GEP

Welp, it turns out my self-draining soap dish doesn’t work. The bars of soap also slide off onto the floor! Back to the drawing board.

This is a personal project for my house. I recently switched to using bar soap and bar shampoo, in an effort to reduce my plastic bottle consumption. I was using a soap dish I had made years ago, but soon discovered that it was not well-suited for an environment as wet as a shower. I made myself a new soap dish that is designed to shed excess water onto the shower floor. This concept is not original to me, I've seen photos of other handmade pottery self-draining soap dishes. But mine is the first wheel-thrown version that I've seen.

My county will still be in phase 1 of reopening for a few more weeks, even though the rest of my state (MD) is moving into phase 2. My county (plus one other) is where most of the cases in my state are. I am still staying home except for really important things. Businesses here have adapted and complied very well, so going out feels safe, but only because things are so restricted. For example, I needed some car maintenance last week, the shop was by appointment only and they were only taking one customer per hour. I was the only customer in the shop, and was still asked to stay six feet away from the employees. He disinfected a pen for me before I used it. I went for a long walk through my neighborhood including a popular park this weekend, and every single person was wearing a mask. We are not required to wear them for outdoor exercise, but most people do anyways. I’m grateful for that. I am troubled about all the huge protests that took place this week in DC. Not because of the meaning of the protests, the spirit of them is long overdue. But because we will either end up in lockdown for longer than we would have been, or we will discover that we didn’t need to cancel all the summer festivals. As for the pottery business, I am still making, and planning some more “free home delivery” events for the summer. And I am conceding that I need to (gasp) do some online selling too, which I am planning to do on a very limited basis.

I think your instincts here are valid. Wait to see what happens to them first.

All of my shows are juried, and they all involve a jury fee. Except for one that is very casual. I’ve gotten all but one of my booth fees returned, but none of my jury fees. For me a jury fee typically ranges from $25 to $50, so I’m not worried about it. The one show that didn’t refund is letting me apply the whole booth fee to their 2021 show, which I also think is fair.

I mentioned in another thread a few days ago that I would be attempting to throw an extra-large planter for my patio. Here it is so far. This was a combination of throwing and coil building. 25 lbs of clay total. It is currently 17.5 inches across and 10 inches tall. No guarantees it will make it through the rest of the process.

It’s a simple 1:1 ratio. 25g beeswax + 25g coconut oil = 10 tubes of lip balm. I borrowed my digital scale from the pottery studio. I melted the ingredients in the microwave in 30 second increments. I used a glass measuring cup, it got warm in the microwave and kept the wax mixture melted longer. Nah, I’d be worried about them melting while in transit.

It’s not food, but I did make them in my kitchen. I have trouble buying lip balm in stores, because these days they all contain ingredients that make me itchy (shea butter, aloe vera, menthol). Why can’t I buy a basic mixture of beeswax and coconut oil? Now I know why, because it is way too easy and cheap to make it yourself. The store brands need to add fancy ingredients so they can charge $3.99. These tubes cost me about 25 cents each.

This year’s penn state show is already cancelled :-(. Full booth refund, and all artists are automatically juried into next year’s show.

I found enough ingredients in my kitchen to make a Shoo Fly Pie. This is one of my favorite pies, so simple and down to earth, easy to make. I’m down to my last slice. Plate by Christy Knox. Photograph by Laura DeNardo. 1 9-inch pie crust 1 cup molasses 3/4 cup hot water 3/4 tsp baking soda 1 egg beaten 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup brown sugar 3 tbsp butter or shortening Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine molasses, hot water, and baking soda. Stir well. Whisk in beaten egg. Pour mixture into pie shell. In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter/shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle on top of molasses layer. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Lower temp to 350 degrees and bake an additional 30-40 minutes.

My first concern is my health and safety, and the health and safety of my parents (ages 78 and 85) who live in a retirement community, and I can’t visit them right now. (I am technically still allowed to visit, but I’d rather be cautious.) Then there are my siblings, who live is zones where the outbreak is much worse than here, Staying home is not that different than my normal lifestyle, since my workplace is in the basement. I got a load of clay maybe two weeks ago, so I plan to keep making pots. The Washington Post is behind a soft paywall, you can read up to 5 (I think) articles for free per month. Here’s a great little demonstration of why social distancing is important right now. Stay in one place! Avoid other people! https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

I have a great supplier, Clayworks Supplies in Baltimore. 45 minutes away. In fact, I’m going there tomorrow for a van-load of clay.

Step 1: Curse Step 2: If the thing that needs repair came with a manual, I start looking for a solution in the manual. Most of the time, the problem turns out to be routine, and the solution is already spelled out. Step 3: If I still can ‘t quite find the answer, I call the manufacturer of the thing that needs repair. Often they have personnel who can help troubleshoot. In the pottery world, people tend to be smart and nice. Step 4: I’ve also had good success asking for equipment help on this forum!

No, with the exception of when I’m feeling a little under the weather. Then I’ll bring a big mug of water into the studio so I can stay hydrated. But I’ll keep the mug on a shelf away from my work stations.

I’m in a similar mode as @neilestrick. My studio is officially closed for the holidays, but I want to tweak one of my glazes before starting up with production again in the new year. Wouldn’t it be nice if the right answer is in the first line blend? Too optimistic?

I put mine directly into the sink. But I have lots of small dishes that would work as a saucer if somebody wants one.

Ok, I got it now! Yes I am expecting people to put the steeper in the cup first, and add tea leaves to it, while they are waiting for the kettle to boil. This morning I tried putting the steeper into a cup that already had water in it. It displaces a little at first, but the water goes through the holes in the steeper pretty quickly. The walls of the steeper are quite thin.

Not sure what you mean by displacement? Do you mean the tea leaves escaping from the top? I made the tea steeper somewhat tall-ish, intending users to make an amount of tea that isn’t taller than the steeper. Tea leaves stay inside.

Nice jar, @Bill Kielb! Making air-tight storage jars is also on my list of things to figure out. I hadn't thought about a pivoting handle for the tea steeper. The item is so small, I don't think storage will be an issue. But I have one in my own kitchen that I plan to use a lot. If the need for a pivoting handle makes itself clear, then I will work on it!

I've been trying to figure out this design for at least two years, and think I have finally done it. A ceramic tea steeper with a stainless steel handle. It works with any cup, or at least all of the cups I make. I plan to start making teapots that will also accommodate the steeper.

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

Buttons for a sewing or knitting project?

Smithsonian Craft Show. 20 years ago I thought it was an impossible goal. 20 years from now, I'll be thinking "I can't believe that really happened."

@liambesaw, the way I see it, it’s much better to start out with low prices, and raise them if the pots are flying off the shelf. Compared to starting out with overpriced pots, and having to lower the prices. Especially at a recurring market like a farmers market, where the same customers are going to see the evolution of your prices. Also, don’t let others pressure you into raising your prices. Especially from across the internet. We don’t know the area where you’re selling. Every location has different market forces. Base your pricing decisions on how fast your pots are selling. From across the internet, I can’t judge the weight and balance of your pots. But from what I can see, your pots are very attractive and of good craftsmanship. So present them with a sense of respect, not like bargain fodder. Which is related, but not specifically the same thing, as the number on the price tag. This market is a good choice for your first attempt at fair selling, due to its low booth fee. You can continue to do it this summer for the experience, but I would also start looking for something that is a step up. Where you won’t be selling pots next to snake oil.

I love dry cleaner plastic! As a potter I hardly ever set foot in a dry cleaners, but my NYC sister hooked me up with a large stash.