One of the jugbirds I took to England in September was a Greater Spotted Woodpecker. They are native to England, not North America. As soon as she saw it on Facebook, local Port Moody artist Maggie White asked for one too. Like me, Maggie grew up in England so was probably feeling nostalgic. My most recent flock of birds included her GS Woodpecker and today…
My title sounds a bit like a risqué petticoat, but no, it refers to the special, very liquid slips that are sprayed onto bone dry or bisqued stoneware pieces prior to a soda or salt or wood firing. They react to the surrounding flames and will lend a delicious opaque colour, often red-brown, orange or blue, or will encourage orange peeling. There's so much to…
Last Wednesday we, the Soda Workshop people, were invited to show up at the Shadbolt kiln for the big reveal. We waited until everybody was there before removing any of the delicious new ware. Perhaps because we were only eight participants (due to a couple of last-minute drop-outs) there was lots of space around each pot and there seemed to be orange peeling or warm…
Five Vancouver area artists trundled out to Port Moody on Tuesday for the first 'Raid' since August. It seems I had enough bisque-fired platters and plates prepared for this group, and there were lots of underglaze colours ready. Pierre Coupey drove here from West Vancouver and Mina Totino, Kate Metten, Eric Metcalfe and Tamara Mills came from Vancouver. As conversation flowed each person settled right…
Last Friday I took myself over to Shadbolt Centre in Burnaby to join the other participants in the soda firing. The kiln wasn't quite ready for introducing soda so Linda Doherty suggested I check out the Craft Fair that was taking place in the main building that day, and Saturday and Sunday. First I took a lovely Fall stroll down to Deer Lake in the…