Off the Porch and Growling

And lo, the spirit of clay relented and took pity on the potter bent above the wheel.

So today was a fairly good day. I say fairly because I am not sure I will keep the pots I threw today, maybe ... I need to let them set up and have a little time to think about them before I decide one way or the other. They aren't bad per se and I had a particular idea in mind, but ... yeah it's always the but that gets in the way. Really, I was going for a carafe style to use as pitcher bodies. Not quite sure I achieved exactly what I wanted. We'll see ...

Anyway I also did some trimming, and that turned out great. The Saga of the Platter has moved on to a new chapter. Yes! after many weeks and two previous abortive attempts I was able to trim both, yes both! So it's not five, nor six but eight pounds of clay per platter. Someone else, Andrews wife, I can't spell her name so I won't because I don't want to mangle it said she did ten pounds for a platter. So the concensus is more is better than less in this case.

I also put pulled a triune of handles and tried a new treatment. Basically I split the handle at the ends for the last inch, and used my fingers to smooth them round a bit. Next, I marked the pot into three sections and notched the pot where I wanted the top of the "X" to go. Score, Slip (can't forget the slip) and then stamp to secure. Notice -- I used one of the lines I trimmed into the base pot as a guideline. Down below I did the same thing. Once this was done, I added a larger notch in the rim so that when filled with water it will overflow. I also added a stamp directly below the notch as added decoration, I think this is a very nice shape and am very, very happy with it so far. Now if the Kiln Goddess smiles then we'll be in business. If not, well it won't be the first or last pot I've sacrificed on the altar. I learn something everytime I throw a pot.

The platter's are a good example; The platters would not look as good if I had been able to keep version one and two, each time I failed I had a new idea or theory if you will to work from. The fancy bits are a good example of this, I happened to see some handbuilders (no it's not a dirty word) and they were altering pots by adding the odd bit here and there, and it struck me why not? Learn what you can learn and incorporate what you learn. Jane taught me that, and has pounded it in my thick skull for the past twelve years. Maybe its starting to stick. Anyway here is platter number two.


peace,