A little set

I've decided to make three of my little vases into a set by glazing them all in Nutmeg. The satin finish is a nice change from the other glossy glazes. As I was painting on the glaze, the iron oxide left short red streaks in the direction I brushed. Maybe it was not totally incorporated into the mix. I did sieve it. It created this interesting, almost  fabric-like finish but I am not sure if I will get the same results next time around. I've still got enough glaze to find out.

Pictures of pitcher

I must say that I am very pleased with my pitcher and I wouldn't change a thing about it. And I must say that this does not happen very often. It even pours well even though I thought I might have undersized the spout. It is 5 inches tall and now that my thoughts have turned to summer since we are having the hottest spring since 1934, it is actually a perfect size for putting wildflowers in. Definitely need to make more pitchers because, at some point, this one is probably going to be full of black-eyed susans. I will post that when it happens, but it might be a while because the plants have to catch up with the temperatures first.

Bisqueware on a bat

I needed a small pitcher for my studio preferably something tall enough and narrow enough to keep the cat's face out of it. I don't know why muddy water is so appealing?  Every time I work on a piece that requires a handle, it gets a little easier, a little quicker to complete and I stress a little less about it. Need to make more of those pitchers. The vase in the middle is to test a drippy glaze, hence the tall pedestal base. The three lidded containers fit within each other with the idea that I could ship many more pots in one flat rate box. If I didn't make such pronounced knobs on the lids, they would actually be quite compact. Something else to try.

A little sketchy

Before I get on the wheel, I like to make sketches of various pottery shapes. It helps me make up my fuzzy little mind what direction I want to go... tall, squat, narrow, wide, etc.  Results can become a mess instead of a pot if I change my mind mid-session. However, I find it very odd that my best sketches are done on the backs of envelopes or scrap pieces of paper. At least I don't use napkins. I understand the best ideas have been scribbled on napkins and slightly used ones at that! It's a shame though, because I have some really nice journals that could use some filling, but the spontaneous sketches never seem to wind up in there unless I tape them in!

Attracted to the abstract

Forget the pottery...

Forget looking at my pottery, look at those cool rocks in the background. These rocks, which I believe are Montana Moss rocks are embedded in our fireplace. I used to hate them, thinking they should be in a lodge in Yellowstone or Yosemite not our late 70's ranch (style of house not with cows and horses and such)  When I first moved to the Intermountain west from NYC I didn't appreciate this western aesthetic. Originally we thought that would be one of the first things about the house that would have to go. But when we found out how much it would cost to make changes or the massive mess there would be when removing rock and cement especially if my husband and I were to do it ourselves, living with it seemed much easier. And as time passed, I have learned to love it. Now, I can't imagine that fireplace any other way. Besides, it makes my pottery look sweet.

My first mix

With this vintage gram scale that my father used to measure chemicals for his black and white photography solutions, I measured out my first batch of test glaze.

The glaze is called Nutmeg. It has a smooth matte finish with speckles. The glossy rim is from a splash of cream matte glaze which turned glossy in combination.

A Chihuly and a show

Dale Chihuly glass sculpture greets you in lobby of the Corning Museum of Glass, located in Corning, NY

The museum has multiple demonstrations scheduled throughout the day in various theaters. Since glass is also used for lenses, etc and has scientific applications, there is an education/demonstration area devoted to that also. Like I said before, you could spend the whole day and still not have seen it all.

Blast from the glass past

The image of the palace in the background is actually a micro mosaic of minuscule glass pieces. All Italian.

Old, but a little more modern than most pieces...maybe 1960s +

Glass from the Roman World  1st to 5th Century A.D. How did it survive?

Even the gift shop is beautiful

Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York. Tomorrow....really old glass.

Hobnails and prunts

Medieval prunted beaker of blown glass. Corning Museum of Glass

A year ago, while visiting family in upstate New York, I got a chance to visit an extraordinary museum...The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY.  Their glass collection is extensive;  seems endless and it is very easy to spend a day there from opening until closing. Well, I was particularly inspired by the glass prunts (similarly, hobnails are nail heads on shoe soles) decorating medieval glass. Probably not purely decorative back in the day, since the prunts allowed for better grip and less slip on the extremely thin glassware. Even though it is glass, the style, shapes and colors of all the pieces in that museum are incredible and can easily be applied to pottery. I will post more photos from the museum tomorrow.