Hello sunshine!

 Hello, sunshine!

Mark is putting together the lamps that came out of the firing and I thought that he should shoot some pictures of them before they run away to live some where else.
It is not often that I hear him say he would keep a piece out of the kiln but this lamp has him yearning to keep it.

It is a lovely lamp and I hope that the folks that ordered it will be as happy as we were when it was unloaded from the kiln.

It needed some company so Mark brought in some friends to surround it with.
We were talking about how best to photograph a lamp.
If you do them with no shade and  no light blub they just look as if something is missing. All you can look at is that bare harp just sticking out and taking the life right out of the overall look of the lamp.
Then when you add a shade and light it all seems to come together.
I think we sell more lamps when they are plugged in and turned on.

I have to get back over to the paper work that comes with a new year and the end of the past year.
Think of me.....
M

Paper, rock, scissors or making choices

Paper, rock, scissors or I wonder if this game could be called paper, pots, scissors?
I have been making tiles, jewelry  and trays during this icy cold phase of January, but I have still not touched the wheel.
Oh I have read and poured over blogs of all the potters who are out there working away.
I love looking at what they are making and envy their ability to just go back to work.
I always need a bit of down time this time of year.
Or maybe a slower start.
So even though I am making some pots my mind has wandered over to paper.

I started our raiding all the old Christmas card for paper and using up some card stock I have.
Well it was all over then because then I had to try some real paper.
The kind that is made to fold rather then me making it fold.
So I order some paper used for Origami 
Oh my it is like using a soft clay rather than a hard clay.
It is like you just learned how to get the clay to move the way you want it to.
This paper just has a feel the other paper does not.
Right now I am only folding small boxes and a variety of items that could and would hold jewelry.
You can either slip a pair of earrings in or a pendent and use them as a gift box. 

And while I am folding these I have been looking at the different patterns on the paper.
Of course I have a favorite.
I really love this one.

Sorry the picture does suck a bit!

This time folding paper has given me time to think about pots and what I want to make.
It has given me time to think about my brother and miss him a bit (a lot!).
It has given my hands something to do while my mind goes to places I don't want it to go alone.
A comfort in the paper, soft and soothing.
Funny how something so simple can fill a place or a void for a person.
Is this how it feels for people who make pots for fun?
I make pots as a living and have for close to 30 years.
This means I have to find the simple pleasures somewhere else in order to get back in touch with clay.
Last night as I went to sleep I thought,"dream of teapots".
But instead I dreamed of someone who was making  dogs from tile pipes.
Go figure.
So folks I am out to the shop today and we will see what comes off that wheel.
or off the slab roller.........
Cheers!
M