100 American Craftsmen

Took me three hours to set-up. Today was from 6 to 9pm. My old customers showed up.  I enjoy talking with customers, and hearing their story with my pottery, such as the customers daughter took  my pottery to Mexico City.



After the show, my van did not start up.  Called AAA, waited for one hour, thinking I might need to stay overnight in the van while rain started pouring. Turnout, the battery needed to juiced up.  Maybe I left the door of the van open too long.  Something to think about for next three weeks.

Van Loaded and some

Van is loaded. This is not the outdoor show, so I do not bring the canopy. So, I have more space left.



Here is some custom order casseroles I am working on. I need to think about the glaze combination.

Getting ready for the first show of 2009

100 American Craftsmen at the Kenan Center in Lockport, NY this Friday through Sunday.

I have been sanding, pricing and packing the pottery with the help of the intern, and will load them into the van tomorrow. Please come to see me if you have the time.  I have lots of new works. Here is a link to $1 off coupon for the admission.

Kiln loaded, again

Kiln is loaded, and ready to go.

This week,I have is an intern in my studio. She is a high school senior, and took a ceramic class. It was very strange having another person in the studio. I never had an intern before. I had no idea what to do or ask. I asked around the fellow potters, and got some idea. I decided to let her play with the clay. First, asked her to make a slab build cups. She made a decent one, but took while to make. Then, asked her to make multiple cups, and made seven. Asked her to continue. She made eight for about half of the time. While, she waxed the pots, sanded the finished pots and made several chop stick holders as well. I am pleased how quickly pick up way to make the slab pieces. I learned how quickly the time consuming task like waxing finishes with additional hands....

Hot studio

UToday, temperature hit 87°F, and the gas kiln is still warm from the glaze firing from two days ago, and the electric kiln just finished the bisque firing. Studio has been the tropical island, well over 95°F and very dry for three days. Do you want to loose weight? Join me. My jeans is very loose. Unloaded the kiln. Mostly good, except the bottom center is still oxidation. One more firing this weekend.



Update on my glass. It has been 6 months since I was complaining about the progressive eyeglass. I am very well adjusted, and seldom take off the glass to see the close object. It is a lot easier to make the pottery now than 6 months ago. Only time when I have problem is while cutting meat and vegetables. Yes, with knife. I cut into my nails way more than before. I guess my brain thinks seeing the object while actually it is not. The cut is not that bad, but, just keeps my nails short and with the super glue.

Kiln loaded

This is the first of two firing this week before the 100 American Craftsmen at the Kenan Center in Lockport, NY on May 28-31.  Lots of small items. Took forever to glaze them....

Small and large

Yard is a lot busier. Trees have lots of leaves.



Tea candle holders



20" platters.

Two weeks to show season begins. I hope I made enough small items.

Next week, two firings scheduled.

Small items

Chopstick holders



Soy plates



Ring holder

Pacifica Wheel - splash pan

I made a larger splash pan with a concrete mixing tab.  It was easy to cut with a bow saw.  I used the  splash pan came with the wheel on one side, and fit the concrete mixing tub on the other end.  It collects the trimming very well.

Rochester Magazine

Article by "Rochester Magazine"

Opening the kiln

Firing is done. I am still getting some oxidation next to the flame, but overall got good reduction.
Here are some unloaded from the kiln.

18” Platter



Oval platter finished, from the mold I made the other day.



Tenmoku design is set.



Chun blue test 2, on Stoneware clay and White stoneware

Iron contents of the stoneware clay gives the glaze blue tone, which I am after.

Blossoms and Birdbath

Finally it is spring here. Everything blossoms at once.




Birds are busy flying around.


Chipmunk somehow climbs up to the birdbath, too.

Pacifica wheel

I have been using the Pacifica wheel, GT-400 for two years.  It is quiet, and can handle 20lb of clay with ease.  Right after the purchase, I temporary installed the Shimpo’s large splash pan to try out.  Temporary, I did not secure the splash pan and I was thinking just to try it out as I often removed the wheel head from the Shimpo to put on and off the splash pan for a larger platter.  However, the wheel head got stuck, and did not move since.  I tried everything, heat, three people, mallet, etc.  to remove it.  I unscrewed two screws securing the shaft a month ago, and forgot put them back.  Recently I noticed the head was dropped a little, and it is very hard to cut a bottom of a large platter with a wire.  It is now starting cause problem making pottery.


I bought the belt buckle and secured the bottom part of the wheel, and sprayed a large amount of the lubricant.  And, twisted the wheel head at a time and spaying for one hour!  It came out finally.  Something hard was caught between the shafts as you can see the lines inside the wheel head.  I measure the diameter; it is very tight fit with no play.  I will find some mechanical shop to mill down 1/10 of mm or so before reinserting the wheel head.  I need to find some other way to collect the trimming.  The original splash pan came with the Pacific is not just big enough to collect trimming. I hate them flying all over the floor as well.

Decorating

Some decorating bowl and platter today. Carving and adding stamped clays. This could be a wall hanging, bowls or bird bath.

I start to feel the tendonitis on the left wrest, this happened the last year at the same location. I hope the icing and Aleve will heal quickly. This is crunch time for shows!