It happens.
A bit thin on the bottom, wouldn’t you say? 😩
One should either be a work of art or wear a work of art. Oscar Wilde
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FYI – Potshards Pottery update today!
Tag: pots
When Good Pots Go Bad
I’m back after being under the weather for the last week or so – nothing serious, just a lot of sneezing and coughing, nose blowing and just generalized crankiness. But I’m back!
Ran a combined glaze/bisque kiln today with a so-so result. One of the bisque pots was perfect.
The other pot, well, not so much as you can see.
I take full credit for this mishap, I can see that I left the bottom thicker than it should have been, hiding just enough moisture for a blow out. 😩
When the bottom blew out, I guess the small bowl wanted to get into the act and ended up with a few stray shards fused to its inside.
Better luck next time, I guess.
Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. John F. Kennedy
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FYI – I’m slowly but surely stocking my Etsy shop, Potshards. Come have a look around! 👀
To Share Is Human
To Share Is Human
New Clay
I found an inexpensive source for clay – Walmart. At $30.00 for 50 lbs it’s a steal don’t you think?? Here’s the “test throw”.
Amaco White
4 lbs used
It looks like it’s going to work well.🤞🤞🤞
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7:02 am
Sickening feeling…….I just heard a couple of thuds from inside the kiln. I know what that means – exploded pots. 😩😩😩😩😩
To Share Is Human
To Share Is Human
Fire When Ready
I hope to bisque fire these tomorrow.
I threw these using some clay I bought on sale at Hobby Lobby. I hope I’m not disappointed………
I have some glazed pieces ready to fire also, but I’m not sure they will fit into kiln. Keeping my fingers crossed. 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞
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To Share Is Human
To Share Is Human
A Bit of Background and First Look
Hello! Yes, I am an insomniac and a potter. I’m starting this blog to share some of my middle of the night projects and see what other middle of the nighters are working on. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy thia post.
Here’s what I pulled from the kiln this morning –
Bowl and tumbler set
Amaco White Clay
Duncan Blue Berry Spice Glaze
Mixed Clay pot
Low Fire Red Clay
Bisqueware
That wraps up this first post. I hope you enjoyed it!
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To Share Is Human
To Share Is Human
New Pots
Here’s a look at what’s come off my pottery wheel these last few days. I’ve been practicing this particular shape, which finally jelled a couple of days ago. I hope you like them.
#1
Low fire red clay
#2
Getting more comfortable with shape, still
needs practice but coming along🙂
Thanks for reading!
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Mixed Media Monday 12/1/14, Raku
PREVIEW
Here’s a look at a new mixed media art journal cover I started working on today, after a false start with blue paint and stencils that I knew I hated, all the while painting and stenciling, convinced that “with just a little more paint, I’m going to fall in love with this project.” NOT! So, with trusty gesso and brush, i reduced the cover once again to the clean slate and started again, this time with different colors and without a fixed plan, decided to use the technique that has proven to work really well for me in the past – using colors I love and letting my intuition tell me what’s working and what’s not and then just going with it. Want to know the best lesson art has taught me? It’s taught me that what I create is mine, and being mine, i can do what I please with it. So, like today, if something just isn’t working for me, i can cover it up and start fresh. It’s totally up to me, to do as I please. This is my mantra: If I like it, then it’s perfect.
Gessoed to cover what I did previously and then started sponging acrylic paint over cover then going back and adding black and white accents. This one’s not even close to being finished. I plan to do lots more with it – stamps, stencils, collage paper, stickers, handwriting. By the time it’s finished, who knows how many layers will have been added! Keep watching this blog, who knows what it’s going to look like when it’s done. Gotta say I’m loving the grunge look.
DUH MOMENT YOU ASK?
This morning at 5:30, even before my feet hit the floor (I’m an early riser) I remembered that I somehow forgot to add the photos of a raku pot I mentioned in this post’s title. Duh. So here they are, better late than never, they say.
From where I sit, these pics are huge!
Pot exterior glaze is Candy Luster
Pot interior glaze is Copper Luster
REMINDER
Don’t forget to drop by my blog Wednesday to add your link to Watcha Workin’ On. Remember, it’s open all crafters/artists, whatever your medium. Can’t to see everyones projects!
No matter how deep a study you make, what you really have to rely on is your own intuition and when it comes down to it, you really don’t know what is going to happen until you do it. Konosuke Matsushita
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To Share Is Human
To Share Is Human
Grape Jelly, Pots and Paper
JELLY GIRL
This photo is so totally cute, so totally Sprout, I have no words…..
POTS
This little guy started out as pinch pot practice, then it grew on me and I added some coils and I just this second saw a funky face on it. Does anyone else see a face? Not sure I like what I’m seeing. Freaking me out a little to be honest.
This one slid in under the radar, for some reason, I have no notes on it at all, so I have no idea what it’s glazed with. Salt celadon, maybe?
IMPULSE BUY
I saw these on my latest trip to Hobby Lobby and picked up a couple on a whim, a pack of watercolor and one pack Bristol. Here’s a couple of things I’ve been playing at –
The top two are spray inks, the bottom left is watercolor and Pitt pen and the right is Pitt pen and Copic marker over watercolor.
By the way, I finally broke down and got a couple of Pitt pens and I love love love them! They’ve totally lived up to my expectations, why did I wait so long???
One today is worth two tomorrows. Benjamin Franklin
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To Share Is Human
To Share Is Human
Pics and Pots
THROWING THINGS
They had a big firing at the pottery studio last week and two of my pots made it into the kiln. Both turned out really well, but one is amazing. Funny thing, working with clay. Sometimes mistakes turn out to be the best pieces.
I’m not sure what happened to this pot, I think I bumped it when I was taking it off the wheel and having a really thin spot didn’t help, so it sort of collapsed. I really liked the shape, though, and decided to keep it. The shape reminds me of a calla lily.
For the glaze, I did a total dip of Rhodes Turquoise with a rim dip of Tin Purple.
I can’t remember what glaze I used for this pot and I left my notes at the studio. I have to run something back to the art center, so I’ll duck in and grab my notebook while I’m there. This pot isn’t as “catchy” as the other one, but I love its simple lines and that it has just enough texture to make the glaze interesting.
FUN WITH MIXED MEDIA
These are a couple of backgrounds I’m working on, incorporating modeling paste and spray inks.
As usual, I’ve been a busy bee and have a new knitting project on the needles to share tomorrow, stay tuned!
I always find beauty in things that are odd and imperfect – they are much more interesting. Marc Jacobs
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To Share Is Human
To Share Is Human
Back in the Studio
POT THROWING
Hurray! It’s back into the pottery studio after a two week break. I have some new ideas and several things I want to try, like this
Yarn Bowl
and this
or this
and maybe this
So ready to get in there and sling some mud!
Work while you have the light. You are responsible for the talent that has been entrusted to you. Henri-Frederic Amiel
To Share Is Human
To Share Is Human
WIP Wednesday 6/11/14, Booklike, Pots
ON THE NEEDLES
I’m coming right along with the Cable and Pleat Tunic, being really close to finishing the front and side shaping. For once, the color in the photo is nearly, if not completely, true. Another awesome thing about the patio – it’s a fantastic place for taking pictures.
POTS
Here’s my latest set of pots, which once again exceeded my glazing expectations.
I have one or two left to glaze and plan to go into the studio this weekend to finish them up. Class has a two week break before the next session and it’s always nice to go into the studio with a clean slate as far as projects go.
BOOKLIKE
This week’s book is a biography of Johnny Cash by Robert Hilburn. I like it, I don’t love it. It had parts that are hard to read, it feels like you are in the front row for his self destruction at times. It also goes into minute detail seemingly sbout everything, which bogs me down sometimes. This probably won’t be a repeater, it’s a library book, so I don’t feel guilty about just skimming it in parts. I’m anxiously waiting for my Audible credits to show up so that I can get Stephen King’s newest, Mr. Mercedes. They should be coming any time now.
AN ASIDE
Mr. iknead figured out how to turn the autocorrect off, but now, I get aggravated at all the typos and have to proofread much more carefully. I know, gripe, gripe, gripe. Sheesh!
I’m linking with the Wednesday regulars, Tami, Frontier Dreams and Ginny.
You must train your intuition — you must trust the small voice inside you which tells you exactly what to say, what to decide. Ingrid Bergman
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To Share Is Human
To Share Is Human
Winter Trifecta, FO Friday 12/6/13
BRRRRRR
The long promised winter weather is here. We have the trifecta – sleet, freezing rain and snow. It’s a perfect day to hunker down, drink your hot drink of choice and knit or spin or read or (insert your favorite activity here). The Iknead clan is warm, fed and happy. We have a lot to be thankful for.
From the Iknead front door.
POTS
I spent part of yesterday in the studio and pulled my stuff out of the damp box, getting ready to trim. I was surprised at how many pots I’d thrown.
A couple of these ended up in the clay recycle barrel, but overall, I’m pleased. I’m getting a little tired of bowls, though, and will probably start trying some new shapes when I can get back into the studio. The next ones have been bisqued and are kind of uniform:
I like the way the look stacked. As soon as the weather lets up a little, I’ll get them glazed and fire them one last time.
OFF THE NEEDLES
Scapula scarf from Quince&Co, done in Lark, which is 100% American wool, the color is Bird’s Egg. Very, very pleased with both the yarn and the pattern. If you haven’t yet, head over to their website and check them out. Really awesome stuff.
This is a really, really long scarf!
I’m linking with Frontier Dreams and Tami today. When you’re checking out Quince&Co, trip on over to these guys. Even more awesome stuff.
The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. Ellen Parr
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mud&string 