Pitchers from the past

Finding empty shelves is always a good and bad problem.The bad problem is you have no pots to sell.  The good problem is that you must make more!  Lately instead of pushing forward, I seem to be regressing and making pots that I haven't made in years. Call it a second childhood, if you will. These jugs fit  into the comfortable old friend , good to see you, how have you been category.  A couple dozen got made, I really would like to keep making more of them, but other old friends are calling. 

Cheers,

Make good pots,

~Craig

realization

Snow and cross-country ski trails keep showing up on the camera. All of a sudden there was the realization that I must be spending a lot of time out in the woods, skiing, . Odd, it doesn't seem like that much. The pictures are always at the top of the hills, never at the bottom, I'm sure there is something very telling about that, maybe the light is better at the top.
Maybe some pottery pics will show up on the camera soon. We are supposed to get another 6-8 inches of snow today(it's snowing right now), so there is a chance of more snow photos.
The weather person mentioned that this will be the seventh major snow this winter. Already there is no place left to put the snow!!
When it warms up, we are thinking of making some large snow pots, or snow kilns.
Cheers,
~Craig

Kiln in Snow

The last snow fall or maybe it was the one before, they just keep coming so it becomes one big winter blur left all this snow on the kiln. The snow makes it hard to imagine that sometimes it is 2300F plus inside the kiln .

Next week I'll probably go out and brush all the snow off. I think I will leave it for awhile, as it will not get warm enough to melt. 

Ichi-go ichi-e

Ichi-go ichi-e

Some December throwing

Well the roads have been cleared of the excessive snow and I started putting some more time in at the workshop. Here are a few new jars (tsubo) that will probably go into the spring wood firing. The temp this morning was a -13F. so the spring firing seems like some dreamland far away.

Oh, here is a shot of one of the jars from the side. I really like making these jars, and I always end up with more than I need.  A really good problem to have, there is nothing more frustrating than having space in the kiln with nothing to put there. 

This is a tokkuri  (saki bottle) that I made.. it needs the cups to go with it. That will probably happen tomorrow. It's a bit of fun to alter and slice up some pots. 

Finally some beer mugs. This is a design that I haven't made in about twenty years or so. What a blast from the past.
Well,

Make good pots,

~Craig

Arctic Blast

I haven't blogged in a while. It's not like I haven't been making pots, it's either the camera needs recharging or something. I know that this blog is mainly about pottery, and that snow pictures abound. The pictures mainly are a Currier and Ives Card sort of thing that truly make you want to go and play in the snow.  This snow photo is not on that ilk. This is what yesterday looked like out the back door.   This is snow having a really bad hair day. The weather man was saying things that you never want to hear..... Arctic Blast .... Wind Chill Factor... Below Zero....no travel advised... roads impassable... blowing and drifting.
It was a great day to be inside in the studio.
Make good pots!

~Craig

  

Morning walk

The morning walk is now the morning ski. The walking shoes are put away and the ski boots are by the door. When you just see the snow it's white. When you look at the snow it changes color during the day, from blues to oranges and yes, sometimes it is actually white! Skiing around here can sometimes last into April. Very good exercise for the body and soul.

Dressed in Snow

Shoveling snow and I glanced up to see this pot all dressed in it's winter finest. A nice scarf around it's neck, and something to cover it's feet.

Some epaulets for this one. It helps it stand a little prouder.  

A wonderful frothy head.  A winter garden  in full bloom. 

snow and porcelain

The wood got cut and stacked in time. It's very peaceful and serene when the snow is gently falling, and lying there very still and quiet. Your boots crunch the snow, and the flakes wet your face. White,white, white.

It's snowing, started about 10A and is supposed to continue until tomorrow at the same time. Winter is here, no more yo-yoing between fall and winter!  There is now enough snow to cross-country ski !!! Snow is no fun if you can't play in it... and skiing is about as good as it gets.

I'm living in a very white world these days. Just finishing up on a batch of porcelain.... with a few bowls. Cheers.
~Craig

Lao Tzu

Great correctness may appear twisted,  great skill appear crude,  great eloquence appear awkward.
Great perfection may appear imperfect,  but its usefulness is inexhaustible.
Great abundance may appear empty,  but its usefulness cannot be exhausted.                   Lao Tzu