Mugs!

 Here are the mugs that I had promised to take pictures of. The pictures don't do the glaze the justice that they really deserve, but for now, this is what you are getting.
It has been fun to revamp an older glaze, and, while doing so, develop something new.
Mark latched onto one right away when I unloaded the kiln. We took it along when we stopped in to Four Saints in Asheboro for a pint. If you remember we made mugs for their fundraiser. They also buy beer mugs  now and again to replace ones that meet with a hard floor or some other unfortunate event.
They also let us know we could bring our own mugs in to drink out of and store them there. We took them up on the offer and "carried" up a couple to drink from.
One night while we were there I was handed a different mug, it was still one we made, but not the one I had taken to drink from.

 Excuse me, but this is not mine. Yes it is they said. No it's not I said. It's your number, they said. Yep, it's my number but a different mug. I had brought in a black and blue mug, this one was iron red with an accent of wood ash.
They looked again, funny you have two, but one is marked with your number plus A on it....
Okay...
Long story short, someone had seen that mug I brought in and wanted it, they wanted it really bad, bad enough to get the owners to exchange with me.
Did I mind?
At first I did and then I thought, if they want it bad enough they could have it.
We were there one night and I punched Mark, hard, Look! There is the mug!
The woman who wanted it was enjoying a beer out of the mug, she looked so happy I did not have the heart to knock her off her bar stool.

Now, I am very fond of the iron red mug, we bonded. I could take another mug to drink from, but we are pretty happy.

Mark on the other hand, took a mug much like the one below. It caused a new stir with some of the customers and one of the guys working behind the bar.
We ended up with an order of 6 beer mugs from one person, and one for the bar keep.
A happy ending for all.

 Some rain this past week has allowed some of the flowers I planted to bloom.
Rain is good.

This week I head back to teach on Thursdays. I am looking forward to seeing my students and putting them all back to work.
I just have to remember to go!
I hope the summer has been good to you, I know there are many things going on. Many. I will keep neutral here, saving my thoughts and actions for other places.
Hold your family tight.
best,
M

Star clays

We have both been indulging ourselves in some tile work.
I have a fondness for Highwater Red Stone, which is my favorite to make tiles with.
I like the earthiness of the warm red color, even though later I will cover them all with glaze.
It has been a good clay to work with and even though I have had some tiles warp most of them stay pretty flat.
But, there is a new player in the mix.
I had picked up some Starwhite cone 6 at the open house at Starworks Ceramics last fall.
I finally put some test through the last firing and was pretty pleased with the resulting glazes on the clay body.
So last week Mark picked up enough for both of us to have some tiles to play with.
He rolled and cut quite a few while I was working in the red stone.
He gave me 5 4x4's to carve and I was impressed with how the clay behaved.
It was nice and smooth was no real bumps of grog.
I like it.
I plan to put these through the next fire for the electric kiln and see how I like the results.
For a person who use to be a thrower, I find the time I spend on tiles to be very rewarding.
Plus- I don't have to stand all day.
But then there is that little pinch in the neck and back muscles.
It must be time for a massage.
I will get some pictures up as things move along.
We have been packing and shipping those Christmas orders and dealing with the last minute gifts for customers.
Plus, a little house keeping and seeing family.
Oh vay!
I am ready for some down time over the holidays!

A night for star gazing, kiln unloading and more moonflowers

I unloaded the latest batch of test last night around 10 pm.
As I went out I saw the sky was full of stars.
It was one of those clear nights you get in September.
The stars were enough to draw me back outside after unloading the test.

I took the test inside the house and Mark and I went over them all and then I said ,"you have to come out with me."

He was not interested as he was reading a book. so I grabbed a lawn chair and went myself.

As I sat out there watching the night sky, I heard the door open and Mark come out.

We walked further away from the house and enjoyed some time taking in the stars.
Beautiful- sigh.
Food for the soul.
I was happy with the last results and I promise pictures.
This last test I used white slip with some color slips on top.
Good melt again with Meyers and Younger glazes.
Little melt on another cone 6 I stuck in for one more try.
So I need to line up all my tiles for a photo shoot.

I know you "need" one more picture of moon flower!
Just humor me, there were 20 one last night!