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alabama

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  1. A couple of months ago I was looking for gray clay about 55 miles from Slapout when the property owner drove past an abandoned, early 20th c. tenant house falling in on itself. I asked do you want those bricks, and would you trade pottery for them? He can't wait for me to get the bricks so he can enjoy some pottery!!! The house has two chimneys and several pillars for footings. Should be enough for a kiln or two. :>)

    1. Biglou13

      Biglou13

      Unless you you fire very very very low. Most architectural bricks will not make a good kiln

  2. Am I the only one to receive offers to give a one to one free workshops to total strangers?

    1. Show previous comments  10 more
    2. Denice

      Denice

      I get request all the time. I get kind of offended because they act like they can learn in 4 hours the knowledge I have acquired over 40 years.

    3. Evelyne Schoenmann

      Evelyne Schoenmann

      I'm from Europe and didn't get any offers. Should I be offended? Embarassed? Left out? ;-)

    4. Chilly

      Chilly

      No offers for me either, but when I was an IT trainer, I did "at-desk" training and the department finance guys would get upset that we charged the participant plus any colleagues who gathered around and watched. Our answer was that if you got on a bus and your friend was "just coming with you", they too would have to pay!

  3. an archaeologist friend of mine is currently working on the relocation of southeastern Indian tribes based on cerarefevidence. After the collapse of the chiefdom societies the tribes dispersed in all directions leaving a trail of ceramic debris. The timeline is from 1050 to 1700 CE!

    1. Show previous comments  1 more
    2. Chris Campbell

      Chris Campbell

      Hearing that always makes me worry about what they will say about my shard piles!

       

    3. glazenerd

      glazenerd

      Amazing that civilizations and cultures disappear- but the ceramics remain.

    4. ChenowethArts

      ChenowethArts

      Having grown up in Middle GA, I'd love to see how his research turns out.

  4. Bought two more books today...got my own copy of Traditional Pottery of Papua New Guinea and ceramics:A world guide to traditional techniques, which I haven't read! I read TP of Papua NG about 30 years ago.....

    1. glazenerd

      glazenerd

      Such announcements require pictures of the end product.

    2. alabama

      alabama

      I did a senior research project in college identifying 36 methods of decorating primitive pottery and making an example of each one. So this new book should have examples of modern pottery I guess!!! We'll see. The book should be here in a couple of days!

  5. Don't ya hate insomnia? My day starts in a few hours!

    1. ChenowethArts

      ChenowethArts

      It certainly isn't fun...'sorry.

    2. GiselleNo5

      GiselleNo5

      I feel your pain. The last two nights, my mind would not stop so I lay there for hours. Sometimes I just get up and go to work but I kept hoping I would go back to sleep.

    3. Mark C.

      Mark C.

      work harder sleep better-thats my motto

  6. Don't you hate finding out that the Mobile, Ala event you're planning to go on Dec. 12th is actually on Dec.5th? Time to rush!

    1. Show previous comments  1 more
    2. GiselleNo5

      GiselleNo5

      Ooooh. Better than figuring it out on Dec. 6th. O.O

       

    3. Callie Beller Diesel
    4. Benzine

      Benzine

      Who needs sleep?...

  7. Don't you hate it when you log on the gallery to see Bunny and Dragon illustrated pottery and see a vessel that you don't remember posting?

  8. Finally found the book I have been looking for online, so I bought two copies. Its name is "Aboriginal Pottery of the Southeastern United States", by Holmes. So far, the books purchased for this article I haven't written has cost $200. On the bright side, they're pretty good references. See ya later.

    1. Show previous comments  3 more
    2. Evelyne Schoenmann

      Evelyne Schoenmann

      I think I can beat you Alabama: just wanted to buy this book Pottery Techniques of Native North America: An Introduction to Traditional Technology

      59 pages! Swissfrancs 104.00

      I mean, seriously!! We are potters, no millionaires...

    3. Marcia Selsor

      Marcia Selsor

      Have you tried interlibrary loans?

       

    4. alabama

      alabama

      Hey,

      I have done interlibrary loans...they work extremely well, but I had forgotten the correct name of the book and author. I received notification today that the native Indian pottery book has been shipped. If I hadn't loaned my first copy of this book to someone who swore to return it over ten years ago, I wouldn't be going thru this mess!!!

      Let this be a lesson about loaning books to friends and family, and DON'T lend books!!

  9. finally got the pug mill back in operation. Will start making something functional later.(steins)

    1. Denice

      Denice

      A stein was the first piece of pottery that I kept in my first throwing class.

  10. Friday, a friend brought his issue of Collectors Guide to Indian Pipes over, and the day was spent making Iroquois Tulip and Trumpet pipes, and one Creek pipe. Was able to use my new burnishing stone from Wisconsin. It makes great striations in Indian bowls.:)

    1. Denice

      Denice

      Great project, what kind of rock is your burnishing stone? I have never found one in Kansas that I am totally happy with.

  11. Getting ready for another pottery demonstration for next. month.

  12. Getting ready for Pirate Weekend on Massacre Island/Mobile, Ala. next Saturday. Checklist includes eye patch, dogs, sticks, greenware, and some fired pottery! Must practice saying, Arrrrrr! :)

    1. Show previous comments  2 more
    2. Roberta12

      Roberta12

      Parrot?? Gotta parrot?

    3. alabama

      alabama

      Yep, found my parrot! I have one 5 gallon bucket of river clay soaking down now. Will make pottery tomorrow to pit fire Saturday. Planning to take 8 greenware vessels for firing demo. This is a first time event, with 150 participants!!! Thx for reminding me of the parrot!!!

    4. Marko

      Marko

      aarrrrrr, matie

  13. I hate filling out employment applications and resume even if it means a 75 percent wage increase...now the wait for the call begins! :)

    1. Mark C.

      Mark C.

      I have no idea what that feels like -my last one was in the middle to early 70's

      I do know about waiting for the phone to ring

    2. Evelyne Schoenmann

      Evelyne Schoenmann

      My fingers are crossed for you Alabama! Hugs

  14. I have about 7 greenware vessels to fire Saturday at Ft Toulouse's Frontier Days. There is currently an 80% chance of rain...As long as its not pouring down there is always a chance to fire.

    1. Rebekah Krieger

      Rebekah Krieger

      I can't wait to see if you make them! Pics when done?

       

  15. I usually demonstrate firing pottery 3 or 4 times a year. Responses range from "Wow, that's great!!!" to "Is that all there is to it? yawn!" Every 4 years there is the kid who asks, "Is that a real fire?" :>)

  16. I'm thinking about demonstrating at Ft. Yargo, GA March 28th. Just have to work out several details, such as dog care, pottery, and crossing state lines. ;)

    1. ChenowethArts

      ChenowethArts

      As log as you have a valid US passport, Georgia officials will probably let you cross the state line...greeting a highway patrol officer with "War Eagle" might keep you away from your dog for a bit longer. *grin*

    2. Cavy Fire Studios

      Cavy Fire Studios

      Lmao! "Dog care" is the first thing on your agenda. You sound like me, only replace "dog" with "zoo." :D

  17. I'm tired of stepping on and over bags of clay, so I'm putting it all in 5 gal. buckets adding water and mixing it up by hand. This includes bags of river clay, stoneware, red earthenware, and anything from the yard or garage. So far its one big tacky mess, but should be ok once I add the sand and gravel and fire this weekend. I have at least two more buckets to collect!!!

    1. Chris Campbell

      Chris Campbell

      That sounds like a ton of work ... sleep well tonight for sure.

       

    2. Babs

      Babs

      yeh sounds good.I did this once, was called to other areas of my life and ended up with dried buckets of stuff, no drama but had to empty out and crush ..... c'eset la vie if your a clay person.

    3. alabama

      alabama

      Chris, its not too bad. For a wedging board, I took scrap plywood and cut it to fit a pillow case. I divide the clay in halves and pull the wire tool thru it until it can be wedged. Maybe an hour, plus some. I'm amazed at the amount of clay in every crook and cranny.

  18. It rained all night but I still have to fire one vessel. This is why I have sticks bagged up year round.

  19. Just got a call from a friend, telling me where a new source of clay is down by the river. He says there are two veins, a grey vein and a beige vein. Will test each one shortly. He said someone has really been digging into it.

  20. just got. back from picking up 1000 lbs clay from Trinity Clay East in Florence, Alabama! A 214 mile trip!!!

    1. Show previous comments  3 more
    2. alabama

      alabama

      From my front door to theirs, non stop is 3 1/2 hours. Highway most of the time!

    3. Joseph Fireborn

      Joseph Fireborn

      Nice. I need to start buying in bulk. I usually buy 200-300# at a time, but my supplier is like 45 minutes away. Lucky me.

    4. alabama

      alabama

      I buy it in bulk to save money. 1000 lbs. = 31 cents a pound. See if you can buy 1000 lbs. and pick it up in two trips! If its worth it. That way it also keeps the clay fresh/soft.

  21. Just ordered "In The Shadow of the Secret Grove" by Carol Spindle...It should have a section on pottery of the Ivory Coast!!

    1. alabama

      alabama

      Dear spell check, the name is C. Spindel.

  22. Just ordered Ceramics in America 1977: Early English Delftware!!! by Noel Hume's seems like it will be a colonial pottery edition by Mr. Hume's!! we'll see in 10 days!

  23. Just ordered the book, "Surrey Whitewares: Part 4". Since it a book on Medieval pottery I don't expect any whitewares! :)

  24. Just received book, "Ceramics: A World Guide to Traditional Techniques by Bryan Sentence. My initial 5 minutes of looking thru it is positive! Seems like more wheel throw pottery than coiled but that's fine. Its not real in depth cause it covers a lot. I give it two opposable thumbs up! :)

  25. just received my newest book on Medieval pottery. I think the entire name is "A Dated Type-Series of London Medieval Pottery, Part 4: Surrey Whitewares" 1988. Its full of pictures, illustrations, and archaeological data. The last ten minutes have been great!!

    1. Evelyne Schoenmann

      Evelyne Schoenmann

      I can imagine that you enjoy reading that book. I am envious... ;-)

    2. alabama

      alabama

      Yes, this book seems to rank up there with copies of my Tunica Treasure, German Stoneware: 1200-1900, & Pre-Industrial Utensils. The Surrey Whiteware book has decoration examples of trailing, incising, punctuation, sprigging, and modeling. This is about the 7th pottery book in the last couple of months!

       

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