Feet

 I have been looking at my feet a lot as I am walking. Why? Because I feel that I need to see where I am stepping.
When you look down you can see that there is another world that is going on just under our feet.

The hole on the right is a rabbit nest. Mom dug a hole that she could squeeze into and had two babies.
Yesterday Mom and the babies hid very quietly outside the nest while Mark fired the kiln.
You could just barley see them tucked up next to the kiln shed being very still, not moving an inch until he finished firing.

On the trail I saw this log covered with fresh mushrooms. I took a class with one of my friends on mushrooms back in the fall, but I will have to look these up, or have Laurie tell me what they are.
I do love the colors.

 Speaking of walking, as we walk down the driveway there are some very friendly cows that come running to greet us. You might think how wonderful it is to be greeted by the cows, but really, they are just looking for a hand out. They are saying, do you have any hay, we would love some hay, why are you walking past us?
Don't make eye contact keep moving.

On the pottery front.
Gas kiln fired yesterday, unloading tomorrow.
Pictures to come.
How about you?
Staying busy?

Ms. B and Halloween

We loaded the small gas kiln last week and Mark fired her up yesterday.

 So here are a few pictures to share.
More later as we are going to unload tomorrow.
Happy Halloween!

BOO!

Just a quick view in the kiln

Spring is in the air

We had a few interesting days of weather here with rain, wind, tornadoes watches and warnings. It also makes one keep a close eye on the weather. We put off the gas firing until the weather is settled, next week is our target date.
Meanwhile, I was putting in glazes on tiles. It is or can be a bit tedious at times as I bounce back and forth between glazes. I might only use 1 little dab of glaze for the inside of a nose, or eye, but that little dab of color is instrumental in the finished product. I realized as I am moving along the joys come in as the face starts coming together. I can start seeing the life of the tile open up to me since I am now pretty familiar with the glazes and the results I want.
The lambs are so funny, they are a delight as they are coming together. Sometimes the slightest change in the way I have laid out the faces can make them look more quizzical, or sneakier, maybe ready for trouble.
Since we have lived in a rural area I have seen how mischief animals can be, fences are only a challenge for them, how to get over, around or through. I have watched them flat on their bellies with their heads over as far as they can reach to get some of that greener grass.

 I always wonder where these get sheep tiles get hung in a house. I find most people put them in a bathroom for company to enjoy these sneaky sheep.

We like to think they are on the "lam." I always imagine them getting back in just before the farmer wakes up for the day.
 Who, us? We have been right here all the time......

The pollinators have been very busy in the blueberry bushes.
We spotted at least 3 different types of bees and were happy to see a few honey bees in there.

What's coming out for tiles for the spring kiln opening; giraffes, sheep, flowers, sunflowers, preying (praying) mantis, bunnies, and more.
We also have a great selection of soap just in from Abela Soaps.

I hope you can find a bit of wall space for a tile or two or maybe a new mug or three.
Cheers!
M

It's December

 Which  means it is time to start working on the plan for next year.
Many people ask if we are gearing up for Christmas. Truth be told we start gearing up in the spring for the fall business.

That wee sheep tile is something that is looking at us to go back to.
The variety of tiles I have been making are a consideration and a possibility to grow on.

  The new kiln is producing some new ideas, new designs, new paths to take.
The changes in the industry left us scrambling last year when we had fail, after fail, with a glaze combination we have used for 30 plus years.
It may never come back to us, but with all failure there are success. At first you are just throwing something in the mix to see if it has a place, then you begin to notice that it does and know you need to follow it to see where it is going.
A new path opens as the old one shuts down.
At the end of the day the need to create takes over. After all, isn't why we are here to begin with?

Many of us question why we are here, what we are doing, is this right for me. We all do it. I relish the days that I just work with no thought, no doubt, the zone, the zen.
The reality is we are a business, we are subject to change in the economy, changing trends, the up and downs of what people need or the desire of their want. Through all of this we continue to create.
Why create?
Why not?
Why not indeed.
 We need art in our life, we need the sense of wonder, the pleasure of looking, seeing, touching, holding. The art so simple that you can hold it in your hand and drink from it, eat from it, serve from it. I have always thought that a handmade mug or bowl is the most intimate object.
Instead of feeding your soul through a take out window with a throw away container you should be treating your whole being to what you are eating, drinking.......
My students look at me in confusion, awe, pleasure,maybe even amusement at my daily mug.
I always travel with a coffee mug and have done so for at least 35 years. Why would you not?
Why? Why not?

 I am teaching one day a week now.
 The teaching has become a thing of pleasure since the hired of the head of the department. My day goes fast and furious, and I have seen great growth in the work of the students. I am excited about the next semester, this one went so fast.
 So, bring on 2017, it will be a year of change for many of us, but people are resilient.
Never doubt that.
M
 

Ms. B Just in time for

Halloween......
We have loaded up Ms. B again, we are trying to open the load up in the hope that we can get even heat throughout the kiln. We have several test in the back bottom shelf where we are testing some new glazes to  use them in the colder spots.
 When we first started making pottery we did not want to "throw" to the kiln. Well folks after 35 years of this we have found you have to plan around the kiln.

 I am also added some mid-range test into the electric kiln with my tile. We are trying to figure out if we can't get what we want walking through gas reduction then maybe we can get sometime from the electric kiln. We are playing with fire.

Fire today, cool tomorrow, unload on Friday.

We had a visitor tucked into one of our windows yesterday. He might have been happy to stay with us, but we placed him back in the woods.
Same frog different light. I love the look of, I have a secret on his face.

Time to hit the studio,
M

MS. B Just in time for summer

Ms. B back in action.
Mark fired her up yesterday while I went to school to fill in for another teacher.
This morning we can check the temperture.
Come on over, we'll let you look!
M

And, when she's good...

she's very, very good.
There is a learning curve with any kiln and I think that we are back on the correct path with this one.
Much happier.

Let's do it again!

While the cats away

 the mouse stays busy making pots.
Mark has been steadily working on the days that I am gone to teach.
He has made pots, but is kind enough to wait for me to make some before he fires the large gas kiln.
While he waits for me to get some pots made he has glazed and loaded the small gas kiln with some pots.
We added some test glazes to this load in order to figure out if we could come up with something that would work on the bottom shelf. We both figure that lowering the glaze melting temperature might be the only way to fire this kiln. We tested a few cone 8-9ish glazes to see if those would work on the bottom.
It is frustrating to have most of the pots down there come out under fired. We either have to fire them again in the large kiln or hit them over the head with a hammer.

If we ever get this kiln worked out for firing it would be a  good way for Mark to fire smaller loads and not even wait for me.
 I have one day left in the summer semester then I am off for 3 1/2 weeks.
I have a lot of things to catch up on during that time.
Let's see how well I do.

Blueberries are here.
Just in case you missed this recipe because you hate facebook, TB, I am posting here as well.

Blueberry Crumb, no, I did not follow the recipe, more like a crisp, very tasty!

Preheat oven to 375
Filling:
1 tsp butter. I used a Tbs. ( I know shoot me)
2 pt.blueberries, I used what the pan could hold- somewhere between 5-6 cups
1/2 cup sugar, I used 1/4th and I used brown sugar
1 TBS. cornstarch, I did this once and don't like the flavor, I used 1 TBS. flour
1/2 cup apple cider, I used one fresh lemon with 1/4th cup water.
1 tsp. vanilla extract, I added 1/2 tsp lemon extract as well.
Plus: 1 good size tsp. cinnamon

Topping:
1 cup all purpose flour, I used 3/4 cup and 1/4 almond meal
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, I used 1/2 brown and 1/4 raw
6 TBS. butter- yep!
1/2 cup rolled old fashion oats.

 Put the butter in your pan- 8x8  works well mine is larger since I use more berries, and rub it all over the pan.
Make the filling and gently fold it all together, set it aside.
Then before you make topping add to pan.

Make the topping, get your hands in there and make crumbs until it is like peas.
Dump that goodness on top and bake 30 minutes.
I turned the oven back to 350 after 5 minutes and added another 5 minutes to my bake time.
You want those berries to bubble.

Cool enough to eat.
You can cool and eat with good ice cream or you can make this:
1/2 container of good, the real stuff, yogurt.
Take it and strain it through about 3 coffee filters by placing it in a berry bowl ( Made by yours truly),set over a bowl, until most of the water drains out.
It should be nice and thick.
You can now add my favorite maple syrup, or brown sugar to taste ( my taste is 3 TBS.- less if using sugar), then hit it with more cinnamon.
This is a great topping for any pie or fruit.
You really want to kick it up add about 1/4 cup cream.

Next up we are going to talk about making jam.
Are you in?
M

Results from Ms. B

Results from Ms. B were mixed.
We had some good, some bad and some indifferent.
Most of all we had the thought of, " let's do this again."
And, use some of what was learned to proceed forward.
This was better than the thought of, "let's just tear her down...."

Everyone gets to pick a favorite, this one was mine.

I also love these  bottles.
Mark is not sure why, but I do.
 These tumblers are just perfect and are calling out to be filled up and used.

Here she sits waiting for us like a spider waits for a fly.....
There is much to think about here.

And, just like that

 another week flies past me. I can not tell you where time goes these days. It is stealing away in large chunks, like melting ice caps.

We unloaded the kiln, packed and shipped off orders. Slipped back and forth waiting for all the ice and snow to melt. Then the mud. The never ending mud that is following all the ice and snow. We like to top that off with some rain. Yes, we love a good slide.

After packing and shipping Mark was on the wheel to get ready to fire the small gas kiln. Do you remember Ms. B? The evil small gas kiln that we built and fired. She gave us a good fire or two and a really terrible firing or two.

 We are going back at her.
Give it another go.
What could possible go wrong?
Really?

I sometimes mull over in my head all the possibilities of what could go wrong from start to finish, and still we go out there throw around some clay, and do it all over again.
I believe our only understanding is that we will never really understand all the elements of what we do.
Yes, we love to spout off about clay, glaze, firing, and what we do. But, once we release it to the elements of fire, one just has to toss their hopes to the wind.
After all it is all about that last step, the fire, it determines    the final outcome.
I once thought that firing in an electric kiln would cure all the ills and be easy.
No, even an electric kiln has it's ways.

So toss we go, and if the luck is with us we rejoice.

We mourn the loss of the ones that don't make it and move on.

After all some of my best friends are seconds.

f

 I use many of them in my daily life. A bowl that did not make the cut, a mug that needed grinding, a plate with a pop out. You know the game, not bad enough to take a hammer to, but not what you want out in the world with your name on it.

I always wonder what is the best use for some pots.

 I know many of us sell seconds. I always hesitate to do so.
There are times that I will price a pot lower thinking you are just slightly a second.
I once had a customer, well I take that back, I once had a women who came in toting  another women with her. Women number one was showing the other women how best to "get a deal" from the potters. She looked and looked and looked until she found an oil lamp that was not perfectly glaze. She marches over with her hand on the spot and says, what will you take off for this imperfection!? I was stunned. And, since I saw no relationship happening here I just took the pot from her rolled it around looking at it and said well. 99%   of the pot is perfect so I could take off 1 %.
They left, not taking my 20 cent discount. Some people just don't know a good thing.

So we are back in the clay, making, dreaming, puzzle solving, doing all those things in hopes that we can bring it all together once again for a finished product.

Really, what could possibly go wrong?

Where is my camera?

You know I have gotten in the habit of carrying my camera with me every day until recently.
 I would just pick it up in the morning and carrying it along but for some reason I keep forgetting to pick it up. Where is my camera I would think?
 Oh, yeah, in the house or in the basement or in the pantry or in the kitchen. Anywhere but where I want it to be.
 So- when we loaded the kiln I did not get any pictures at all. This is not like me where is my brain? I really do like to take pictures when we load to go back and look through when we fire again. I feel it is really useful to see what was where and how well the glaze did or did not do in that spot. BUT- I seem to be falling out of the responsibility and being a bit lazy about it all. This will be the 6th (?) firing in the small kiln and we have been hitting some and hitting the wall with others.
Good, bad, good, bad, good, good, bad. Maybe I think too many pictures are going to just jinx everything. Maybe better to just wing this stuff...

While we were up in Virginia in May I spotted this display cabinet/nook in the spare bedroom at my mother's house. She had used it for her miniatures, but was not using it any more. Can I have it? She had picked it up at a yard sale for 5.00. I offered her 5.50-sold! (I think I still owe her some money.....)

 We wanted to put this on the outside of the shop but it was not going to hold up to the rain. It went up, it went down, it went up and it went down. Finally Mark made a place in the store for it. It is well suited for the store and I fine that something sells from it almost anytime there are customers.

I am glazing tiles..... I like this radish pattern and try to get it on a tile in some form every time I do a round.
It is just fun.
It says eat your veggies to me..

I have decided that the gourds are going to take over the garden completely.
I noticed a vine is working it's way towards the backdoor of the kitchen. I am wondering if we will wake to find the gourds crawling on the house trying to get inside like some alien from outer space.
Give us your young, we are hungry, we have already eaten your tomato plants, but we want more. 
I look everyday and there are more with more varieties showing up.
 

Here is the seed packet I have spotted several of these and there are many, many up high.
I am holding out hope that they do not eat my moon flowers that I put in. I see one good vine of the moon flower out growing the gourds.
GO!GO!GO! Run- I want blooms in September.

Tomorrow is a cool down day for the kiln.
Fingers crossed.
Maybe this firing will be in the good.
M

You are way back here or

You are really off the beaten track.
Yes, we are and we like it that way.
Many times as folks drive our 1/4 mile driveway that winds its way through the property, past the pond and then up the hill to the pottery they come in as if they have sailed the ocean blue.
"Boy", they will say, "you are really back here".
Yes, we are and we tend to get the more adventurous types, people who are not afraid of the path less traveled.
When we first opened in 1982 we were one of the first shops off the highway and it was not unusual for us to get even more people. I think back then folks were not as worried about their cars. Cars did not cost the price of a house and we saw all sorts of cars in all sorts of conditions. They were in for the adventure.

Granted we do have a long driveway and, yet, to me it is not that long or difficult to navigate. For the most part drivers will pull over to make room for others to pass. Our policy is to pull off if it is us and there are several places that make it easy to do so.
Now the real issue in this post is POTHOLES.
You can not have a long dirt driveway without them, they just come with the territory.
We tried to start an adopt a pothole program where you can send money to maintain your pothole, we will even name it after you,but no takers on that one.
We do admit to at times being lax about getting them taken care of but we are on it now.

Hollis- this one if for you. Mark said he would rather be digging for clams.

Note- hat

     
Having the right equipment, weather and materials helps with the process. There has been just enough rain to help, cooler temperatures in the mornings to get out and work, and time.

Looking good- chewing up and getting rid of the potholes.
Would you like to take a guess at the cost of gravel? (or gravels as they say here).
Don't ask it is a bit like just throwing money down a (pot) hole.

I am working on some bowls for the small gas kiln, in for a penny, in for a pound......

I wonder what Mark is going to do with this one.

We are about through making pots. I am loading a bisque, waiting for pots to dry and rolling more tiles.
Chow!
M