Monday, April 12, 2010

House keeping

On my way up to the Judith Duff workshop last week, I passed an Antique Mall and my car just automatically veered off of the road and into the parking lot, so I had to get out and go in to take a look around :) I saw this amazing old bird house that looked similar to the house above, a bit larger than this one and it was sooooo expensive. I thought when I saw it that it would be great recreated in clay and so here it is. I made this today while I babysat the bisque kiln, and we all know how much I love doing that!
I got some glazes in the mail while I was gone and this very cool underglaze stamp pad that my friend Laura turned me on to. Laura also gave me the Asian stamps so I played around with those today on a few test trays. Doesn't it seem like all I ever make are test pieces? One of these days I am going to know everything and there will be no more testing. That will be on that cold day in H.e.l.l. (haha!)

I also spent part of the day organizing my templates into nice little packets instead of them being tossed all over my workspace. Now I can actually find one when I need it. When I am firing my kiln I have to stay close by so that I can turn it up and watch it since it's all manual, so it's good to have some projects that aren't too involved or distracting. I cleaned up my glaze area too, so I'm already for glazing tomorrow!

11 comments:

Kim Hines said...

i love this post. i've been watching all these fantastic houses you've been making and i think i'm now offically inspired lol. i like how you've got your templates all set up and ready to go, i always wing it which is why i guess i rarely make slab boxes. i'll have to give it a try as soon as i get done w/ my glazing (i've forbidden myself to buy more clay till i finish everythign i've started which is alot) i have to check out that stamp pad too. i've seen them but wasn't sure how they'd work. can't wait to see your finished pieces. :)

Linda Starr said...

I have pieces of cardboard templates I packed into boxes when we moved and they weren't organized at all; I have so much organizing to do; I have a vision in my head of how I want everything to be, then I never do it. Seeing your plactic baggies made me feel slightly guilty.

Inspiration is everywhere; even in antique stores, that is another great house and the tall ladder is an organizational one I should climb one of these days.

Patricia Griffin Ceramics said...

cool birdhouse... the ladder makes it!

Anonymous said...

Birds will be happy...I'm not wonder potter and I teste every day new things too. I'd like to have 2 lifes, but they say that it's impossible...

ang design said...

aww brilliant see a day by the kiln is very handy indeed... all cleaned up ready to make a mess again!!

cookingwithgas said...

great house- I think your houses are so much fun.

cindy shake said...

Wonderful house!! Yours is waaaay better than the antique one -I just know it ;o) Love the idea of the glaze stamp too. Can't wait to see what the house will look like in Raku -Raku just lends itself to your art :o)

Sister Creek Potter said...

I so badly need to organize my studio--eliminate is more what I need to do--but all I manage to do is clear the work table. No organizing or eliminating! I do love the house!

Tracey Broome said...

Hi Everyone! Glad to have inspired some organizing and thanks for the comments on the house. I do like it, hope it survives! It won't really be a birdhouse I made it without a bottom, it's just too hard to get the bottom to stay on because I can't add coils there. Maybe a candle or incense inside.....

Judy Shreve said...

Baby sitting the kiln does have it's advantages -- now you are so organized! Love the house & the ladder! Very cool.

DirtKicker Pottery said...

Hi Tracey, The house is so great! My Grandson likes it too. That stamp pad rocks! I want one. Have fun glazing :)