Denice

I have a GFCI outlet in my studio and a fire extinguisher next door in my husbands garage.   He restores cars and always has one handy,  we have a CO detector in the basement and a smoke and fire system wired into the house.   The smoke alarm is so loud it can be heard a block away.  Denice

My first day of throwing the professor came in and explained what the class would cover.  At the end of his speech he said that if anyone had taken the class to make a set of dishes they might as well leave now.  He told us that it would take years of throwing before we could make a set.   After he finished three women stood up and left the room.  his way of pulling out the weeds.  I made a set of dishes about 15 years ago just to see if I could.   We are still using them but the glaze is getting a little hazy.    Denice

My first day of throwing the professor came in and explained what the class would cover.  At the end of his speech he said that if anyone had taken the class to make a set of dishes they might as well leave now.  He told us that it would take years of throwing before we could make a set.   After he finished three women stood up and left the room.  his way of pulling out the weeds.  I made a set of dishes about 15 years ago just to see if I could.   We are still using them but the glaze is getting a little hazy.    Denice

I can lose a day working in my studio,  even recycling clay and cleaning  time fly's by.   My husbands loves to work on cars but hates lawn work.  We hire a man to help us with outdoor work,  last summer the front end on his car broke.  My husband  agrees to fix his car instead of paying him for his work that day.    The hired man comments later  that he has never seen someone so happy to be working on a car.  My husband spent his life writing technical books on amusement rides, plane, trains and construction  equipment.   But is happiest when he is working with his hands.  Denice

Purging is also a yearly event in my studio.   I did a purging recently,   my husband was installing  new led tube lights on my ceiling.   I had to unload some of the shelves so they could be moved.   I didn't think I threw away that much such but I I seem to have several empty shelves now.   Denice

Purging is also a yearly event in my studio.   I did a purging recently,   my husband was installing  new led tube lights on my ceiling.   I had to unload some of the shelves so they could be moved.   I didn't think I threw away that much such but I I seem to have several empty shelves now.   Denice

Purging is also a yearly event in my studio.   I did a purging recently,   my husband was installing  new led tube lights on my ceiling.   I had to unload some of the shelves so they could be moved.   I didn't think I threw away that much such but I I seem to have several empty shelves now.   Denice

I have two metal shelving units that hold my glaze chemical containers.  Next to my wheel I have two plastic shelving units that are 10 ft tall,  3ft wide and  12 inches deep.   They sit sideways to the wall,   The open side of the shelves are within easy reach and I can place freshly thrown pots on them.   When I am ready for a break  I move them over to the drying cabinet,  my drying cabinet is just a vented  plastic utility cabinet.  I use old wire racks on the adjustable  plastic shelves to set the pots on.   I have one more plastic shelf unit by the extruder,  it has mostly tools and some finished pots on it.  My kiln room had one wall that was missing a 4x8 area of sheetrock,  I cut up a bunch of scrap 2x4's and wedged them between the studs,  creating a lot of shelves for stilts, cones and other misc kiln parts.    Denice

I forgot to mention that I keep some Flinthills black  and some dried paper clay around for special projects.    Denice

I would search Facebook Marketplace several   times a week.   Wannabe potters that bought them during the pandemic are starting to sell them.   I sold my kickwheel and old Skutt  in a couple of days in a ad on Facebook.    Denice

I use Laguna's buff for throwing and  Laguna's  Speckled Buff, Red Standard ,  Red  Calico and Death Valley for hand building.   The handbuilding clay's I use fire to different colors,  I like to work with different colored clays in one piece.  I use to make my own clay before premixed clay was readily available and affordable,  life gets busy and you get older  something has to be sacrificed.   Denice
 

I forgot to mention that I keep some Flinthills black  and some dried paper clay around for special projects.    Denice

martinja, do you have only a few members or are there people tracking floor dust all over all day?   keeping good cleaning working habits are the safest way to avoid dust.   add some containers to all areas and tables so small bits can be tossed into them instead of being brushed onto the floor by sleeves or other items.  put up signs and teach any new person exactly what you expect from users.   clay is easer to clean if it isn't there.

I use Laguna's buff for throwing and  Laguna's  Speckled Buff, Red Standard ,  Red  Calico and Death Valley for hand building.   The handbuilding clay's I use fire to different colors,  I like to work with different colored clays in one piece.  I use to make my own clay before premixed clay was readily available and affordable,  life gets busy and you get older  something has to be sacrificed.   Denice
 

I had a basement studio for 13 years,  I used wet mopping to clean it.   This basement didn't have any windows,  have you considered that you might be allergic  to the liter or the cats.   I am allergic to cats now,  I use to sleep with a cat when I was younger.   If I am in the same area I cough,  if the dander gets is in the air I quit breathing.    Denice

Ceiling fan is a cheap and great idea.   I worked with a portraiture sculpture group for ten years.  We  made turntables out of formica sink cutouts and ball bearing kits for lazy susans.   I have a large heavy duty one that I put together.  It will easily hold and turn a couple of hundred pounds of clay.   Denice

I bought a used wheel and it has predrilled holes in it for bat pins.  I am not fond of bat pins.   I also tend to press a knuckle or two against the wheel head,  the plastic bat is a lot easier on my skin.   Denice

I bought a used wheel and it has predrilled holes in it for bat pins.  I am not fond of bat pins.   I also tend to press a knuckle or two against the wheel head,  the plastic bat is a lot easier on my skin.   Denice

Ceiling fan is a cheap and great idea.   I worked with a portraiture sculpture group for ten years.  We  made turntables out of formica sink cutouts and ball bearing kits for lazy susans.   I have a large heavy duty one that I put together.  It will easily hold and turn a couple of hundred pounds of clay.   Denice

Our local art museum would have a exhibit for children with impaired sight,   they could pick up and touch the art work.   I  thought it would be great if they had  a permanent exhibit for all children to enjoy touching the art work.   I would be happy to donate pots to it.     I love to observe  and touch  pottery,  it gives me a feeling of being grounded to the earth.    Denice

Your right people who wander into my studio would be thrilled if I gave them a pot.   But they aren't so thrilled when you give them a price.    Denice

That is the method I was taught to wedge clay.   Denice

Ceiling fan is a cheap and great idea.   I worked with a portraiture sculpture group for ten years.  We  made turntables out of formica sink cutouts and ball bearing kits for lazy susans.   I have a large heavy duty one that I put together.  It will easily hold and turn a couple of hundred pounds of clay.   Denice

I used river rocks in college for burnishing,  I haven't used them since I graduated.   My puppy brought a black round rock in the house yesterday,  one side had a polished finish the other side was like sand paper.  I thanked him for the presents and quickly put it out of reach.   (New wood floors)  I think I will try burnishing with it,  it has to fit your hand  just right to make a good burnishing tool.   Denice

I used river rocks in college for burnishing,  I haven't used them since I graduated.   My puppy brought a black round rock in the house yesterday,  one side had a polished finish the other side was like sand paper.  I thanked him for the presents and quickly put it out of reach.   (New wood floors)  I think I will try burnishing with it,  it has to fit your hand  just right to make a good burnishing tool.   Denice