Time to Wind Down for Christmas....

Christmas is only ten days away and my thoughts are straying away from the studio now to spending fun times over the Christmas period with family and friends, relaxing breaks away here and there in our little 30 year old caravan. It's been a very busy, but great year for my family and I am really looking forward to spending some quality time together.

 

I did my last firing for the year this week, so the kilns get a rest now until the new year. The studio will get a major clean over the Christmas break, my 'list of things to make' will get a work out and I will be ready for a fresh start in the New Year.

I am already contemplating what studio projects lay on the horizon for me next year. It's been sadly over a year since I did a raku firing or pit firing of any kind (how time flies), so that is something that has to make a revival in the new year for sure. I have been so busy with making my little birds, that time has been limited to taking on too many things at once, which is generally my nature. I usually have a million and one creative ideas in my head at any given time lol. 

Etsy has proved to be a successful avenue for me to sell my little birds and other treasures. I have been rushed off my feet in November and December in particular keeping up with photographing and listing new items, wrapping and posting parcels all over Australia. It's a great feeling to know that my birds are hanging in the gardens and homes of people all over the country.

Here are a couple of my newest Australian native birds, the 'Rainbow Lorikeet' and 'Australian Red Capped Robin'. I don't have any 'Rainbow Lorikeets' left in stock atm (flying out the door), but if you are interested in purchasing any, request a 'Custom Order via my Etsy shop. The robin however, is listed in my Etsy shop along with a selection of my other native birds.

I was also asked recently by a couple of different customer's if I could make a few of the English Robins. I decided to make extras and these were snapped up at markets in no time. I also have these in my Etsy shop (link on this blog to my Etsy shop)



Rainbow Lorikeet



Red Capped Robin

English Robin

I have just been befriended by a lady on facebook letting me know that a book we are both featured in has just been published so I have just purchased myself a copy online. The book is called 'Pit Firing Ceramics: Modern Methods, Ancient Traditions' by Dawn Whitehand. I was approached approx. two years ago by Dawn, and asked to submit photos of works and information to be featured in the book. I am looking forward to reading it and very excited to be included alongside other Pit Firing artists from all over the world. If you are into ceramics, this will prove to be a good book to add to your collection.

 

                                                    

 

 



Hopefully, I will get back to write another post before Christmas, but if not, I am wishing everyone from all over the world a Very Happy, safe Christmas and a wonderful year ahead. What creative avenues are you pursuing in the New Year?

Welcome to my Blog

My initial interest in pottery/ceramics started in high school. Later in life, I set up a small home studio and bought a pottery wheel.  I completed courses at technical college which was a great experience and I learnt alot. The areas  I have explored over the years include; Raku, Woodfiring, Sawdust and Pit Firing. I make both sculptural and functional pieces. The differant surfaces, textures and objects from nature attract me such as lichen, rocks, feathers and shells.  I like to collect things from nature as well as made objects that make permanent marks on the clay surface. Making and using handmade sprigs and stamps from clay and plaster is another way to leave marks on clay too. Most recently, my interest has been focused on researching Cone 6 glazes and I have made quite a few glazes that I am nearly ready to test. The results of which I will post on this page. I am happy to share recipes and ideas with anyone who is interested, which is the whole idea of my blog.

Thanks for taking the time to have a look today.

                                            

Australian Banksia - Handbuillt in white raku clay, then applied red clay terrasig that i found locally. Pit fired in sawdust, seaweed, salt, copper carb, copper sulphate, banana skins.

Handbuilt in white raku. Oxides and underglazes applied prior to bisque. Dry glaze applied then fired to Cone 6.

Handbuilt then painted with acrylics.

 

  

Thrown in white earthenware. Terrasig applied then burnished and bisque fired.

Raku fired, horse hair and sugar placed on pots after being taken straight from the kiln.

   

Handbuilt in white raku then terrasig applied and burnished. Pit fired.

Thrown in white earthenware. Terrasig applied, burnished and bisqued. Raku fired then bird feather and sugar placed on pots straight after being taken from the kiln.



Thrown in white earthenware, terrasig applied and burnished. Pot on the left wrapped in copper wire, both pit fired with combustibles such a sawdust, seaweed, copper carb, dried banana skins and salt for added surface decoration effects.

 

Both thrown in white raku. Raku fired, white crackle glaze with copper carbonate brushed over glaze.