SPRING

WOW!!! It is a wonderful feeling to finally emerge from the winter of 2010. The weather here in rural Virginia is lovely. Mid to upper 70's, clear blue skies, and flowers blooming. This year is a peak year for the Cherry Blossoms in Washington, D.C. We are thinking about trying to see them Easter Sunday, early, and maybe miss some crowds? Probably not.

Well, I have been seriously delayed in my pottery efforts. Unfortunately, I had some serious heath problems the past few weeks and have not be able to do much of anything, least of all pottery. But I find that as I am healing and feel more and more like myself, I visualize myself glazing!

Before my troubles began I had just run a full bisque kiln. So, I have a lot of work to do. Normally, I slug through glazing in one VERY long sitting, normally around 8-10 hours. I brush glaze all my pieces, so it takes much longer than dipping. I also have a lot of small intricate pieces that have to be done with TINY brushes in numerous colors of glaze or underglaze, so, it all takes time.

I think overall, it is best to be doing one part of the process at a time. With a small studio, it is easier to create, then bisque, then glaze. Instead of doing various things at the same time. When I glaze I like to finish each piece and immediately load it in the kiln to await firing. I find that if I let glazed pieces settle on a drying shelf invariably something happens and the finished product is a disappointment. So, I am a load and go type of potter. I know everyone has their own way of doing things, and I am always open to learning and hearing about how other potters create their art.

Well, before I can get back into the studio, I have a daughter who has been asking to go ride bikes at the park...so finally, I am going back out into the world.

Enjoy Spring in your neck of the woods!

The Slow Lane...

Well, both kids were sick this week which slowed my progress down quite a bit. After finally becoming healthy myself, it has been hard to get back to the studio and then have to walk back into the slow lane with sick kids. One project I worked on over the winter was to create a sort of photo book of pieces I have liked. I have been reviewing the "book" and am remembering that some of these pieces really did turn out well. I am going to try and recreate them again. Recreating is always problematic, with clay, you NEVER get the same result twice, NEVER. But at least I have some ideas to go with.

The big kiln is loaded with several shelves of underglazed pieces. LOTS of flowers and light colors which is lovely to see as the temperature is steady at 33 degrees with a stiff wind chill.

As I walk my property, I am beginning to see the coming of Spring. My rose bushes have begun to sprout small red shoots off the branches signaling what is to come. I cut my first flower this week, a crocus. It was nice to have it inside at the kitchen sink.

Well, I have enough ideas to keep things going for a while.

Even if I only get out there for an hour a day, I am certain I will get that kiln loaded soon!

Danger Will Robinson!!!

Mechanical failure or human "space case"? That is the question for today. I promised to post some photos of pieces in process....yes, I remember I did. WELL, in my need for CLEAN, I disposed of my camera USB. SO, I can not download at the moment. Luckily, I have one of those - everyone has one- cameras, so I will hopefully be receiving my new plug soon.

Otherwise, I have been underglazing with some interesting results. Yes, I will post later. I have been interrupted in my desire to create with a child who has been sick. But hopefully, tomorrow will bring real alone time, and time to create!