December 2009 - Random Thoughts
12/28/09 - Threw some small plates yesterday on the new Hardybacker bats. Not sure if I like them. They really suck the moisture out of the bottoms. Also threw 2 larger plates - one had an S crack - don't know if it is because I didn't compress the bottom or because of the Hardybacker. I decorated the small plates with slip over paper resist. That was fun. Want to do some more of them.
12/27/09 - Just starting to get light and it's snowing (again). I think I am finished with baskets for the moment. The one on the right is dry and the other about half dry. The dry one will go in the bisque kiln today and get fired tomorrow.
12/24/09 - Never got around to throwing platters, but did 2 more big baskets. These are rectangular rather than square. I almost like this form better.
12/20/09 - More clay pugged up - soft and ready to throw. Might be a big platter day. Think I will cut some of them square and decorate with slips. Had some hardy backerboard cut up to try as bats. Got all the edges sanded yesterday so they are ready to use.
12/19/09 - Coil bottles #5 & #6 are in the bisque kiln. I think I am finished with coils for the near future, but am tempted to do more as they are fun. The other 4 came out of the bisque kiln just fine. The studio is getting stacked up with bisque and the driveway is still a skating rink. Never put a driveway on the north side in this climate. A very large, tall basket is waiting for a handle this morning. Need to pug up some clay as the clay barrel is getting low. At least, all the scrap is pugged. Next large platters or a low basket/tray? Tall basket finished today:
12/12/09 -More snow forecast for today. It is just starting to get light creating thick, freezing fog.
12/11/09 - and more snow today off and on. It is all gray and white outside - hardly any color to be seen. Coil bottle #6 is about 60% finished - hope to complete tomorrow and fire the bisque kiln. I like this little drift on the corner of the deck.
12/9/09 - 2 degrees this morning. This snow is going to stick around for awhile and more supposed to be coming on Thursday. Finished coil bottle #5 and started #6. All the others are loaded in the bisque kiln. Hope to fire them tomorrow. I won't be able to do a glaze firing until some of the snow is out of the driveway.
12/7/09 - Didn't finish the coil bottle yesterday. It will get the top added today. Big snowfall last night. Why does it always do this on garbage day?
12/6/09 - Started another coil bottle yesterday. The one below may be dry enough to load in the kiln today. Also finished a tall box w/lid. I can probably finish the new coil bottle today. Lots of frost on the rooftops this morning, snow predicted for tonight and very, very cold. 9 degrees when I got up this morning at 6 am. Good day to stay home and inside where it is warm. Threw 10 little bowls for testing with some flashing slips - want to try 2 different shinos over the slip and see if I can get some flashing through it.
12/3/09 - The tall coil bottle below needed something so I put these rings on it yesterday. Big improvement. Been reading Tony Clennell's blog. He uses slips under a shino glaze and gets great varieties of surface color. Think I will throw some small bowls to test flashing slips from John Britt's book under the shino. I need one more coil bottle to fill the bisque kiln.
12/1/09 - Big basket with handle #3 and tall coil pot with top #2. Some days are better than others when you start at 4:30 am. Bisque kiln fired off about 11:30 am. Ready to pug up some clay for more vessels. Think I will throw big platters next.
