The salt jars are out

Just some quick pictures of the salt jars and friends.
Later!
M

where are the salt jars?

 They are right here, waiting for me to find the time to get some glaze on them.
A small kiln was unloaded today with some tiles, shaving mugs, cream and sugar sets and a few trays.
More is coming, just hold your horses.
Things take time.
Stay tune.
M

What Moon?

 And, away we go.
We have been working on the latest load of pots for the big gas kiln. It use to be that we could knock this out in 5 days.
Now that I am gone for a few of those days it takes longer.

We also had to make a trip up to Virginia to remove the last of the items from my mother's house. It has sold and the closing is coming up.
We walked all the rooms on each floor, taking in the memories that were so much a part of any house that has belonged in a family such as ours.
 The weather was nice enough to walk to lunch, something we don't get to do here, unless you count the walk across the yard. We stopped in for cups of coffee on the way back and did what we loved to do the most at my mother's house, we porch sat.
 We just sat on the top step of the porch while we watched the world pass us by.
This trip we were not in a hurry, we had nowhere to be, we could just sit and watch.

  I always find a new story to tell Mark as we sit there. You would think after all these years there would be nothing left to tell.

We moved to this house when I was 12. I built my teenage years there along with my 2 brothers and 2 sisters. If those walls could talk.

After coffee, as the afternoon started to head into late afternoon, I said my good-bye.

I talked to my sister that night and she asked was Mom there. No, she is gone. She loved that house, loved her life there, loved growing old there, but she is not hanging around. That was not her style. My mother always told me that life was for the living. So get out there and do some of that. Oh, and if you have a shot of good bourbon, raise a glass to my mother.

 You know the drill.
Top to bottom:
Back stack.
Middle stack.
Front stack.
Fire tomorrow, cool down on Wednesday and Thursday, unload is Friday.

Oh, yeah, about that moon.
I don't want to talk about it.

See you on Friday.
M

Don't

 take my picture.
Okay.

I know, I am such a liar.
Mark is working up some big bowls.

While I am working on Sugar jars and creamers.

What is it about jars?
That was the item I did not want to make as a student. It is the item I make the most now.
I guess that back then I was not ready to make them.

 And, what is a jar without a creamer. I know, I know, it's a jar, wise cracker that you are.

We are working up the next kiln load of pots. Most of it is ready and waiting for these last items to be finished.
 I really wanted to get some cream and sugar sets made. We have a few in the shop, but most have made their way off to new homes.

 That handle looks large! Things appear closer than they are, and bigger.

I have some tiles that I am playing with yet again.

These are left from a past project and I wanted to see if I could add to them and possibly enhance what was going on with the waves. Now all I need is that last glaze to go on.

Fall is in the air.
The last few days have given way to cooler mornings.
I don't want to rush things, but here it comes ready or not.

Cheers!
M

Working the set

 I have a weakness for cream and sugar sets. I know, they just tug at me.

I always think that no one buys them any more. Really, I think, who uses cream and sugar?
Apparently someone does since they still seem to find their way to new homes.

When they come out of the kiln I have favorites. This one I think, or this one... I can see them taking their respective places in the kitchen next to the coffee pot.
Or, set up on the dinning room sideboard waiting to be brought out to be used  for a family occasion.

 As I have stated before, I love making jars. For me there is something about not only making the jar, but making the jar with a well fitting lid.

When we first opened the pottery the customers here were use to the fact that the local potters made jars and then made lids. They would then mix and match them until they had one that fit well enough.
I, on the other hand, had learned to make a lid to fit the jar.
One day I walked into our newly opened shop to find all the jars lined up on the floor, with all the lids off and 3 women walking around trying to match the lids to the jars.
I almost had a heart attack right on the spot. I quickly regained my composure and was able to explain to them that the jars all had their own lids.

We manage to get them all put back together......

I am happy to say this does not happen anymore.

 I think that our buying public is more informed now.

Mark and I have been busy listing pottery for sale in our Etsy shop.
If you can't get here and want to pick up something, go use the Etsy shop.
If you see something there and want to bundle a few things you can call or email us.

We would be happy to help you.

Blowing into spring

 Many, many, many folks will talk about the winter of 2014. This has been a winter for the record books with below average temperatures becoming the new normal, bone chilling cold and  a heck of a lot of snow. And, snow in places that don't usually see snow.
We have not had much snow or ice here, but our families have had their share plus enough to last another winter or two.

As we head into March we are use to seeing the Northerners head our way in hopes of finding some warmth and sunshine. This year we don't have much of either to share with them. It's cold. It does not matter where you are, it's cold.

I feel as if we are stuck in a winter limbo that will not let us go. I just heard that winter is planning to hang on through most of March, bringing even more weather precipitation with it. At least one if not two more storms. I hope not, but could be true.

  

 What does that mean for us?
It is harder to go out and work in the cold.
We are just not as winter savvy as some folks that we know. The studio has heat but not great heat. We can usually get by with our one wall heater. This year that one wall heater is cranked up.
Hot water helps as long as you keep plenty at hand. Layers under and over, wool socks, good shoes all help as well.

It is a good idea to keep as warm as possible to get the job done.
I took advantage of yesterday's heat wave to mask up and stand outside to clean up pots for a bisque firing. It was at least 40 degrees outside. That is better than the single digits that we have been having.
How do you stay warm in this cold?

Years ago we had visiting potters here from Denmark and Helsinki staying with us and working in our studio. It was February and the first day we went out to find our outside water frozen. We thawed it out, heated water, turned up the heat and all went to work.

 Later they complained at how cold our studio and house were. "Cold! But look where you live", I said. "Yes," they said, "but our houses and shops are well insulated and we have heat in our floor."

Heat in the floor.......what I would give for some heat in the floor.

I spent time yesterday moving pots from the last firing over to the shop just in case some of the brave travelers find their way out of the frozen north. We did see a few travelers the last two days making me hope that there are more who are ready for some southern sunshine.
Of course tonight we are under a winter weather advisory, ice.
Ice for Friday.
BUT- Saturday is full of promise.
60 degrees....
I think I am ready.