The Daily Reviewer | Mountain House Studios

Time to Glaze again

Mar 12, 2010 12:03pm

Time to start the glaze process again. I have finally found a rhythm. I make for two weeks then spend a week glazing. Glazing was much faster at ^6 when I just dumped the piece in a bucket. Now most of the surface treatment is brushed on & the work...

Tea Bowls

Mar 8, 2010 5:09am

The Kansas City Clay Guild is holding a juried tea bowl exhibit. The juror is Pete Pinnell and the deadline to enter is April 5, 2010. The prospectus can be viewed here.I think the best tea bowls are wood fired -- the wood fire just seems to capture the essence...

Photos

Feb 28, 2010 1:08pm

I finally got out the photo equipment & took some proper shots of my latest stuff. I use a Canon Power Shot A95 -which probably should be replaced soon- an EZ Cube and a couple of boom lights. I also have a gray/white backdrop. Now that I have a bigger...

Knob&All - without the knob

Feb 25, 2010 6:55am

The other day Ron Philbeck posted a video making a one-piece pot - called a "Knobandall." I've wanted to make some flat top small jars with that kind of lid. But getting the lid to fit well when thrown in two pieces can be difficult & time consuming.Well - Ron...

Final glaze photos

Feb 24, 2010 2:43pm

Here are a few of the pieces I've been documenting all along. These are finished. I'm pleased with the final look of these but still want to try a couple of more things. I like combining slip, terra sig & glazes on the pieces. I also like just the Hirsch...

Bonjour -- France in May

Feb 22, 2010 5:53am

Well, my husband is taking me to France in May. It's for my birthday but we will also get to celebrate our anniversary in Paris. We spent the weekend booking our hotels. We head to Lyon for a few days after spending 5 days in Paris. Next is a...

Out of the bisque

Feb 18, 2010 7:31am

This is what I unloaded this morning. I'm happy with all of them. Some will get some more color added (underglaze) to highlight the texture some more. Then I will refire -- at least one more time before the final glaze firing. Some are ready for their final glaze...

Getting ready to bisque

Feb 15, 2010 6:17am

I woke up happy today - cause I know I get to start the surface treatment on these pots this morning. That's huge. I used to dread glazing - but I actually enjoy it now. In fact for the first time - ever - it was hard for me to...

First firing - terra sig photos

Feb 8, 2010 6:35am

Since I have been discussing my surface treatments these last few months, I thought that I would post photos of these pieces of their journeys in the kiln.I first posted pictures of these at their leatherhard stage. Once they became dry (greenware) I applied terra sig and burnished slightly after...

Results - last glaze tests

Feb 5, 2010 6:45am

Here some quick photos of my last glaze testing. I solved the splotchy glaze coverage. You really need at least 3 layers of slip & glaze.The small pitchers have (colored OM4) terra sig & Stroke & Coat highlights. And the final covered jar has been fired twice so far -...

Forms -- terra sig is next!

Feb 3, 2010 9:30am

These forms are ready for me to begin their surface treatments. The small soy bottles will get some terra sig on the outer surface. After they are bisqued, I may add some Stroke & Coat color highlights. And I will just pour some clear on the inside & glaze the...

Finally!

Feb 2, 2010 7:53am

Finally, I'm seeing some evidence for all the work I've been doing in surface treatment testing -- glazes, slips & terra sigs. I've spent so many years learning about form. I am mostly self taught with a few workshops & classes -- but I haven't had much experience learning about...

Wasted Monday

Jan 25, 2010 11:48am

I spent the morning having my car serviced. It was it's scheduled service time. There aren't many Mini dealerships in this area & it's always crowded even with an appointment. What's funny is they guarantee 90 minutes or less & I've never been there less than 3 hours. I scheduled...

Holidays, birthdays & glaze woes

Jan 18, 2010 11:17am

Tomorrow is my husband's birthday & we started the celebration in Augusta this weekend with friends. Then yesterday my son came home & brought a friend. I glazed all day Thursday & got the kiln loaded & fired but I couldn't unload it until we returned -- boy I hate...

Ready to slip

Jan 11, 2010 8:03am

I did get to spend some time in the studio last week. I have a friend whose daughter wants a t-pot for her birthday next month. Since they both live far away I am taking pictures of the t-pots as they progress so they can choose. The small jars are...

Back in the studio

Jan 5, 2010 1:37pm

Finally got a full day back in the studio! And it's wonderful to be inside with heat and running water. Lordy it's cold! Snow is even forecasted for Thursday. People in GA go a little nuts when it snows here. My plan for the next few months is to quit...

Happy 2010!

Jan 1, 2010 2:08pm

Happy New Year! And thanks to all of you who read my blog - post comments & all who have helped me so much during this past year.Hope this new year is one filled with many celebrations - big & small - loud & quiet -- may we each find...

Merry Christmas!!

Dec 24, 2009 5:27am

Hope everyone has the best holiday ever -- magical & full of all the things you love -- family, friends, good food & drink. Merry Christmas to all my blogging friends!...

Glaze tests are done -- finally!

Dec 23, 2009 12:22pm

Today I am finished in my studio till January 4th! I unloaded the kiln this morning. I had a small commission from the Swan Coach House where I have some pots at their 'Little Things Mean A lot' show. I had taken the last two of the ramekins on...

Still testing

Dec 14, 2009 10:31am

Thought I would have the kiln loaded by now! But my son came home from college this weekend and brought a friend - so we've laughed, eaten, shopped, played cards & just enjoyed ourselves. Besides the glaze tests I also have a small commission to finish as well. I will...

Test Test Test

Dec 8, 2009 11:38am

This is the time of year I usually use to test -- glazes or forms. I've finished supplying all of my holiday shows and have some free time before I need to get ready for shows again after the first of the year.I've spent the last few days testing glazes...

Back to work

Dec 1, 2009 6:38am

The 'birds' on the desert plates are made using the graffito paper I ordered from Minnesota Clay. That stuff is amazing - easy to use & I think I got pretty good results. You can just outline your image or fill it in - scratch in some lines - add...

AWOL

Nov 19, 2009 1:41pm

I've been out of town this week celebrating a birthday with a treasured friend. And I won't get to make much work next week either. In fact, I probably won't post pictures of new stuff until after the holidays. I sure hope everyone is surrounded by family, good friends and...

Process

Nov 13, 2009 6:06am

These are fresh out of the bisque kiln. The dessert plates were textured & then black underglazed added when they were damp/leatherhard. At greenware, I cleaned the black with a scrubby & a metal rib until it just sat in the textured area. Then I added a water-thin blue slip...

This & That

Nov 12, 2009 5:44am

This is a canister set that was on display at Perspectives -- it sold & I didn't get a photo of it . But this morning as I was looking at pot pictures online over coffee --- this image popped up. Someone I don't even know took photos of it...