One thousand

We had a great turnout at the building wide open house, and had wonderful time at the Awaken studio open house last weekend.

My Etsy sale reached 1000.  I did not expect this four years ago.  I started the Etsy in November 2007.  I stumbled upon the Etsy while googling the other potters, and found someone was actually selling the pottery on the website. I was very fortunate to get into the Etsy early, when not many potters were there. I am actually a member of Etsy old timer team. Now, I see there is over 1000 potters selling Etsy.

I had two firings since my last post.  I made the saggar about one inch taller and wider with the refractory clay, and the oxidation is back...  And one of the saggar is split in a half.  I am back to drawing board on this.  I will put a piece of wood inside the sagger at next firing to see what happens. I used to fire with pots wrapped with straw soaked in salt water for a couple day in a saggar to get nice flashing effects.

My

Studio open house this Friday and Saturday

Time flew by.  This is fourth annual studio open house. I have two firing done and lots of fresh potteries, lots of earring holders, teapots, bowls, and more.  I will clean up and set up the studio and some baking tomorrow.

At the Hungerford Building

1115 East Main Street

Door 2  suite 422    - 4th floor

Rochester, NY 14607

 

12/2-3

Studio Open House

Here is latest teapot collections;

[caption id="attachment_1867" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Teapot 31"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1868" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Teapot 32"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1869" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Teapot 33"][/caption]

Yes, this one survived.

Teapot 28-30

I loaded the kiln last week, but strong winds were expected until Tuesday.  Then, I was checking the forecast on Monday night around 9pm, found that Tuesday is again windy.  I wound up firing the kiln Monday night. over night.  It was very claim and quiet night, perfect for the firing.  Tuesday, there was no winds, of course.

I opened the kiln today, and another good firing.  The refractory clay - sagger held up well.  Here is teapot 28 to 30.

[caption id="attachment_1854" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Teapot 28"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1855" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Teapot 29"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1856" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Teapot 30"][/caption]

Happy Thanksgiving!

Slab built teapot

I was making slab pieces yesterday, and decided to make a teapot with it. This is my first attempt on assembling a box shape. It came out well, I think. Hope it stays one piece after firings.





Another warm November. Leaves are still on trees, and we have not seen snow on the ground this winter.  It is very nice everyday.  I have finished delivering pottery to galleries, and am working on the open house on December 2 & 3.  I hurt my right forearm four weeks ago trying to pull the loading deck door, and it still bothers a bit.  It is hard to heal while working with clays everyday.

 

Refractory clay

I have been sickly last two weeks. Change of season, I guess. I think the fall is dragging long this year, and we finally had a couple of frost this week.  I have been working lightly.

I got the refractory clay body for the sagger. It felt like throwing a sandpaper, but threw well. I hope this last longer then 4-5 firings.



I had fourth firing in one month this week, I think this is my record. I did not lose any piece due to oxidation, but one teapot, sort of.  I tried to glaze differently, and came out just bad. I totally forgot that the turquoise glaze turned to red if glazed over the white glaze.  I might try adding a decal on this teapot.

[caption id="attachment_1834" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="teapot 26"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1836" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Teapot 27 fired"][/caption]

Wall hanging

Here is my customer's kitchen.  I have been begging her to send me a picture of my fluted bowls on the wall.  Thank you Patti for pictures.  It looks great.



This fluted bowl has a grooved foot, so a screw head hooks with. I learned this idea at Richard Aerni's workshop years ago. This is a very neat idea as it does not require a wire around a foot, makes it easy to clean after its use, and put back to the wall.  It is very stable.

Teapot 26 & 27

Here is teapot 26 and 27.  I played with the bottom while still wet.

[caption id="attachment_1812" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Teapot 26"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1813" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Teapot 27"][/caption]

I am working on the whole food diet thing, sort of.  We still eat meat, but the half of used to and added chickpeas or other peas in vegetable mix.  I go to the public market once a week to get vegetables and fruits.  It costs one third to quarter compared to the grocery store.  I leaned to cook the peas quickly with the pressure cooker and find some good recipes using pears. I eat more genmai rice (brown rice). I feel more energy during day.



I had another successful firing last week  (third firing in three weeks),  and am getting close to fill the wholesale orders and consignment stores.  Still need a couple more firing to get ready for the holiday rush.