A potter's wishlist...

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me.... well, a lot of things.

In the past couple years, the holidays seem to be anything but joyous and plentiful. My husband and I have no exchanged gifts on Christmas for the past couple years, because we have both been so broke, and it came down to, "Do I buy the DVD set he's been wanting, or do we pay the electric bill?"

Neither of us really NEEDED anything. Who gives a crap about phones, ipads, and MP3 players? They're short lived electronic devices... certainly nothing I get giddy about.

As I regained my interest in ceramics this past January, I have come to see the expenses of buying clay, glaze, slip, stain, molds, etc...

So if Santa were to ask me what I wanted from Christmas, then here's a quick list. Nothing fancy, but just some essentials, and then some.

Bamboo tools' Siphon Blower (See a couple entries down about what it is)

Naomi Cleary tumblers

Carolyn Concho bowl--

Shimpo VLITE Potters Wheel

(5)-12" drilled plastic batts (10" drilled holes)

Now--- For the fun part

GLAZES!!!

MAYCO Jungle Gem glazes (Non Toxic) ALL OF THEM

MAYCO UG-19(Electra Blue Underglaze)

MAYCO UG-50(Black underglaze)

MAYCO UG-51(White underglaze)

MAYCO SW-101 (Stoned denim Stoneware)

MAYCO SW-104 (Black Walnut Stoneware)

MAYCO writer bottle and tip (18ga)

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So yes, I have a list of wants a needs... now if only I could find such a generous Secret Santa....

If I don't write before... Happy Holidays to you and yours!!

Winter Fair 2011

A couple of weeks ago I was asked by a fellow artisan and crafter to help them at a show in Columbus, Ohio, because they were in need of volunteers. I said, "Yes" almost immediately, because I needed the experience to see how the art shows operated, and who their demographic was.

I went with Carole; a contemporary basket weaver, and member of the Ohio Designers Craftsmen. She introduced me to everyone, but I'm so horrible with introductions, and talking, so I stood there all bashful, honored to be talking to amazing potters whom I had seen pictures of their work online, in forums, and in galleries.

I was a runner and booth sitter, which both left my feet on fire by the end of the day. I want to share some pieces from people who I met, and whom I booth sat for. I made some of these people some good money, so I will tout that I am a good booth sitter, but mostly, their work did all of the speaking. If I had money, it would have been gone, and quick here.

Ginger Folds--

I booth sat for Ginger, and she makes sterling silver jewelry to look like small paper cranes, and other works of origami. Man, if I only had $50 these would have been mine.

Mark Speiser---

A very nice guy, who made such wonderful items from wood, including his folding salad tongs. It was a pleasure to sit for him.

Denise Novak--

Brad Kelly--

Brad's images were taken in China, and it's amazing when you stop and take a minute when looking at photography. While booth sitting for Brad it gave me a chance to really pay attnetion to all the finer details in his work, as subtle as a human figure on the side of a winding river. Beautiful work, and mostly I am not a photography enthusiast.

Theresa Gallup--

Theresa's booth was interesting for the fact that all of her wearable pieces were made up of old scraps from antique Kimono's. Her prices were slightly steep, otherwise I would have been walking out with a handmade flower brooch.

ARTISTS I met, liked, and bought from:

Jim Kemp--

I really wish I would have had a few more minutes to talk with Jim, as I admire his work previous from Winterfair. His pieces are semi-functional, but incorporate such playfulness and charm. You can look across the room and tell it's his work.

Robin Morris---

I bought two wonderful mugs from Robin. The glass work on her pieces made me drool, and I have vowed to buy some more pieces from them in the future. They are some of the best priced functional pieces I have come by!

I met so many more people, and was even invited to a local potter's studio to ask questions.

It was really a wonderful experience, and I have volunteered for future sales, and events at the expo center that the ODC sponsors.

Though I may not have the gift of gab for marketing, I really do enjoy meeting new people and helping in any way that I can for fellow artists.

After seeing a couple of the booths and the demographic coming through, I have decided to possibly pursue this festival next year after a lot of encouragement about my paintings and my ceramics from the lady whom I went with. It will take a busy spring and summer of casting, and throwing, but I think I may very well attempt this as my "goal" or "resolution" for the year. The entry fee is frightening for beginners, but I was ensured by Carole, and by my personal booth sitting for many vendors that the fee could easily be made back within the weekend and then some.

Now, I have the whole year to prepare, and prep.

I think I can do this.

Redware

I have a couple of prefired lovelies to show today.

These are pre-fire and pre-glaze. I am hoping for a close to terra cotta look once they pop out of the kiln.

I have discovered that red clay is very difficult to work with on the wheel. It makes porcelain seem like working with a cloud. It took me a while just to get the clay centered.

The thing I hate most about it is that it's MESSY! At least with stoneware I can brush off the dried bits and run to the store afterwards, with red clay, it has me rethinking the whole "apron" thing.

Big news!!! How could I forget to mention this! THE NEW KILN WORKS! I tested it with a very low firing cone, but it shut off great, so YAY!

With the new kiln working means that the

Houston House is prepping for classes! We hope to have more info posted after the new year!

With the new kiln came some extremely old glazes, and I mean OLD... like... glass-jars-and-crumbly-yellow-labels-old. Also, they are toxic, so no chip and dip bowl decorating with them. So I've dusted off the cobwebs, squished the black widows, and added some water to them... hopefully to bring them back to life.

Sorry--- no pictures. It's hard to take pictures when you're jumping and screaming about spiders.

With new-old glazes comes testing, so I spent a short part of my evening making small testing tiles.

I am thankful for Thanks-Giving, which gives me time off from day work to immerse myself in the studio!

It's a Wonderful Life!

Little Black Dog Pottery will be featured in a mini exhibit at The Houston House Art Center's live production of "It's a Wonderful Life"

"It"s A Wonderful Life", November 17,18,19 - 7:30pm November 19,20 2:30pm .

Shows are at The Upper Room Theatre, First Presbyterian Church , Marysville. Tickets

$10.00 adults, $8.00 Seniors/Students. For more info call 937/209-1339

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Authentic?

Earlier this year after a trip out west I commented on a pueblo we stopped at, which feature these small quails with beautiful and intricate symbols, which told a story in the Acoma culture.

Many of the natives were selling these quails, and I almost bought one, but snubbed when the price was told. I came home and regretted my decision, but after today, I wonder if maybe I DID perhaps make a good choice after all.

I have been trying to find a good white slip that will adhere to red earthenware without cracking away, but have been having no such luck, so I shot New Mexico Clay an e-mail asking if they had any suggestions seeing that their raw materials were some I was trying to replicate. Well, while browsing their site I came across some Duncan molds, and lo and behold I found this.

http://www.nmclay.com/Amazing/itemdesc.asp?ic=DM0760&eq=&Tp=

It's a ceramic quail mold, which looked very similar to those that the pueblo were selling. I will say, it took plenty of time for the locals to paint on their designs and patterns, but it REALLY got me thinking about the authenticity of hand building. I would have rather paid a fortune for something that was hand-built by their culture than something that was pre-casted. I was a bit disheartened in my finding today.

It taught me a good lesson for when I travel back out west this spring or summer...STUDY and get your facts straight. Buy from well known families in native american pottery and Buy from who you know is authentic, and those who show great artistic skill, and leave the mediocre for the tourists.

Carolyn Concho will still remain my favorite. I treasure my shard necklace I bought from her, and she was even cordial enough to explain the meaning behind it for me. Perhaps someday I can have one of her gorgeous pots, which modernize the traditional acoma pottery. Concho is a direct descendant from the famous Lucy Lewis.

UPDATES--UPDATES---UPDATES

Whee! Updates! First off, as I am typing this the kiln is getting all wired up and ready to fire, which is GREAT, because I bought some red low fire clay after checking our CAD's story about potter Daniel Ricardo Teran who uses such a simple technique, but BOY what talent does he have!? I am absolutely inspired from his studio to the techniques and meanings behind his work. A lot of Daniel's work displayed on his site depict the works of a man caught in between a tin foil hat, and an environmentalist... but it's all in good flavor.

Another cool thing I discovered was this Siphon Blower, which makes penny pinching potters like myself drool. With this product there is no need for an expensive air compressor, and then the expensive gravity fed spray guns. All you need is this helpful gadget and a good set of lungs. Genius!

WELL, look at that purdy pot sitting on my work desk! Yep, this is one of my smaller Mayco pieces I didn't take home. While I'm not 100% thrilled with the outcome of it due to some glaze not reacting like how I envisioned, it still makes a nice little pencil holder, and I got plenty of comments about it at work, too!

POTTERY CLASSES ARE COMING TO THE HOUSTON HOUSE!!

You should be very excited, because I am SUPER excited and can't wait to get started!!!!

New Baby!!!

Yay!! Isn't is beautiful!? We got it in at the Houston House on Wednesday along with a bunch of Duncan glazes and ceramics tools.

I can't tell you how bad I am clawing at my cubicle at work to get out, and go play!!

It's a bit smaller than the old one, which is fine with me, because I never did utilize the entire space in the old kiln. Sadly, it is getting a burial in the basement until we feel like getting it fixed.

A new kiln brings new ceramics classes, which also has me excited! I was also named head of the ceramics committee for the arts center! I'm just exploding with enthusiasm and excitement over here! I really think next year will bring some great possibilities and experiences at the Houston House Arts Center!

I can't wait!

Santa came early at the Houston House!!

Now, I have to go find some clay.

Dia de los muertos

The beginning of November marks the beginning of the spanish folk holiday celebrated by many cutures as "Day of the Dead" where cultures host a week of celebration in remembrance of family and friends who have passed on.

Being in the Midwest, we don't have as many authentic celebrations as say, the south west.

This holiday first intrigued me by the bright colors, and skeletons having a good ol time, and not letting the whole "death" thing get in their way of a lively celebration. It's something TABOO that most people in the United States won't understand, but as an artist, I've come to appreciate this folk traditions and beliefs of the Latino Culture, because they tell a story of many things that are often held at a "hush-hush" tone.

The majority of the work I sell features the Day of the Dead theme with the beautiful Catrina, and her romantic suitor dawning a top hat, and his devilsh grin. I don't have pictures of my pieces unfortuantely, but I do have pictures of me at POR VIDA, which was held in Columbus, OH and celebrated pieces inspired by Dia De Los Muertos, and how many of the artist cope with death.

In other exciting news: WE'RE GETTING THE KILN! Horray-hurrah! We had an overwhelming vote of support through e-mails from board members after I replied to mass e-mail about how beneficial the kiln would be for classes, and teaching!

I can't wait to see the kiln, and get it up and working!

The official board meeting is on Wednesday! I'm extremely excited! :D

It's quite funny after I typed that, because I realized that I have to pick up my finished pieces from Mayco on the same night, so my excitement turned into, "OMG WHAT AM I GOING TO DO!???" lol

I really need to start using my planner more. :)

Ooooh! Lookie what I found! A finished piece that goes with the theme. I started this lady back in July!

Viva la Art.... but not so much for the kiln.

Once more the kiln is out of commission. This makes the second time this year. The darn thing apparently won't "shut off" even after the kiln sitter has flipped down.

I know... I was confused, too.

Anyways, while I'm on hiatus, the board at the art league I work out of will be voting on using emergency funding to purchase a used kiln off of another board member's Aunt. I also inquired with this board member that if the board voted down the request, then I myself would personally buy the kiln and house it at the Art League for their use until I get my own studio. Win-win for them either way.

But, either way, they need one. I will be teaching some ceramic classes come spring time, as we have been receiving a lot of requests for adult clay classes.

I am excited for what the Houston House Arts Center will be doing for 2012. We're pretty much revitalizing the way we do classes, and are adding more events to our agenda in hope of gaining members, and having more outreach to the community.

There has been talk about one of the closer Arts Centers a county over possibly closing up shop due to lack of funding, which makes me extremely sad. I say, if you have to teach painting out of a shack, then do so. Arts in the community is so important, especially to children and young adults who cannot receive the freedom to express creativity with the watered down school art class agendas. Not to mention many schools have cut their art programs all together, because of financial issues.

I didn't mean for this entry to turn so sappy, or political, but I stand highest for arts, because promoting creativity in the young minds of today equals a future of innovation, and different thinking. It means the difference from followers, and creators.

The last thing I would want in life is to be stagnant, and be around stagnant people.

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Back to ceramics.... I have some really nice pieces made up from Mayco, which will be glazed this week! I'm so excited!! I can't wait to see the final product!

Tips

I'm no stranger to Ceramic Arts Daily's site, and I post a bit on their forum, because many professional potters seem to lurk there, including the Potter's Guild President, Chris Campbell, whom I wrote a short entry on a few pages back.

I'm a humble beginner to many on there who have decided a full time career of potting, and many have degrees up to their masters for ceramics.

I savor each and every little tip from business ideas, tax codes, potting techniques, which tools they like, and one tip that was given to me by an advanced potter. Potter's need to take a photography lesson.

In Today's market they're simply not just potters anymore. They also take on the role of book-keeper, accountant, advertising agent, market analyst, promoter, and to make sales anymore you need to have an online store, which includes photos. That is something that potters of the past never worried about aside of having their work published in a paper, or in a book, but it was a great tip I never would have thought of.

Etsy, and personal shops require excellent photography to help seal the deal for many folks. Who would want to buy a tea-cup that's lit too dark to see, or is too blurry to see the details? Not many, that's who.

Potters, ceramic artists, and other arts and craft entrepreneurs have taken on their own photographic challenges, and in that challenge, someone smart came up with the idea of a Photo box/tent. A small fabric box, with a few holes cut in it for lighting.

These sale for $50 and up depending on what size you want.

Well, this is where it gets exciting. After surfing around today I discovered someone was thinking that same frugal way that I was, a made a tutorial on creating your own photography box.

You can find that tutorial HERE.

So, while my dreams of a Nuwave oven will be put on hold for a few more weeks, I'm thinking that a new DSLR camera may be in my future very soon.

Art Crawl

Art Crawl was good to me last night, and I sold some of my original day of the dead pieces that showed in the exhibit. So, it looks like I'll be back in the studio keeping busy!

Time flies when you're throwing on the wheel! I finished up a couple of pieces on Friday!

If you happened to have stumbled upon my blog from a business card, then please 'Like' my official page on Facebook, so you can keep up with updates, my blog postings, and any information on sales, or exhibits! I don't post ALL the time, so don't worry about me spamming up your front page with useless crap. :)

Check it out ...... HERE!

I'm working on getting my photos back from my photographer to get my ETSY store posted soon. Keep an eye peeled for my store launch! I'll have plenty of pieces to sale!

I hope everyone is enjoying, or enjoyed their weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mayco--

Class on Wednesday was quite phenomenal, and I had wonderful instruction from Jen H. She answered a lot of my questions, and gave me tips for areas I was absolutely struggling with like cylindering a piece up. It's amazing how one tip in the night makes the biggest difference.

Last week I was so mad, frustrated, and mopey, and about given up that I could learn the basics to wheel throwing.

Then, voila!

A good shape for a mug, which will get its handle next week. But my God, I have actually made something of use. Well, I made a bowl the week before that, but it's disappeared... I didn't ask about it, because it's not going to break my heart if it blew up, or anything during the bisque firing.

I know I'm crazy for doing this, but I'm signing up for another four week session, so I can learn some more glazing. I'm dying to ask questions, but I'm need to get around this shyness/dorkiness thing. I don't want to be perceived as a total nerd, because I check Ceramic Arts Daily, and am often found sifting through potter's blogs.

ANYWAYS-- I have more updates!!!

I am working on a commission piece for my Aunt's friend, which is cool. It will probably hit the kiln on Friday evening.

THEN-- I'm going to be set up selling my ceramics, and a couple of my paintings at The Indianola/Clintonville Art Crawl!!! EEEEEP!!!

That was a good eep by the way. I am so excited, but at the same time my brain is going, "NOOOO! You are sooo stupid!!", because I need to build up some more inventory due to some sales, and so my table doesn't look sad and lonely.

So.... I will be sending the husband to pick up some slip, and it'll be a weekend of slipcasting, glazing and firing! Oh Joy!!

Oh crap! I almost forgot! Here' s a picture of me at the Houston house Art Exhibit. I had paintings sprawled all over the house, but here' s a good pic of me with a few ceramic pieces, and an oil painting.

Empty handed

On my second week of class, I was able to watch the master Jen Harnetty throw a vase on the wheel in a mere ten minutes. Meanwhile, I sat there and tried throwing pieces, which turned into clay slop, and ended up getting tossed into a reclaim bucket.

Wheel throwing really does get the better of me. So many times I want to start bawling, and stomping around like a spoiled child.

My goal for the three classes in the series I'm taking is to learn the basics to wheel throwing, and then I'll take another session to get all of my glazing techniques, and questions answered.

I took some time this weekend to head over to the Houston House, and sit down and practice on the wheel. I made two successful pieces, which are awaiting to have their bottoms trimmed down. It's amazing, because I imagine that one day it will click, and I think I learned my lesson on trying to center my pieces. I am simply not leaning over enough, and propping my elbows on my legs well. My last piece I was able to center with ease.

Now, that I have that problem figured out, my next one is trying to cylinder pieces without them widening out into bowls.

Damn, damn, bowls.

In other news-- My Aunt has ordered a piece from me to give to her friend for a birthday present. It's a sculpture, and it's still drying out at the Houston House. I have never been so nervous about a piece, because I'm coming close to a time crunch since it's due in November. To have it explode would be devastating to me.

And in other-other news-- The Houston house will be having a winter art fair, so I'll be able to sell some more pieces in a public sale.

Sorry, no pics this time. Perhaps later this week!!

A tale of inspiration

I started my first Mayco ceramics class, and I am ecstatic, because I learned so much within the 2-ish hours I was there. I felt so awful, because I felt like the annoying kid in class, "Teacher, teacher, help me! Help me!!!" Meanwhile so many other people there were just so lost, and clueless as to what to do with it being their first time ever touching clay.

Every single piece of information I have learned about wheel throwing has came from hours of scanning through videos, Youtube, and online articles, but you REALLY need the hands on, so you have someone telling you what you're doing wrong. This helped me IMMENSELY, and by the end of the night I had a gorgeous, thin walled, small bowl, which was better than the thick, ugly past pieces I've attempted. I am so excited to go back next week, but I fear the three week time span might hinder all that I want to learn. The hubby might not go for another $100 payment per session, but we'll see.

Bless his little heart, because this weekend, he let his little ol' wife buy an amazing $80 dress for a mere fee of home cooking for the week.... and this brings me to my next point...

Schedule wise, this is a crazy week for me, and I have a lot of events on top of my 9-5 job this week. Apart from starting my ceramics class, I still have a crazy schedule of Assistant Directing for a community theater production, AND on Wednesday, I have a rooftop masquerade in downtown Columbus.

This is where the 'inspiration' part of this entry comes in. I have to attempt a mask tonight with some fabrics, and crafty things I have stuffed in a closet somewhere. I had an idea at first, but my dress color is not so accommodating now to my original idea. So, this is where ETSY comes in to play.

Etsy, I love you! If there ever was a place for creativity lacking individuals like myself, it would be you. It HAD to be you! Wonderful-wonderful YOU!

I found some of these masks, while milling about, and I am in awe. I just wanted to share them.

Brakes.

“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.”

After a lot of consideration, and time constraints, it hit me the other night that I should probably put a hiatus on doing any crafting events, or festivals till next year.

I had such a feeling of being overwhelmed, and then it hit me that I would be freaking out for the whole month of October trying to get banners made, find table clothes, small platforms, getting stuff bubble wrapped, finding packaging, and getting all the smaller business necessities like finding a laptop of tablet to carry to shows, making spreadsheets, and all that fun (boring) stuff.

I'm going to devote a lot of my sales for the rest of 2011 to my Etsy account, and at The Houston House Arts Center during exhibits. I'm excited to see some of the feedback on my pieces from the public. So far, it's looking positive, which is helping me get a long.

Speaking of Exhibits my pieces will be featured at an event the Houston House is doing for the Festifair/Covered Bridge festival. I guess they're having a large tour bus coming through, and a plus is that we have some people from the Fair committees jumping on board to help support us, which brings a lot of excitement. The whole thing has been a huge learning process for me, and I'm glad I can devote time to something I have a passion for.

Anyways, the show is September 10th. I kilned my Grandma's piece last night, and I'm crossing my fingers that it's still in a single, solid piece, and not blown to bits. Tonight, I'm going to glaze it, and pop it back into the kiln again.

That's another thing lately, I've been wanting to mess around with Stoneware again. I've been wanting to build, and even wheel throw again, but with my schedule, it's forced me to put any thought to creative adventuring on the back burner. In a way, the overwhelming feeling is start to turn stifling.

I'm taking a break, and calling for a New Year's resolution to really get my business rear in gear come 2012, so I can enjoy the rest of my 2011.

--P.S.-- My wheel throwing classes start in a couple weeks. HORRAY! I've never met such a nicer bunch of ladies so excited about teaching ceramics!! :)

Back to School!

All the kiddies are doing it, so why can't I?

Well, I am. I'm going to be taking some simple classes for wheel throwing and glazing, which are two things I REALLY need to improve on, seeing I have not had formal education in either, and everything I have learned is from pure reading, and experimentation.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am about this, because I'll be taking classes from Jen Harnetty, an editor for Ceramic Arts Daily, which is like my online web bible for ceramics, and she's posted some techniques on the site, that I'd really love to know about, or at least ask about.

A piece from Jennifer Harnetty.

On to other things:

This is DO or DIE week, people. My deadline is next week, and I'm running behind, because of being held hostage at the Houston House for Auditions, and form signings for a play I'm involved with. Part of me wants to act like a mean troll and carry all my things to the basement are start working down there.

You know, Potters can be really angry and agitated people. I think I understand that frustration for the fact they're under deadlines, and a lot of them have no social life for the fact they're always stuck in their studio.

The next two days will be nothing more than firings.

I'm crossing my fingers on this show, because I'm not seeing too many ceramic artists at these shows, which means they haven't found out about them, or their pieces were not appealing to the alternative crowd.

I have business cards that have been ordered, and should be here soon, and come October I'm going to be worrying about packaging, bags, stickers, and all that other good stuff on TOP of having to make more pieces for bulk. Thank-God I don't wholesale at the moment. HOLY CRAP, what a headache that must be!

SOME EXCITING NEWS!!

I love the colors of Dia De los muertos.

Well... sorta. I've been getting some great feedback on my finished pieces. I have some Day of the Dead pieces with a man, and his lady skeleton on some of the pieces, and the President of the Art League was showing the Houston House to a Doctor, and she said the Doctor asked about pricing on the pieces, and seemed interested.

I can't tell you how that bumps my confidence up. I was there a few weeks going, "Who's going to buy this crap!? I feel so mediocre!"

I'm ready! Lets DO THIS!!

Can ye fathom the ocean, dark and deep...

....where the mighty waves and the grandeur sweep?

And where squids and whales sleep.

I've finished another series. and they're now nestling in a nice warm kiln... unscathed and not cracked.... hopefully.

Did you know, that I am uneasy about squids and octopus, and I get satisfaction in conquering the beasts of the sea when I bite into some fried calamari on an Asian buffet?

Octopus and squids are weird. I was traumatized after watching something on the history channel about how they have these giant beaks, and can literally snap through a thick metal cable, which they then compared to a human bone.

Still not creeped out?

They're smart... REALLY smart, from the way they attack their prey, and plan their dinner. Screw Moby Dick. I am afraid of squids and other tentacle beasts of the ocean deep.

Why do I paint them and draw them? I don't know. I don't have a phobia, but rather a genuine uneasiness about them. Either way, I am excited to see how these turn out.

Also, here's another shot including two other pieces that are prepped to be refired after testing some glaze out. I'm pretty excited about them as well.

Back to basics

I'm not going to lie. August is my crazy month in which my schedule is immensely overloaded.

Not to be snooty, or irresponsible to obligations temporarily, but this is one of those Oprah "live for you, and you alone" pep talks. Mine just isn't on a daily basis... JUST until September.

I have some inventory built up, but I'm probably going to cast of couple more pieces before I feel satisfied enough to start selling. My biggest thing for September is kiln time. A lot of these pieces are getting bisque fired, then clear coat fired. Kiln time takes a lot of my evening, because I have to sit around wait for it to ramp up.

I got around to hand building again last night. I can't tell you the last time I sat down to work on a handbuilt piece that wasn't a sculpture. I made a floral pot dedicated to my very own Mammaw in West Virginia. It didn't hit me till the piece was nearly finished, and I felt like it was missing something, so added some small rosettes on the left side of the piece in which I wanted

to dedicate it to her, because of her enjoyment of growing roses and flowers, and to the fact she worked as a florist.

I can't ever look at a bright pink/fuchsia rose without thinking about my Mammaw.

This piece is called, "The Florist" and I plan on entering it into the members exhibit for the Covered Bridge festival come September.

A side view of the handle, and

rosettes.

I think this is why I am so partial to hand built pieces, and I feel more of a connection to them. If I lose a porcelain cast piece, it's nearly not as overwhelming as losing something that took a considerable amount of time to construct and put creativity into.

Okay, and now, but not least: GLAZE PARTY!

I've been busy cleaning out underneath the cabinet! Once these are finished, I may sell them. There's nothing I'm really dying to keep out of this bunch. Maybe someone else can appreciate them! I'm excited to see the pieces once they go through the kiln!!

Lovely ladies

I'm still using my victorian lady bust template on a couple of pieces. I popped these into the kiln last night. Hopefully, they turn out ok!

And just for fun. Here's a picture of a chair I painted over at the Houston

House Arts Center back in the Spring. It was based on a Gibson Girl print. It's still not finished. I think it's in the basement being friendly with the black widows.

Blue period

Picasso had his blue period, so it should only be befitting that my pottery came out blue. However, my intentions were not to convey sadness, despair, or poverty behind my work. In fact, it was pure accident.

Hallelujah, the kiln I operate out of is fixed! After some test runs I decided to load it up with all of my porcelain casted greenware pieces that I painted an underglaze on, and give it a whirl. I had also forgotten that I had mixed some stain into a couple of the pieces when I was slip casting.

Well, to make a long story short, everything has a blue tint to it. I like it, because it mimics a rustic speckled look.

Since this was pure accident, then I'm certain I'll never be able to recreate it.

Ohio bowl.

I also have a suspicion that the kiln is firing a little bit hotter than expected, or it's ramping up too quickly, because I noticed on this load that a vase I had made for my Grandmother completely slumped over.

Also, I noticed that all my pieces were so smooth like they had a small hint of a gloss to them, but I had not added a clear coat to any of them. This to me is a sign that the kiln might to firing too hot, too quickly, so I'm going to venture out this evening, and by Cone 4 pyrometric cones to see if firing it to a lower heat will cure my problem.

I've been firing all of my pieces to Cone 6, which is considered high firing, which is more common for Stoneware, than porcelain, but I was assured that the porcelain slip I was using could go up to cone 6. Anyways, these pieces will all get a nice clear coat, and then be fired to a low temp, and then they should be good to go! HORRAY, finally some completed pieces!

Fur Sho'-

I have a lot of deadlines coming up soon. I have to get some pieces completed for the Member's Show at the Houston House Arts Center, and then I have a deadline at the beginning on September for an alternative craft show that will happen during the winter holiday season.

Pinup bowl-bisque fired.

Maybe it's a good thing I wasn't able to finish for the deadline for Crafting Outlaws, because I found out over 190 people applied to be a vendor, and they're only picking 50 people to represent. A lot of those people will most likely be vendors who were grandfathered in from previous years, and who have sponsored the event.

Birds on a wire.

OH YEAH---- I almost forgot! If you have a Facebook the you can 'LIKE' Little Black Dog Pottery now! Cool, right?

Click HERE for Facebook.

I have FINALLY, set up an Etsy store for purchases!

Click HERE for my Etsy Store!

PROGRESS!!!