Finishing up Custom Orders…WHEW!

   

  These Bowls were a set along with 2 mugs.  The 3 bowls fit inside each other for easy storage.  MC6G glazes, I used the Variegated slate blue glaze an “tweaked that glaze” and added Jeanie’s purple over the edge.   Very cool glaze and it maybe one of my signature glazes?  It’s got nice brown with a slight hint of olive tones and than the Jeanie’s purple adds the flowing blue and purple on top.

 

     Ok So Jamie Andrews isn;t the ONLY one who likes BLACK!  These were 2 mugs and a bowl with Licorice (MC6G) and waterfall brown over the TOP.  Very Cool indeed.

    Next were like 12 soap dishes in different color schemes.  These two happen to be that VareigatedSlate Blue glaze (tweaked) and Jeannie’s purple

    This was a test bowl.  Field Mouse brown (MC6G) and Waterfall brown over the top.  Interesting…hummmmm I will have to ponder this one some.

  Last were 2 mugs and they wanted a hint  ( just s little not much) of Raspberry).  SO here ya with a Hint, not much of Raspberry on TOP!

Planter Boxes for Destiny Ranch

        

Here’s how those planter boxes turned out.  Folks decided that  GOLD might look best on the DR letters instead of Tan which actually POPS better I think.  They are ready to go to a horse show and the plants have begun to bloom!  I’ll post pictures of the actual set up at the horse show next week.

   

The beginning of Summer brings Spring Flowers and Fillies and colts at the Ranch!

   

And of course, what’s a ranch without the pictures of the new arrivals……Cute aren’t they! <G>

Bird House

                                                                     

So I thought I would  a make bird house  for the finches here in Colorado .  The black birds seem to fight with them and there’s a few nests that have fallen out of my trees with dead bird eggs.  So I thought a SAFE home might be in order for some of my feathered friends.  I wanted a small opening so the black birds could not get in unless they went on a BIG DIET.

I used a 60 degree angle for the 6-sided bird house slabs and reinforced them with coils inside the joints of the bird house.  I “popped” the top (Real Estate Term hehehehhe) so they can be cleaned and re used each season.  Than I stamped on designs on the clay walls for a flower theme on my houses……I like Flowers can you tell?  I used a cut out for the pattern and to get them all the same shape and size, than used a home made angle wire (60 degrees) to cut the slab sides to join them together.  Slick if I don’t say so myself <G>

 

STAMPS, STAMPS, and more STAMPS

 

    

So I have vases  down with my grandmother’s lace and cloth designs.    I thought I would venture out into STAMPS.  I have a few rubber stamps along with letter stamps, and flower patterns.  I thought I would try a little of all to see which design or pattern I like best.

   

The letters seem to stamp into the clay easily and clearly.  I like the subtle design of a flower pattern as well.  Thought I might make a LARGE SERVING PLATTER for food to bring to the Horse Show.  Maybe breakfast burritos or maybe cookies….hummmm the possibilities.  I think with the Barn name on the Platter well it just might look nice on a table,etc.

 

GUEST Potter in MY STUDIO!

   

A long time Friend came to stay for the week-end to show horses at the Colorado Horse Park!  I have known Erin Harding for almost 18-20 years when she and her husband moved to Colorado from back east.

We share a love of HORSES, DOGS, and POTTERY!  Otter and Ellie are the dogs learning how to throw on a wheel and the young lady watching is Erin’s Daughter.

How fun it is to have an OLD FRIEND visit and want to just play in clay.  It was late in the evening ( we really should have been sleeping) but Clay “calls” who ever falls in love with it.  So Erin, after a long day in the sun, helping her daughter and the rest of the quarter horse youth group,before even taking a shower, just wanted to just throw something and feel the clay since it had been a long time since she was able to play in clay.  She studied Ceramics in College and we shared a love of clay for as long as I can remember.

Her daughter had never really seen this side of her MOM and it was a bonding moment , as moments go…….She wanted to know HOW she did it and asked sooooo many questions.  Erin is a true artist and has in her the ability to take the EVERYDAY and make it great!  She is a Wife,mom, writer,artist,equestrian,amazing long time friend, and A POTTER!

Erin, I hope you had fun, you and John, the kids,dogs,etc are ALWAYS welcome!  You were and are always an amazing FRIEND and ARTIST!  Hope we don’t wait so long to throw pots again!

 

 

Morning COFFEE

   I love my Coffee first thing in the morning!  Fresh Brewed and in a pottery mug I made…there’s nothing better to start my day.  I am focused on photography this morning.  The last few months I have learned that a good PHOTO of your work is KEY to helping you with success!  ie a SOLD sign on your pottery.  Here are my mugs in Natural light with a flash in my studio.

  I like the background better in a “photo tent” but the lighting is still a problem for me.  I don’t think the photo tent does the glaze justice and the natural lighting in my studio shows more of what the mugs really look like.

    Here is another example of a bowl in the studio vs the same bowl in a photo tent.

  Hummmmmm this is my dilemma this morning and something to ponder.  I do have a HOME MADE photo tent and maybe it’s the lighting?  I will have to do some more research to try and get better photo’s of my work.

 

Starting out… The process

         

Kelly has 2 of my Pizza stones recently and she had a chance to look at my blog.  She requested 4 rectangular vases, same sizes and colors.  The ones she saw are already sold so I will be making 4 new ones!  This is the process so far for Kelly…..  So I have one made and 3 to go.

Next was Eta  ( spelling?)  She has a few bowls and 2 mugs.  Says they are eating cereal in them every morning…loves them.  That is the coolest thing for me to hear.  Thanks ETA. 

   

She requested some plates with the glaze I have used on one of my oval vases.  I throw in pairs since I am not a production potter, just living a dream I’ve had for many years!  Here are 2 dinner plates dry and ready to be bisque.  They are about 14 inches out of Kodiak Clay.  And next are 2 Salad or Lunch Plates.  I’m thinking a set of four dinner plates and 4 lunch/salad plates.  If Eta would like  more, that should be no problem as I have throwing plates down….easy with little or no warping.  Whew!

AHHHhhhh Opening The KILN!

There is nothing better than waiting for your pieces to BAKE/FIRE/GLAZE…..and than opening the Kiln, well that’s like Christmas to me!  I never really know what I’ll be getting even tho I think I have a Clue.  And BIG BERTHA (my kiln) was KIND this time!  Even the Waterfall brown glazes didn’t run off the pot!

     

The first 3 layers in my kiln were all fired to cone^6 Oxidation with a slow cool.  The cone sitters look to be just touching the kiln shelf’s.  But the last Layer or what was on the bottom of the Kiln Shelf, didn’t bend all the way.  That cone ^6 just bent to about 4 o’clock and not touching the shelf.

So I conclude that the shelf on the bottom didn’t reach a full cone ^6 but maybe more of a cone 5.75 if there is such a thing?

     

So far so Good!  YEAH!

The Magic Of Spooze

Well it has happend the dreaded CRACK in my greenware.  I tend to make large bowls and sometimes I get a batch of clay in that dries differently than the others.  Not really sure why but it tends to happen more so on White stoneware Cone 5-7.  So I have searched  for a recipe for fixing those Nasty Cracks.

The Late Peggy Heer had a published recipe for SPOOZE that I found to be helpful.  And the ingredients are something you may have around the house or can easily get at the local supermarket.

Spooze

1/3 Dry Clay body

1/3 corn syrup or Karo

1/3 Vinegar

I have also read that boiling this mixture for 5-8 mintues seems to make it work better and faster for some reason?  Not sure why that is?  Lana Wilson also has a post for MAGIC WATER but those chemicals are not very handy and would require a trip to the local pottery store.  This will be my first time using this SPOOZE so I’ll let you know if I fine it to be a wonderful solution or a time waster?  Hummmmm let’s hope for a solution!

  

Mastering Glazes aka MC6G Cone 6 Oxidation

So Mastering glazes is my next adventure and I have to tell you, it’s a long adventure…..I have the book Mastering Cone ^6 Glazes by  John Hesselberth and Ron Roy   http://www.masteringglazes.com/  I have heard that alot of folks are focused on this book and for good reason.  It’s a great place to start when you are mixing up your own glazes.  I am determined to have my own glazes that I know are reliable and food safe,etc.  Mixing chemicals for the glazes, I feel like a chemists of sorts.  Measuring and re measuring amounts, making sure I have enough of the mixtures before I start,etc.  It’s a process and one that takes time or an ERROR will haunt you for while. Bert Gibson has shared some of his knowledge regarding cone ^6 Oxidation.  He also has figured out away to use NUT MEG and White Satin Matt.  He had a great article in Ceramicartsdaily  Which he recently shared with me. And his glaze recipes are in there as well.    http://www.ceramicartsdaily.org 

I appreciate Bert sharing his knowledge with me regarding his findings and this article can be accessed online for the public.

 I am not exactly sure what Happened to Clayart but alot of information is not accessible which is a shame.  Linda Pahl aka Closet potter has photos posted and a web site with recipes to share as well.          This is Gibby’s Wild Rose Tenmoku Glaze.    And so the search continues for Glaze information and folks that have tried combination of glazes, firing schedules,etc.

I have found that Licorice from MC6G is a very easy glaze for me to work with.  It’s good at cone 5 and cone 6,slow or fast firing and so far I like it best with waterfall brown over the top of it.

I have had great success with Variegated Slate Blue as well both shinny/glossy and Matt but what I like best is a combo of both.

Waterfall brown is still a challenge for me so that remains a mystery of sorts, at least I can use the glaze so far in combo and not feel like my batch is just sitting there.

I just loaded the kiln tonight so in a day or so I will post results.  I hope BIG BERTHA is kind this firing!