Mixing It Up

A few things to report, today. Aside from a couple of new grates needed, and stoke door maintenance, the kiln is ready! The pots are being bisque fired on a daily rotation. Clay waiting to be made into the pots needed for the show at Leslie's. Also, Micah and I cranked up the old mixer. If you remember from previous posts, I purchased an old mixer from Tyrone Larson over in Asheville, back a few months ago and lugged it back up the mountain from Asheville. (the Larsen's used to live just over a few miles from me until about 10 years ago.) They have, no doubt, mixed tons of clay in this mixer and moved it to Asheville with them. They sold it to me, and I hauled it back "home". It seems to be working just fine. The photo above shows a "wave" of fire clay/sand mix I'm using to clean out the mixer. First we hosed out all of the iron rust flakes and leaves, etc. that were in the mixer. We then dumped in about 100 lbs. of sand and 200lbs of fire clay, added water and watched the mix with our hands in our pockets! I still want to devise some safety switch and screen covering over the hopper. The auger moves pretty slowly but I don't want to take any chances. There is a reverse and forward switch that helps mix the batch. When it was ready I reversed the switch and the clay came out the 3 inch pug at the other end of the mixer. (sorry, no picture) I think I could mix at least 400 lbs at a time, maybe more. There's nothing like a big ole batch of fresh clay to get a potter spinning!

I'm the helper at Evelyn and Lil's school in the morning so I better hit the sack. More on the May Ferrin show to come. Also, painting and glazing!

Line

Here are two jars from last night that have a subtle difference in their "line". I like the one in the background more. I like it because it comes right out from its base and it's line doesn't change direction, but continues to the lip. The jar in the foreground has a line that changes direction about a third of the way up it's height. The pots I love from the Catawba Valley tradition have the continuous and unchanging line in their profile. Of course as I type this I realize I risk generalization, but from what I have noticed of these pots in books and in life , it is that distinctive "line" that I find very pleasing.


Here is an example of a really nice 4 gallon jar in the NC Pottery Center collection. It was made by Daniel Seagle, one of my pottery heroes. It's shape is ovoid, but has that characteristic line that I love.

Heating Up

last night's moon

Things heated up yesterday and it was a sawdust kind of day, cutting and stacking wood for the upcoming firing. But it cooled off nicely in the evening. Looks like we may be firing the kiln around the full moon. I'll have to consult my charts.

making pots by the light of the moon

Looking Into The Coming Week

Sonny G's getting ready for the firing, too.

Wow, it's hard to believe I'm in the home stretch! It crept up on me. So I probably won't have a lot of time to sit around and enjoy the freshly mown grass and the shady trees. Time to kick out some pottery! Micah Cain is coming over today to get the kiln ready and cut some more wood so there will be enough to burn when the time comes. When is that time? Looks like it will be right around the big (sorta) Grand Opening on the 9th. At least if I fire during the grand opening I will have plenty of help?! hehehe. We'll see. The show at Ferrin opens on the 16th so I'd better get to work. Have a great Monday, ya'll.

Aprés Finnegan

I thought Dan's tool exposé was so good, I thought I would show off some of my axes. Here's what it took for me to make the jar, although not as tricked out and modified.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Marty Fielding and Stacy Snyder at AKAR

Cookie Jar, Stacy Snyder,

from the show at AKAR

Box, Marty Fielding
from the show at AKAR

Check out the show!

Finds

cups by Linda Sikora and Sylvie Granatelli

Found these cups in a shop in Spruce Pine.
Sweet!

The Store

I know, another beautiful day in paradise...But it was! All of the senses are waking up. The trees in our meadow are fragrant with their buds covered in a honey-like sap. The wind blows in gusts that are finally warm enough to bask in, and is revealed by the waves of grass that seems to get taller by the day. Ahhhh. Hard to believe, huh.


I just put some new pots out and tidied up the shed. The weather is supposed to get even warmer in the coming days.

So why don't you come and see us.

Finger Pointing

Now I know why I never see Shawn. He's been busy working on his beautiful house, making lotsa pots, and today is firing his kiln!

Here's Shawn pointing at something?!

Here's GA-VA artist-potter Mike Henshaw pointing out some of his careful notes in the log book.

The point is it's getting HOT in there.