Mountain Flower Theme on Pottery

   

I got an idea from Cynthia’s blog http://coloradoartstudio.com/blog/page/2/  She does a lot of hand building,etc and she has these mugs on her blog that I thought were cute.  So I tried my hand at hand building Tall Mugs with my Mtn Flower theme.  They were fun and I think I will add handles as well once they set up a bit.

I took that hand building technique and added some more salt and pepper shakers with the same design.  I have one more set of stoppers and than I am done with salt and pepper.

I really like my platters and hope that the 8 I have make it through the next few firings,etc.  I have altered the feet differently on each one so we will see.

 

   

I like the wine coolers as well and came up with 4, I think might make a nice holiday gift perhaps with some wine?

That’s it for this morning.  We’ll see what I come up with for later in the the day?

Making Wine Coolers. . .Slab built!

   

I roll out a slab of clay, measure the width of my wine bottle and than add 2-3 inches.  In case in shrinks alot, add more.  I know my clay and it’s less than 10% shrink rate and I have tubes already bisqued that my wine fits into.  I also don;t leave alot of room for ice, so if you want lots of ice, add size accordingly.

Than I cut my slabs and make designs in the clay.  I use a DVD for the circle or bottom of my wine cooler becasue that is the size I use.  You can use anything that will give you a circle for the bottom.  I add feet to the bottom as well, so my cooler sits off the table some.

I cut the 2 sides of the slab with my hand held wire tool at a 90 degree angle (opposite for each side) So I can score and paste the sides together for a smooth seam.

Than add the bottom and I use a coil of clay for the inside to help it have a smooth seam in the bottom as well.  ANd TA DA a Wine Cooler!

Today was a chore Day. . .

Today felt like a chore day.  Not much throwing happening today.  A very physical day in fact.  Started out cleaning my house, which was a bit messy.  I got a new filter on my  vacumm cleaner and a new filter on my furnance for the colder days, so cleaning my studio seemed like a good idea.  Took forever! Happy to say tho it’s spotless for a studio and smells lemony as well

Had to get some things together for Real Estate, still amazing that the market is moving given the news,etc.

Than off to Denver, Mile High Ceramics, to get some clay, Zinc Oxide, and a few mason stains to experiment with.  Unload the car, by that time it was well after lunch, so I took a break and ate lunch.

Mixing up some glazes in the garage,  cream,brown,waterfall brown, and bright sky blue.  Whew!  That is alot of work.  I still am low on Licorice, and Rasberry and maybe Emerald as well.  They will have to wait until tommorrow.  Too Tired.

Back in the studio, I added Feet to some platters, and came up with Salt and pepper shakers.  Never made those before but I have a customer request them and so well. . .gave it a try.  I bought the stoppers at the Ceramic store today (6 for 60 cents).  So I can make 3 sets.

The Bottoms aren’t trimmed up yet, but this is the idea so far.  They will be a bit rounder and the stoppers I will fit for them tommorow.  What do you think?  Can I make it as a salt and pepper potter?  Hummm

 

 

I have about 8 platters made and drying.  2 have gone through the bisque just fine but one didin’t make it.It cracked during the bisque firing.  2 Warped.  So out of 11, so far I have 8 that look good.  The odds are not in my favor with Platters.  I can see why some folks don’t like to make them and how they can warp,etc.  Still ,when they  work, beautiful!  So we’ll see.