The before and after of firing Ms. B

 Mark made, glazed, loaded and fired Ms. B 

We will be putting these out in the store this week.

We are open this weekend for the Spring Celebration, gallery tours, of Seagrove Area Potters.

Wear a mask, we will have ours on as well.

As we use to tell people, "bring your checkbook and a chicken wing". 

I guess now it would be check card. Haha 

Cheers!

Ms. B is back in action

Mark just did a firing in Ms. B and the results were very good.
Kiln opening here and in the greater Seagrove Area next weekend.
Come out!
M

Counting down and getting ready

 I thought I would post up some of the pots ready for the Open house on the 13th.
These pots are stamped 30th year, 2012, Whynot Pottery, Whynot NC and either have an initial stamp or the first name of the maker.

We wanted to have a variety of works and price ranges so I made some bowls.

Mark decided we should both make some small pots for us to give away.
First one to show and tell us they read the blog or follow us on FB can have their pick.
After that they will be given away with a purchase over 75.00.

I have been making brownies the past two days. Just getting a batch in between what else is going on.
They freeze great and will be ready for the open house.
Next up sesame seed cookies.
Then I am trying to think what else I want to make. I need something that will go with the beer.
I am thinking some cheese and crackers, nuts, pretzels....
Also, plan on bringing a lawn chair if you would like to hang and talk with Joel and Andrew about beer making.

9 days.....
Meredith

Sweet smells of summer

I'm here recovering from a busy weekend with a lot going on.
The Open House was really nice with a steady stream of folks coming down.
Even Sunday had some real highlights.
Monday we saw a few folks but mainly we were sleep walking through the studio trying to gear our brains back to glazing.
We did load up Mark's big bottles and managed a long,slow bisque. It is always a worry when you are bisque firing big boys. We did a preheat of 5 hours the day before and then programed the kiln for the long fire, about 12 hours. I did not breath until they were unloaded this morning.
Oh, yea that step is done.
Mark has the rest plus 3 big vases preheating today.
It will be another long bisque with fingers crossed.

While getting ready for the open house I was in and out of our local Slowe's store to buy some plants.
It has been awhile since I grew or bought flowers and discovering their "mark down" area was too much to pass up.I found many plants that just wanted some love, good dirt and water. They are working away in planters now.
Then I spotted a small gardenia and it was all over.I had to have this one even at the full price of 6.00, a splurge on my part but this should grow and give me many years of sweet flowers.
We dug a good hole on Sunday and put her in the ground only to find her undug the next morning....
Darn critters.
I replanted and then circled the plant with bricks to keep her safe from said critters.

I guess the sweet smell and soft dirt were too much for whoever was wandering through the yard.

I also bought this plant that was about half dead and put it in a planter. It has a sweet yellow flower but in my haste to be tidy I tossed out the tag. It has been blooming everynight and then the flower last about a day before it gives up. Now, is this a night blooming plant? Does anyone know what it is?

If not I guess it will give me an excuse to go back and buy more plants.
Really I had better get on some tomatoes plants soon.
Maybe some eggplant as well.

Those pots for glaze are calling more pictures of pots soon.
Cheers!
M

Spring into Summer Kiln Opening

As we follow a beautiful spring with what promises to be a journey right into summer Mark and I thought it would be fitting to have an Open House and Kiln Opening here this Saturday from 9-5pm.
I hear there has been talk of cookies, but this time I have something else in mind I just need to get to the kitchen to make it.
Intrigued?
You should be.
We like to eat around here and share some of our tasty treats with others.

What is coming out of the kiln?
Beer/Coffee Mugs for one.
Lamps for those- need a lamp places in your house.
Oil lamps, good for the deck or the house.
Bottles for those summer flowers.
Vases for even more summer flowers.
Juice cups and tiles.
You just have to come and see for yourself what else is out.

There are 2 other kiln openings in our area this weekend .
One at Donna Craven's place and the other at Bulldog Pottery.
We are all a short drive from one another so don't worry about the gas.
Plus, I just noticed another dip in the gas prices today.
Bonus!

When you stop in let us know if you read the blog or if you are a friend on FB we would love to know and take a minute to chat with you.
Many Cheers,
M

Open house next weekend and a birthday girl

Kiln opening here next Saturday 10-5 come out.

We opened the kiln today and there was a real mix in the mix.
There were some good pots.
And there were some not so good pots.
We are still pondering the firing and the only thing that comes to mind is that we placed the cone packs on a shelf higher then last time and that pyrometers lie.

After the brilliant iron reds of the last fire we were faced with muddy reds and not melted wood ash, again, yes, again.
Back to the drawing board.
And I am too blue to post pictures.
Instead you get one of the grand daughter who is getting ready for her 2nd birthday.
And she is way more important to me than some stupid clay.

Happiest of Birthdays to this sweet girl of ours.

  Juice pops make life all better!
M

Testing the waters and, yes, I can see you.

Okay, this time I took pictures, loaded them to the computer and got them in a file.
 I had a good subject in the garden hanging out on the Lemon Balm.
 Lemon Balm being in the mint family will grow anywhere and anytime.
We are never with out this plant that I first planted about 30 years ago.

Need some?

The small kiln is loaded and we are taking a break before we brick up the door.
 We wanted to fire tomorrow, but the weather is still calling for thunder storms most of the day.
 We are going to bump up to firing on Thursday instead.

I am going back to poking the computer, more glazing tomorrow as we head into loading the big kiln. It's a bit more than one day of glazing.

A lot of fun happening here come on and we will let you help.
 Cheers, M

Kiln Opening May 26th 2012 9-5
October Open house TDA

Open House

We have been very busy getting our place ready for others to set up with us and folks to come down the driveway.
The drive has been scraped and the potsholds down to a good level.
The grass is mowed and there is plenty of parking.
Pots are unloaded and cookies baked.
There are tents out in the yard.
Tables and chairs.
The weather is going to be great!
So above- we have one more person who is joining us.
I have been working with my sister Lee on taking her 28 plus one giraffes and putting them on tiles.
Here are three from the first round.
I thought for someone who had not touched clay since college these came out pretty darn good!
Have a great day and we hope to see you here.

Unloading the kiln

Mark took out this plate and I wanted a quick shot- funny the only wall space was next to this wall vase which still  has a patina of smoke on it.
There were a lot of pots that were coated with smoke and creosote from the fire.
The best part was most of the pots just needed to be run through a bisque fire to burn that all away.
But this piece, a commercial wall vase, took on a look we like so we keep it smoke and all.

Back to the kiln load.
Most all was good and it is sanded, priced and in the studio.
I did lose a jar to the green crawl......

Who knows why- the lid came out great and this glaze did not crawl on anything else.
Who knows- I guess you have to sacrifice something up to the kiln gods.

So here is Mark's plate without company.
The electric kin is cooling.
Fingers crossed, I have some of sister Lee's first tiles inside.
The pressure in on!

Teapot and Trees

I have some two cup teapots going in this kiln load.
The kiln is half loaded as of yesterday.
The other half to be finished today.
Then brick the door and fire Sunday.
What we hope is that the winds clam down.
It has been windy and wind and our kiln just don't mix well.

I think I have enough pots for an electric kiln load and I will load that up while Mark is firing on Sunday.
Then next week between cooling and whatever else needs doing I plan to bake up some cookies for the kiln opening coming up next Saturday.
I have the peanut butter and sesame seed cookies on my list.
Two of the favorites for the customers.
Oh and then there is the biscotti..... .Those I have a hard time staying out of.
Just one more.

I have been watching the trees as I walk back and forth across the yard and this Sassafras tree has been a joy to watch as the leaves look so pretty as they bud and then days later start to open.

Don't they look wonderful!
This is the tree that I should have removed three years ago, but I am such a whimp and hate taking down any tree.
I have to admit it has me with its gifts of leaves.
I bet it is still there a year from now, just waiting me out.

The flier for the kiln opening- come on out this will be lots of fun with some great pottery just waiting to go home.

April is coming right up!

Every year we buy a calendar for the studio.
This year I found this wonderful calendar with sealife pictures.
Today I was debating if I wanted to tear off the picture for March or leave it.
It has a wonderful fish with the most beautiful yellows and soft blues.
It makes me want to develop a glaze around it.
Then when I popped open the page for April and saw this starfish and it was love at first site.
Oh my gosh!- look at the color of that red and then all the interesting patterns with the whilte.
Wouldn't this look great on something!
I think I will be drinking this picture in for the month of April.
I would love to develop this glaze as well.
Now laugh- because I know how busy the next month will be.

We made short work of unpacking from the Hickory show.
We knew we would have a short window to throw and glaze before the Spring kiln opening here in Seagrove.
We along with 48 other potters from our area have banded together to hold what will be a gallery/kiln opening crawl.
Here, at our shop in Whynot. we have invited a soap maker Laurie Abela of Abela Soaps to join us.
Laurie is a good friend, massage therapist, gardener and nurse.
Laurie will be here with her soaps.
I have used many homemade soaps over the years, but I am sold on hers.
They are my favorite.
And her bathmelts....oh, take a night with a hot bath and throw one of these in.
Yummy is all I can think!

Also joining us will be our good friend Anne Raven Jorgensen of Raven Pottery.
Anne lived in the Seagrove area for about 15 years before moving to Southern Pines.
She lives only 45 minutes down the road but just far enough we have to make plans to see one another.
Anne makes fun and wonderful pots.

Last but not least is our friend Laura Weant Avery of Snowhill Tiles.
Laura also lived in Seagrove for a number of years and recently moved away.
She will join us bringing her tiles and jewlery.
Laura's tiles have always inspired me.
I took a workshop from her several yeras ago.
She was so forth coming and sharing with her knowledge.

We are excited to have these folks join us I am calling it "Mud and Suds in the Yard".
I thought it fitting after the wet, wintry messy winter we all had.
And then our wet rain we had last week.
Mud!
 We will Mud in all shapes and form.
Now, can we all think positive for some weeks of sunshine and dry weather.
Plan a- we sent up tents.
Plan b- we set up in our work studio.
Whatever happens we will work out a way to get everyone set up.
We are planning refreshments and a door prize or two.

Yesterday I started on teapots and butter dishes while Mark made those "crown" pots.
So this week is throwing week.
Next week is glaze and with fingers crossed we will have a great kiln load of pots to unload for the weekend of the 17th-18th.
Should be fun, so come out and see us.
We will be open Saturday from 9-5
And Sunday from 10-4

And very big bug

Here are some pictures of the kiln while we were unloading.
Mark did a slower longer fire.

The ash was better.


We used a new batch of iron Red without changing anything.

It looked pretty good. Some iron trapping, but not muddy like the last kiln firing.
And that mystery stuff the mouse brought in.... we still don't know what it is, but its burning did not seem to effected any thing in the kiln.














Asheboro has just voted in beer and wine sales along with serving liquor by the drink. We were suppose to meet a friend at one of the new restaurants in downtown on Friday night for dinner. The place was packed with an hour wait list.
We asked to be put on the list and the waitress told Mark, " Just remember there are three in front of you." He said what if I want to go away for 30-minutes or more and come back.
She said "fine, but..... just remember that there are three ahead of you."
At which point Mark took my arm and strolled me out saying we are going somewhere else.
You want to say, " Get with the program Asheboro." I know this is all new for you, but you have to learn how to handle a crowd.
Instead we found our friend and headed up to another new place.
Bistro 42 near the mall.
It was quiet, nice and the service was great and the food good.

This bug is on a wall in downtown asheboro. He is about the size of the one which joined me in the basement last week. See they do get big here.

Seagrove

It was a great week-end for us all in Seagrove.
I just finished reading Tom Starland's Blog about his visit to the area.
I hope you can all take a minute to read it.
It is nice to read the perspective of the visitor.
When we are getting ready for a show or a kiln opening I think about a stage production or a wedding.
There is a lot of work which goes on behind the curtain, a lot of details to complete. Some you do well and others you just have to let go.
But the day of the event you know you have done well if the customer enjoys themselves.
I think that happened here-
I would have taken pictures- but here is the story on that.
If you are talking and wrapping pots there is no time for pictures.
If you are taking pictures, then you are not talking to customers and wrapping pots.
I have no pictures.
It was a great week-end.
Now- back to work!