Roberta12

I think because I am not too far into this clay journey, I do have new forms at least once a year. Usually it's something I am trying to conquer, and once I do, like Mark, I take some time and fine tune it. Mostly my new forms are a result of "what would it look like if I....."

I have a 10x11 maker's space. But I did work in a small tabletop slab roller which has paid for itself over and over and over. And it is work space also. That is where I sit to do hand work. However, no place for an extruder or a pugger. Those things happen the old fashioned way. And I should say, I do not dry all my pots in that 10x11 room, they are shuttled next door to the "spare room" which hurriedly gets purged when company comes!! r.

I find that I am more successful with working through a new shape if I sketch everything out. After I have sketched it for few iterations, then I start the process that Mark talked about. Just making a few and seeing what I like and what I don't. Putting the piece in my cupboard and seeing how it functions. Then I might sketch again, but definitely make again until I get it the way I want. I have to say, I like the sketching process. It is not anything I ever thought I would enjoy!

What part of the country do you call home, Liam?

I throw in the house, in a small room, where all I need is a small radiant heater for a short time. My kiln and glazes are in the unheated shop. But it is very well insulated, and I can close off my side of the shop with doors and again, a small heater takes care of the comfort level. The first winter I had the shop I was constantly running out there to check the temp. Even with 30 below or more, it never freezes in there. So I don't run a heater unless I am out there. The rest of the time, the kiln keeps things warm. I feel very fortunate!

soap dishes, Christmas ornaments, buttons, wine bottle coasters, ring dishes (which look a lot like wine bottle coasters) wind chime pieces, spoonrests…..

I use mostly rags. I have rags for glazing, rags for throwing, Sometime paper towels, but not often. In the summer (warmer weather) I will soak the towels, rinse them outside and once they are clean, put them in the washer. But usually I just take those rags to the local laundry. That's what the laundry is there for!!