On Thursday I drove over to Port Coquitlam to open Shelley's kiln. Production is slow these days but I felt I had enough finished pieces to warrant bisque and glaze firings now. I have a soda firing to look forward to in the Fall but I was happy to return to my favourite D'Arcy Redart earthenware clay for a month or two. I also wanted…
Now that I don't make many pots I tend to consider whether each piece is actually useful. Is the pot destined to be admired on a shelf or will it hold cookies, vegetables, milk, sugar, tea or, most likely in this latest batch, flowers? Even if the pot is decorated, carved or just amusing I'd like to think that it will be used for mashed…
Twice a year if I'm lucky, is how often I have the special pleasure of helping to unload a kiln full of soda-fired pots. Last Tuesday was one of those days. Alan needed the car so, for for the first time, I Ubered both ways. What a treat! There's no way Cheryl will tolerate late-comers! I had helped to load the front shelves on the…
My latest batch of pots is small but I was anxious to see the results of some tests. Also Circle Craft shop is waiting for some new work so I've made half a dozen new jugbirds. My main concern was to see if a new-to-me white earthenware clay would have similar shrinkage to D'Arcy's redart clay, and if my preferred clear glaze would fit both.…
Even though I've made jugbirds since 2003 it seems people still expect me to have some on hand. So I started my minimal production of 2026 by throwing half a dozen jugbird bodies. It takes several days to add spouts/beaks and eyes, paint with coloured slips, dry and then bisque fire them. Here is the current flock. Someone has asked for a Pileated Woodpecker. They…