GEP

I have a new kiln being delivered next week!

Right now I am 90% sure I’m going to do this, though I still need to convince myself of the last 10%, but I think I’m going to get Lasik surgery. I recently turned 50, so this will be my 50th birthday present to myself.  I was originally planning to splurge on a nice vacation, but those plans went out the window with covid. Lasik is probably more useful anyways. 

Right now I am 90% sure I’m going to do this, though I still need to convince myself of the last 10%, but I think I’m going to get Lasik surgery. I recently turned 50, so this will be my 50th birthday present to myself.  I was originally planning to splurge on a nice vacation, but those plans went out the window with covid. Lasik is probably more useful anyways. 

Right now I am 90% sure I’m going to do this, though I still need to convince myself of the last 10%, but I think I’m going to get Lasik surgery. I recently turned 50, so this will be my 50th birthday present to myself.  I was originally planning to splurge on a nice vacation, but those plans went out the window with covid. Lasik is probably more useful anyways. 

Right now I am 90% sure I’m going to do this, though I still need to convince myself of the last 10%, but I think I’m going to get Lasik surgery. I recently turned 50, so this will be my 50th birthday present to myself.  I was originally planning to splurge on a nice vacation, but those plans went out the window with covid. Lasik is probably more useful anyways. 

Right now I am 90% sure I’m going to do this, though I still need to convince myself of the last 10%, but I think I’m going to get Lasik surgery. I recently turned 50, so this will be my 50th birthday present to myself.  I was originally planning to splurge on a nice vacation, but those plans went out the window with covid. Lasik is probably more useful anyways. 

Right now I am 90% sure I’m going to do this, though I still need to convince myself of the last 10%, but I think I’m going to get Lasik surgery. I recently turned 50, so this will be my 50th birthday present to myself.  I was originally planning to splurge on a nice vacation, but those plans went out the window with covid. Lasik is probably more useful anyways. 

Hey--this is some serious art here! This is the art of resilience and adaptability. It is the art of pleasing women who shop at gift boutiques and are obsessed with gnomes. It is the art of kicking Peter Voulkus out of one's head and replacing him with a big nosed little creature in a valentine hat. It is the art of survival.  And, truth be told, it is the art of having a bit of fun. But we shall not speak of this ever again.

big pot practice

I’ve been in studio deep clean mode this week. I usually do this before my annual holiday sale. But since I didn’t have people coming inside this year, I did it after the sale, and had more time to do a more thorough job.

I’ve been in studio deep clean mode this week. I usually do this before my annual holiday sale. But since I didn’t have people coming inside this year, I did it after the sale, and had more time to do a more thorough job.

We have been considering moving for several years, since 2021 is still an unknown it might be time to pack up my studio/workshop and go for it. Thought of how much equipment and supplies etc I have is really quite daunting so I might just procrastinate a bit longer.
2020 BUH-BYE! (kind of looks like a trimming chuck so I figured I can get away with posting this)
 

I’ve been in studio deep clean mode this week. I usually do this before my annual holiday sale. But since I didn’t have people coming inside this year, I did it after the sale, and had more time to do a more thorough job.

I’ve been in studio deep clean mode this week. I usually do this before my annual holiday sale. But since I didn’t have people coming inside this year, I did it after the sale, and had more time to do a more thorough job.

As I mentioned in the Events section, I have a big show coming up soon. Lots of good stuff coming out of the kilns now.

More photo play.

Tough decisions as we get older @Dottie. Most o f this is personal decision, but I will let you know what I have been doing. Retired 2009, do part time pottery mostly in the non Winter months. I have had cysts, with bone spurs, one operated on, and it killed the joint on the rt thumb. I recycle all my clay with wedging, and throw most of my pieces. I used to pull handles with my rt hand, but now use an extruder to make handles for mugs and other pieces that require handles. I used to take NSAID for pain, mostly just before bowling, as I am an avid bowler at 3 times a week. I have found that the pain of the hands goes away when I am using them. The more I use them the longer the pain seems to stay away. However. as I used to teach most handbuilding techniques in HS, I know how much the pinch pot forms can affect the hands, especially as you get older. Maybe you could resort to a hybrid form with coils, or extruded forms working on the sculptural pieces that way. I think if you love what you do you will find ways to adapt.
 
best,
Pres

With only three shows on the fall schedule, I have time to do things that are outside of my usual inventory plans. The taller one is 14 inches tall. Both were thrown in two sections, about 9 lbs of clay in each vase.  

From Labor Day's glaze firing
Clockwise, top left,
  Test tiles for "waste" glaze (retained, settled, sieved and adjusted cleanup, wipe off, etc. - just over 1.5 gallons; it's "free!"), crazes over these clays, may fit buff and red clays better, tbd
  New lower expansion liner glaze (per recent entry to https://community.ceramicartsdaily.org/topic/19922-clay-composition-and-crazing), goes on well, looking good so far - more testing required. I'm not minding the specks, which may be from petalite, as all the other ingredients have been used in previous low expansion trials...
  Am still liking the Lakeside Clear Blue, here over white clay; the lower part is BVG Rutile Green, which mutes the carved red slip - will be trying this again.
  Really liking this tin chrome red, here over Cassius. This firing, no bloating in the black clay pieces, likely due to extended bisque (longer holds at critical temps).
  Selsor Faux Celedon (with some minor coe adjustment) over buff clay - really like this look.
 

With only three shows on the fall schedule, I have time to do things that are outside of my usual inventory plans. The taller one is 14 inches tall. Both were thrown in two sections, about 9 lbs of clay in each vase.  

With only three shows on the fall schedule, I have time to do things that are outside of my usual inventory plans. The taller one is 14 inches tall. Both were thrown in two sections, about 9 lbs of clay in each vase.  

With only three shows on the fall schedule, I have time to do things that are outside of my usual inventory plans. The taller one is 14 inches tall. Both were thrown in two sections, about 9 lbs of clay in each vase.  

Local pottery Association throwout a challenge every so often.  Latest is "Hug".
These two are drying, ready for bisque.  If they survive they will go into a wood-fired kiln at end of August.  Probably no glaze, might give them a wash with oxides, might not.
Hardest things I've made in a long time.  The standing pair are the third attempt, previous just collapsed.  They're small, as you can probably tell by the half-sized washing up sponge.

another battery votive 

I made a thing. I was originally thinking garlic box, but...