Tag Archives: Travel

Today was the day!

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We have been watching the weather for weeks to get this kiln pad poured. When it was warm, it was raining. When it was sunny, it was too cold. Today we had a small window of opportunity to get the job done. It will be above freezing for a few days. The rain was light, more like a heavy mist. The temperature hovered around 50 degrees.

Jeff’s brother came to assist. Which meant that my job was to take photos and provide a hot, warm lunch when the job was done.

The truck driver was great, and also lent a hand.

The kiln shed comes next. The building of the kiln should go quickly after that. I don’t even want to add up the cost of just the prep work and shed. It’s a good thing we have all the bricks we need for the rebuild. I can’t even imagine what the cost is today to build a brand new gas kiln.

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Tools of the Trade

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I have an order for some porcelain plates and bowls. Today I had to clean up my act to get ready to throw that pristine white stuff. It makes me feel like a doctor getting ready for surgery. As I was cleaning, I chose the tools that I would most likely need to throw these pots. Out of the myriad of ribs, wooden knives, needle tools, and sponges that I own, in reality these are the ones I use most.
…and probably the only ones I really ever need. But I do like looking at my collection of “stuff”, and I would find it hard to give them up.

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Tied at #11

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click on the photo for complete list of Top Blogs
Each year, Pottery Making Info announces the top pottery blogs of 2015. This year I tied with Garth Clark’s Cfile for #11. Not too shabby if I say so myself. I am also in good company with Gary Rith (#2!) and Linda Starr (#5), and Barb Rogers (#8). The announcement was perfect timing for today’s post.
I have been working on a small dinnerware order. The pieces all have wavy rims, which can make trimming a challenge. Using a foam trimming bat makes this job so much easier.
The foam grips the piece quite well, and centering is easy because of the concentric circles, drawn onto the foam.
I learned about making a foam bat back in 2007, when Emily Murphy posted the “how to” on her blog. JZ immediately went out and bought some foam and made this bat. The instructions say to use a new clean bat, but JZ used one that we had in the studio. Clean it up and let it dry thoroughly and it will work just fine. I have been using this bat for nearly nine years and it’s just now showing signs of wear.
You can find the instructions here: PotteryBlog.com
My point is… I have learned so much from reading blogs and writing my own blog. I have made friends with other potters, some who I have met in person, others who I feel like I have met! I appreciate each and everyone of you, and how you have touched my life in a meaningful way. 
2016 is going to be an awesome year. We are off to a great start.
Happy New Year to my Blogger Buddies and Readers!

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Kiln Moving Day

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Jeff spent the last week taking down our gas kiln at the log cabin. He did it almost entirely by himself, while I kept the gallery open at home. Brick by brick, it was unstacked, packed in boxes, and placed on pallets. Today we hired someone to come out with a forklift, load the pallets on a truck, and drive them a mile and half up the road, to their new home.

Of course it rained like crazy. Just like it has every day for the last two weeks. Since the yard is like mush, the forklift dude had to park his truck and trailer in the driveway and travel through the yard with each pallet of brick.
 the kiln site at 505 E Main

One of these days it will stop raining long enough for our form to dry out so that we can pour some concrete.

The moving took less than two hours, well worth hiring someone. It would have taken Jeff and I all day to move brick in our trailer. Never mind how our backs would feel at the end of the day!

Jeff got out his power washer and helped Mother Nature wash the mud off of the driveway. Our parking area is clean ready for pottery shoppers!

We can’t wait to have our kiln up and running again. When we rebuild, it will be bigger and better! Getting through the holiday season, without our kiln, has been a real struggle. I am looking forward to the day I can sleep through the night without worrying.

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Fake Plastic Trees

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Jeff and I never go “all out” for Christmas, we like to keep it simple. I was sure I would want a nice big fat Christmas tree, since we have room for one in our new home. But life’s been crazy here, and money is tight. We decided months ago that we weren’t buying presents, so I couldn’t see shelling out dough on a tree that would have nothing underneath it. I dug my little fake one out of the closet. Low and behold it’s a perfect fit to sit on the fireplace hearth… along with my 1954 light-up plastic Santa. When my parents sold their home, 5 years ago, they gave me all their window candles. I finally have window sills to put them on! Despite our tree-less home, it’s feeling quite festive here.
Although I think all my ancient light up decorations scare Jeff a little.
We also had a last minute change in Christmas dinner plans. Jeff’s sister Susan fell and broke her hip. She will be spending the holiday in rehab. The family will meet here on Christmas day and travel together to see her. When we return, Jeff and I will host a low key dinner. I love the thought of having Christmas dinner here at home, I just wish it wasn’t under these circumstances. Susan loves Christmas and often does a lot of the cooking. I am sure she is disappointed. 
My view of Christmas changed completely the year JZ died. It was less than two weeks before Christmas. I couldn’t bring myself to shop that year, and never mind cooking. What I realized that year, was that Christmas happens without the ribbons and bows, and that it is more enjoyable without the stress. I guess you can say I stepped off the holiday treadmill in 2008.
Wishing all a Merry Christmas, no matter how you celebrate it.

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Sheep Building

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 This year I have sold all of my small animals, except for one lone piggy rattle. It’s not really the pig’s fault, he has been sitting on the peninsula in the kitchen, not out in the gallery.

Time to start building some new clay animals. I always go back to the sheep first. 

His head and body are hollowed out.

I apply the “wool” with a tiny Kemper extruder tool, using what I call the spaghetti die. Some day I might find another use for the tool, and the other dies that came with it. So far it’s only been useful for creating sheep.

Despite the hollow body, his “wool” makes him quite thick. I will let him dry a good long time before going into the bisque kiln.
Next on the list… piggy rattles.

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Winter Blooms

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The camellia bushes are starting to bloom in our yard. This New Hampshire native is still amazed, even after living here in North Carolina for over five years, that these flowers bloom late fall, into early winter! There are about five of these bushes around our house. They are loaded with buds. Each day I go out and check to see what has bloomed and what is on the verge.

The rain today changed our plans. We were all set to do another cone 10 glaze firing in our raku kiln, but it was way too wet to manage. One day won’t set us back too badly and it’s not worth the risk of making mistakes in judgement because you are cold, wet, and tired. The weather will be better tomorrow and we will be able to fire with clear heads. Everything is glazed and loaded and we will get an early start. Our last orders will ship on Monday… arriving for the Christmas holiday with no time to spare. We are living on the edge, like most potters this time of year.

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Progress!!!

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Our kiln move is starting to seem real!!

Jeff and his brother John built the forms this week to pour the concrete pad for our kiln. We are so grateful that the temperatures have been with us to do this outdoor work. Today our man with the tractor, Keith Cagle, came and did some grade work for us. Keith is a hard working guy with reasonable rates. We are so glad he was recommended to us. Our budget is limited (very limited) and we appreciate all he has done for us.
When our work is done here, Jeff has gone every evening to the log cabin to start breaking down the kiln. We need pallets to load the brick on and after posting on facebook, of our need, we had lots of offers from area potters, to borrow pallets. What a great community we live in!!!!
While Jeff and I work hard to fulfill holiday orders and prepare for kiln building, Sophie cat has taken advantage of us…

This is the first time I have EVER caught her sleeping on the coffee table!

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