Now I have a couple of weeks to get eighteen pieces of my work carefully packed and mailed to Jonathon’s Gallery in London, Ontario. I already have half a dozen fine soda and salt-fired pots on hand.. good thing as there isn’t a chance to make new work so soon. While the earthenware pots were firing I started some new stoneware work so that I can join TriCity Potters in our firing in early October.

The just-completed earthenware jugbirds are all intended for Jonathon and Brian in Ontario so I selected birds that are seen there (suggested by cousin Dennise, thank you). There’s a Cardinal, one of my regulars just because he’s a fine colour, and a Pileated Woodpecker because they are found here and back East. These guys are all roughly 5″ tall.

Apart from those I made a Baltimore Oriole and researched a Blue Bird. The latter is quite turquoise but I hope is recognizable to Ontarians. Here is an illustration alongside him.

A new and fiddly-to-paint fellow is the Blue Jay. We don’t see those here, instead seeing Stellar’s Jays and Whisky Jacks.

Dennise mentioned a Loon and of course I needed to make one. My born-in-Canada mother was fond of their calls. But the Loon doesn’t lend itself to being a jug and I have made some odd Loon vessels before.. but where to fill them? A hole in the back isn’t perfect, but I thought that with a lid the bird could become a teapot. I have enjoyed designing, assembling and painting him and I’m told that he is clearly a Loon. Does it pour? will be asked. Yes, but not very well. He is honestly more decorative than functional but the goal is to make you smile.

There is also a Jolly Green Jugbird, just because I like green.

Tomorrow’s job is to make final selections and start packing.

I’ll post photos of some of the plates that helped to fill the kiln in my next blog.