We are

glazing for another fire in Ms. B.
I have been taking the time to glaze some of the pots as I get a day free instead of the days of glazing we used to do.
Working in a smaller kiln has it's limitations in the amount of work going in this kiln, but we don't see that as a bad thing these days as we see less traffic. We are well stocked in the store, with pottery set aside in the studio as well.
As Mark works on the thrown work I am playing (?) with more tiles and some of the new giraffes I added in last year and this year.
This one grabs me. I am mixing up the way I layer in the glaze to make him a bit different.

 I just wish Lee was here to see how far some of her designs have gone. We were struggling with glaze combinations early on, making some of the common errors one can make with any new idea you want to carry through.
I have played with many ideas and colors before settling into some that I think are working well.
I am always subject to how the glaze goes on, too thick, too thin. Most of these glazes will brush very well, others need a bit of coxing to apply the way I want them too.

I still have moments where I pick up the wrong brush and apply it to the wrong area.  That can either be a big whoops or it can be a great mistake. Then I have to remember what I made the mistake with.

I know you know what I mean...

After March comes April- put us on your calendar and come on out. We'd be happy to see you, 

Time does not stand still

and wait for you.
It has been really busy with things around here.
The cleaning of the drive is done for now.
The insult is standing there watching pine needles rain down as you are filling the trailer with the piles.
We dropped off some loads on our close neighbors for them to use around their flower beds.
I thought as we were leaving- this is like extra vegetables from the garden. If you don't put up a gate then when you get home---pine straw!

I think we are ready for tomorrow.
We both had clay work to finish through the week for the next firing, but that is now all on racks drying while we clean the corners and get ready for the week-end.

this guy was moved outside.

I have to say that 30 years of making pots have flown by on wings.
It would take me too long to reflect on how much this has been part of our life and how much it will continue to be a part of our life.
In the past few years we are slower than we use to be, but- this is not over yet, we have many more pots to make.

We would love to just fade away like Bilbo Baggins  but that is not our fate.

We would like to thank you all for the years of support that have come our way time and time again.
It would have no meaning without the people we have meet along this journey of clay.
Thank you.


When you come out tomorrow, there is plenty of parking.
Be aware of the drive and pull over if need be.
Bring a chair if you plan to hang out with Four Saints.
They love to talk to you about what and how they do what they do.

The weather is going to be great.
Plan for comfortable.
Oh, and the first person here ( on the property) to tell us that they read the blog or that they are a fan on FB gets the pick of the wee pots.

you are almost there- keep going past the old grainery  and up the hill to the pottery.

Come and enjoy.
See you here.
M

The shape of things to come.

I am up late this morning so I really need to dash off and get some things done.
 Why am I sitting here?
 Well, I am not a good dasher as you can see.
 I have become a tad slower in my dashability.
Yes, I know that is not a word but seems we can add anything we want to the end of words these days. I know, I listen to NPR and they do it all the time.

Today is get some of the pine straw off the driveway day. As you have seem in past post the drive is a long one lined with tall pines trees and now is when they start to drop those lovely needles. Between those and the pine cones, that I call pot hole starters, things can get a bit messy out there.
Plus we want you to be able to get down the drive, or up the drive to find us. The best thing about being out there is it is a great view.

Mark- vases

Meredith- bottles

The past two days have been ultra chilly as the weather goes from late summer to fall.
I think I am ready for the crisp days and cool nights.
I just wish we did not have to close up the house and turn on the heat.
I really enjoyed the past few weeks of open windows and cool air.

The bonus to fall is fall colors.
Now that gets me excited.

Here is a preview of things to come.

This is from last year- but things will happen here soon.
Off to "help" Mark.
I am a good at cheering one on.
Lift that rake....go team.
M

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

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

Take 2 asprin

and call me in the morning.
This is a terrible time to feel that not quite your self thing.
I am having some hot tea to see where I feel after that.
What I would really like is a day of nothing, but, somehow, that is just not going to happen.
 So without any more whining we move on.

 On Sunday we were invited to set up pots at a sheep farm about 40 minutes from where we live.
It was a simple 11-4 day. In my mind all shows should start at 11 and end at 4, really, most serious buyers and in and out by then.

On Saturday evening it rained buckets and I was afraid that we would see the same on Sunday. If it did rain I was staying home. Shows outside in the rain are no fun.
Lucky the skies cleared and it was a beautiful day.

This show was interesting as it was more about the animals and fiber than anything else.
But, we planned for the crowd by taking only two table's worth of pots and keeping the prices to a mid to low range.
I think that worked for us, we were happy with the day.
Plus, the crowd was so nice, as were the fiber vendors and the folks who put the show on.
We scarfed down some good eats and over indulged in homemade ice cream.

All in all- a good day.

 This animal was so sweet to let all these folks pet her.
 I was amazed.

I had more fun watching the kids run around, sit on hay bales, listen to music and this one climbed in and out and in and out of the flower bed. She will be a future farmer maybe?

We did unload the small kiln and found that we have about one shelf of pots to fire again.
Most of them came out fine and some of them very good.
We are planning to email for some advice as soon as we shake off the cobwebs from the week-end.
We also took a order for 80 mugs so pots have to be made for a firing soon after our open house.

See why this head thing can not get the attention it would like?
Yes, no rest for the wicked.


Cheers!
M

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

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.