Are There Really 24 hours in a Day???

The last couple of days have been a whirlwind, and I don't think its gonna slow down anytime soon.....

(I'm sorry about the poor quality of these pictures, DROID.)

Saturday and Sunday I spent the day at Piedmont Valley Community College for a clay workshop with Allan Nairn.  He's an Englishman, who now lives in Cinncinati Ohio, and works for Rookwood Pottery.  But the skills that lead him there are amazing.  We learned about mold making,

 (the human press.....)

and the idea to "use the mold, the mold does not use you."  I had always thought of molds as the easy way out....but his work shows how to use molds to form tiles, then to embellish each one to make them individual.  This is definitely percolating in my head....

He also threw pots, transferred them to molds and pushed and pulled them into hanging planters....

His take on sgraffito was inspired by a book on African fabric.  Again, my brain is contemplating....The biggest tip I got from this was the idea of spraying on the initial underglaze.  The thinner coat is so much easier to mark through, especially with a groggier clay (terracotta in Allan's case).

After two days of clay, (followed by yummy Mellow Mushroom Pizza), I spent this morning at my first book binding class.  Something I have ALWAYS wanted to try.

Tonight, my pottery class at PVCC.  Followed by firing my first glaze!!!

TOMORROW.  A quick visit to Juniper Moon Farm.....and soon an amazing opportunity announcement....

Stay tuned!

A Winner!

The firing that is. Now to move on to glazing. No pictures because the pots are a surprise....and someone might peek. SO here are some random pictures instead!

Ready! Set! Fire!

 So I have slowly loaded the kiln......

Layer by layer.......

I may have been able to pack more efficiently.... 

But that is ok, because I was able to fit in all I had ready!

A little paranoid that things were not ALL dry, so preheated for 2 hours.

Handled some more mugs (shooting for 50 for the event I am working towards....)

Watched some wildlife....

Checked out the new baby goats born early this morning!

Kiln shut off at 8:45 AM.

Can't wait to see that all went well.

Finding My Rythmn....

I'm finally getting into that rythmn in my studio!  I know most potters are working away for 6-8 hours a day (at least) but my body just won't do that.  So I work for around 3-4.  That gives me enough time to do a chunk of throwing and what other odds and ends need to be done.  Slipping, drawing, painting....

I have yet to do my first bisque.  Pots are drying pretty slowly with all the rain we have been having.  Plus I know I will be EXTRA careful to make sure things are DRY for my first time....I am hoping to load one next week.

I am a vendor at the Juniper Moon Shearing on the 14th of May....so there is definitely a deadline.

Here are some blurry pictures from my phone....just so you know I have been working!

(No pictures of  finished pots, 'cause I don't want to spoil the surpise for those going to SHEARING!)

My trusty companion.  It really is nice not to have to put Layla into her crate and leave her every day.

Yay Rosemary!

WOW!  I am amazed at the response to the Giveaway!!!  Thanks so much for all your kind comments about my simple little yarn bowl.

And the thing ya'll would like to do someday? Of course there are alot of spinner and weaver gonna bes.....but I was pleasently surprised by the number of you who would like to learn to play the cello (I played in elementary school), try glass blowing and own your own little farm.  Dragan cracked me up with her desire to juggle (I can do two pretty well....) plan to leave the eating fire to Glamboozle, and want to invite myself along with Clooless....I too have always wanted to spend a wintery month on the coast of Maine. (All those episodes of The Ghost and Mrs Muir....do you remember that show??)

So Rosemary, make sure you check out the announcement on Juniper Moon and we will send your yarn bowl pronto!

Thanks again for visiting my blog, and I hope you come back!

Win a Friday Giveaway!

As many of you know I just moved to a new town.  Moving isn't new to me....but it still isn't easy.  Finding the best grocery store, good restaurants, concert venues and exploring generally is a blast.  But finding doctors, a dentist and a mechanic, let alone friends is a little harder...and not as much fun.

This is the first time I've moved as a potter....working from home.  Again, no human contact there....and my old friends will find it hard to believe....I am shy in the beginning!

Weekends with Greg are great, but during the week things can get pretty lonely.  My savior?  The internet.  Email, Ravelry, blogs ....  I've followed the Juniper Moon Blog for about a year.  Ironically, this farm relocated from Martha's Vineyard to my new area of Virginia shortly before we moved here.  Following Susie's blog and "meeting" The Aunties through the comments and the group on Ravelry has gotten me through quite a few blue days.  What a great place!  Who knew I would actually get to walk around The Farm, follow the sheep and goats through the pastures, love up the puppies and meet Susie in person!

So as a THANK YOU to Juniper Moon I'm offering a piece of my pottery in their Friday Giveaway!

I am a potter, but I also LOVE fiber of all kinds.  I spin, knit and weave. I dye and felt.  (I always say, whenever I try something new I am a bit relieved when I don't like it!)  This yarn bowl is a way for me to combine fiber and clay.  And I am offering it to you! 

To WIN, just leave me a comment below; tell me something that you always have wanted to try....then go to Juniper Moon and leave a comment there! They will be picking the winner for me! :)

Good Luck everyone!



Good Things Come to Those Who Wait.....

Remember this?  Dark, cold, only full of hope....and spiders.

Now it looks like this!

The shiny new L&L is running its maiden firing.  I do feel like IT is running it.  Gotta sit with the manual so the fear and trepidation does not overwhelm the happiness and excitement!