What's new?

Considering I have my own wheel now I should be posting all the goodies coming out of the kiln. But as usual, other things get in the way. Life has been pretty hectic with end of year dinners, awards nights, concerts, etc. Although the last few days have slowed me right down as I developed first rosacea then BAD rosacea combined with a full body rash. The joy! Past the worst now, I am looking to catch up on things such as posting images of my newest pottery...

First vase

I have been wanting to make this shape for so long. I asked Jayne to demonstrate for me a while ago but I just hadn't got the courage to attempt it until now, with my own wheel at home. I was quite frankly amazed that it worked. The top bit was tricky and I had to cut it level a couple of times, but there was enough clay to bring it up again. Believe it or not I am going to experiment on it, having faith that I can recreate as many as I want now that I have made the first one. So stay tuned.

Something else I tried out lately was painting brown underglaze around the rim of a bowl, painting blue underglaze over the top and then rubbing back the blue just on the rim. It's a subtle look and I think I may try it again with more rubbing off.

My own wheel!

Wow! I have been waiting six months for our new garage to be finished so I could get my very own wheel. And today my wheel arrived. I tested it out this evening and it is very fine indeed.

Part of the fun was getting some nifty shelving and organising all my supplies.

Out of the kiln this week was...

And something different, I gave polymer clay a go. Thirty minutes in the kitchen oven!

Pop up shop

I missed the Farmers Market yesterday due to an "incident" with a treadmill which was not my fault. I believe the other club members did very well with their sales for the day. I was able to attend the pop up shop at the Red Cliffs market today however. Sales weren't as high as yesterday, but I was pleased as I did sell two pieces, a flower bowl and the bowl with two chooks on it. Pictures to follow when I get around to transferring them from my phone...

Upcoming markets

We are attempting a double market weekend in a week's time! Set up early on Saturday for the Farmers' Market/Boutique Market, pack up around lunchtime, travel 20 minutes and set up again ready for the Sunday Market at Red Cliffs. The Sunday venue will be indoors, a "pop-up shop" so no marquee to battle with. Head back on Sunday to open up 9.00 until 1.00. Imagine if we sell everything on Saturday and have nothing for Sunday! I jest.
New items to sell...

New shape

I found a ceramic cup in a shop that had a shape that interested me. I have been trying to recreate it. The plan is to make a larger one to use as a tool holder for when I get set up in the garage with my new wheel. I am finding it quite difficult to both get the shape right and get the size. This is the best I have done so far. It is too short for its intended purpose and I am now having a rest from this project. I will go back to it, but for now, I am going back to what I know I can achieve...more bird bowls.

This is what happens when...

...you misread the glaze label. I had intended to dip my lavender glaze over the top of tenmoku on one pot and hyacinth over the top of tenmoku on another pot. But I read the lid of the glaze tub, not the side of the tub. So I got tomato instead of tenmoku. Some of the lids have been relabelled at the pottery club. Oh well, I got some interesting effects without trying.

Then just for something different, I cut in on the side of the next pot while I was turning it. Then I used a baby blue underglaze on the outside.

Three final pots for the market

Giving me a total of eleven pieces this time, much more than my original three at our first market stall. It will be interesting to see how many people venture out in the cold.

June Market

So our club has our second market day coming up in just over a week. I have eight items ready with two more to come out of the kiln before then. My son has designed stickers for me to put on the boxes I sourced very cheaply on the internet. The boxes are a bit big for the bowls but I needed something that would fit all my bowls and I often make bigger ones. I'm quite pleased with the finished look.

A couple of pieces with hearts just for something different.

Most of my "for sale" pottery. Two still in the kiln.

A piece of bakers' twine to finish it off!

A couple of dishes

Thought I'd try something different in the flower range. These are the ones that worked. A couple failed before the decorating stage. One was too thin and I tried turning the other one when it was still too damp. Lessons learnt.

More flower bowls

I'm working on a range of shapes and sizes of bowls on which I can add flowers. Here are the latest additions. Next up will be jewellery dishes.

My favourite is the first one. I'm unsure about the last two.

Penni Q Original

I admired this dish so much when our club set up the stall at the market on Easter Saturday that I decided I had to have it for myself. It is by Renae from Penni Q Pottery. You can find her in all the usual social media places. She has some mesmerising videos on facebook. (Not that I do facebook!) Renae used coloured slip on this which is something I hope to try one day.

It is 24 cm across and the photos really don't do it justice. It's one of those stunning pieces that you regret later if you don't purchase it.