My usual Woodpecker jugbirds are the right colours but I decided that I'd like to try to replicate the long neck and broad shoulders of the real bird. So I recently threw parts for said project, including two tubes to be his feet - just to see how that would work out. The photo shows the pieces, plus bodies for two…
I really like the new 'coupe' rimless plate shape I've been making for the 'Raiders', so I've made some for myself lately, using my red earthenware clay. On one I chose to paint the surface with white porcelain slip (which I know 'fits') and then applied geometrical shapes. It is really an experiment to see if the colours jump out or retreat, and my black…
I like sharing the space in my kiln with all those painted plates. It means that I can fire however many of my pieces are ready without wasting electricity or waiting until I have made enough to fill the kiln. Last week I added Bill Thomson's large plate for a re-fire and then when all the packing was done I found that I had one…
When my dear brother Bill was spending his last days in the hospice last October, his wife, my sister-in-law Lottie, sent me a poem and a photo. She had dreamed of birds flying away to warmer climes after the summer and wondered if the dream had been inspired by the old-fashioned bird design on the hospice room curtains. As I awoke this morning, I dreamt of…
Last Monday I waxed all the bisque-fired plates and jugbirds, and because it was a warm day I was able to get the glazing done and then reloaded the kiln. So it was firing all the next day while Alan and I went in to St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver to meet the cardiac surgeon. When that was over we treated ourselves to lunch in Vancouver…