Beginning the Process

No pictures this week, as there isn't really anything new to photograph. I do have photos of all the finished pieces, except for two bowls. One of them may have gotten sacrificed to the Kiln Gods, and the other didn't turn out as good as I had hoped. I'll post the pics I do have later though. I'm at work, currently, and seeing as it's Christmas Eve we're pretty dead.

We had a potluck in class last night, so there wasn't a lot of work, just a lot of food and laughing. It was a lot of fun. I did manage to throw one mug last night though, the first of many that will eventually be a set. It's pretty big, which is how I like my mugs, actually. I also attached a round handle to the small bowl, though I'm sure it will have fallen off by the next time I go to class (in two weeks because of the holiday break) because the piece was very dry. It was already cracking where I had tried to smooth it down by the end of class. Hopefully I'll be able to salvage it if it does crack. We'll see.

Anyway. The mugs will be part of a set, probably four, that will eventually join bowls and plates as a full dish set. I have a bunch of recycled Death Valley left, but I think I'm going to use David's Porcelain for the whole project. I really like the smoothness of it, and the way that it fires. Death Valley is grittier, and it reacts strangely to the wax so that the pieces can (and will) scratch anything they are set on. David's Porcelain stays smooth and soft. I will still use the Death Valley, no doubt. I'm not sure what it will be good for yet, but I'll think of something! Maybe some big soup bowls with handles. One of the girls in the Tuesday night class made big bowls with pour spouts and awesome handles that were really cool...

My pottery goal for 2009 is going to be, of course, the dish set, but I always really want to make a tea set and a few big pitchers (which we desperately need in my house). I'm also going to expiriment with texture. I already have an idea for circles in 3D on the outside of bowls and cups and pitchers. Of course, my family and friends are going to be getting a lot of pottery as presents this year. There is no way I'll be able to use all of the stuff that I make. I am looking forward to being able to replace our dishes though. The ones that we have are cheap and ugly. The ones that I make will probably be ugly too, let's be honest, but at least I'll get to be useful.

That's it for now. Pics of finished pieces to come (I'm sure you're all dying to see them! LOL). Merry Christmas!