LeeU

Way cool!! (yep-link works fine) BTW--I tried to find you on Pinterest but no luck--what is the name of your board? I searched for Hyn Patty.

I came to the conclusion that low fire materials just didn't work for me for items needing to hold liquid..especially over time, and if given/sold to other people. It meant spending a fair amount of time (and a definate loss of money) learning how to make the chemistry/glaze ingredients/porosity etc. all working in conjunction. Mid-fire (or high) fire claybodies and glazes were way more likely to result in the desired maturity & glaze fit. I used low fire more for decorative ware that is not subject to freezing temps, no oven/microwave/grill, no liquids or wet food (like a tray for pretzels is OK) , or not something that will get lots of handling (depending on the object and it's purpose). ALso did a fair amount of reading, taking a course/class (today it is videos), to learn the basics before spending on trail & error.

Just curious...why low-fire earthen ware rather than mid-fire stoneware?

Might be worth checking out this organization https://adoptapotter.org.uk/ and https://erasmusintern.org/traineeship/apprentice-ceramic-studio-crete The 2024 deadlines have passed, but maybe they have other leads to suggest.

I use Peggy Heer’s orIgInal Spooze, which is, essentially, 1/3 ea. clay, vinegar & corn syrup. Sorry-too tired to find the recipe, but it's online. I use this when I want to join or mend something or fill in a crack on dried greenware. It works great for my purpose. (which is not production/retail/professional). It has never failed!

Just for fun, I made a few "unsophisticated" rattles a couple of years ago. I used different clay bodies for the shell and the inner beads, in various combinations, like glazed or unglazed balls inside, the same size or mixed, small or large, a lot or a few--the container might be a grogged stoneware, a thin procelain, or a high-iron red. The range of sounds are fascinating--from light and tingley to a drum-like heavyness. This one is afavorite, that I use to sit in on a music jam at a local community center--I have no musical talent whatsoever, but "playing" the rattle I can pull off.

My entire collection, from the early 80s to the present. Binder on the left holds my (pre-internet) tech sheets from many sources; the Nelson, Lawrence, Penland, Clark, & Rhodes are the bibles from back in my school days; Pitelka and Branfman were added from recommendations here; Seagrove, a gift from a friend; two (Beware & Road) from John Baymore of NHIA (who helped me get back intoi ceramics); one (Surface) from Maureen Mills (NHIA & NH Potters Guild) and one, signed, from Marcia Selsor, previously on this forum. How & why I got each book, what I learned and still refer to, and what they (the books & the people) mean in my life matter to me as much as the contents. Fun topic!

My clay is indoors. It's a low production home hobby studio (I'm no longer doing retail in stores). It's tight at first, but I can fit two 25 lb sleeves in a 5 gal. painters bucket. Those sit on plant dollies. Works great!

Thanks Min & Babs--I'll lightly dampen, use the wash, wipe it back (yes/Amaco) & do a thin clear over it. It's a catchall tray for a friend's BD.

Quick question---for single fire, cone 5-6, standard white clay body---if I used Manganese Wash "as is" all over on this piece, would it accentuate the texture/outlines, like for the pig, or should it be applied over-- or under--a clear or ivory glaze OR would I be better off not using it and doing something else???? I haven't used the managese before but am willing to take a calculated risk. Thanks-the piece has to go into my next kiln load regardless.

I have a fully functioning home studio and would like to "pass on" a lot of it now! But: (1) I'm emotionally obstructed-just can't do the sorting/labeling/organizing/marketing , even calling on helpers is just too much right now, and; (2) I have too much $ invested to just give it away (plus need some money soon for a pending family situation). So--maybe I'll get lucky and pass on before I fret too much over the current state of affairs LOL. If that should be the case, I have dumped it, in my Will, in a friend's lap. He's instructed to either give it all to the NH Potter's Guild (they'd have to take everything, no cherry picking--if they want my L&L 23EZ & nice Brent wheel, the tools, etc. they gotta take all the containers of dried clay trimmings & dried glazes too) or he may sell everything and keep the proceeds. NH colleges/university have suffered the same down-turn for ceramics departments and even just scattered courses as other states have, so donating to a school is a non-starter.

I am here to support the always interesting, always informative, always fun QotW and it's master Host. As for surprizes in my clay---never, nada, nothin'. Just here for support.

No--nope--not chance--not worth it. Taking such high risk with any kiln (and especially someone else's with other people's stuff it) is just plain looking for trouble.

gotta say--envy, envy--that's gorgeous! must be very satisfying to use

I didn't have my own tools, other than the barest of the absolute basics, when I was getting into ceramics. I was on welfare, a Pell grant for art school, raising a child by myself, and, well duh, never had any money. My favorite tools were a few gismos I made from 1/2 to an inch & a half-thick live branches from some southern tree-like magnolia or crepe myrtle. I was into texture & sculptural curves (still am) so I crafted them to multi-task & to make interesting surfaces. They served like a potter's thumb, a throwing stick, and other variations recognizable standard tools. Stopped claywork to go earn a living & packed them away in a lovely special box. But I lost them all in the shuffle, when I moved from VA to NH. Now I've got just about every tool one could ever want, tho no high-end metals or master-favored designs, and no Griffin grip, which I guess isn't really a tool anyway LOL . My favorites these days are still those unintended for ceramics--the turkey quill, the drawer knobs, the pastry cutter, the dental tools, chop sticks, etc. etc. And, yeah, the fingers!