alabama

Saturday I fired about 6 vessels out in the yard plus made some sun tea.

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

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

This just might be the year I wish I had air-conditioning. However, my highest power bill,this yr. is $27.00.

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.

Getting ready for another pottery demonstration for next. month.

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

Well, the presentation on pottery is over, and I hope its the last. Now I can get on to more important things like pottery to fire and post in the gallery. I do better demonstrating than public speaking.

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?

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. :>)

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?" :>)

Well, mixing all the different clays together worked for the pit fired bowls. I decided to make a fiber tempered vessel and didn't remember how to add Spanish Moss to clay, so I threw 8 lbs. clay on top of a mass of moss...Did not work...So I cut the Spanish Moss into 4 inch sections and wedged that in bit by bit. That worked, so I added moss until I got tired adding moss. Now all there is to do is to fire it next week.

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!!!

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.

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.