New and old changes

New ideas always coming to mind.

 A flat decorative tray, can be used for food, or other things.  Just thought I'd try out some new ideas.

Today I'm actually trying something else new - going to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

So while Vicki Lane is teaching nearby in Brasstown, NC, and Linda Starr is in the mountains of Blairesville, GA...I'll be tramping through the forest of the Appalachians to see some big trees.  Can't wait!

For the 5 years I've lived here, this old garage full of junk has looked back at me whenever I look out my living room windows.  And last week it was finally removed.  Yay.

There is a big space there, and lots of cars.  But the jolly green porta potty is still there.  And the construction guys still use it and let the door slam every time.  I know their bathroom habits by now!

Thanks to
potterymakinginfo
for including my blog several times in the review of April, 2015.

There are lots of blogs about pottery, and well worth perusal when you get the clay off your hands and look at the little screen in your life.

Quote for today:

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.

Carl Gustav Jung

Marina's plates and bowls

Marina has become a good friend and I dearly love this lady who has such a positive outlook on life.

Bowls are done...2 with lady bugs.  Hope the 2 plates are ok.  But only one has been glaze fired.

And I've got a couple of slightly larger plates getting bisqued as we speak.  But it will be another week probably before the waiting plates are glaze fired....and then I want Marina to see them.

Plates take so long to get fired, the space in the kiln is used best by tall and medium size objects apparently.

So I've got things I'm holding back from putting to be glaze fired, in hopes that these little plates will get into the next kiln load.  I am fine with sharing each kiln load with lots of other students and members of our community studio...just why are they all making flat things at the same time I am?  Strange.  I need some voodoo or something to help them be interested in making maybe tall vases?

Well, whenever it happens, it happens.  I've learned that is the only way to wait for my turn.  I may be first in line, but the kiln gods are crazy.

Quote for today (I should find one about patience, shouldn't I?)

Art makes life bearable. It isn't a luxury. Like our capacity for understanding, and our experience of love, it is a vitally important part of life.

Gillian Pederson Krag

 

Making things to order

Another vendor at the Tailgate market ordered these cups...and I think was pleased with them.

I like the way the glaze runs into the indented place on each side...a bit hard to see.

This ladybug mug sold last week to another artist.  May it bring her inspiration!

As a hobbiest potter, I make a few things a week...and yet I still make more than I sell each week.  So that means many tubs of pottery stacked in my studio.  As well as hammering away at those that just don't make the grade...little dings or not quite right glazes are becoming more noticeable for me.

So making things to order is a great idea for me, if you all can wait until the studio kiln can do the firing cycles that a community studio goes through.  Remember not to expect colors and sizes to be exactly as you imagine, and you'll probably be happy.

 However, for savvy shoppers who order well in advance, this might be just the right idea.  They'll get what they want, and I won't have that inventory storage problem.

So I've been offering a nice discount to those who order things from me.

I love win-win situations, don't you?

Walk - Part 3 the White Flowers

We started out the other day with these lovely flowers (probably Bittersweet)

Within a few yards of them I also saw these other white flowers...a bit more common.

Daisy Fleabane

Honeysuckle...I always want to pic a few and pull the stamen through the bottom to get that drop of nectar.  But I left it for any little pollinators this time.

Mountain Laurel is also native here.

Today's Quote:

In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer