Pres
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Posts posted by Pres
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Hulk recently asked in the QotW pool:
How has your work progressed in terms of thickness and shape(s)?
Several folk have worked toward thin/light sections, then moved away from the extreme for strength, durability and feel. Just into my third year, I have turned away from thin, for the most part.
I have over the years done much of what Hulk has said, first pushing myself for thinner, lighter pieces. As a beginner, I had to learn to get the most out of the bottom of the pot on the first few pulls, and to keep the walls consistently thinner as the pot got talle, until the thickening of the lip. As I started teaching HS students about throwing I went through a lot of introspection of my own throwing to discover what I did differently from a beginning thrower so that I could tip the scales in their favor. The beginning of a pull is soo important, whereas most would think it is later in the pull.
Recently though, I have found that I still like to throw light, but am more concerned with surface, texture, form. I also find that form follows function, and weight supports function. For example, lately I have been making 10# floor vases. I could make them 6 or 7 # for the same size, but prefer to make them 10#. . .mainly because it is a lot harder to knock over a 10# vase than an a 6# vase. As for function, the earlier jars I was giving as vases had too large a neck and base to control the flowers. The newer ones have a narrow s curve shape with a base of decent diameter that controls any flowers placed in it without having to have them tied together to control them.
So, once again. . and thank you Hulk for posting the question.
QotW: How has your work progressed in terms of thickness and shape(s)?
best,
Pres
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Now that crunch on crunch is solvable, I used to use the a paste cleaning compound with grit in it on lids of vanity boxes. put it on the bottom, little water, put lid on and spin away. I often would use the griffin grip to help me get it done quickly. They would feel silky afterward, and no crunchy sound. Made them much nicer. I would think that the same type of paste would work on lids for growlers.
best,
Pres
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My weight is down on all this. I have adopted a lower cholesterol diet in line with my diabetes diet. Between the two, it has forced me to become more vegetarian. I am actually finding that if I don't think of meat replacement as meat, but protein, I'm not bad off. The new bowls are fantastic for eggbeaters, and I am getting creative with capers, fiery mustard, worchestire sauce, or chili lime seasoning, with a little cheese and hot sauce. Oatmeal cooked in micro at level 7 does not boil over. Learning all sorts of new stuff. More riced frozen cauliflower and other veggies.
best,
Pres
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My grandaughter enters Pitt for her Freshman year. . . on line! Classes will resume in January. I would imagine there are going to be a lot of gimme's here. The class of 2020 may never graduate, she is first or second in her class, just got a scholarship, Harriet Tubman award. No awards ceremony. There is a rumor graduation and such will be held in August here in PA. This is really a game changer, where will we end up going forward. Will we learn anything from this?
best,
Pres
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Hi folks, once again not new question in the pool, so I will try once again to elicit some response. QotW: What are your beliefs about the time to reopen the economy and returning to Summer craft shows or should we wait until the Winter season? I am sure to have a mix of answers, but then it seems to be a political football, lets keep it civil and keep politics out of it>
My own perspective is biased, I will admit. I do pottery, taught pottery, love pottery, like selling and don't turn down most orders. However, I am retired, I'm now at the hill going into my 70's, I don't need the money as much as I need the feeling of being useful, productive and involved in something I love doing. For me, the lockdown has been difficult, not knowing where things are headed, uncertain about the risk of even grocery shopping or going out. I take a short drive with my wife just to get out of the house, no stops, just an old time drive. . . gas is cheap. I am filling orders for Communion sets, mixing glazes, popping popcorn, packing up and mailing. So much of what I am into is normal, but. . . . I haven't been bowling in over 3 weeks obviously. I walk around the house for steps, do my usual exercises, and go to the shop. Lots of reading, some xbox, some tv. Lots of cooking at home as we used to usually go out. I would love to be able to be out and about again, but I look at the death rates from day to day, the number of increasing cases and think it is not possible yet, and I hope that all is over by September when we have a cruise planned. Everything is up in the air, and I think I'm really lucky, retired, not teaching ceramics on line, or trying to keep my chin up if I were working at a large factory closed down for who knows.
QotW: What are your beliefs about the time to reopen the economy and returning to Summer craft shows or should we wait until the Winter season? So what is your call?
best,
Pres
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Hi folks, trying to think of new topics is tough, but. . . . .QotW: What are you doing for exercise beyond working in the shop?
Myself, I have been working in the shop at least 4 hours a day, usually an hour of wedging/recycling, 3 hours of throwing. I also have been getting in the 10,000 steps a day and doing my usual push ups and planks. I go to be tired, and sleep well. I had been so used to going bowling, and doing the walking out in stores and such before, especially when the weather was cold and nasty, but now that it is better, I do walk around the block. . .staying away from others. I feel for those out there that do not have company at home, and do not have relatives nearby, or any other support group. . . it must be really tough. I hope all of you are doing something to keep your energy levels up and your spirits well as this is a difficult time,
Once again, QotW: What are you doing for exercise beyond working in the shop?
bless all,
Pres
- Bill Kielb and Hulk
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Yeah I have a box of the overnight oats, will try the cold, did not think of warming it up in the micro. I am going this way as I am diabetic, and have cholesterol over 200. Thing is Dr. determined diabetes may have been a result of of the Lipitor I was on for 15 years. So not interested in statins anymore, but I have beat the diabetes with diet and exercise, and will try the same on both fronts.
On another note, it is really nice to get into the shop with a few warmer days.
best,
Pres
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Thanks for the tip, I will be modifying my strategy so as to try not to have the last mess I had, even though the oatmeal was extremely good. Have to also remember to cut back on liquid when adding frozen berries.
best,
Pres
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I'm thinking maybe longer time lower level.
best,
Pres
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We have been playing with a bit of breakfast of late, as we usually have not cooked breakfast since retiring. My wife and I would go to a Mom and Pop, drink coffee read our books and get breakfast served. Oh well, new time of late. So we started fixing egg beaters or egg whites in the microwave, there is a company out there that makes a breakfast kit including a plastic bowl, some fixings(cheese, veggies, meats) with instructions on how to fix it. Hmmm only took one time for us to realize we can do the same so much better. This was today's breakfast for me, 1/2 cup of egg beaters=two eggs, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic, onion and green pepper, a pinch of cheese. 1 1/2 minutes in the microwave, take out fork stir, and then 1 minute more. Perfect, really fluffy eggs. I am working on the same thing with oatmeal, but still haven't figured out the perfect bowl for boil over.
best,
Pres
- neilestrick, Rae Reich, Min and 3 others
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A well built motorized wheel is really a step up from the motorized kick. I still miss some of the good things like the timed gradual slowing during a pull, or the large splash, or the ability to moove the wheel with the foot while decorating, but. .. . Glad to hear you got the new wheel, I am certain your skill level will increase greatly as you get into it.
best,
Pres
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Folks, it has taken me a while to come up with a new QotW, Sorry, I just didn't have a question in mind. However, a fe things have come up that made me think about the future, and how things have gotten to where priorities are being set where we never would have thought they would go. So. . . QotW: In these troubled times, have you come to any new revelations, or changed plans for your pottery moving forward?
This week, I had an email from one of my 20+ year customers for Communion sets. These are usually sent to seminary schools as a special award to new graduates going into the ministry. They are given as part of the graduation ceremony. As you have probably guessed no ceremony this year. I will be sending the sets directly to the recipients of the award. Wonder how they feel having only the award, and not the ceremony and celebration of their accomplishments?
So I usually send these in a single 14"X14"X14" box filled with popcorn with chalice and paten wrapped in bubble wrap. The box is highly compressed and taped to seal it. I have only lost a few pieces over the years, and those only when my son packed one year when I was away. At any rate these boxes came from Walmart, and were great to keep the price down on shipping. This year Walmart did not have the boxes in stock, and haven't for weeks. Shopping on line the boxes would be shipped 3 weeks later than ordered as shipping was by priority of need?? I imagine food, and masks/gloves etc. were shipped first. Interesting. I did find an Amazon supplier that had two day shipping so I'm good. However this is at double the price, and lots of 25. No big deal, but it does point out some of the new realities we may be dealing with.
I am glad to be sequestered in the shop, and at home, my wife and I enjoy our time reading, working around the house, watching a select few televisioon shows and cooking. This has also led to an idea for microwave egg pots. We have been microwaving eggbeaters lately as they are so fluffy, we mix in onions, peppers, a little cheese and in about 1-3 minutes we have perfect eggs.
So what have you noticed or had revealed about the coronavirus times? QotW: In these troubled times, have you come to any new revelations, or changed plans for your pottery moving forward?
best,
Pres
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My granddaughter had had a stomach virus about 3 weeks ago, stayed at home sick vomiting, with a fever. Her parents self quarantined her not allowing her out of the house for two weeks after. Easy once the school closed. Now she meets with her friends a few time a week. . . .they drive to an empty parking lot, sit in their cars and talk to each other in comfort. Go figure!
best,
Pres
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Oldlady, suggested and Project image tutorial for the QotW. I convinced her that sort of thing really belonged in the "Studio Operations and Making Work" section. She agreed. I am setting this up for anyone that would like to show others a brief tutorial of how to do some technique or project. If you have already done this here, repost it in this area, couldn't hurt. I believe everyone may be looking for something to occupy their time, and this may help.
best,
Pres
- Hulk, liambesaw, melbrandle and 1 other
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Oldlady, maybe you could find some recipes on line for treats for your dog. Don't know, just thinking. Pets are important.
best,
Pres
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Okay, how can I ignore it. As much as a big part of me wants to overlook or stay away from this question, it is historic just from the amount of media exposure on it. I realize that within the last century or two there have been far worse diseases out there, and a much higher death/survival rate than we have now. . . but the world has become a smaller place. So I will ask as the QotW: What are your concerns about the coronovirus impact on your health and your livelihood and passion?
My daughter has been harking at my wife and myself to stay at home, and not go out. Protect ourselves as we are older, 70 & 72. We have been going out to lunch or dinner, at less traveled time granted. We go to grocery stores and have stocked up. I have continued my bowling and may continue if not canceled this week. Until Wed. I was ready to go to NCECA. Have I changed anything? I haven't visited my father, who is 93, and having health problems, even though I really want to... . he lives 2hrs away. We don't tarry anywhere, and try to stay away from malls, and larger groups, but we try not to let it put us in quarantine. I do have health concerns as I am mildly diabetic. . .meaning that I control my diabetes with no use of medication, my wife is mildly asthmatic and hypertensive. In the long run we will adjust as we can, watching the news and often checking virus maps for recent cases. So far we have not had any cases in the 4 county area we live in.
I have communion set orders that will need filling at the end of the month, but that is always by mail. Wondering if they will readjust the dates for the awards also as the colleges are closed.
So I ask once again QotW: What are your concerns about the coronovirus impact on your health and your livelihood and passion?
best,
Pres
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I have one from the late 70's. I do my best to make repairs often and keep it in good working order replacing elements, switches wiring blocks and wiring as needed. Replace lids and bottoms also. Not a whole lot of work, I do happen to have an L&L, and the bricks get very little wear.
best,
Pres
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Boy, would I like to have your supplier listing!
best,
Pres
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QotW: What are your beliefs about the time to reopen the economy and returning to Summer craft shows?
in Int'l Ceramic Artists Network (ICAN) Operations and Benefits
Posted
I was one of the ones ahead of the curve with white boards, as I often taught night classes in visual programs. I used the white boards and other projection equipment to aid in demonstrating techniques to classes in Photoshop, Corel Draw, Illustrator, the Gimp. Much of this was due to my teaching animation classes in the HS starting in 1987.
best,
Pres