Floating Blue

These cereal bowls turned out perfectly. The floating blue glaze was a complete success and they are very close to being completely uniform, all fitting comfortably stacked. This is for sure an achievement for me being my best set ever and first set of bowls. Getting a great result is the best feeling because there are more chances than not that the work won't turn out the way you planned. I must have waited 3 weeks for these to be fired after I glazed them and I don't even want to think about how long the entire process took considering the speed my studio runs the kiln. I guess the wait only makes the positive result feel that much better.

Presentation

How do you make a vase look really good? Just like this: Add some amazing flowers. Actually, I was just having a conversation with a fellow potter in the studio about this. Sometimes the work speaks for itself, but often it's the presentation that really grabs the attention. You can try and sell a vase without flowers, but when you add the flowers a person can identify with it, envision it in their home, in the foyer greeting them as they arrive home from work , or on their dining-room table; the icing on the cake of an almost set table.

I've often noticed in interior design mags that the spaces they shoot may be attractive but it's the stylists who really do the magic adding the flowers, objects and changing the light. This was always my favorite part of the design process. Thanks to my thoughtful boyfriend Reed and his contributions to my constant desire for flowers, I have been able to take my vase up a notch in the world and really make it look fantastic. :)

Greek Inspiration

Reed and I took a trip to the MET where we both felt inspired. We spent most of our time with the Greek and Roman ceramics and I focused my attention on the painted patterns and the shapes of these ancient yet very contemporary looking objects. I feel inspired to start exploring these throughout my own work. I am drawn to these patterns and textures and can certainly learn a lot from the shapes that were created for functionality and ceremony. Even though we've been to this section before. We were struck by how modern these looked and how they could easily be created today and never given a second thought.

Before and After

The most satisfying part is looking back on the process. There are 3 significant stages of ceramics. The wheel throwing phase, the bisque phase and then glazing. Because the process requires so many stages its easy for many things to go wrong which makes a finished and successful piece feel that much more gratifying.

Coffee Break

Seaworld and matte brown win again!

I am actually having coffee in one of these as we speak. I think the new ritual is to try them out before giving them away to get the entire experience. They begin as 1 1/2 pound mounds of clay and slowly become a finished functional piece of art. I'm proud of these because sets are difficult to create. They're all slightly different but I think that just helps emphasize the hand made-ness of them. And the way things have been going lately, you never can tell how the glaze will turn out and if it will drip or crack.

I am definitely inspired to create more sets and give them as gifts for the holidays. But I better get going because the holidays are quickly approaching and the firings are moving at the same glacial rate.

Shiny and New

I'm thrilled that some of my pieces came out of the kiln. These turned out nicely. The seaword glaze only dripped a smidge on my mug and the other glazes worked perfectly. Only sad news was my serving bowl somehow ended up skewed, I'm guessing by the heat. Firing is such a mystery. What does happen in that kiln.