Tiles

 https://whynot-pottery-2.square.site/shop/AcaciaArtTile/32

We have a store!

July 11 & 12

2020 A year to remember

It's time to make a trip to the Seagrove area, we hope you will stop in to see what we have been up to.
We will set up outside for checkout, making the store available for customers.
We ask that you wear a mask, distance from others, and give others plenty of space to shop.
Pottery and Tiles will be available.

https://www.discoverseagrove.com/celebration-of-summer/

Jar, flowers and thoughts

I made this small jar at school one day during a class demo. There is always a dilemma of what I should do with the pots that I make as demonstrations for my students. There are times if they are working on a shape that I hand it to the student to use as a study piece. They can hang on to it as long as they need to and after that it is tossed back in the slop bucket to be added to the next mix of our class clay.
I make it very clear that the work not be kept, bisqued or glazed unless it is something I want to keep. If I have time I will sometimes finish a piece that I started, but this does not happen very often. After all, I am there to teach not make pots.
The quickest way to break down a pot is to cut it in half as soon as the demo is done. I do this with cylinders and then ask the beginnings to do the same. Make it and toss it, over and over and over.
What we do is skill based, memory skills, teaching your hands to make what you see in your brain.
This takes time.
There are many early pots that can come back to haunt you later.
My other advice to the students is don't let it go too fast to the fire plie, keep it a week or more and really look at it each week. Can you make it better? Learning to let go of something you made can be hard, but you need to remove your feelings, emotional as we all are, from the equation and develope a good eye for what makes a good pot.
If you want to be better you must be critical of your own work.

Mark was up early to light Ms. B, it is a good day to fire after another wet, stormy week. It is nice and cool this morning and I have thrown open a door to let some cool air in the house. We all have A/C these days but there is nothing better than the air that comes after a rain.
Happy day,
M

Last week

 Mark was working with a white stoneware last week. It looks so clean and ready.
These are heading to the kiln for bisque, and then later glaze.
Many things to think about.
The pots for Ms. B are ready but we are waiting out the storms that are coming through this week.Now we are thinking that next week will be better to fire. That just puts us back on the wheel throwing some red clay for cone 6. It will be a contrast of the different clay bodies, this white against the warm red.
Don't you just love that handle on the teapot...

 I love those jars back there especially that wee, sassy handle.
And, these mugs!
Such possibilities to come.
Stay tune.
I'll be back.
M

Ms. B

Mark fired Ms. B again this past week and I finished up a glaze load of tiles.

We will be at Luck's Bean Cannery in Seagrove this coming up week-end, for the Celebration of Seagrove Potters.

Come on out for some Christmas shopping before the family comes next week for Turkey and all the fixings.

 See you there!
M&M

taking your brain for a walk

Today we took our brains for a long walk, well drive, and then walk, but it has been a long time since we drove to just see where we would end up and what we would see.
The North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill

Fabulous works. And, there are more.
My brain thanks me.
M

About those birdhouses

They look fabulous!
They are ready to hang.
Come on over.
M

Chriscoe Cousins, more pictures

I thought I would share a few more pictures with you while I am waiting for the kiln to cool down.

Enjoy!
M

Bye for now!
M

Sunday with Sunshine and 3 Chriscoe Cousins who work in Clay

Whew, I don't know about you, but I was ready to see a little sunshine.
The rain the other day had us jumping.
We were leaking in the studio, the shop and our porch.
It was raining, cats, dogs and donkeys here.
We did manage to load the kiln and brick the door.
I was so happy when we were finished.

We had plans in the evening and wanted to finish with the kiln and take a  break before we took off in the rain for the Campbell House Gallery in Southern Pines .
Luck was on our side and we were able to drive down to Southern Pines without a down pouring of rain.

We wanted to see the show by 3 cousins, who all work in clay,and are from our area of Seagrove.
This show included cousins, Chris Luther, Chad Brown and Mack Chrisco of the Chriscoe family

The Chriscoe family, some used the e and some dropped the e, have been in the area since the 1700's.
For more reading on the family history follow the link from Chris Luther, he and his wife Lisa and been instrumental in the family research. They also had the vision for this show of the current generation of cousins that are all working in the field of clay now.
They all have their own distinct style.
I have know Mack since we were students in clay together.
I have know Chris since he was 22 before he before he married and opened his shop in the area.
I meet Chad a few years back, he is the youngest of the 3, and the latest of the line to become a potter.
If you are in the area it is a great show to go and see.

Chris Luther

Chad Brown

Mack Chrisco

Tea set made by Chris Luther's mother and given to his wife, Lisa, on their wedding day.

 There is also a small group of pots made by the older generation, but I fell in love with the tea set made by Juanita, the mother of Chris Luther, and the sentiment behind it. It was a gift to his wife on their wedding day from his mother.
I know they must cherish this set since she passed away in the last few years.

 I am heading out to see if I can soak up a little sun.
Happy Sunday,
M