Winter comes to Whynot

What is it they say about weather.
If you don't like it well wait 24 hours.
Well I liked it, but we all knew it had to end and yesterday end it did.
There was a rain and heavy wind front that came in and took us down a notch or two. It is a tad chilly this morning. I was so sure it was cooler earlier this week that I kept overdressing for the studio.
This is that time of year that finding the right combo of warmth for working in water becomes difficult. I find several layer help and that old ratty vest are a must.
A good old ratty vest will help keep your core warm while freeing up your arms.
Too many layers on the arms makes for awkward throwing.

I also took advantage of the cloudy days to shoot some pictures outside.
I have found that I can do better outside and I like the natural backgrounds that we have. I use this rock and once I have the piece set on the rock I walk around the rock rather than moving the piece. This really seems to save time. I do crop some and some I don't.
I was reading King Creek's blog and she has been doing some experimented with natural and "the cube".
Do we all have one of these cubes? I know we bought one as well and it will soon be set up again in the basement closer to the computer so I can try, yet again, to get some pictures inside that thing.... I too have had mixed results and oh, look! Dust! Oh, Look at that little hair or.... some days me and the cube just don't get along.
But I do like the rock.

I do have to be careful because as you can see the rock is not flat on top so the piece can look as if it is crooked. But, hey, aren't we all a bit off...

We really are back working and I took some pictures of the ever reclusive Mark at his sit down/stand up wheel. He bites when I do this so I have to be very quiet and sneak up on him....
He starts his larger pots on this wheel while sitting and then stands to finish them as he pulls taller.
Seems to work well.

Production in the making, think small then move to large.

Here she is winter-ta da!

Time to find some layers, clay is calling,
M

Production wares

I know you all think all we do is have fun here at Whynot Pottery, but we do work and work means making production pottery as well as those fun jugs from the last post.
We try hard to balance the two but sometime I feel that one takes over the other.
When that happens we have to scramble to make up for the needs of filling the kiln to make sure we have all the nooks and crannies covered.

Small batter bowls that are good for sauces and gravy too!

We were asked if we could make a shaving mug for our friend Laurie Abela to go along with a line of shaving soap she had developed for the guys.
We came up with this simple, stout mug that works very well.
Laurie has been selling them on her Etsy shop and the shaving soap is wonderful!
Mark was lucky enough to test some for her and gave it the big thumbs up.
and the name for the soap- Whisk 'er away pretty cute!
We have some listed on our shop as well but you need to go to her for the soap.
If your interested these would be great for Father's day...hint,hint!

New item being done with Abela body care.

And I have been asked so many times for berry bowls I thought- whynot!

Small berry bowls- just in time for berry season!

One of the shaving mugs

I use one of these batter bowls all the time.
With just Mark and I around it is perfect for whipping up some eggs, yes, local eggs with beautiful yellow yolks. But- the other thing I like about this small batter bowl is I use one for dips, salad dressing and GRAVY- you can put a spoon or dipper in the spout area and it works well to hold the spoon.
You know how some things will just sink the spoon and then you have to "dig" it out- not pleasant at all.
Plus, if the gravy starts getting cold- pop this in the microwave and warm things up.

a warm brown batter bowl

Better get back to work!
Cheers!
M