I hope this finds you well.

If you need to contact us- info@whynotpottery.com
shopping button over on right hand bar.
Be safe, wash your hands, wear a mask.
Be kind, this one is easy.

Mark's mug

There seem to be a lot of different mugs, teacups, beer steins going on.
Mark has always thought about calling himself MugTown.
Do you have a favorite?

At least there are flowers

 It is spring, May, we have been through the winter, April showers, a pandemic that keeps us all at bay. Finding time to fill the hours has become a challenge. We are baking more, back in our gardens more, creating more, trying to fill the hours.
Some days there are still not enough hours, other days the hours lingerer as the days get longer.
I find that most days go very quickly without enough time, as time has become a concentration of how to get the things that we use to take for granted, like just getting in the card to run an errand, go see a friend, pickup this or that.
How are you using your time?

   

 Mark made these bud vases for 2 different kilns.
The white with blue design came from Ms. B, the stain will come out differently depending on what glaze it is used with and how it is fired.
I really like how quiet this pot is, just doing its job, holding some flowers.

This vase, bottle was fired in the electric kiln. Mark uses 2 different glazes, applying the first one, then adding a wax design, letting that dry and then coating with a top glaze.

 It's simple, but not, takes some practice.

It's time for Mark to put these back in the cue.
Seems mugs are still needed. I imagine having a cup of tea, or coffee just gives us those minutes of comfort that we need.

So, friends, be safe, wash your hands, wear a mask.
Don't be stupid, this is not over as folks decided to go out, don't, just don't.
It's not over.
Stay put.

Warming up the studio

 The snow, rain, highwinds and all things winter, except the cold air has given us a few days warm enough to get back on the wheel.
I have tiles made and loaded in the kiln for the first firing to combine with some other orders in order to put together a firing of electric glazed pot.
All we need now is enough time and energy to get it done.

 Cream and sugars were high on the list, as I was making the sugar jars I picked out a few to cut a spoon hole in the lids. I have mixed request from customers, some folks love a covered jar, no opening, while others love a hole to place a spoon inside.
I take orders for both.Mark made the creamers this round. We had so many creamers last year that we just about stopped making them. Then a couple comes in and buys most of them as gifts. After that it was one here and one there until the next thing you know, no creamers. Back on the list.
Teacups, with or without handles, shaving mugs are all in the mix as well.

I hope you are all well, safe and warm.
Cheers!
M

fall is in the air?

I would love to tell you yes, but it is almost 80 degrees out there today.
I am full on ready for some cool, crisp days.
The kind that call for a sweater, extra layers, warm socks, hot drinks, blankets on the bed.....
Here we are mid to late October and we are still having summer days.

I am going to blame my brain fog on too much sun and warm weather.
Today I jumped out of bed, went to open the kiln we fired yesterday, jump in the shower, got dressed, opened the gallery only to find out today is Sunday and not Saturday.
I looked at Mark and said, "It's Sunday."
He looked at me as if I had two heads, "yes."
Okay......

And then we went to unload the kiln.

We found great teacups, salt jars, beer mugs and these tiles.
So, okay, it's not Saturday, life is good.
I can take the loss.
Hope you are all enjoying your day.
No matter.
M

Monday, Monday

 Mondays are good days to start on the next load of pots to help fill the kiln. While Mark is busy working on teacups, I am working on a batch of salt jars.
The teacups will go out for an order due in November. The salt jars are heading to our gallery here, and if not sold,we will take them to the show we have coming up in November at the Luck's Bean factory on 705, less than 2 miles from us.

The teacups will be made one with a handle and one without. The thought of the one without is that it needs more ridges in the body to make it easier to hold on to the cup.

Mark makes some tumblers in this style and those ridges feel good in the hand and do make it easier to hold.

I need to get back to work but not before I share a late butterfly with you that was busy visiting the flowers. He or she was so quick I had trouble getting very close.

This is the warmest October that I can remember.
 For once I am ready for fall, ready for cooler weather.
It's time.

Working on the details

We are working out a price list along with an order sheet for the tea shop.
We think it will be worth while to start with just 3 items that could be reordered as needed.
If these become good sellers for the shop we will look at adding a few more items.

The teacup with a handle and a saucer to match.
It's funny that I had someone ask me for an item like this in the past year or so and I just discarded the thought. I was not paying attention to the tea drinkers who are out there, forgive me.

The cups will be offered without a handle as well as with.
I know there are folks who love to cradle the cup in their hands.
I am a handle kind of gal even if I turn the handle around away from me to hold the cup when I start drinking, as it cools. Plus, I love a good handle.

White- can I go out to edge of the limb here and ask you if any of you know why white is the new go to color.
You see nothing but white in kitchens, bedrooms, bath, living rooms, is it possible to have 2 dogs, a cat, some kids, and live in the land of red mud, and have an all white house?
I want proof.
If we had white here, I would have to grown a mop on one arm and a bucket on the other.
Back to the reality, it is lovely.

With this line think beach, waves lapping at sand, warm summer nights, starry skies.
And, keep those fingers crossed on this working out for us.
We can use all the positive thoughts we can get.
Cheers,
m

something we are working on

Here is a line of teacups that we are working on.
 It has taken months of testing, firings, and planning to get to this point.
 We are happy with the results and next step is to push them into production.
I'll let you know how that is going.
BTW- I have added a step to comments because of our friend Spam.
I'll be checking and confirm your comments as I can.
Thanks!
M