alabama

Stained and glazed cistern. Copy of an early 18th century vessel dated 1717.
Takes entire 25 lb.clay...about 13 lbs.for bottom, and 12 for the top half, plus lid.

Yesterday's firing. The black spiral design is new and required practice.!! And there are 6 spiraled designs, not the normal four!!! Try it!

Yesterday's firing. The black spiral design is new and required practice.!! And there are 6 spiraled designs, not the normal four!!! Try it!

This year I made a dozen or so little flat bottomed, flat sided cylindrical dog and cat dishes. They are not proving hot sellers although I know for certain they will sell online so I'm not concerned. One problem I have with my displays (This is now the third time ever that I have set up an in-person show) is that I don't get enough height in the back. So when I have a shelf with lots of mugs they are all sitting there in a boring row around the same height.
 
Well last night I went around and used the dog bowls turned upside down as pedestals! I'm totally delighted because they add to the color of the shelf and height too. Next year I'm going to specifically make as many of them as I can in a huge batch ahead of time just to use as pedestals! I'm going to make some of a third height as well. I hated the idea of buying acrylic display props. This is much much better to me!

center tray is done at 5% copper carb, the others at 3 or 4. happier with the 5% but it has to be applied thickly.

Firing greenware pottery on Massacre Island in the pouring rain. One vessel is getting soaked, while the other is under the pile of sticks, fixing to be fired.
 
Alabama

Clay beads ready to fire plus the arrowhead I found on the way. Its a mid archaic atlatl blank,not finished, and was made about 1000-1500 years before pottery in the USA. Beads are untempered and were made with a bamboo skewer. Beads have twice the moisture content of pottery!

Coil built, Shell tempered, burnished, pit fired, post fired engraved. Typical 15th century Mississippian Culture pottery. Pre-fired engraved on greenware is much, much easier...happen to have a senior moment at the time! Oh, my pit fire crew is Heidi Boxer and Kelli Stray dog. Heidi is going on 13.
The mussel shells were burnt, then crushed, then added to the river clay.

Coosa river clay vein at Jordan Dam Landing. The Baretta M9 15 case is for scale. The vein is exposed is about 5 feet thick and 25 feet long, which could be a lifetime supply. About 20 pounds were collected and should be processed and bowls made tomorrow. Since I'm off work Friday, I'll try firing then to see if the clay is worth using!
See ya,
Alabama

Coil built, Shell tempered, burnished, pit fired, post fired engraved. Typical 15th century Mississippian Culture pottery. Pre-fired engraved on greenware is much, much easier...happen to have a senior moment at the time! Oh, my pit fire crew is Heidi Boxer and Kelli Stray dog. Heidi is going on 13.
The mussel shells were burnt, then crushed, then added to the river clay.

The sun came back just after the sticks burned away. The bowl is finished.
 
Alabama

Stained stoneware stein to be glazed with opaque brown/tan glaze.

Copy of German stein in the making.

Copy of German stein in the making.

Copy of German stein in the making.

Copy of German stein in the making.

This is a before and after example of wooden spoons made into ribs on a stick.
 
Where can you get a rib on a stick for $1.75?

The four elements are depicted on the sides of this bowl. This side is waves.

Cup on left is 1550 Belgium copy. Middle cup is 1680 Netherland. Pitcher on right,
is 1725 French, with extended base, incised rim(before pulling spout) and long round handle, tall neck, and short round body. Pitcher should be green, but after a "walk on the wild side", glazed it in brown. This type can be seen in 1735 Chardin paintings and are usually white or green.

Pit fired pottery from Saturday's demonstration. Four feed sacks of wood was enough to fire 5 vessels.

Two egg bakers. 325 degrees for 25 minutes. Sometimes their more tough
than reg. boiled eggs, but not bad. The brown spots wash off when rinsed.

Belgium 1550 AD. Cone 10 Trinity Red stone ware reduction.
Three pounds clay.
Seeya,
Alabama