Such a long wait

I made a few more music themed items, but it takes such a long time to get them finished. These babies are in for drying, then another week or so for bisque, then another week or so to get them out of glaze kiln. I have several things waiting to be final fired, and that batch might be out next Tuesday. In fairness, I think I made these things after we got home from our two week trip, so certainly formed about 8th of Nov or so, and to be able to see them next Tuesday is really about two weeks. I find that my brown speckled clay takes a lot longer to dry. I have several things on the bisque shelf as well. Made these today and will post when they come out of final kiln and will, therefore, have a real feel for how long it takes. The kilns are pretty busy this time of year, so things might be moving a little faster than usual.
Here's a photo showing the items on the "waiting for bisque firing"
Boy, until I posted all this I hadn't realized how busy I have been this month, especially since, for me, handbuilding takes quite a while. I also have another big leaf platter that will come out of Glaze kiln (hopefully intact) that I didn't photograph for this posting. Next week!

My new creation

Most of my turtle items have sold in one week, also the beach box sold. I have two more drying as well as another two leaf platters, but my newest "fun" creations are my kitty vases. Here is a picture of one (I have made three), and I am hoping they look good after glazing, etc., I used to have a brooch that looked something like this with that backward looking attitude, and I thought it would be a hoot to recreate this look as a vase. I can see a bunch of daisies coming out of the vase can't you? Also did one with texture on vase and a different texture on rear and face. Stay tuned for finished projects in a couple of weeks.

My Goodness!

Before my stuff even got into "official inventory" at the shop, three of the items have been sold. I had a good day today and my turtle series is off to a good start. Of course, the lady from Ocean Isle Beach who "just happened to be an adopted mother of a turtle" bought several of my pieces, including three of my turtle vessels and my beachbox. I had already sold the tumbling rocks box I put in the shop just before we left. My Hosta leaf holders also have had a fairly decent run and today, I sold an item, I never did post on this blog, a lovely green platter with impressed leaves.
It is fun to meet the people who buy my items on the three days a month I work at the gallery. Today was a good day!

Turtles, birds beach and stars

More on my beach theme, a box similar to the one I featured here and sold, and using a new silkscreen showing turtles on the beach including hatching scene. This area is pretty famous for our loggerhead turtle nestings. Also a batch of star ringholders and a pair of candleholders. Will be in gallery tomorrow.

Two Posts in one Day!

Just wanted to let you know that my ceramic obsession is NOT totally taking me over (almost, but not quite). Last week our local gardening editor called me to see if I would let them feature my pergola seating arrangement in one corner of the garden. Since I have been long neglecting the garden, I had to take two days off from potting (clay that is), and clean up that corner (no not the whole garden, unfortunately), and make it presentable for the article. Here is a link to the article which makes me look like a gardener again. I have to admit, the work was long overdue and I had forgotten just how enjoyable it can be.

Also I was contacted about handpainting a handbag for our local YWCA fundraiser White Wine & Tea Party, part of their annual Purse & Passion fundraising event.

I just finished this one and having never done this before, enjoyed it. I had to get this done quickly since we will be gone for two weeks.

More Pots for October

Playing around with some new shapes/forms, more use of my new acqua glaze, and addition of silkscreen turtles to my beach collection. Some of these sold from my trunk before I got them to the shop.

Still at the "Beach"

Still experimenting with my beach bird images and some new (for me) clay. I have only recently decided to work with brown speckled clay and to try various new ways to use my silkscreens. I have found I can "transfer" from newsprint onto matte glaze surfaces to give a sepia look. Same image direct screenprinted is decidedly more black. Also trying to capture the textures and colors of the beach as our beach season here in Wilmington winds down. I have a few new images of turtles that I am playing with also. I like the variations I have been getting with brown speckled clay.

New for August

I haven't had much experience using speckled brown clay before, and had a bag of it from almost two years ago, so decided to try a few things. Except for vase at the bottom, all these were made from that clay body. I see lots of possibilities and love the result so today I will get more of this clay and see where else I can go with it.
I had some nice surprises with this kiln opening.