Friday, January 29, 2010

Milk Sandwiches

There was a mad dash to the grocery for everyone today for bread and milk. Apparently southerners like to eat milk sandwiches when a snow storm is coming! There is always such a grocery store panic, I swear I think the news media does this to increase sales or something! The produce bins were nearly empty, but there was plenty of bread and milk, they know to stock up for these supplies. The woman in front of me had six boxes of toasted oats cereal in her cart. Really, is that necessary? She maybe should have got some laxatives to go with that purchase! Photo above: where I would rather be right now, Ocracoke on the Outer Banks in June, yes!!!! Just imagine it, ahhhhh..................
Here is a little project du jour that I am planning for my pottery sampler class that starts next week, and is filling up, yay. Easy peasy but instantly gratifying for beginners as well as those who are not so beginner, that would be me. I love to build things like this when I have less energy, feels like a major accomplishment in my day. I picked up the planter above at AC Moore craft store for $3 the other day for a template.
traced it out on an old fed ex envelope, recycle when you can....
lightly score the folds so that it will bend easily and place it on a clay slab. Trace around the template with a cutting implement to cut the slab out and flip the slab and cardboard all at once so that the slab is now sitting on top of the cardboard. Make sure the side you scored is on the bottom. Cut each edge at a 45 degree angle, then you just fold it up. I use pretty wet slabs which makes my life more difficult in some ways, firmer slabs are best I suppose but I never have firm slabs and when I do use them they crack on me. If your slabs are wet like mine, just touch the clay gingerly, you'll get used to it, but there is no need for slip and score like this. With firmer slabs, do slip and score. Add a tiny coil inside at each corner so the box doesn't fall apart when fired, trust me, it will.
I found this bike gear on campus the other day while walking around. I hardly ever see what's around me because I am always looking on the ground for treasure. Me and a friend of mine used to walk through bars looking on the ground and could easily come home with an extra $20. Anyway, it looked like a box handle to me. I like it! Mixed media, cool.....
Last I paddle the edges when firmed up a bit to get them super straight, and I use a sure form to make the lid match up really well, then I put rubber bands around, because the ends of the lid will curl up. I'm sure most of you will skip this post, because you are mostly more brilliant than I am, but there may be some lurkers that absolutely need to make a box, so there ya go, an easy way to do it! Raku fire for this one! You have to get those seams strongly sealed for Raku. I didn't believe it when I was told to do so, and I watched all four sides of the first box I ever made fall off all at once. I'm sure I will have some snow pics for the blog this weekend. It is supposed to start this evening and snow all through tomorrow. Summer, summer summer summer............

12 comments:

Linda Starr said...

Oh that handle is going to be great, will you glue it on after it's fired? You are doing some of the things I want to with clay mixing in found object. I love it. I can't wait to get there, I want to take a handbuilding class from you when I get out there to brush up on my finishing techniques. I build with soft slabs too, sometimes I let them harden a bit but usually I am too impatient to get started.

Hollis Engley said...

I don't know about the "brilliant" thing, Tracey. I can see having some boxes in the gallery. Pretty cool idea.

Tracey Broome said...

Hollis your glazes would LOVE boxes. You should make some! Tea boxes perhaps to go with the tea bowls? I made some tea boxes last Christmas and sold them all. This year I completely forgot to make them...

ang design said...

oooh tea boxes brilliant idea!!!!
but then some idiot is going to say why don't you write TEA on it!!!!
must be my day to be inspired jim has som great composites, over at why not a lovely large jar, now your bringing out the tea boxes...another list coming up.....

cookingwithgas said...

I read every word!
Such great sharing info coming out.
I might have a go at one.
I have not made boxes in years.
You are on a roll with your firing.
Great lidded jar down below.
I should pack off Mark's vase to you ASAP!

cookingwithgas said...

PS- Could I have a choke and slide with my bread?
( peanut butter and jelly....)

Tracey Broome said...

Linda: for some reason my comment back to you didn't show up so here it is again.... yes, I will glue the handle, your black clay would be great with mixed media, especially rusty metal, oooohhh. We could probably give each other classes! Ang and MH, glad you are inspired! I have actually stamped tea on a box before but it didn't look good with the glaze and I did it crooked so, no lettering for me anymore. We could all have a "box off" haha! does that even make sense?!?

ang design said...

ooh yeh, round one coming up...!

Anonymous said...

will the handle-ends overshoot due to clay shrinkage?

Linda Starr said...

Hi Tracey, thanks so much for your comment back. Tea boxes for tea bowls, how wonderful. I have always admired those wood tea boxes and sometimes wish I could work in wood, but then I say to myself, no Linda, don't even get started on that one, just stick with the clay.

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Jeff, they may stick out, but I sunk them down in the clay bar thing and so they sit sort of flat almost on the box. If they do, I'm not going to worry too much about it.. Linda, a good friend of mine makes boxes for her tea bowls from black walnut clay sort of the same color as your black clay and they are beautiful. By tea boxes here I was really talking about the tea and not boxes for the cups but either way would be good, right!
Choke and Slide? I love that!

Hollis Engley said...

This is a great thread, for both the box ideas and Meredith's "choke and slide." Never heard that one. Of course, in New England we're not as colorful as y'all down South. And I do like the tea box thing, Tracey. Great idea.