Buckle up

Mark sent me this the other day and I thought it was great.


When I was younger, don't asks it's not nice to ask a lady her age, I thought that once people reached a certain age it was pretty much over.

They would just fad into the couch and watch TV or take up knitting, not that there is anything wrong with knitting.

Well I don't think that way any more and things have changed.

My great aunts looked very old world to me with their heavy shoes, dresses, aprons, hair up and tight. They looked, well, old.

Now that I am past their age I think this generation of mine is holding their own pretty well.
The other thing I notice is we are not too old to learn a trick or two.
When I spend my time reading blogs I am also noting how the clay community is out there raising the bar with ceramics.
There are some mighty fine pots being made out there.
And it is not being done under the cover of the night.
Potters are writing and showing what and how they operate.
There is a lot of good, really good information out there.
As I read Whitney Smith today I thought about how useful her advice is to anyone starting a clay business or any business for the matter.
This Artist's Life by Whitney Smith.
Go have a read.
There is a lot to think about.

For us, we are figuring out how to fit the set up for the tile mural into the studio.
My sister Lee and her partner Tony were here on Friday to deliver the full size drawing.
It is a bit over whelming  if I think about it.
I have never taken on a tile mural before.
But as the cartoon says- I'm on my way to the future.
And, guess what I am taking you all along for the ride.
Buckle up it could be bumpy!

Oh, yes it did!

Yes, it snowed and the tempertures are dropping.
 It was 24.4 at noon.
It is now 23 degrees....

We did go out and take a walk up the drive.
It looks like we could be stuck for several days.
The drive will soon become ice and that does not give us much chance of driving out anytime soon.


This is the disadvantage of a 1/4 mile driveway with shade on both ends.

Great in the summer- stinks in this weather.

So a few winter pictures.

And when we thaw, an electric klin to tinker with.

What should have been quick bisque yesterday turned into 18 hour bisque.

I think it just might be time to replace this kiln.

Do you really get more then 24 years out of one

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Shhhhh- I am suppose to be doing the taxes!

Oh, no snow!

Mark and I have been working back in the studio to get pots ready for the first gas firing.
Mark has been working on some vases.
This one is nice and fat with a presents to it.

I  turned plates yesterday and plan to get them trimmed up before the snow sets in or the possibilities of no electricity happens.
That is the problem with winter storms.
It is hard to get out to the studio, and if we lose electricity it shuts things down.
We had our electricity turned off a week or so back and I posted on how we just closed for the day and went off.
On the comments someone asked where our kick wheel was.
I had to laugh because it reminded me of Dot Auman.
There were so many times folks would stop in and while watching Dot make pots they would ask her where her kick wheel was.
She would look over and then look past them out into the parking lot.
They would turn and ask what she was looking for.
And she would say, "I am looking for your horse and buggy.
This always made me chuckle.

May all your ice and snow melt away soon and the spring flowers come your way.

Thanks Tracey!

Well today at lunch Mark brought back a package from the mailbox.

"Are you expecting anything from Tracey? “He asked.
No, but there it was a nice package and I was excited to see what Tracey had sent me in the mail.
I opened the box and found this wonderful, rich green Raku star.
I had noticed them on her post not that long ago and asked about them.
Lo and behold here is one at my house.
The card attached says, “you are a Star."

Well darn Tracey, Thanks!

I am looking for somewhere to hang it so I can see it everyday.
I never thought of myself as a Star, but the thought that some one else does
warms me.

Tracey is one of the bloggers who will join us in the Show

Clay and Blogs; Telling a Story.
I can't tell you at this time how I found Tracey's blog.
But she was one of those Blogs I found myself checking back to pretty often.
Then the next thing you know we are both making communications with each other.
 First on the bog and then later by email.

You might remember that Tracey and her tall, talented and now driving daughter came out and had lunch with us.

This is why I continue to read and connect through the bogs.

It has opened up a world of folks I would never had met if I had not stepped out and typed a few words in a box.

I love the Star and back at you!

You too are a Star, one of those special people who thinks about others and shares who you are with us.

Thanks Tracey!

Clay, Pie and Poe

We use a commercial clay.
I know, I know we could mix our own but this is one of those steps I like to jump over. I don't mind not doing the processing.
We talk about it all the time, but at this stage of the game I am going to stay with a commercial clay.
We use to buy a ton or more at a time but after having some batches that were not up to snuff and the bonus of two supplies 10 minutes down the road we now buy in smaller quanities.
Yes, it cost more per pound, but if there is a problem we have less to deal with.
And if it is a great batch we just go buy more.
Plus it means we are not trying to store a ton of clay.
It gives us a ton of more room in the studio!

Sometimes when it has been really cold the clay will become stiffer then we like.
In that case we cut it up, cut some lines in  and lay it out on plastic.
We then we spray it down well with water cover overnight with plastic and towels. The next day it is ready to run through the pug mill.
Soft clay for old potters.....

Did I hear somene say pie!??
On Friday night we went to Poe/Pie night over at Starworks.
We both made a pie.
Mark's was Shoofly pie.

While mine was a Quiche made with mushrooms, spinach and onions on a Couscous crust.
A bit of pie and some Poe made for a bit of fun.

Brother Jay and Phil Graves

I am going to send you right over to read an article posted on my brother's blog.
Brother Jay is the oldest of my 4 siblings and has done some of the best articles on NC Pottery.
Get a cup of coffee or a spot of tea and go over and take a read.
http://www.backcountrynotes.com/north-carolina-pottery/2010/1/23/remembering-phil-graves.html

M

Spring tasting

After a few days of 60 plus days we southerners are ready to pack up the blankets and get out our sandals.
But, sadly, it is still winter.
I was reminded the other day that winter runs until mid-late March.
Sigh, really?
I really enjoyed those warm days.

But in honor of winter still hanging around and breathing down my neck and tickling my toes and nose, I made chowder bowls today.

These bowls are great for a nice bowl of soup, stew, pasta or my favorite, a big summer salad!
While I was filling up my cart with bowls, I made smaller ones as well.
Mark was making mugs, oil lamps, pitchers and one big bowl.

Show off.....

Brazilian Fish Stew
2 Tbs. olive oil
2 cups chopped onion
2 cups mix of red and yellow peppers
¾ cup or 1 bunch green onion
3 cloves minced garlic
1 bay leaf
1 28 ounce can tomatoes

¼ cup fresh cilantro
3 cups fish stock
½ cup coconut milk

Sauté’ onion, peppers, green onion, garlic and bay leaf.
Add tomatoes cook 10 minutes.
Add fish stock
Cook 10 minutes.

Add any type hot pepper or dried hot pepper.
I add some oregano and basil.

Cut off and cool.

Meanwhile:
Place seafood or fish in bowl.
Add juice of one lime, two garlic cloves minced. ½ tsp. salt, black pepper
Let marinate no more then 20-30 minutes.

Puree soup base in a blender or whatever you have.
Heat and add ½ cup coconut milk .


Add  Seafood to hot soup and cook until just done.
Top with fresh cilantro.

How much shrimp or fish- well let's see about a pound to a pound and a half of both.

What! Is this like the dark ages or something?!

He was tall with dark hair and a quick smile.
I thought now what does this hunk of a man want?
And then he said," I am going to turn off your electricity."
What! Now??? No, we are working.
Well, I have to.
No longer charmed by his boyish looks I said, "No."
Well you know who won that argument...
No electricity means, no wheels, no computer, no work.
Blah! Nothing to do but pack it up and take a day off.
So, off to do a bit of nothing and have a massage and some dinner.
Maybe we can work a full day tomorrow.
More later, I hope, meanwhile keep your grubby hands off my electricity!

North Carolina Pottery Center

Yesterday as the sun was out I was sitting in a meeting for the NCPC.
I have been on the board now for a number of years.
In the past few years the NCPC tried to work with the state and the county to become a state museum.
With the economy on the down turn this just did not happen.
The state and the county are struggling just like the rest of us.
The NCPC almost closed its doors two years ago.
Money was just about gone and it had about 3 months of operating expenses in the bank.
The board with the help of some great supporters turned that around.

We banded together to bring the NCPC back to operating and put in on a better foundation.
Yesterday we talked about fundraising for the upcoming year.
If we continue to bring in about 100 K a year the NCPC can survive.
Why is this important?
In this same town of Seagrove there are about 80 potter shops in the surrounded area.
In the State of NC there are even more potters and potteries I wish I had a count, but I suspect there are well over a thousand working potters in NC.
What does the NCPC provide for the potters?
The NCPC mission is to promote the awareness and history of NC Pottery throughout the state.
A pretty big undertaking.
I know I sit on the board.

The most important service, in my mind, that the NCPC provides is education.
Every time someone comes through the door they are stepping into a place where there is a permanent exhibition of historical pots. Salt glaze, slip ware, art pots and even contemporary pots.
It holds several exhibitions a year. It partners with the NC Arts Council to provide a program for local 5th graders.
It runs the entire 5th grade through a program which has them working with local potters and making pots.
It operates all this with one full time staff and two part time.
Its hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10-4pm.

I would suggest you become a member.
Why?
Because I think we, as potters, need this place.
I think we, as potters, owe it to the next generation to make sure they can go to the NCPC and seek the same history that we have all had the opportunity to enjoy.
What is coming up this year for the NCPC?
An exhibition called.
"New Generation of Seagrove Potters"
Artist Reception: Friday, February 12, 2010 5:30-7:30 pm
February 6, 2010 - April 10, 2010
All receptions are free to the public.

So poke around their website and see if you can put this on your list of places you must go see.
And if you can make the reception come on out it should be an interesting show.
M

Glaze

January is zooming down the road for me.
It was weeks back when I was glazing to make sure we had Allison's tiles out of the kiln.
Her presentation for her Senior project was due on the 4th of January and that meant we had to fill up the rest of the electric kiln.

We wanted to try the white cone 6 clay from Takuro over at Star.
Mark and I both made tiles with the clay and I wanted to use the same glazes I have been using on Red Stone to see how they reacted with the white clay body.
Some of them I really liked.
And others I like better on the Red Stone.
I thought the red stone adds a warmth , which I am sure comes from the iron in the clay body.

The small flat tiles are out of the clay from Star and the edge of one of the pillow pots is out of the red stone.
I also put some thin black over the red glaze to warm it up.
I like the greens in the background on the white clay, but thought the red a little washed out looking.

A few years back I was teaching over at the Community College In Troy NC.
I was working with 11 students. I use the term lightly because the youngest was 19 ,but the majority were closer to my age.
They were all taking a special studies semester.
Some were concentrating on throwing, some on Raku ( Tracey would have been a great help! )
And I had one who wanted to learn about glaze.
I spent time with each person and talked about what and how we would proceed through the semester.
I had them write up what they wanted to accomplish.
The women who wanted to learn about glazes came to ask if she could just tell me.
I really wanted her to write it down and the she pulled me aside and told me that she spoke good English but her writing would be in Korean.
A bit of a snag since I did not read Korean.

She then pulled out a few photo's of her work and I found out she had a degree in Ceramics. Her work was wonderful and I was ready to become her student.
But she needed to know how to mix a glaze, this was the one thing she had not learned.
She had brought along her books for us to use on glazes which I took one look at and closed.
Here again was the problem the books were in Korean as well.
Do you read English I asked?
Yes, she said.
Here is the way to the Library go and check out as many books as you like on glazes and let's start there.
She and I were able to find a good footing on glazes and throwing skills.
And the benefit was there was another teacher teaching the afternoon class who was teaching just glazing.
The one thing I kept telling the students was to find a clay body first and glazes second.
Testing on one body will and can give you entirely different results.
How are you going to fire I would ask them, will you be using the school body?
If not bring in the body you will be using.
Are you going to fire gas, electric, wood?
Low fire- high fire.
These are all things I wished were presented to me when I was a student.
I know I came out of school with recipes and little knowledge on glazes.
They are still a bit of a mystery to me at times.

For the electric work and the tile project I decided I would use ready mix bought glazes.
I just did not feel I had the time for all the testing along with everything else I had going on.
I have found that I like some of these premixed glazes.
They are formulated to brush on well and are for the most part very stable.
I don't think I would ever do this with my gas kiln, but I like the ease of this for the tiles.
There are whole palettes of colors out there and I have begun to realize it is what you do with them and sometimes it is okay to "cheat" a little.

Pinch, Pulled and stretched

Pinch, Pulled and stretched 3 days, 200 plus students and 600 pounds of clay

At the end of yesterday I looked at the Pottery teacher for Greensboro Day, Mr. Burroughs, and said, “Uncle.”
He chuckled and raised an eyebrow, “you have had enough?”
Yes, I thought, I have.
Teachers are special people.
Mark and I both come from teachers, my son married a teacher some of my best friends are teachers.
You have to have the right attitude to go in day and after day and teach.
I always come back with great admiration for and a whole bunch of respect for teachers after spending a few days at a school.
I always like the fact that I can go taste this profession, if only for a little while.
I know I am not cut out for teaching.
I enjoy my fast hit and then I am ready to head back home to the farm and our studio.

At the end of yesterday Mr. Burroughs figured we had been through 600 pounds of clay.
That is a whole lot of clay for mug making.
But with some “do overs” and handles, adding designs the clay was, should we say, rolling in the studio.
We finished up at the end of the day after much excitement since
A TV crew came in to film the students while they were finishing up their mugs.
They did a nice segment on how the kids were working to donate the proceeds of their cups to “Three cups of Tea.”
Mark and I managed to stay well out of the way of the camera so the would get great pictures of the kids.
All-in all- it was three days well spent.

The weather here is warming up.
The ice on the pond has started to thaw out and maybe some of the wildlife will come back.
We have not seen much this winter.
With our pond frozen it makes it a bit hard for them to hunt.

I am wrapping up the Clay and Blogs: Telling a Story show with what I think is the last name in the data base.
Check the side bar for a good list of who will be there.
We have 48 potters who will participate.
We are also working on having at least one work per potter online for sale through the gallery.
The online sale will open on October 3rd.
I’ll post up a link when we have that all pulled together.
I must say we are all excited and now the real work begins.
It is time to get back to my wheel.
I am getting there- but I have to go have a wee little surgery on a molar which has gone south on me.
Bleck!
Nothing like January for a Root Canal.
Sigh,
M

Teaching at Greensboro Day

Last year Mark and I participated in the Fund raiser Seagrove Potters for Peace

We, along with many of our fellow potters, made and sold mugs or drinking vessels.

We donated 100 % of the sales to the Central Asia Institute.

We received a call about a month later.

The pottery teacher at Greensboro Day, a private school in Greensboro NC, called us and said they were impressed with the sharing and giving that had come from the potters

They like to bring in an art project for their students every year and tie the project to a way to give back in their community.

They feel it is important to teach their students to give back.

This fit in so well with what we felt last year that we decided we had to be apart of it.

As I wrote yesterday, the first day was Demo of pot throwing, a talk about who we are, what we do and about the Seagrove area, but we also tied in how the community supports others.

We talked about and showed pictures of our fire and how we were helped.

And then how we in turn helped with our pottery which we made and donated to the Seagove Potters for Peace.

The project the school chose was that every middle school student would made a mug.

The mugs would then be auction off and the money used for something the students would like to support.

We spent day 2, today, helping make more mugs with some classes while showing the others how to put on handles.

It was fast and furious, yet, fun.

We really have enjoyed the school, the staff and the students.

This school has such a great relationship with its students and it showed everywhere.

We had lunch with several of the teachers, some we knew and others we did not, but now we do.

It has been a great way to spend some time in January.

There really is nothing like the optimise of children to brighten a day.

And most of all we were impressed with how they are teaching these middle school students the importance of giving back.

I have some more information for you on the show Clay and Blogs:Telling a Story.

It will be later this week before I pull all the information together, but I have more names added to the list.

I should have this tied up by the end of this week.

It has been so exciting to bring this together.

Like I try to tell people, I am just a potter, not a professional, but with the buzz going out and the excitement I have hopes for a great show.

Cheers,

M

Moxie Monday

Well, there goes that finger again.
I am standing at my kitchen counter trying to use a wee little notebook and I pushed the wrong button.
Gee, not the first time.
I will post some pictures later, but Mark and I are doing a gig with one of the schools and today it is like we have been run over by a train.
We did 3- 45 minute demos and talks.
Then worked with the advanced students.
And then helped all the other students make a handmade mug.
It was wild and crazy, but fun, fun, fun.
I'll get some pictures up and see what I can do to fix that finger.
The one who just jumps out there and hits the wrong button.
Meanwhile, wine anyone?
Cheers!

Sunday

Buzzing down the highway

I was buzzing down the Internet highway going about 90 in a 55 mile zone.
With a monitor from the old days.
I already had one monitor brake down this year and was trying not to buy another one.
We pulled out one from the old days we had in reserve and it worked.
What the hey- I could use that one and I was.
Mark's new monitor, just 2 years, crapped out just before Christmas.
Ha, I thought I am going to keep on trucking on this old one and not replace mine yet.
He tried to get me to order one with his and I scoffed, " this one is working just fine."

There I was, making a left turn from the center lane, pulling all the information together for the Clay and Blogs show and what should happen?
The screen started dancing big black lines vertically and making a noise like a rusted out old washing machine.
What the ......
Darn.
So I had to order a new monitor, which should be in Monday.
I had to pay more for mine than Mark did because he got in on Christmas sales with free shipping.
That should teach me not to be so cheap.

Meanwhile, Mark, who is the nice guy, has let me plug up to his when I need to.
So I am still sorting some information and should have things for this pulled together soon.

In the studio we are playing with setting tiles.
I had two tiles, one a set of 4 and the other a set of two, I made before the fire, that I was going to set two years ago.
Mark had a set of 4 tiles he wanted to set.
This seemed like a good time to see how best to do this.
We played with that and then I glued pendants and earrings.

The wheels are calling us back and we hope to have some warmer weather in the next week or so.
More on the show and more on pots next week.
I like to play it a bit slow in January.

Clay and Blogs:telling a story

Two years ago I was planning a show with a friend who is a collector.
We had planned to pull together a show from the two prospectives of the makers and buyers or collectors.
Her life became very busy and we had a fire.
This put any thought of the show down in the depths of my brain.
Anytime it popped up I shoved it back down.
Sleep, I can't think about you now.
As last year came together and my brain was waking up, the show for October 2010 popped back up.
I called my friend and she decided she would like to opt out.

At this point I keep mulling things over and what I kept coming back to is that I wanted to put together a show about potters/clay workers who blog.
For me during the ups and downs and trials of the fire I found great strength through writing about what we were going through.
But what pulled it all together for me was the commets back from the readers.
The positive reinforcement that I needed was out there.
The first commet back was so startling I about fell off my chair.
It's like I was floating in outer space and a voice rang out.
I was not alone.
I was also touched at how sharing the potters were.
They were willing to share what they have learned and encourage other potters to step out and try new things.
I found that different potters blog for different reasons.
The blogs run from very personal to very business.
But none of them are without that personal element.
The blogs are like daily or weekly diaries into the life of a potter.
Some make me laugh and some make me think.
But what I found was a real connection between me and what was being written.

Anyway, I called the arts council and asked could I do a show about clay and blogs.
They loved the idea and I just needed to start the process.
Here is what I did.
I wanted to start with potters in Seagrove first.
I wrote an email telling them what I was planning and then I asked them for a name of a blogger/ potter they read.
It snow balled.
The suggestions bounced all over from state to state and up to Canada and out to Australia.
I emailed these potters and asked and they said yes.
So to date we are about 35 potters with a few more asks out there.
The show should be fun and interesting as it all pulls together.
I'll keep you posted as it goes along.
Here is the title:
Clay and Blogs: Telling a Story.
Opening reception will be held at the Campbell House in Moore county from 6-8 pm
October 1st, 2010
Exhibition comes down on November 1st, 2010.
It should be fun and exciting.
More later.

You sitck your right foot in

I was talking about that Heron, who did not like to get wet, the other day and the next day there he was out in the water.
I think he is just trying to show me up!
Now that he has called me out I will have to make good on my "sticking my toes in the water."


On Sunday we took off to see the son and his lovely bride over in Cary.
We had some things to deliver to his house and it was time to revisit the house in Raleigh which we are making a tile back splash for.

This morning we met up with sister Lee and her long time partner in business and life Tony.
They run a Faux finishing business in Raleigh called Colorations.
I could go on and on about how good they are, but this is about the back splash
This would be the first time we have seen the house since last January.
Last year we saw the house after the kitchen was torn out and it was a big mess.
I had a hard time seeing how all this would fit together at that time.
This time the kitchen is all together and we are the next on the list.
The kitchen is wonderful!
Lee did up a drawing for the client to stand in while we get started.
I loved it and with a few changes we will or should be ready to start by the end of the month.
This is my big plunge.
I have never done a tile project of this size.

When Lee first asked us to do this I was too overwhelmed with our son getting married, our fire and life in general to even think really clearly about it.

It just seemed too much to add this to my large, or what seemed so large, pile.
This year my head has cleared, our son is married, and our studio rebuilt and even with a grand baby on the way I think I am ready.
I did spend some time working out glazes and doing test last year.


I will keep you posted as this comes together, but all in all it is pretty exciting.

On another note:
Last year my word for the year was focus.
This year it is enjoy.
Do you have a word for the year?

And for Barbara:
Blackeyed Peas:
1 pound dried black-eyed peas, or cowpeas
6 to 8 ounces salt pork, diced or bacon
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 ham bone or large ham hock
black pepper, to taste
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
dash Tabasco sauce
Pick over peas; rinse. Cover peas with cold water; bring to a boil, boil 1 minute, remove, and cover pan. Let peas stand for 1 hour.
Sauté salt pork until golden brown; add onion and garlic, and sauté until onion is tender.
Add the salt pork and onion mixture to the peas, along with the ham, ham bone or hock, and seasonings, adding enough water to cover. Bring to a simmer, cover, and simmer gently until peas are tender but not mushy, 1 to 2 hours. Remove ham from bone, chop, and return to peas.
Taste for seasoning and adjust.
Cook rice separately.
Mound rice on a platter and surround with peas.

Collards Greens
I like to wash well and cut them away from the think stem and chop.
I steam them until tender and then saute up some onion and garlic.
Throw them in some olive oil and some blasamic vinegar.
Easy and tasty.
M

Allison's Tiles

Yesterday we had a great time hanging out with and enjoying the company of friends while eating good food for the New Year.
Of course we had our black eyed peas and greens.
What would a new year be without the great Southern tradition bringing luck and money.
I just would not miss them.
The added bonus is I like both.

While I was enjoying the conversation and food, Mark took it upon him self to make sure we had Allison's tiles fired for her to pick up tomorrow.
Did I tell you her deadline was Monday?
I was a little slack in my duties with picture sorting, blogs,Christmas, travel and such.
So between some food, conversation and a drink Mark went back to the shop to check the progress of the firing.
Now it is a computer kiln and if we wanted to we could have ignored it.
( like I was doing) but, we have not fired it but three times so far and we don't trust "all things which could start a fire while you are busy just plodding through life", since our fire in July 2008.
So Mark was able to finish up the kiln, catch a call from our daughter and come back and enjoy the rest of the afternoon.
I just love when someone else does the cooking.
Although I had a talk with myself the last time I grazed through the table.

So today we unloaded the first kiln of a new year and here are Allison's tiles.
She will pick them up tomorrow after taking her grandmother out to lunch.
I hope she is happy with the results.
I thought the two piece with the red,but I do love red, is pretty hot!





And please note I think I need to do a better job lining this one up. I can tell I have two of the tiles wrong.

The first day of a New year 2010

For as long as we have lived here we have seen Herons on the pond.
The last year we have had a Heron that we watch who does not seem to like to get wet.
He will perch on the tiniest piece of wood or tree or anyplace but stand in the water.
We watch in hope that we see him catch up a fish or even stick a toe in the water.
But we have yet to catch him.
Most of the time we will see a Heron slowly fishing the shallow ends of the water. Sometimes standing stock still with its head cocked and eyes watching for fish.
Not this guy.
He seems to have adjusted to his role in life and he must be eating something.
But he always seems to looks as if he would rather be anywhere but here.
A desk job somewhere or somehow he should have a gig in the city.

Yesterday Mark caught him on the tip of the canoe.
With the temperatures dropping to the teens tonight I think he would love to be anywhere but here.

Some days I think we are like this bird resigned to make the best of what we have.
This year I would like to find myself being the bird in the water and not the one on shore.
It's a new day and a new year.
Time to get your toes wet.