Denice

I am going to try throwing again today,  I tried a couple of days ago and it did not go well.   My hand doctor told me it could be a couple of months before I get completely healed.   I  hope my hand will cooperate today if it doesn't I think I will start coiling again.   Tried using my slab roller and couldn't turn the wheel with my right hand had to use my left hand and arm.  Wish me luck!  Denice

If I can't fix it, the other half usually can.  The only thing he won't play with is the final stages of electricity.  He will rewire plugs, wired up everything in the conservatory when that was built, and got a sparky in to check and connect.  Metal wood is his domain, clay, ceramics and textiles is mine.  We did get  a builder in to convert a bathroom to a shower room, with all new fittings, tiles etc.  But that wasn't coz we couldn't do it.   We decided we could make better use of our time.

Handy folks up thar ^!
Tinkerin', design, fabrication, repair, maintenance, building, allat runs in the family, somewhat. Our folks provided examples and supported our curiosity as well. Pop should have known not to bother assembling our new bikes for xmas (oh dear, that was 'bout '65 or so); first, err, second thing I did was tear it down to to axles and crank, clean all, then re-assemble with proper (pasty white lithium may be ok for you pal) lubrications, tensions, torque, and all, ahem. The cables and their housings were all wrong, the wheels weren't true, and the brake blocks were backward.
When breakdowns occur, typically looking to effect repairs - even if "it ain' worth it" - mostly ...at least determine causation. Where an improvement can be made, so much the better.  
Still, there are those cases where we don't have proper tools and/or inclination (e.g. our new "hot tub" ...err, septic tank and leach field). Some work gets farmed out, likely that's true for just about everyone.
 

A glass of water and a small dark dark chocolate bar that I break up in to tiny pieces.  Caffeine, sugar, antioxidants and sometimes lunch in one bar.    Denice

I have a dishpan in my sink that I wash my hands in and any objects covered with clay.  After the clay settles I pour the top clear water into my settling drain and the thick clay goes into the trash.  I have only cleaned my 15 gallon settling system once and I had my son carry the clay gunk upstairs.  If I get some funky smell coming up from my drain I pour some bleach in it.  Denice

My first studio just had a bucket of water,  that was alright I just did hand building.   My second studio had cold water and I had a garden hose on a utility sink that drained out doors.   My third studio had hot and cold water in a tiny sink and a simple bucket settling system where the clear water went into a floor drain.   I built my current studio it  has a nice large sink, hot and cold water.  The drain line on the sink goes down to a  settling system in the basement,  the clear water drains into the sump pump.  I am still very conservative with my water use I guess it is my training from my bucket days.   Denice

I have a dishpan in my sink that I wash my hands in and any objects covered with clay.  After the clay settles I pour the top clear water into my settling drain and the thick clay goes into the trash.  I have only cleaned my 15 gallon settling system once and I had my son carry the clay gunk upstairs.  If I get some funky smell coming up from my drain I pour some bleach in it.  Denice

I have a dishpan in my sink that I wash my hands in and any objects covered with clay.  After the clay settles I pour the top clear water into my settling drain and the thick clay goes into the trash.  I have only cleaned my 15 gallon settling system once and I had my son carry the clay gunk upstairs.  If I get some funky smell coming up from my drain I pour some bleach in it.  Denice

My first studio just had a bucket of water,  that was alright I just did hand building.   My second studio had cold water and I had a garden hose on a utility sink that drained out doors.   My third studio had hot and cold water in a tiny sink and a simple bucket settling system where the clear water went into a floor drain.   I built my current studio it  has a nice large sink, hot and cold water.  The drain line on the sink goes down to a  settling system in the basement,  the clear water drains into the sump pump.  I am still very conservative with my water use I guess it is my training from my bucket days.   Denice

Still down and out with my hand  I hope the hand doctor gives me good news next week.  Big excitement today was going grocery shopping,  my husband scours the store for meals that are easy to make.  He use to complain when I bought them but now that he is the cook  those meals are pretty good.     Denice

Still down and out with my hand  I hope the hand doctor gives me good news next week.  Big excitement today was going grocery shopping,  my husband scours the store for meals that are easy to make.  He use to complain when I bought them but now that he is the cook  those meals are pretty good.     Denice

Still down and out with my hand  I hope the hand doctor gives me good news next week.  Big excitement today was going grocery shopping,  my husband scours the store for meals that are easy to make.  He use to complain when I bought them but now that he is the cook  those meals are pretty good.     Denice

Unloading a kiln later today,  my husband will have to unload it for me still on lifting restrictions.   It is so hard to stay out of my studio,  I have two more weeks to go.   Denice

I'm sure I sold a thousand plus items in last 3 weeks at all my outlets and most where xmas gifts so Mayby I can say yes I did get some ceramics out under the tree this season. My guess Is I brought a lot of happyness to many on this the 25th day of Dec. Its always a good feeling  around this time .I feel I'm in a happy business.

It was sad but I have accepted that life doesn't always come out the way you think it will.  You have to accept the bumps and turns in life and find joy in other moments,  I have the memories of past Christmas and that is enough.   I hope everyone enjoys their holiday and appreciates every second of it.      Denice

I got commissioned to make a couple of things for friends for their family, but most of my fam has what they want from me already. 
 
I got to make a couple of fun commissions for others though. One lady got three stacking sets in different colours, one for each of her daughters. My favourite though, was a sugar jar that one of the sweetest boys I might have ever met was getting for his boyfriend for their first Christmas in their new apartment. 
 
I have some bowls that haven’t been selling as well as I wanted them to that I will take down to the Drop In Centre. They have a transitional housing program, and are always in need of cookware and dishes to supply a kitchen with.

It was sad but I have accepted that life doesn't always come out the way you think it will.  You have to accept the bumps and turns in life and find joy in other moments,  I have the memories of past Christmas and that is enough.   I hope everyone enjoys their holiday and appreciates every second of it.      Denice

It was sad but I have accepted that life doesn't always come out the way you think it will.  You have to accept the bumps and turns in life and find joy in other moments,  I have the memories of past Christmas and that is enough.   I hope everyone enjoys their holiday and appreciates every second of it.      Denice

It was sad but I have accepted that life doesn't always come out the way you think it will.  You have to accept the bumps and turns in life and find joy in other moments,  I have the memories of past Christmas and that is enough.   I hope everyone enjoys their holiday and appreciates every second of it.      Denice

It was sad but I have accepted that life doesn't always come out the way you think it will.  You have to accept the bumps and turns in life and find joy in other moments,  I have the memories of past Christmas and that is enough.   I hope everyone enjoys their holiday and appreciates every second of it.      Denice

We don't exchange gifts anymore,  I found out that my sister in-law threw our gifts away every year.  I didn't ever give that many pieces of pottery as gifts,  I will make a piece upon request.  My son and his wife send a list of what to order from Amazon for them.   Denice

Nothing going on in my shop just got the stitches out of my wrist and hand and it will be four more weeks before I can do much.  What a bummer.    Denice

Nothing going on in my shop just got the stitches out of my wrist and hand and it will be four more weeks before I can do much.  What a bummer.    Denice

I developed a new platter mold, and a new approach to illustrating koi fish. I'm pretty excited about these.

It's kind of strange I like to see the balance and attention to design in the piece but I like to feel the imperfections in a hand made pot.  When you pick up a factory made utility bowl it doesn't evoke any feelings  it is so dead feeling you could easily toss it aside and let it shatter on the floor.   When you pick up a handmade bowl  you can feel the energy.  you pour over it examining every nook and cranny and setting it down ever so gently.    Denice