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Monday. Back to Work.

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I had a good productive Monday. I made a few bowls to get warmed up and then 3 covered casseroles, some oval bakers, a couple jars and a few other odds and ends. These ovals will get handled tomorrow.

I am still getting used to having to decorate pots. I had pots on the shelf from last week that I got incised today. I let them dry out thinking I'd be okay with drawing through the dry slip. I don't think I really like that all that much. It's nice to be able to draw out the image in pencil, a bit of a safety net, but the line quality is too rugged and I don't like the physical effort it takes to work through the slip. So I guess I'll be working on leatherhard pots now. I will have to get into a routine of making, slipping, and decorating. At least I'm not glazing leatherhard pots anymore, that would be one more thing to schedule.

I think maybe if my clay body were more smooth I could get a better line with the dry technique. I'd like to know how other folks do this.

Visit to Flat Rock

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Sarah and I drove up to Flat Rock , NC yesterday to visit Hand in Hand Gallery and our friends David Voorhees and Molly Sharp. I have some pots in a show there. The show is all about animals. Here are a few shots from around the exhibition.
While there I think I may have found some information on the Fitch ancestry. I think this couple could be the two that tie Doug and I together. I'll be seeing my mom later today (she was a Fitch) so I am really excited to share this information with her. (and you too D.F.)
Here is Molly Sharp and my sweet wife. They haven't seen one another in several years. Sarah apprenticed under Molly as a jeweler.
And of course no trip to Flat Rock is complete without a trip to the Flat Rock Village Bakery. We had a great pizza for lunch.

Demonstrations

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Robert (whose last name escaped me) was at Hand and Hand demonstrating yesterday. He makes wood fired pots and bonsai dishes. He also grows bonsai.Some of Robert's wares and trees.
Molly Jones was there too. I've know Molly's parents for several years, they too are potters/clay sculptors.

Just Some Plates

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It's muggy out this Saturday morning. We finally had a good rain shower yesterday evening. Much needed. I worked in the shop all day finishing up pots from Thursday.

I think I need to get away from here for awhile. Maybe I can talk Sarah into a little field trip.

The Joe Strummer radio programs were amazing yesterday. I hope you got to listen.

Get the Wobble On

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I made these plates and then lifted them off the wheel head and onto these batts. That made them move around a bit. I'm pretty good at making sort of wobbly bowls and cups but my plates always end up round. (who needs that?) Anyhow this is an effort to whack them out some.I saw Warren Mackenzie make pots at a demo once and he warned against making bowls that had the common hemisphere shape. Well, what Warren says is the Gospel right? Ah, not really but I do like these bowls. I feel like making these sort of shapes is more of who I am and how I've learned to move the clay than anything else. It's not everyone's thing. I also feel like it works with my deco, which is a bit on the loose side. I am finding it challenging to get the feet on these right though. I have a Don Reitz bowl that has a great loose foot. I need to look at that again. I've been looking at my oribe pottery book again. I wish they'd show the bottom of some bowls. Of course I've got a few Ron Meyer's pots to scrutinize too.
These pitchers/jugs aren't too whacked out. I intended them to be more hourglass shaped. Maybe next time. I also made a couple teapots today.
I am running out of clay faster than I had expected. So I got a bunch of slop drying in these old bisque pots. Hopefully tomorrow I can use some of it.
The clay in the racks seems to be drying at a fast pace too so that is good. Maybe I can start getting some out by early next week.

Joe Strummer

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Between 1999 and 2002, Joe Strummer hosted a series of radio programs for the BBC featuring his extensive record collection of rock, reggae, folk, and more. Starting at noon on July 4th, The Current will broadcast eight one-hour episodes of Joe Strummer's "London Calling." Tune in and celebrate with The Current and Joe Strummer this Fourth of July!


The above was copied from The Current's web site. It should be some great radio. Tune in via the web and check it out on Friday.
Later, Ron

July

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It's hard to believe it's July 1st today. Half the year gone, half to go! I worry about time a lot, but there's not much I can do to stop it or slow it down. I can slow down, maybe that would help. Speeding up seems to make things worse. Anyhow, sitting outside today in the sun, quiet all around, blue skies, green leaves, a few big white clouds, it all made me feel small and at the same time a part of it all. It's easier being a part of it as opposed to separating. Remembering that is sometimes hard to do. Well, anyhow.....

Fresh Clay

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Mixed up a couple racks of clay today. Should be ready to use in 10-14 days. I think I have enough in the studio to last me that long. I have some reclaim I need to work up too. Anyhow not much else to report on.

Back to Work

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Yesterday I went into the city with Sarah for a few hours. She went to see her Chinese acupuncturist for an appointment and to get an herbal concoction to help with her congestion. I visited with Leon at the clay store and picked up a few odds and ends along with 100 lbs of Georgia red clay. Today I'll mix clay and prepare some glaze tests.

I've got to make an appointment to get some images shot of my slipware so I can apply to some shows. I'll call the photographer today.

I'm ready to get back to making stuff. Lots of new ideas for pots. Most of my plates got bought up over the weekend so those will definitely go on the 'make list' along with some bigger jars and alittle of everything else.

Better get at it.

Successful Summer Sale

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I had my most successful summer sale ever this past weekend. Lots of folks came out to see the new work and I sold over twice as much earthenware as I did stoneware. The new work was certainly a hit ( I guess I'm gonna have it stop calling it 'new' at some point).Here is little Guthrie Sanders, six days old, at his first pottery sale. It meant so much to me that Amy, Brian, and Mrs. Sanders came all the way from Charlotte with Guthrie. It was my first time seeing the little guy and he's a sweetie.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the sale. I had many out of towners including folks from Clayworks, where I teach. Vicki Gill from Gastonia came out too. It was nice to catch up with her. She left me an EP of the band that her son Spencer is in down in Florida, Tides of Man.

I didn't take many pics so I'll direct you to Becky and John's blogs. Elaine came out with Becky and John. I think after they left my house they went in search of some cow manure for the next barrel firing.

I need to mix clay this week as well as run some tests. I am still wanting to work on my green slip and glaze. I have some pots to ship today as well.

Check back in often as I'll be posting what's happening around the pottery.

Thanks again for everyone's support!!

Rat Casserole

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I almost forgot to post my new signature item... the Rat Casserole. Ha. At least I'm not a chef saying that my new signature dish is rat casserole. Anyhow this was fun.

This really is my last post until later in the weekend.

That's All for Now

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Here you go. This is probably the last post until Sunday. I'm pretty knackered (I knew I'd get to use that at some point). It looks pretty good around here, all cleaned up in the shop, freshly mowed lawn, tidy kiln shed. I sure hope some people come tomorrow.


Pottery Sale this Weekend

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Don't forget my Summer Pottery Sale is
Saturday 10 until 5 and
Sunday Noon until 4

Needless to say I will have lots of pots out on the shelves. I'll put up some pics or a video once the showroom is all in order. I'm also going to have my larger oval bakers on sale for half off.

The address is 757 Wallace Grove Road Shelby NC 28150 you can mapquest it for directions or contact me at ronpots2 at yahoo dot com

I had planned to have some pots for sale online by the end of this week, but it's probably going to have to wait until after the sale. It will be a small selection to begin with and mostly if not all cups. So stay tuned for that.

If you've emailed me lately and haven't gotten a reply, hang in there as I will be getting to my mail today. Thanks!!!

Alan Gaff at Argyll Pottery

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I hope you'll check in on Alan Gaff at Argyll Pottery. He's just started his blog and makes some wonderful woodfired pottery. Alan lives on the West Coast of Scotland. It's fun meeting potters all over the world and getting to know them and their work. Check Alan's blog out here
And for more information you can visit his website. Welcome to the Blogosphere Alan.