Spring Hot and Cold

We have been gone once again to continue on our journey into the depths of adulthood.
The details of which will just make your eyes glazed over like hot donuts so I will spare you the tales of travel, long lines, long waits and traffic.
 The trip was as short as we could make it leaving here on Sunday and back yesterday by 1:30 to open and get some work finished so we can fire next week.

One of the things we did on our last trip to Nawfalk was to stop in and take in the new Hot Shop at the Chrysler Museum. The Chrysler has the most wonderful collection of glass and it was only fitting that they open a glass studio in a building just across the parking lot from the museum. What was even more fun for us was the fact that Mark was working for Wet Dog Glass down in Star NC when the order for this equipment was being made.
 He worked on most of the things you see here. His job while he was working for them was to cut the steel for the "ovens".
It was great to pop in and see the place all set up and see how well supported it is. They have a daily demo around lunch time and it fills up with at least 60 or more folks at a time. The place quickly filled  with all ages from elderly to young childern with their parents. We noticed that many folks brought their lunch to eat while they watched. Even more fun was the fact that the Tech guy who was hired worked with Mark at Star. They were able to have a nice chat and catch up while we were there. So one more reason to go to Nawfalk if you get the time.
Glass is hot!

So here we are home again for the time being- we are getting ready for our kiln opening on the 21st of  this month.
Here at Whynot we will once again have Raven Pottery, Snowhill Pottery and Tileworks and Abela Bodycare joining us under tents out in the yard. Mud and Suds time.
There will be plenty of new work and cookies.
We are known for having the best cookies in town!
This is in conjunction with the area Spring kiln Opening and you will find that many of the area shops are gearing up to have new works as well.
Just google discoverseagrove.com for more info.
Yeah, I know you can do it.
Back to it today- I have some tiles to finish up so I can get to glazing.
 This round the little kiln...... let's see what kind of mood she is in this month.
Good, I hope!
Cheers!
M 

Hanging out in the hood

Last night I took a ride down to Starworks to sit in on the slide show by glass artist Robin Cass.
I found her work to be very intriguing.
I enjoyed the way her work had developed over the years and really fell in love with her large wall pieces she is making.
I wanted to scale them down and wear them.
Here is a link to her work - go take a gander.

Mark and I rode back over today to watch the work in progress.
What is it about watching an artist, any artist work that is so fascinating?
Watching the rhythm of the team is amazing with glass folks.
They really pull for one another and give their all to make it all work together.

After leaving there we took a quick ride to see David Stuempfle's new kiln.

The kiln is just a work of art.
They will start some heat tonight....

This all made me think that there are days we are hanging out making art back here in the back woods of NC and that is our hood.
So just us hanging in the hood.
Cheers,
M

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.