The first fish of the season

Mark always says the fish are biting when we are working, but we have been watching quite a bit of activity around the edge of the pond near the house.
He "says" he hooked one the other day- I never saw the proof of that one.
But as I looked out the kitchen window just before dusk I noticed Mark had a fish on his line.
I watched as he pulled this one out of the pond.
A real beauty.
Of course we put him /her back. ( how can you tell?)
We like them to make more fish and get bigger- in hopes we can catch them again.

Tasty fingers!
Okay- put me back now!

Down to the water----

A fish who lives to swim another day.....

Ah-Life.....

Hanging tiles

I thought I would try this post again.
When I am hanging tiles I use poplar wood strips-1/4 inch by 2 inch which come in 2 or 4 foot length which I buy from Lowe's Hardware.
First we cut the strips to the length we want according to what I am going to glue them to.
Second we then drill a hole for the screw eyes, which will hold the picture wire.
Each piece of wood gets a screw eye.
Be sure to use a straight edge as a guide to set up the space.Turn tile over being sure you have the tile facing the right way for hanging!
Mark the edges with a slight pencil mark to show you where to place the wood after gluing.




Put some glue on the back of the wood and place it back on the tile. Wiggle and press down until it seems firm.
Do the same on the other side. Be sure to keep an eye on where your screw eye is- if you don't you will end up with something which will not hang!
Using bricks-weight the wooden pieces down making sure to keep the wood as straight as possible.
Leave for at least 24 hours- more if the piece is larger .


After the 24 hours or more use number 3 picture wire threaded through the screw eyes to hang with.
When I am gluing a large wall pocket I find it helps to put the piece up on something or inside a bowl while I am setting it up for the glue.


If it is in a bowl- I weight it down with a brick. If that is not possible I just wait a bit and then place it wood side down on a good solid, flat board.














Here is a small 4x4 ready to hang.

Freechild Studio

The show this weekend was very well attended despite the weather. In fact the weather might have driven folks inside. It was a mess of a weekend to be outside- but great weather to be inside.
The show is a mix of folk potters, county potters and contemporary potters.
I want to introduce you to John Garland and Mary Paul. I love their work- wonderful detail and color!
Go check out their website, because I could not do justice with my camera.

also they just happen to be very close friend of my sister who lives in Raleigh- which is how we met.
We enjoyed the show, but are happy to be back home. Next week is glaze week and woodfiring at the NCPC.

About those bees....

Catawba Valley Festival

We are packing up the display- packing up the pots and heading to Hickory for the Catawba Pottery Festival.
I have a kiln with odds and ends firing- I am glaze testing for the wedding tile- and it is going to rain.
It should be a great weekend to set aside your garden and come up, down or across to Hickory and find some pots for eating, drinking, and enjoying.
You know you need a vase to put flowers in or a lamp in that spot of the house that needs a bit of light.
A bowl for serving- a bowl for eating- a cup for coffee or tea.
An oil lamp to light for a romantic dinner or to chase away the night when the lights go out.
A cup for wine- a small plate for nibbles.

Somethig to hang, something to stand or something to sit.
There will be potters there who can fill just about any whim or need you have.
We will see you there.
M&M

and when I went back upstairs who should I see....

You eat while I watch-



Spotted! Let's get out of here!

What's out your window?

I spend a fair amount of time looking out of the variety of windows here on the farm, either in the house or the studio.
My favorite is the kitchen window facing the pond.
The last few weeks have brought the birds back in full force.
I don't put feeders out, but I do rely on all the natural things which seems to sustain each other.
In other words- the woodpeckers are all coming to have a bite at a tree which is going dead between the kitchen window and the pond. They fly in knock and eat- We have seen at least several varieties.
Yesterday, we had the company of the small Downy Woodpecker who is Black and White with a small pointed black bill..
We also have seen the Hairy woodpecker, the wonderful Pileated woodpecker and the flicker.

The pond has been busing with activity of its own.
The Osprey are back like they have been every year for about 20 years.
They hang out in a pine tree off the driveway and fish the pond. It is great fun to watch them circle and then dive, hit the water and come up with a tasty treat.
We are also enjoying mallards, wood ducks and geese.

This does not even count the amount of golden finches, chickadees, indigo buntings and the red winged blackbirds.
Then to top things off we spotted 3 big does out in the back pasture. They had come out to graze. We were able to watch them for a bit before they headed back in the woods.

Next up will be the snakes who will also be out for a tasty treat - time to start watching where we are walking. We have several who like to hang out around the studio. Mark talks to them about not coming inside or getting in the way. When they don't listen he picks them up and takes them off for a walk. I think they like it because they come back when he is not looking.
I use a rake to move them- not being one of those pepole who likes to pick them up.

How about you snakes, birds, lizzards, what keeps you company?

Clay

We went down to StarWorks for some of the clay which had been donated by Takuro for the upcoming group firing on the 4th of April about a week or so ago.
Realizing we would not have time for another gas firing for us- we decided to give this new Starwhite clay body a go.
What a great throwing body it has turned out to be.
We both enjoyed throwing it and have made most of the pots we want to have for the firing.
As I was unloading the bisque kiln I look at the 4 different clay bodies- maybe too many? Maybe not.
we are excited to also try out our glazes on the Star clay as well.
It would be great if we can use it for the gas kiln as well.
The different clay bodies:
Pinkish one- Standard 153
Red one- Highwater red stone or is it red rock I mix them up
White clay-Highwater Loafers glory and new Star white.

Someone in the house

Someone in the house (Mark) is having a birthday tomorrow - it is not a matter of want to- it is a matter of you have to.
Happy Birthday!

Focus

I remember a few months back- possibly January when a few potters put out words for the coming year.
New Years, I bet. Focus was one and create was another.
Both good solid words to take into a new year.
So what has happened to my brain- because I am having a hard time following either one of these.
With focus being the hardest of the two.
This is what I have decided.
Last year was my brain as it was-
This year is my brain after the fire.
I keep thinking we are done with that nasty old fire. We have it all tucked away and forgotten about. The thing you sweep out the door, bundled up with the trash and take to the curb.
Gone- kaput- FORGOTTEN!
And then I realize it is still nibbling away at my core.
It is still in my brain and has not yet given me a complete freedom.
And will it- ever- let go?
Maybe not-
Now I have to get my brain back on track. How best to do that when you still have to work- or make the motions of working.
We are so far behind we are ahead for next year?
See what I mean I ramble.
So as I try to make peace with what we can and can not do I am trying to find that place of contentment with the pots, with the studio- the same but different.
I feel harried- I feel behind and I feel anxious.
Maybe my word needs to be breath.
Just breath- and it will all be oaky.

The Potters Conference

I found my way up to the North Carolina Potters Conference in Asheboro in time to see some pots.
This sweet pot of Phil Rogers called to me. I love a good bottle, as most of you know. And this one was so sweet I wanted to take it home with me.
But- I walked away- it was hard but times such as they are I could not do my part for the economy.
But I did take its picture.
Sweet bottle that it is.

I went up there to help the crew from Highwater with the Friday night dinner. I no longer help with the conference, but I do love to pop in and have dinner Friday night and see some slides.
The gang from Highwater are Gail and her son Johnathan, his lovely wife Faye and their wonderful sweet girls. The girls had a blast helping set up and wanted to help us pour wine.....

I also ran into some of the other bloggers- Bruce and Samantha from Bulldog were there and if you look behind them you will see Mike Mahan and his wife Mary- bonus shot I just realized they are there.

And then there was this guy!

Why it's Mr. Micheal Kline from the mountains!

22nd North Carolina Potters Conference

I think I will sneak a peek at some pots this weekend.















I am heading up there to help serve the Friday night dinner later today.
I might get back to look at some pots- we have company for the weekend so I will not be at the whole conference but a pop in or two to see pots should be good!

Spring break

What happened to those bottles Mark was working on?
we left them drying and went off to visit with both our Mothers for a few days.
hitting the Starbucks and having some lunches out- enjoying summer type weather in the city--- There are times when we could move right back- live the city life- this was one of those times. Spring called us- we pulled ourselves away...it was hard. Did you know if you live in a city you don't have to drive 25 minutes to a grocery store???
Back to work tomorrow!


While we were in Norfolk we took our daughter, who works for Young Audiences of Virginia out to lunch. If you have never heard of Young audiences, they are a non-profit who books Artist into the public school systems. Who could ask for more?

What Anna and her co-workers do is a very worth while occupation! Taking artist and bringing them into the schools. They all work very hard to make sure the artist and the kids all benefit from the experience. To say Anna loves her work is putting it mildly. She does a terrific job!

They will all miss Amanda- friend and co-worker and one of our "other daughters"- who will soon be leaving to start a new life with her recently "discharged"(Navy) husband. He has been offered a good job- but not in Norfolk. Best wishes to them both and you know your way to the farm- come see us anytime!

Bees and such

I was asked to make a tile of house numbers for a friend a few years ago.
This week I thought I need to make those tiles and I had inspiration from Julia over at Henhouse pottery. After all she has some great pictures of her bees on her website. I was so thankful to see her gorgeous bees. It helped to put them in perspective for me.
They are not just round circles with eyes- and big goofy grins. Her bees are so wonderful and they were my study for the tiles.
Now it is not as if these are lifelike- but they are made me see them better as far as shape and where the legs and feelers go.
So thanks Julia!

The tile has bees on it because when our friends moved into their house there were bees everywhere. Their son looked at all the bees and said, "I guess this is the house of bees."


I am making cruets as well and I get a kick out of the "skirt" on the ladies as I am carving the clay.
Back to work!

And if you get a chance I am talking about bread on the cooking blog- enjoy the weather!

Bottles

Today we both were throwing bottles, which are a favorite pot around here in just about any form.
As I was leaving the studio I looked over at the "big" boys Mark had made one to finish at 18 inches and the other to finish at about 26 inches and then mine to finish under or about 6 inches and I thought huh.... wonder who made better use of their clay today. I had better get busy tomorrow and catch up with him!

Pottery- 2 hour delay

Today Whynot Pottery ran on a "two hour" delay. It was cold, slippery and the covers were warm and inviting. Some days it is hard to get out to the studio and today was one of those.
The day reminded me of hard winter- a day you can make excuses not to work- but the CALENDAR says it is March- well shoot how did that happen?
As these thought went through my head I was reminded that this was and is our business. We do this for a living- such as it is these days. Even with the down turn and worry we get up everyday and go work in some form in our studio.
When we started this in 1982- it took a bit of time to find the right rhythm to the business because we were not prolific throwers and could have used about 2 more years either in school or working for someone else.
But we learned to get up and go do something everyday- what we learned from this is:

A- we still don't know what we are doing- but we have better skills to do it with.
B- if you get the clay ready and heat the water and stand at your wheel some pots will come out.
C- when in doubt do something else- go mow the lawn, move some bricks, go away from the studio, go to a museum, take a hike, read a book, bake some bread, read some blogs- renew yourself.
D- this is not all fun and games- it is hard work.
E- but most of all would you really do anything else if you could- brain sugery maybe?
Life is full of choices- I think we made ours.
Whynot Pottery- open tomorrow regular hours- let's make some pots!

but I like having electricity!

Last night we had the snow!
The Storm, which is running from the south upwards- is showing us all that winter is still here.
For us "southerners" this is rare- we like our mild winters. we don't mind a little snow, but it should be in and out in 24 hours. Like good company,we are happy to see it- but happy to have it go away.

The electricity shut down this morning just after 6 am- the only sane thing to do was go out and hand build. It is nice to have one piece or equipment which does not require electricity.
We both cranked out some things to work on - put some batteries in the radio and went to work.
The electricity is back- but I think we will keep the hands dry today and go back to tiles and handbuilding-----
Come on Spring- I for one will be happy to have you come and overstay your welcome!

CC Cole

For a good read on CC Cole Pottery check out either my brother Jay's site Backcounty Notes or Potters for the NCPC.
Great read and some wonderful pots to look at!
Very messy weather here I hope everyone is high and dry!
M