November 2019 – mud&string

OK, so it’s not exactly insomnia that rolled me out of bed this morning but a commitment to play bells this morning with my Trinity Episcopal group. And, of course, me being me, always sure that I’ll oversleep or forget that I’m supposed to ring, I calculate when I need to be up and out of bed getting ready, then set the alarm back at least 30 minutes to have a bit of a cushion and hang my vestments next to the coffee pot as a reminder.🛌⏰💤🎶

I’ve a couple of pots to show you all this morning, I apologize if these are a rerun.

26D9FA58-B99A-447F-A257-A1125C14EACA

Rim Experiment

1958C433-ED38-4E02-83A8-8EBFF54DD506

Not the same pot, but similar. The first of the rim experiments.

Glazed outside with Amaco Arctic Blue, outer portion of inside glazed with Deep Firebrick, middle portion with Rutile Blue, bottom with Arctic Blue, all Amaco Potter’s Choice glazes. I’m on the fence regarding my glaze choices, I may need to fire a hair lower, like cone 5 instead of 6. It’s growing on me.

9BA7C1B4-B804-4E97-92E9-B25C7EC8CF4F

My current fave. Glazed with Amaco Firebrick to cone 6.

These are currently in the damp box, slowly becoming ready for the bisque kiln. Our weather has finally cooled, slowing the process, but making it much more pleasant in my ~~garage~~ studio.🙂

141B98F1-5225-4754-AA24-3689991396FF

Someday, I’m going to have a studio with running water. The heat I can deal with — turn on a fan and work after the sun goes down. I can handle the winter cold as well with a space heater and a sweater but carrying buckets of water back and forth is tiresome. Someday.

This has been a jam packed few weeks but I plan to take a breather after tomorrow and get caught up on listing pots on Etsy. My shop is ClayDreamsPottery and I’d love to have you stop by!

Never put off till to tomorrow what you can do today. Thomas Jefferson

That’s right, the Insomniac Potter is back. It’s been a busy month, both craftwise and familywise. My gray sweater is growing, but slowly, as expected. I’ve started and and abandoned several pairs of socks and a scarf or two, but I think I’ve found THE sock pattern – at least for now. Have a look-

This is the book-

My Gray Day Gansey

Like I said, this sweater is slow going, but is totally worth it, I really love cables. It’s definitely not portable or what I call cruise control knitting, though. It requires my full attention sort of like a toddler — take your eyes off it for one second and you’re in the weeds, at least I am! 😋

Then there’s the pottery. Here’s one of my newest pots –

FA22410C-0775-406C-9847-5328E050BCF6

This one’s a do over. The original glazing turned out to be so ugly, I immediately reglazed it. I’m much much happier this time around! It’ll be going up on ClayDreamsPottery on Etsy in the next few days. If it floats your boat, let me know!

I have several pieces that are in that limbo between just thrown and dry enough to trim and bisque. I learned the hard way not to fire anything I’m not totally sure is bone dry. Nothing more discouraging than opening a kiln full of busted pots, but I’m also waiting for a couple of new glazes to come in before getting started on finishing them.

I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself. Oscar Wilde