Kiln Pictures for Jake

My friend Jake wanted to see some kiln pics of the seitma and grate. I finally found these after sorting.. and sorting. I really do need to get the pics organized.

It was -8F this morning so needless to say I will not be crawling around in the kiln today. To all that are firing there kilns today... Good Fires!!!

Snow

It started snowing Thursday morning and never stopped all day... all the schools got out early.. there's a lot of happy kids today!!
I just heard that the schools will be two hours late on Friday. Definitely a good day to walk to work.

Teapots 2

Ahh.. here is the second post on the new teapot. The first pic is with the handle and spout in place. So is the second picture, just a little more cleaned up and showing off my nice black backdrop. The spout was made using the Yi-Xing method. They have developed a couple of tools that work really well for this. One is called a spouting knife, a long narrow knife that makes for a really smooth inside of the spout.

I cut out a circle for the lid to see the fit.

Then fluted it and put on a small handle. Well that's everything I know in under five minutes!! It's snowing again... maybe 5 to 10" today... natures little miracle. It's been a late lunch, so off to the shop to make and make and make... Have a great day and make good pots!!

New Teapot

Friday and feeling the winter blues, and then it started snowing. Snow is one of those little amazing miracles of nature, like when grapes turn to wine. Snowfall is a guaranteed mood elevator, redeemer of winter. I started doodling about with snowflake designs and a teapot started to develop. The final pot has no semblance to a snowflake, but what are you gonna do.

Here is the form for the body of the teapot.

The top and bottom of the body with the spout on the left.. gotta look to see the spout.

Below are the handle parts, spout and the body put together. You'll have to wait for the next post to see the finished teapot as the blog can only do four pics at once. Well, time to do some chores outside, a beautiful day, sunny and 34F. A storm is brewing in the Dakotas that may bring another 6-12" of snow... yikes!!!

The line up

We are cleaning the gallery last week and these jars got lined up for cleaning. Usually they are not all in the same place, flying in formation. It looked like a "Kodak moment" Well off to make... Have a great day.

Teapot of the week

I've really been on this teapot jag lately. Something that just happened. Usually a teabag in the cup was standard. Here's the teapot that is in favor this week. It is one of Svend Bayer's that he made sometime back in the 90's.... that's the last century. How time fly's. It's a beauty, sometimes there are teapots that look great but don't work well. You buy them with great anticipation only to be crushed when they spray tea out the spout. This one's a charmer, pours great, feels good in the hand, and brews a nice cup of tea. It's even nice to look at. So I hope you enjoy and have a nice rest of the day.

Gooseberry Falls

Here are a few shots from Gooseberry Falls. Spring is still a ways off. BBrrrr!
This is a shrine to that religion that we practice here Fro zen.

Teapots

I've been mentoring some students in making teapots, so they've been on my mind lately. Here is a board of some teapots that I handbuilt a while back. Really not to sure on how to glaze them, so they will have to just sit and patiently wait, and greet me every morning when I arrive at the studio.
Here is a nice quote that I ran across. One of the side effects of making teapots, a rather nice side-effect.

“Water is the mother of tea and the teapot is the father. Only if the mother and father are healthy will the tea-child arrive on earth healthy.” -Chinese Tea Philosophy (Tee im Teehaus) - translation by Erika Cilengir

The north wind started to blow today and the temperatures are tumbling. Minnesota weather can be so rude at times. It looks like spring will have to wait still longer. The days are getting much longer so the sun is starting to will out. There is an epic battle of the north wind vs. the sun going on right now... go sun!!!

Something a little more relaxed

My friend Mike, turned me on to Goro Suzuki. A truly amazing potter, so relaxed, so creative!! I couldn't help but channel a bit of his energy. From the spring firing

A little wedge

A slow Saturday in the studio. I have an order from a local B&B for some sinks that I can't seem to put off any more. There is always a strange thing that happens when I have to make a pot, instead of making pots I want to make for the pure satisfaction of making. The have to's give birth to the want to's, so it is always good to have a few have to's around!
So I think I'll make a couple of want to's before I make these sinks.

guinomi

Finally it got above freezing and the snow is starting to melt! Throwing for the spring firing is starting to pick-up. I'm making 500 guinomi as a starter for the firing. Hoping that they will turn out like the one above, from the last firing.

Izzy was interviewing me today while I was making some of these. Of course the idea of making a group of pots that are similar came up. Here is a quote by Krishnamurti that puts some light on a trap that potters can fall into.

"Is repetitive action virtuous action? If behavior and conduct are merely repetitive processes then all human relationships actually cease. If I behave mechanically every day, - repeating a certain code of conduct which I have learnt, which I find profitable, or which is pleasant, repeating that over and over again, - my relationship with you ceases, completely - I have become a machine. "- J. Krishnamurti

The best that I could explain is that you don't repeat motions but refine the motions, and constantly improve the form. This is starting to get to deep for this wheel monkey. So it's off to refine.... new word, for work...

Shoji Hamada Yunomi

This must be the season of the yunomi. I've seen some great pots being posted on different blogs lately. I've enjoyed seeing them so much. This brought this yunomi of Shoji Hamada's out of the box. I thought that this might be of interest to some.
I have had this teabowl since 1976. This pot made me realize that pots should be made from the heart and that there is so much more than being technically proficient at making.
His pots are more of a gift of humanity, an act of compassion, so to speak.
I hope that you enjoy seeing it.

Sketch for small wood fire kiln

Here is a foot print for a small wood fired kiln that is in the planning to build this spring. Also below is the side and front view. A real quick scan so you have to excuse the casual image. You can see that it is still in the real basic stages of design.

Flower Vase

Just got this pic of a vase, from the last firing back from Peter Lee. He is such an amazing photographer. Still trying to figure out the lighting he used.

Time for the spring firing

So long, no blog, my bad. A long January, where it didn't get above freezing for thirty days, finally a slight melt for a few hours... can spring be far away. Here are a few tankards for the spring firing.