Thursday, May 3, 2012

Bowls and Cups

Here is a quick snapshot of what's going on in the studio, I am actually working even with all the distractions. Not getting as much done as I would like, but it's accumulating and I'm getting there....
Amy Huacani asked for some bowl pics so here they are. Not as nice as yours Amy, but they will do for the test firing. I will be firing a ^6 redux with my friend Barbara McKenzie in a couple of weeks. I haven't made a lot, but enough to see some results. If we get good results I 'll make more. I like making bowls, and I think that for the fall shows, that would be a nice addition to the houses, if I can just find a glaze I like.
I have about a dozen bowls and half a dozen cups, a couple of bottles, and a house.
 I'm using Starwhite clay from Starworks in Seagrove.
I'm not used to the way it throws and I haven't thrown in a year, so my pieces
have some issues, but they are fine, I'm the only one that would notice.
I do like the clay though, better than the Raku clay I use in hand building. Much smoother.
I made some cups, some with handles, some without. I like the way they turned out. I used the stamp I made for the new windows on my houses, for a bit of detail.
I also like this sweet little bowl and saucer. The saucer came about because of a bowl that slumped, so I just cut off the rim and made a saucer. How many of you do that? I'm not sure I have ever sat down at the wheel and actually made a saucer, they usually come from screw ups!

I got a bunch of houses cut out yesterday after Gerry left for the golf tournament he is shooting and before Wesley got home. Amazing what I can accomplish when I don't have to stop every half hour to do something else or go somewhere. I planned out the pieces I want to make for the show at Lark and Key. I have five finished and need at least ten more, so that is my goal for the rest of the week, and hope to fire them next week. I made an extra to put in the ^6 just to see, but I have my doubts for that one.....








Here is a sweet little pinch cup that I made when I was in a mind fog one day. I don't make a lot of these, but always like them when I do. They are just a pain to make. I would rather throw a bunch of cups on the wheel, not that I even like making cups, but some days I have a mood for them. The girl is a mold that I picked up at Scrap Exchange in Durham. She reminds me of a cameo. I have no idea how to glaze this and I doubt I will ever make another one, but maybe, we'll see.

It's great to have Wesley back in the house and she will be here until August, so a change of routine is coming. I love knowing that she is upstairs in her bed asleep right now, while the rooster is crowing outside and the birds are singing, and the light is still dim, my child sleeps here where I know she is safe and cared for. I'm heading out to the studio before the temps hit 90 degrees, as predicted. Poor Gerry is walking the golf course in Charlotte in this heat. I hate it when he has to cover these things. I suppose the least I can do is work out in the heat all day too, as a show of support :)



How shall the eagle in me soar against the sun until my fledglings leave the nest
which I with my own beak have built for them?

~ Kahlil Gibran
from Poems, Parables and Drawings

14 comments:

Patricia Griffin Ceramics said...

I love going back and forth between wheel work and hand-building. (Saves me from the dreaded hand/arm/shoulder fatigue I can get with too much time plunked at the wheel.)

That little cameo on the cup is really sweet. Sort of ties in with the relics on the houses....

Sounds like you're doing a lot of "house-building" this week for the show. You GO girl! Exciting to see how the body of work for the show comes together!

Tracey Broome said...

Maybe I should just throw the cups and use the cameo, you are right, she does tie in nicely. I think this grouping is going to be really good, I'm excited about it!

Laura Farrow said...

sweet looking pottery there, gal. can't wait to see it all cone 6'd up! xo

Michèle Hastings said...

cool to see all those house parts lined up... reminds me of when i was selling new construction and the trusses for a bunch of new houses were delivered.
I occasionally use STARwhite, they have changed it a little over the last year and I think it throws better now.

cookingwithgas said...

I think she works well too-- in fact I just figured she would go with the houses, I can see it.
You are really buzzing along!-

Lori Buff said...

I like the cameo, it looks like it should be part of one of your houses.

Amy said...

Love the bowls. Thanks for the pic. They look great! I too, am going to test a few cone 6 glazes and hopefully I can find some I like. And saucers- yes, I have made most of my saucers from bowls that slumped. Sounds like lots of houses are in the works!

Susan Wells said...

Well there ya go! Pottery! Looking good:)

Unknown said...

It's hard to believe Wes is finished with her first year of college already! Whew, it does go fast! I know you will relish the time you have with her...gee, does that mean summer has started already??!!

Definitely try the cameo with some house work...
:)

Tracey Broome said...

Hey there all of you, got behind with the comments yesterday, I was steadily working in the studio, and I made a house with a cameo, at your request! Will post later when there is more light to photograph. Thanks for all the comments!!!

ang design said...

hey bowly bowly :)) nice one chick!!

Tracey Broome said...

Xo. :)

Amy said...

tracey- forgot to say I have been using starrwhite clay too--- a change from phoenix, ye it's good. if you have any glaze recommendations for that clay, I'd love to hear more.

Tracey Broome said...

Hi Amy, I have a gas kiln and will be firing a ^6 redux so I'm not sure the recipes I will be using will do you any good. However, I do have a bunch of them from the studio I used to work in, I could dig them out for you when I get a chance.....