Pottery Love…

It's been a little while since I have been able to spend time at my favorite place…with you!
My life probably mirrors so many of you out there.  Trying to find the right balance between family, work, creative endeavors and social media.  It can be a challenging for sure as we all know.

I have been busy though and have a lot to share with you, hopefully over the next few days, which may turn into weeks because of the above challenges. 😉

So…I have been dabbling with pottery over the last year or so, taking classes at our local NH League of Craftsman.  I LOVE going to class even if it is at the end of a 9 hour workday and a quick gulp down dinner.  
I have learned SO much about playing with mud and how much fun it can be…and how very frustrating it can be at the same time.  Clay can have a mind of it's own it seems until you learn how to quietly master it.  
I'm not there yet, but I will keep working towards that goal.

Over the year I have had some successes along with many failures, but this is how we learn, right?  Each step of the process is a new challenge from throwing the vessel, trimming it, glazing it and finally keeping your fingers crossed when it goes into the final firing.
I have to say I was very happy with this small grouping of tea mugs and bowl.  I can't wait to pick up my bigger bowl in the same glaze combo tomorrow that someone accidentally took home .

The interesting part about pottery is that you can put one of the glazes that you love over another bottom glaze and get a completely different look. Trial and error for sure. These pieces had the same top dip that I used on the pieces above but over a different base glaze and you can see what a difference just one little glaze choice can make.  I like these, but I don't love them the same way I love the others.

…and even though these were dipped with the same glaze but in a different order, you can see how different they can be.
Goodness, this should keep my ADD brain busy for the rest of my years…ha!!

I have reached the point now where I will work at home.  I was able to find a pottery wheel in Vermont a year ago for a very reasonable price and the bonus is it's the same wheel we use in class, so I am familiar with it.

I also found this older kiln in Maine for next to nothing.  It's in pristine condition and even though it's an older manual kiln, our electrician has wired the studio and it works!  
New adventures and challenges to keep life interesting.