Sunday, October 7, 2012

Slam dunk!

Mark says to me the other day- 45 before noon and all I could think of was-- "show off".

He sets the bar a bit high for me these days on the throwing front.
We are pretty well as ready as we are going to be pot wise next weekend, but-but there is the November show and Christmas orders to roll on.

Someone is getting one of these as a nice surprise.
And you know you have to make more than one for the customer to choose from.

Then there is the 80 mugs we are working on.
They all get a sprigged stamp to go on each one.
On Thursday the stamp came in and while Mark handled mugs I sprigged.
It took a few stamps to work out the stamping and how best to apply to the mug.
I thought the stamp would be wood or metal but it is a plexiglass, or seems to be, material.

I tired nothing, I tried oil and then I found that corn starch lightly brushed on worked great.
The corn starch also helps me see the stamp on the clay.
I think we have it now- 60 more to go.

    

I have also been tossing some cookies and brownies through the oven for the Open house.
I have two rounds of the sesame seed cookies made. This has to be an all time favorite here.
They are not a sweet cookie and I love them with tea or Red wine. Let's see how they go with beer.

Sesame Seed Cookies
1 stick of butter, melted
add:
1/2 c. sugar
1 beaten egg
4 or 5 T. sesame seeds
1 t. vanilla
mix in:
2 cups of flour sifted with ½ teaspoon salt and baking powder- you can use self-rising flour but I never buy it so I figure out how to make my own.

Mix together well and form into a brick or log.
Wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper and
Chill for about an hour, slice into 1/4 inch thick slices
and bake at 350 for 15 - 18 minutes.


I have always thought you could add lemon or another flavor to these and they would be very good.
Note- I have also dipped these in chocolate on one end........yum.

Well I could hide away here all day and yet I know that would get nothing done. It is suppose to rain so maybe load a bisque  this morning so I can justify doing some of nothing later.
Hope you all have the Sunday you want.
Cheers!
M



19 comments:

Shannon said...

Meredith, do you know the movie, "Blazing Saddles"? Mel Brooks as the crazy mayor says, "Work, work, work, work, work, work, work, work, work!" as he randomly signs things and simultaneously gropes his girl-of-the-day. But the work, work, work thing I say to myself all the time when my list is as long as yours is. Good luck! The pots look so great.

Lori Buff said...

I would not have thought about making a stamp out of plexiglass but it looks like it works well, it seems to be giving you really sharp lines too. I'm guessing this one is lazer cut but I'll bet people could make something nice using more common tools.

smartcat said...

I like the look of the stamp. It adds to the mugs. Are you going to use it a lot or just for special events? And cornstarch is an excellent release.

I started making stamps out of Sculpy and/or Fimo when I had my class at work. I found it was easy for clients to work with and gave quick results. Cornstarch was the best release.

I want those sesame cookies! Now baking bread and cookies today.

Tracey Broome said...

Nope, didn't get the Sunday I wanted, but I might make a batch of those cookies instead!

Linda Starr said...

Oh the mug came out super, you and Mark both put me to shame in the work department. I switched from my WD 40 to pam spray and it has been working quite well in slump molds and such, none of that smell either.

Michèle Hastings said...

I am going to have to remember the cornstarch tip, like Linda, I use WD-40 a lot... and I actually like the smell!

Those are some beautiful pots! Jeff always shows me up in the throwing department, I am destined to be slow and I accept it.

Dennis Allen said...

My goodness those jugs are beautiful.I'd be scared SH..less to carve on a form that perfect.It's tough to improve perfection , but you and Mark have a knack for it.

cookingwithgas said...

Dennis- you just jump with both feet. I remember well the first time I took tool to pot- it was scary- now I never think twice about it.

MH_Mh here I am slow as well and that is okay by me.
The corn starch is a great trick. It will also dry the clay a bit.
Linda- give this a try works on molds as well.

cookingwithgas said...

TB- make the cookies! Give them a day if you can I think they just get better.
Smartcat- the stamp is an order of mugs for a NC community college.
Lori- you can just about anything made these days it is amazing!

cookingwithgas said...

Shannon WORK!

Laurie said...

I love how the special order mugs are looking! And that praying mantis pic! Saw my first walking stick here yesterday, which J said is related to them. Merry Sunday!

hootowlkarma said...

The jugs look miraculous!

I just walked Hunter through his first batch of soft, chewy peanut butter cookies, and I was savoring my second of the day while reading your post. Looks like we've found our next experiment - we'll definitely give the sesame a try.

cookingwithgas said...

Laurie- kissing cousins I bet- this one was so close to the color of the rock she was hard to get a picture of.

JR- I love that you are teaching the boys to cook!

Mrs. G. said...

Can't wait to try those cookies! Hang in there woman!

cookingwithgas said...

I am and thanks G!!

Gary's third pottery blog said...

oh my, 45 by noon! better get off my ass!

Claudia from Idiot's Kitchen said...

Sesame cookies sound wonderful. I'll definitely be giving this recipe a try!

cookingwithgas said...

Gary--- get going
Claudia- I hope you enjoy them.

Quietly Otaku said...

Nice love that stamp I'd be interested to know more about it - how was it made?