things to get done too before the studio gets packed up. I have some time yet.

I'll miss LibertyTown alot. I have made many freinds here and learned SO much. Not just about clay, also color, composition, and the fact that a potter can have a constructive view of works in other medium. I see myself as an artist now, not "just a crafter". (Not that there is anything wrong with that!)

I still am experimenting and searching for what will be ME in my work. I enjoy the new slip work I have been doing....but am still not sure. Once I am settled in Charlottesville I plan on enrolling at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Dan knows Tom Clarkson, who teaches a bunch of the ceramic classes. I have heard he is very good and Im looking forward to having some structured classes. Most of my experience is with the classes at LT. College level will be great....and it will allow me to postpone the expense of a kiln.

But first the move! Today we were busy picking up Greg's commuter car from Woodbridge, taking two cars for their check ups, communicating via email with our Charlottesville realtor (Jim McVay is AWESOME) scheduling appraisels, inspections and choosing banks and movers. WHEW! No wonder I am on my third beer tonight!

Despite all that Greg was able to slip out for a hot walk. We live below the University of Mary Washington (will always be MWC to me). The squirrels always make their way down our way during th summer since the campus garbage cans are so empty. This little guy hit the jackpot! You'd never find a full piece of pizza in the garbage at our house!

No pictures but the news is.....

...We're moving! My husband has been offered a job in Charlottesville VA. Once the decision was made there has been so much to do! Clean the house, put it on the market,(the clean the house bit has been ongoing....) We had 2 contracts within the first THREE DAYS. We are thankful but knew we had to scramble.

We've found a house in Charlottesville and nearly have the paperwork all submitted. We spent ALL day yesterday on the computer working with our realtor there getting the final offer printed, signed and scanned and emailed....(Thank goodness for my tech-geek husband....)

Now we must decide on a mover (We just can't face packing and moving ourselves this time....) and the sorting and purging begins...

In the midst of all this craziness we had one of those "micro burst" storms. There were trees down all over our neighborhood. We lost the tops of two branches of our massive maple that THANKFULLY fell in the neighbors yard and not on OUR under-contract-house. Fortunately no damage was done and we had it cleaned up in a couple of hours. Others were not so lucky.

Greg's first day at the new job is Aug 2, and I will stay here till our house closes Aug 20.

I have not thrown a pot in WEEKS. But today I must head to the studio and work on some commissions that MUST be completed before we leave. My plan is to set up a studio at home in our new to us garage. (Dan F. thinks I am too social to be happy alone.....he may be right) But I have no time frame for set up. I have been spoiled these years with LibertyTown. All my firing is done by the efficient Beth. I've loaded kilns...but never actually fired one. Will have to buy one of my own....

SO that's our news! I promise to keep you all posted. Pictures or no.

Heritage Festival.....

I'm heading to Sophia Street in downtown Fredericksburg to set up for the Heritage Festival. Mother Nature has gifted us with another beautiful day. No rain (though we need it, desperately) and only in the 80s! Come see me!

Then visit here again, next post....BIG NEWS!

New Pots

Here's what came of my play day with the earthenware clay. I made sure to mark the bottom of each with an "L" for lowfire. Dont want any mistakes in the firing!!

Dye Day

Last Saturday was a busy one. Friday night was First Friday. Saturday morning was our monthly Fredericksburg Spinners and Weavers Guild meeting. This month we arranged to dye plant fibers-cotton, rayon and tencel mostly. (Protein fibers-wool, silk and alpaca require a different dye and a different process.) It was pretty successful as you can see.

First the fibers are soaked in water and washing soda to aid in taking the dye.



Then the real fun begins.












After the dye is applied the yarn or fiber is wrapped in plastic and allowed to sit for at least 24 hours before rinsing.




This is the Guild's newest member!

After the meeting, while waiting for my latest spinning student, I worked in my pottery studio on some low fire clay. Just experimenting. We officially only fire at cone 6 here at Libertytown. So I will double bisque these pots. Another step towards earthenware work for me. I was having an off day (do any of you still have days when the clay just WON'T center??) so I am witholding judgement.

I'll take pictures of the pots for next time.

Thanks for checking in!

Its Cool Again!

AC is all fixed. Woohoo! It took two visits but everything appears to be working as its supposed to. I try to live "Green" but I have to say I LOVE my AC.



So tomorrow I truly plan to hit the studio, finish some glazing and throw some pots!


Here I am talking to my Mom on the cell. She's helping me translate an old German tombstone.

A trip to the mountains

Greg and I spent Memorial Day weekend in the Shenandoah Valley with his folks. Gosh but I love it out there! It was pretty hot but we still managed to get out. My Father-in-law has been working hard on the Branner family geneaology. There is an existing "Branner Book" that was written in the 30's. It holds a wealth of information but Bob has been able to correct several mistakes as well as answer questions that the author Casper Branner had struggled with. The internet has been an important tool in Bob's ability to do the update!

The other element that has helped Bob in his research is the fact that, unlike Casper Branner who lived in California at the time, Bob still lives in the vicinity of the orignal Branner roots. There was actually a place called "Brannertown". While the "town" itself is long gone Brannertown Road still exists. We were able to walk around the property where the FIRST Casper Branner settled in the 1760s.




You can see here the remains of the first house that later became a spring house. The large willow in the distance sits next to the pond fed by the spring.

This an old photograph of the original house. At this point it was used as the Spring House. We have a question concerning the exterior hearth that you can see in this picture. I had not seen this picture until after our visit. I want to go back to look at the remains more closely to see if there is any evidence left of that opening.




Here is a close up that I do have....is there a slight difference in the stone work?



Here are the remains of the first structure. You can see it is built directly over the spring. Of course in the early-mid eighteenth century Indians were still a threat. Building over your water supply was a common practice in case of attack.



The fireplace is massive. I was a down hearth cook in Colonial Williamsburg for a summer. I can appreciate the workability of this space!!



This shows the later house that was built further up the hill. The slanted roof towards the rear might be the kitchen (though on second thought where is the chimney??) The fenced area to the left is where the cider press was located.

Such a beautiful place. Terry, the current owner has been so kind letting us come to see the property. (And making sure his bull was in another field!!) He remembers when some of the structures were still standing.

I also was able to get some cow pictures! These may very well show up on pots, or maybe some block prints.....





Today I was planning on returning to the studio since all the house construction was finally finished. But on Thursday afternoon I realized our AC had died....so today I am babysitting the repair guy. :(