Wednesday, May 18, 2011

stage two of the lamps and the witness protection service

Just after I was out shooting pictures of the lamps Mark was in behind me to carve them.
Lovely, they will make great lamps for someone and stay tune for the final stages of bisque and glaze.
These needed handles, so I was told.
Makes me think they are in the pottery protection service.
Name, rank and serial number please.
Or hats- maybe they just need a hat.

I have spent a few days on glaze...........................................mind numbing at times and frustrating at times and then all the sudden done!

I have my small electric kiln working away today with tiles, butter trays, tea caddies and odd vases.







In early May I had an email from a friend and fellow potter of Hollis out in Cape Cod.
Gail Turner of Millstone Pottery would be traveling to North Carolina to visit her friend Lee and they would spend a day in Seagrove visiting the area potters and would love to come by.
We had a terrific visit and talk came easy for us all.
I felt I had known Gail, Lee and her husband ( who was kind enough to come along!) all my life- you know the feeling.
I had this when I met Hollis, Dan, Hannah, Angela and Tracey as well.
Some where on another planet in a place far away we have been connected before.
Is it the clay?
Or is it that common language that we all have with the work we do?
Mark and I have been very lucky to have met many potters from all over the USA and the world and we find we do have that common language even if we do not all speak the same language.
It makes me feel we are some how all related like one big disjointed family living all over the planet.
We plan to continue this journey of pottery and hope to one day soon show up in Cape Cod and follow the pottery trail they have up there.
Gail was kind enough to leave me with a book and map that both Mark and I have been reading over- road trip going through our heads- how quick can you pack a bag I think....
I have a few things to take care of but I do think a trip to the Cod needs to be on my list.
After all now that I have "family' there how can they turn me away?!
Whoops- time to check on the kiln!
M

15 comments:

Linda Starr said...

Can't wait to see those flowery pieces fired, they look great.

cookingwithgas said...

Thanks Linda- see you are firing as well!

Dan Finnegan said...

Lovely thoughts in this blog, Meredith...I may come your way for a visit in August. I need to see Whynot for myself...and some of those sweet pots.

Judy Shreve said...

What a great post! Lovely words. Families!

The lamps are just getting more wonderful and I love the glaze on your tile piece.

John Bauman said...

Beautiful lamps and tiles.

Patricia Griffin Ceramics said...

Hi Meredith! Lovely post... Wouldn't it be great to jump in the car, pick up Tracey, make a jaunt to Judy Shreve's place, head over to Florida for Linda, trek up to Alaska for Cindy Shake and all of us girls go on a weekend ROAD TRIP! We'd need to fly-in Ang and some others too. Great fun!

Anna M. Branner said...

I'm enjoying seeing these lamps progress. Do you sell them with lampshades or without? I have such a hard time using store bought shades for my handmade lamps....

LOVE the tiles (as is always the case)

I know what you mean by feeling that immediate kinship. I'll feel nervous about meeting a new potter...but realize right away that there is so much to share!

Julia said...

What a beautiful post (as always)! I think it is true that there is something that ties potters together all over the world. I know that I feel a kinship to you and would love to meet you in person someday. Maybe a road trip to Utah is also in order - we could travel over to CO to visit some of the wonderful western potters that live there, too.

The flower tile is just lovely. I can't wait to see it fired!

cookingwithgas said...

Dan- Yes! It would be great to have you here. Come on down!
Judy, Julia,PG,John and Anna- I am sure we will meet one day here or there

ang design said...

heheheh who could turn you away meredith!!! :)) hey patricia what an awesome idea awfully long trip though across country!!! just done one of those.. very cool though :))

cookingwithgas said...

HI Ang!! you know I think of you more as family now that we have met- so I guess that means you could not turn me away.
Maybe there are enough drugs to get me across the ocean and back!

Shortstuff said...

That tile is GORGEOUS! Me likey.

Anonymous said...

hi meredith, lovely flowery tile. i think that we do have clay in common... some people are just draw to and smushing it around. would be envious of a trip to cape cod. i went there in 1969 with my family but don't remember much about that. i believe it's a beautiful place though.

Michèle Hastings said...

the cape is beautiful... i used to go with friends for long weekends in the summer. i did drag them around to potteries on one trip. aside from the potteries, a day or two in provincetown is ALWAYS a fun adventure! be sure to bring a bike or rent one for the day.

Laurie said...

Gorgeous new vases and tile! And a wonderful road trip adventure to look forward to. Yay!