alabama

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

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 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?" :>)

Getting ready for another pottery demonstration for next. month.

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.

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

Saturday, went to à boat landing to check out à new vein of clay. Haven't had time to soak it in water, or make anything, but it does appear promising.

purchased Pottery Techniques of Nati e North America today...meanwhile the other pottery books are starting to show up!

My newest clay turned out to be a secondary source judging from the amount of rocks and sand. It looked promising while digging it, and as it slaked down, but failed the test of the wire tool.!!!

waiting for river to go down to further check out the latest clay source. will have to find out if it a primary or secondary vein. Next Saturday should be ok.

Made the trip down Rapids Road to the clay source today.. Seems to be a primary source judging from the density of the clay and lack of roots and pebbles..

last night I made clay beads from the new clay vein. I will fire them to test how they hold up when pinched. Will try to post a picture tomorrow.

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

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!

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!