i'm actually almost ready to start new stuff . . . .

thursday, 09-17, i did the following:

set this mug out on the bisque rack as the handle i'd done yesterday was well set.  it's porcelain.  image 1, image 2, image 3.

this pouring vessel was handled yesterday too.  the handle was a bit of a chore but it's done and i'm marginally pleased with it as it cants to one side and isn't noticeable except from one angle.  image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4, image 5.

this is a nice little cup i made.  image 1, image 2.

my glazing was quite an endeavor.  the results could potentially be very unappealing or turn out acceptably well. 

the mugg:  image 1, image 2.

the coffee pot and the muggs set:  image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4, image 5.  i tried to maintain a similar coloring/glazing pattern in both but the coffee pot has a few more colors than the mugs.  thus, the harlequinne's motley coffee pot has been born.

i'm hoping the rutile use in the pot and cups above and this spouted vessel doesn't mess up my efforts.  it was hard to control the drips.  image 1, image 2, image 3.

this is the bowl.  the first of the globe shaped bowls i've done.  image 1, image 2.

regards

September 16

seemingly not a productive day, but i worked on several things and the new mgr gave a centering demo at someone's request. i will be trying some new techniques as a result next time i throw. i may go in on saturday in order to do that. i figure i'll practice a few times and slice the resulting vessel open to ensure i'm getting the walls of my piece even. he did that to his and i was impressed.

the new manager is going to reduce the amount of space we can take up. well, actually he's going to enforce the rules unilaterally across the board. i think i can deal with it though.

i didn't do much trimming on this piece (funky vase 2) as it didn't need it really. there wasn't the right size collar available so i didn't have a way to do so anyway. the top of the vase is too fragile to carry the weight and pressure needed in trimming. i don't like flat bottoms, i always put some sort of foot. i think that's the most fun w/trimming. image 1, image 2.

these are the pawns. they need cleaning up and such but i think i'm on the right track. it shd be easier to get the remaining pieces done. image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4.

regards

so, what abt dem bags?

i'll be listing handbags and such here: morrigaesbagsnthangs.etsy.com. do stop in and visit sometime. site is under construction.

regards

so, where have i been?

september 10:

• started on the chess set. these are the templates for the pieces. did the pawns first (all 16) as they are the most numerous needing done.
• the serving bowl for the dish set is good to go. it's still drying so missed this bisque firing. image 1, image 2, image 3.
• here's another funky vase i did. only way to save a thrown mug. image 1, image 2.
• i put a handle on this mug. image 1, image 2, image 3. because of the right angle of the primary connection i added a line of clay around both areas for reinforcement.
• i put a handle on this one and the little label on the front. image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4 (coming soon). the handle style on this one and the previous one is the same as the handle style i used on the first coffee pot. i've been playing w/different ways to do it.
• i trimmed this bowl and am really pleased w/the way it came out. if you notice in previous pics of this bowl in work its crooked on the foot. image 1, image 2.

september 15:

• i threw this vase today. it's more of a bowl type vase. image 1, image 2.
• finally threw a bottle. it's rather small, but i'm gonna fashion a sake/tea set out of it. not sure if i'm gonna put it on a stand or just flatten the side where i decide it will sit. it's gonna be hard to get this trimmed though. i did most of it on the wheel b4 taking it off the bat. image 1, image 2.
  
• i threw this bowl and was very happy w/it then did something stupid and crashed it. i tried to take it off the bat too soon. image 1, image 2.
  
• another bowl i threw today and am really happy w/it also. it's really rounded and will be a pretty bowl if i don't mess it up somewhere else down the line. image 1, image 2, image 3.
• so, one guess why this one is hanging upside down. okay, i'll fess up. i was bound and determined to get a bowl. true to nature i worked on it more than i shd and it started to capsize again. so i hung it upside down to straighten it out and pull the sides down. it's hanging still as i'm typing this on a couple pieces of pvc pipe as i had to move it so other folks cd use the table after i left. i'll be in first thing in the am, hopefully. image 1, image 2. more pics tmw if i the save was successful.

well, i'll be updating my written journal today as well. well, this blog is caught up and oh, do come by and visit me at morrigaesbagsnthangs.etsy.com. arachne's workshop/morrigae will continue w/only pottery, so look for upcoming changes.

regards

okay, so that was thursday 09-10-09

all i did on thursday was work on my first chess set. i did the pawns first. here's a pic of the templates. i'll get pics up of the unassembled pieces today. but, this endeavor took several hours. since thursday is now my catch-up day, i don't plan to accomplish much when i go in.

regards

Do cookies really crumble?

well, porcelain does when it's overworked or just plain old being ornery. i got quite a bit done yesterday. no glazing though. i think tuesdays will be my primary glaze day. well, what follows are my efforts for yesterday.

the final piece in the dish set mentioned in an earlier post. i got the serving bowl done and am letting it sit on the form until next week. image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4.

my work space. the bottom shelf is mine as well as the white card and board leaning against the left side. what you don't see but may have seen parts of in other pics are the work stations towards the center of the room.

here's the plate i trimmed and set out to fire the day before. image 1, image 2.

here's the glazed funky vase waiting for glaze fire. image 1, image 2, image 3.

i've discovered, much to my chagrin, that porcelain takes forever to dry, but, here again, i've thrown another mug form and pitcher in porcelain.

here's that squatty bowl/vase waiting for glaze fire as well. image 1, image 2.

i'm heading out for the studio in a few minutes then will not go again until next tuesday. i'll be doing tuesdays and wednesdays all day; and, thursdays for a short day. i've got to get on the stick and get a job. they're scarce you know.

regards

And so it goes . . . .

Thanks everyone who's followed my blog so far. I didn't get to the studio sunday as the rear passenger tire was flat when i went out to go. But today I took advantage of the new hours and was at the studio from abt 13:00 to 19:10.

I lost the flatish spouted bowl. It crashed when I'd accidently stepped on the pedal for the wheel b4 having the pot anchored. Oh, well.

The serving plate dried enough today for me to get it moved from the form it was on. Here are some pics: image 1, image 2.

I did get the plate trimmed today and on the shelf for bisque firing. But, alas, I forgot to take a pic. I'm pleased with this one.

This is the teapot. It came out of bisque firing today and is ready to glaze. Here are some pics of it: image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4, image 5.

The coffee pot is ready to glaze. I ran out of time though. Here's the pot and the cups: image 1, image 2, image 3.

Another mug ready to go into bisque firing: image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4.

Added a body of water and a sunny face to the vase I've been working on. Images: number 1, number 2, number 3.

I glazed the funky little vase I posted in bisque form previously. I also glazed the squatty looking jar as well. We've some new colors specifically for the reduction kiln. So, I can't wait until they get these fired.

I'll do the serving bowl tmw hopefully. I decided to use one of my mixing bowls for the form. It's deep and wider than the form I was gonna use.

Well, I think that's all. It's enough, though, right?

Regards

Friday and Saturday's Efforts 09-04 and 09-05

Friday is a bit of a blur. I got the serving plate done for the dish set. I'll get pics today, I hope. I can't remember what else i did. Yikes! I believe I was way tired. I may not have done much else as I left after abt 2.5 hrs. I also sorted stuff from my tool card into a box. These are items I won't be using daily. My poor cart was collapsing. Pics of my work station later.

Yesterday, I handled two vessels. One is a spouted bowl, the other is a mug. I'll get pics of the mug today. Pics of the spouted bowl are as follows: image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4.

I'm going again today, then my new hours start this week. I may do the workshop tmw. I'm debating.

Regards

a really productive day today . . . .

I'm having a hard time getting excited abt the reduction fired glazes. they're not as exciting to me as they are to everyone else. I think the change in the clay coloring will grow on me though.

to start with, the large platters are done. i'm kinda okay with them. they'll be fine on the wall where i'm gonna hang them. one of the glazes didn't do well at cone 10. but, otherwise they'll be interesting decorations. also, one of them cracked in two places, but i think it adds to the character of the piece. they're abt 17.25" across, btw. Decorative tray 1 (Bacchus' Whimsy) and tray 2 (Hearts and Beads). I think those are the names I've given them. I will be making more. I've found a better way to do these, just need to buy what I need.

Two gift muggs I've made, mug one and mug two. I'm giving them away to someone but soon's i get the promised mugs made, i'll be making some and listing them at etsy. These are kinda small. the ones I make will be larger.

This jar w/lid on; jar w/lid off. i'm pleased with and will be selling it for 20.00 in my store. If you want to buy it b4 it's listed, convo me and I'll list it as a special request.

Little bowl. I posted pre/post glaze pics in an earlier post here in this blog. View 1, View 2, and View 3. this I'll be listing for 12.00. again if you convo me b4 it's listed i'll list it as a special request.

Ye Little Jewelry Jar. This I'm going to keep for myself and use it in the bathroom for my jewelry. View 1, View 2, View 3. I'm gonna make more of these, but maybe a bit deeper.

Soap plate. This little plate came out surprisingly well. It didn't maintain it's shape in the firing, but that's okay.

Medium size plate. View 1, view 2. I threw this today. I was bound and determined to throw a plate and a bowl today b4 the day ended. I've been able to figure out the problem w/me and the stoneware clay. I can't make fast movements. If I take everything more slowly on the wheel, I'm able to throw a better form. Sorry it's a bit blurry.

Funny Looking bowl. I think i can trim out the lopsidedness. I know how to fix that next time. The bowl view 1, view 2.

I threw this odd looking spouted vessel also. View 1, view 2.

I started this piece. it's actually my attempt to use something that failed. I try to do that frequently. I'd trimmed thru the bottom of the jar on top accidently so, i thru a mug form and then joined the two. Then i've been decorating it w/a bit of whimsy. View 1, view 2, view 3.

I was able to rmv the baking dish form from the glass pan i'd used. I cant wait to get them all done. :D

regards

Piccies, I has them . . . .

i decided to just go and get a new monitor this am. i just cdn't do it on the laptop anymore.

Lidded Jar Before Glazing, Lidded Jar on It's Side w/Lid, Lidded Jar And Lid, Lidded Jar w/First Layer of Glaze and Resists, Lid to Lidded Jar w/First Layer of Glaze and Resist, Final Glaze Application Lidded Jar, Final Glaze Application Lidded Jar's Lid.

Mugg 1, Mugg 2. These are for an acquaintance.

Small Plate 1st Couple Layers of Glaze, Small Plate Final Glaze Application. Great little plate for rings and things.

Tiles Series 1, Tiles Series 2. I make these so I can have one sample of the glazes from the gas kiln and one sample from the electric kiln. I will list the others for sale.

The Lidded Thinggie from the Top. The Lidded Thinggie from the Side. This will be great for rings and earings and other small jewlry items. The big knob is great for hanging bracelets around.

Results will be up tmw.

Regards

hard to do much in 3 hrs

the evening hours during the week make it difficult to do anything much. i'm gonna miss my longer days at the studio when i start working again.

so, last night i got the mold done that i've been needing to do for baking dishes. i hated having to toss the last attempt. so i am making molds from my current baking dishes in the kitchen. the clay is drying then will be bisque fired 2X to make it strong enough for regular use. i'm optimistic. if it comes out okay i'll be able to make the larger and smaller ones also then get the baking dishes back home into my cupboards where they belong. the good thing is i am able to get another item off of my list of stuffs to do. i do want to get my chess pieces started.

the kiln was fired up yesterday w/the glazed pieces. i'm a little anticipatory of my things. pics if it works out.

i was triming a pot last night and trimmed too much off the bottom, so i'm gonna try to throw another piece today which will then be conxd to the other part. i hope then to decorate it w/leaves and such. hope it happens. :D

not much else.

regards

so yesterday, sunday the 30th . . . .

well i ended up glazing two lidded jars. the gas kiln is so big it's sometimes hard to get enough to fill it, so i thought i'd help out and do those first. i only got one mug form thrown. i hate to go w/out pics, but i'm gonna wait until i get a monitor for the big computer b4 i post any more pics. i may move the computer into the tv area and hook it up to the tv.

oh, and, i got the form finished to make the mold for my nested baking dish set.

James Watkins popped in to check out the studio and touch bases b4 his classes started today at Tech. I recall his amazing pottery display a number of years ago at the Texas Tech Museum. Here's a great interview done with him. Also, is book is fantastic. His book is fantastic: A Meditation of Fire: The Art of James C. Watkins.

regards

i worked hard today too, 08-29-09

today i got the teapot prepped for bisque fire. i need to get a pic of it b4 she has a chance to put it in the kiln. also, i threw two passable mug forms; and, finally i did a spouted bowl which resulted from a cratered mug attempt. i got the buttons all cleaned up for waxing. i trimmed a squatty jar shape that will make a great vase for large blooms and a funky looking vase that was one of my earlier attempts at a mug. i set out the jar i made yesterday in hopes it'd be dry enough to trim today before i left or tmw. pics up hopefully tmw if i remember to take my cell phs.

regards

even more buttons, kinda . . . .

this is really more of a test post. i'm having problems w/pics. these are the buttons i have remaining that need to be glazed and such. they're in bisque state:

Set 1
Set 2
Set 3
Set 4
Set 5

i think i'll do most of them w/underglazes so i can see how they'll do in the reduction kiln. the texture was kinda fun to make on these. kinda like doing pick up sticks. (sorry i have to use links to the pics as the picture uploader isn't working for me.)

Regards

Making headway 08-26-09

Well, I finally got around to glazing the decorative serving trays I've been working on. Here are the prefire pics of them glazed: Hearts and Beads and Bacchus' Whimsy. I'll be hanging these in my livingroom over the fireplace, hopefully. I've actually got to find the right hanger for them. They're abt 22" across. Big, huh?

Now, I've got the mugs done that go with the coffee pot. They'll go into bisque fire next week; Image 1, Image 22.

The dish set I've been working on now has the soup bowls. They're drying to the state they can be bisque fired then they'll be glazed. Bowls in progress: On the Form, Standing Upright, From the Top.

Now here's the rest of the dish set that's in bisque state awaiting glazing. I won't glaze until they're all ready for it. I have yet to make a serving tray and serving bowl. The pieces: The Mugs, The Dessert Plates Next to a Mug, A Dessert Plate, The Plates w/a Dessert Plate on top and a Mug Beside Them, A Plate. The Dessert Plates double as saucers. All kinda artsy fartsy, eh?

I've also got plenty of clay prepared for my next battery of items. :D

Regards

Buttons, buttons . . . .

the first of the buttons (24 left to do) are out of the kiln. interesting results. pics on dark and light backgrounds:

image 1
image 2
image 3
image 4
image 5
image 6
image 7
image 8
image 9
image 10

oh, and the size of the coffee pot is more like 7" tall, 6.5" across the top, and abt 7" across the bottom. rough guestimates w/a ruler. as i didn't want to handle it in the greeware state much.

regards

What I did today: 08-21-09

Got the coffee pot out for the final drying b4 bisque firing. Here are some pics: image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4, image 5. I'll be making 6 mugs to go with it. It's about 9" tall and abt 7" across the top. I'm also going to do a set of 4 drinking glasses w/a charger to go with and maybe a pitcher as well. The first of the buttons came out well. I'm really glad I used the underglazes on these since they're using a reduction fire instead of an oxidation fire. I have an idea for another coffee pot using a shape I saw in a kitchen supplies store the other day. The tea pot in progress is still too wet to do anything with. I've a few ideas for that odd shaped pot I threw so will follow up on the weekend. I forgot to take pics of the buttons but will do so tmw.

I'm returning to something i love, expressing my creativity. My current media are clay and textiles and I hope to expand at some point. I'm glad I've found Etsy and hope to become a contributing member of the community.

On my pottery items, you'll find I don't do perfectly round, machine-made-looking, cookie-cutter mimickry. you'll find things many times are off center, less than perfect, but, shouting handmade to the world. Please enjoy your purchases. I'm looking forward to making boxes, doodads, buttons, and other pottery items for sale. My pottery is signed Myrrha.

A word on coffee pots vs. tea pots so you'll always know by looking at my pots which they are. A coffee pot typically has the spout at the top because the grounds sink to the bottom of the pot. A tea pot has the spout hole at the bottom because the tea leaves float. Keep in mind that since coffee is usually filtered before being placed in the pot for serving, there are no grounds to worry about. And, since tea is usually made in a tea filter of some sort, there are no tea leaves to worry about. Thus, the post can be used for either tea or coffee or both.

08-19-09
got the handle on the coffee pot today. i hope to have a pic of it's progress up over the weekend. provided i take my cell phs w/me on friday when i go to the studio again. i hope to make 6 mugs also to go with. it'll sell for approximately 175.00.

08-16-09
i continued in the coffee/tea pot workshop today. oh, my it's so informative. i will be putting my pots up for sale when they're done. i've posted the bisque stage pic of my serving trays. i'll be hanging them on my wall. i plan to glaze them to match the curtains i'll be making soon. see below for the newest pics. i fondly refer to my tea pot as a steam punk pot. it'll be sold w/6 matching cups hopefully. six because the flippin' thing is huge. i also have a round pot in the works made from a jar looking form. also the first attempt to throw a pot will be made into an interesting teapot also. it'll have a funky looking foot if i can pull it off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Purses coming to my store soon (the fabrics will be different). The Designs:
http://s700.photobucket.com/albums/ww8/morrigae/purses/?action=view&current=purses07-2009.png

Some projects I have in work:

2 baking trays to replace my pizza pans:
greenware stage~
http://s700.photobucket.com/albums/ww8/morrigae/pottery/?action=view&current=pottery001.jpg
http://s700.photobucket.com/albums/ww8/morrigae/pottery/?action=view&current=pottery002.jpg

bisque stage:
http://s700.photobucket.com/albums/ww8/morrigae/pottery/?action=view&current=pottery011.jpg
http://s700.photobucket.com/albums/ww8/morrigae/pottery/?action=view&current=pottery012.jpg

a serving tray (i have to start over from scratch):
http://s700.photobucket.com/albums/ww8/morrigae/pottery/?action=view&current=pottery003.jpg
http://s700.photobucket.com/albums/ww8/morrigae/pottery/?action=view&current=pottery005.jpg
http://s700.photobucket.com/albums/ww8/morrigae/pottery/?action=view&current=pottery006.jpg
http://s700.photobucket.com/albums/ww8/morrigae/pottery/?action=view&current=pottery007.jpg

I threw a couple jars w/lids today (08-05-09) and smaller items.

My business card: http://s700.photobucket.com/albums/ww8/morrigae/promo/?action=view&current=businesscard03.png