Saturday, February 26, 2011

A Windy Saturday

Well the March winds have been here for awhile(LOL)!  I am ready for some sun and no wind.  Today also starts the first day of wrestling season for my grandsons.  We always enjoy watching the boys so know my Saturdays will be full for the next 6 weeks.  I will post some pictures of the first meet this afternoon.

In the mean time I wanted to share my newest goal which has primarily to do with blogging, but also developing me --  my personal goals, my passions, etc. and sharing myself on my blog.  To accomplish this I have joined the Blogging your Passion ETSY Team where we are all doing the "52 Weeks of Blogging Your Passion." in connection with Tara Gentile's book and post on 52 week of Blogging your Passion.

http://www.taragentile.com/tell-your-story/52-weeks/

My first week is to define my mission statement.  We all have a mission in life, my mission as a Christian, a Mom, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Friend.... and then what is my mission for my Craft Business which includes shows and my ETSY shop.

So, I am off to ponder this task plus go to the wrestling meet and also throw my daily mug.  I must confess that yesterday I didn't accomplish much on the potter's wheel - Only 1 mug and after collapsing the next 3 decided to call it a day!!!

Until later, God Bless you all!

Monday, February 21, 2011

A MUG A DAY FOR 365

Wow, hard to believe this is day 26!!! I have been staying busy throwing mugs, which also leads to other pieces too.  This is a great project because it makes me schedule time to be creative.  It's amazing but when I throw a piece on the potter's wheel it is addictive and I just have to do more.  Pictures will follow.  I have enough to fill my kiln for a bisque load and then comes the fun of glazing my pieces.  I even got a commissioned order today!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

HORSEHAIR POTTERY

One of my favorite things to do is make horsehair pottery.  This is easy for me because I have several horses that are willing (or some that aren't always willing) to part with a little mane or tail.  Also several people out in the horse community have saved horsehair from their own horses and have me make a pot special for them using their horsehair.

First I decide on the style of the pot - all of my pottery is wheel thrown.  Then I throw the pot and dry it.  Next the pot is bisque fired to a cone 04.  After bisque firing it is ready to go in the RAKU kiln.  When the pot has reached the desired temperature (about 1800 degrees) I pull out each pot and lay the horsehair on--sometimes random and sometimes in a more creative pattern.  After the pot cools I wash it and wax it to protect the pot.

Pottery fired this way can be used to hold dry items or for decoration.  It will not hold water.  You can place a plastic liner in your pot and then use as a vase or flower pot. 

I am doing a Crane Festival and will be doing several vases and pots using bird feathers instead of horsehair.  The pot is usually about 1600 degrees for feather but varies with the texture of the feather I use.  Most of my feathers are collected from my chickens as they naturally are shed.


Here it is FEBRUARY 8--I need to get busy blogging!

Well I have been busy throwing on my potters wheel and even took pictures of new mugs but no blogs!  What's up with that.  Pictures and more info coming.

IT IS FINALLY SNOWING!!!!!

pictures to follow!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Whoops that would be Day 4 and Day 5

What Happened to Days 4 and 4

Gosh the time flies by - I have managed to spend a little time at the potterswheel every day, need to spend more time there!!!I have photos for mug 3, 4, 5 and 6...I am trying to do some of the handles different and day 4 I added a curl at the bottom.




Since we are having snow I am forced to stay in so the potters wheel will be in use for awhile tomorrow. 
In addition I have been considering a fellow etsian  blog where she is doing the challenge for February to name 3 things she is thankful for plus 1 thing she likes about herself daily during the month of February.  My spin on this may be to have my three older grandsons find 3 good things about one of the others plus one thing they like about themselves.