Back into Pottery Prior to a Road Trip

Hi Everyone,

It's been a while since my last post. I trust everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year. I had a break from potting over Christmas and all of January. Been giving my dodgy shoulder (partial tear) a bit of a rest.

This week has been mental. We are heading off on a road trip to Melbourne in the morning and it's been a week of organising, appointments, decorating birds and pendants, packing and firing the kiln, packing the caravan and last minute housework ( I like coming home to a clean house).

Back into it the last couple of weeks. My first firing for the year was more of my little Australian Birds and just today I unpacked a load of Pendants and some more birdies. Some examples below. I have been working on some more varieties. More pics for follow after I get back from holidays.

Recently, on a visit to my husband's grandmother, I asked if she had any handmade lace or crocheted doilies that I have to use in my pottery work. She was very happy to know what I wanted to use them for and gave me a collection to take home. I am so happy to be using something so precious in my work that has a family history. I have used some to make some lovely marks on the pendants below.

Very excited to be leaving for Melbourne in the morning, but even better is that I discovered our trip coincides with the 'Pottery Expo'. It is held at Warrandyte on the banks of the Yarra River. I only realised it was happening after one of my friends from 'Mud Colony' mentioned it in a post. Thanks!

Why don't you catch up with the 'Mud Colony' family to see what everyone else has been doing.

Enjoy your weekend everyone. Until next time.

Botanical Theme Pinch Pots

I made a heap of these little pinch pots to sell at the markets. My inspiration came from doing a bit of gardening and appreciating all the different textures of the various plants in our garden. They are a nice little piece to sell, that can be used as a trinket bowl for rings, ear rings, paperclips etc. People don't seem to think much about parting with a few dollars as a pose to the more expensive pieces. I really enjoyed making them. Single fired to 1200 deg c, I underglazed the textured areas inside and then it wiped back to highlight the plant design, then a clear glaze was applied to the inside only. The underside was left unglazed, as I like the contrast to the glazed interior and also shows the fingermarks of the maker during the making process giving them a very earthy and handmade quality.

Here is the clear glaze recipe that I call 'Perfect Clear'.

Perfect Clear (can also be single fired)
Cone 5 -6

Soda Feldspar            40
Gerstley Borate           30
Ball Clay                     20
Silica                           10

It is good to brush on with a wide mop brush and seems to even out nicely during firing.



Small Botanical Pinch Pots single fired to Cone 6



Botanical Pinch Pots