Quiet Voice

You know there are times when I feel like a school teacher- forever having to ask LL to use his 'quiet voice' in that particular patient tone teachers employ. Other times all he wants to do is make things in clay*, "just like Daddy." Today was a bit of both with excess noise through the middle and peaceful, creative fun later. As for the morning, that was taken up with learning to swim butterfly stroke.

Although never referred to as "Nana" this apron was one of mum's favourites for the little guy and has proved very useful over the years. Still fits just.















*Real potter's stoneware clay, not plastercine or play-dough. Thankfully at present he's not too fussed about getting it fired.

On The Slide

Have just uploaded images on my latest and last (for now) pot the Webshots. This is a tilted pot, thrown on an angled 'bat' on the potter's wheel. It's quite difficult to get right but a whole lot of fun to do and the end result is in my opinion very pleasing.

Porcelain Green over Blue Grey glaze on a Stoneware pot.
















Please take a look at the General Ceramics folder (you'll need to go to about page 16) and let me know what you think.

BST

Last night our clocks went forward an hour, into British Summer Time, bringing with it lighter evenings and the first outing of my short trousers and flip-flops (or thongs as the Aussies would say).

So I spent a good few hours today doing a few chores about the garden, having a bit of a tidy up before planting my first crop of seed potatoes, which should be ready towards early July. I had quite a bit of success last year and a whole lot of fun, finger's crossed for this year. In addition I've sown 5 varieties of Chilli Pepper, which are now in pots on my kitchen window sill waiting to germinate.

Judging by the weather we've had this past week, it looks like we may have a cracking summer in the UK. The flip side of that of course is that due to the lack of rain through winter, we have already been told hose pipe bans will be in place from early April. Oh joy.

Speaking of water, I got home from work on Tuesday to the sound of running water. Seems something nasty has happened to my toilet, which means that until the plumber comes on Wednesday I have to make do with using a bucket to flush. I'm just pleased this happened now, if it was going to happen at all, rather than when GFDU was here. I can just imagine the conversation: " Welcome to England. By they way we're so backward here, we have to use this to flush with." LOL.

Followers to this blog might also like to know I have uploaded images of three more pots to Webshots. You'll need to navigate your way to about page 15 for the latest stuff.

And finally the Royals continue their push for promotion.

24 March Reading 3 - 1 Blackpool

Here's how the top part of the Championship looks at present:

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Diff	Pts
1	Southampton	39	23	9	7	72	35	37	78
2	Reading	39	22	7	10	56	34	22	73
3	West Ham	38	19	12	7	59	38	21	69
4	Brighton	39	17	11	11	48	40	8	62
5	Middlesbrough	38	16	13	9	45	42	3	61
6	Birmingham	38	16	12	10	60	41	19	60
7	Blackpool	39	16	12	11	66	56	10	60
8	Cardiff	39	15	15	9	57	50	7	60
9	Hull	38	16	10	12	38	32	6	58
10	Leeds	39	16	9	14	59	57	2	57

Ceramics

I've just uploaded images of my three latest pots, here. You'll need to find your way to the end of the album, at around page 15 but please take a look and let me know what you think.















Also today LL called me with two pieces of news: he's done well in his swimming class, passed the current level and will move up a class after Easter; and also he's had another tooth fall out. I'm not sure which in his mind is more important but I suspect the Tooth Fairy might have something to do with it LOL.

Elsewhere, the Royals have been doing well recently. They're now firmly in third, only two points off second place.

26 Feb Middlesbrough 0 - 2 Reading
3 Mar Millwall 1 - 2 Reading
6 Mar Reading 1 - 0 Portsmouth

So Soon?*

*Or why I am giving up college again.

In happier times.















My poor car- sometimes referred to as the Dirtmobile- has been a bit poorly of late. I've had it for 9 years now, from new and I'm afraid they just don't build them to last. Anyway the car and I have experienced this past month a rather bad run of expenses/costly repair bills, at just over £900 (about US/AU $1350) all told.

I've a nasty suspicion there will likely be more work necessary in the coming months so I think probably this year I'll have to bite the bullet and say goodbye to my trusty transport and hello to a shiny new set of wheels. Either way my return to college and pottery is going to be short lived, which is a real shame. Having got my hands back in the clay and starting to produce some pleasing forms, I have realised just how much I missed ceramics. The trouble is, I just can't afford the term fees and car repairs/replacement all at the same time.

Obviously I will post images of the finished work in the coming weeks but don't expect too much before another break.

Cowboys And Buses

My recent life in brief...

• Last night I met a friend at the cinema and we saw Cowboys and Aliens. Absolutely brilliant concept and really well executed. Couldn't quite believe it had such a low certificate mind you. Ford and Craig, almost but not quite a movie dream team.


• Love the new series of "Who Do You Think You Are?"


• College beckons again. Seems like ages since I last had my hands in some clay.


• I've recently found someone really important.


• I have resumed work on the loft hatch cover. I intend to be snug this winter no matter how cold it gets.


• After 8 months out of work, just like buses, two different job offers come along in one go. For the record it's not all about the money but the prospect of having to drive 200 miles (about 320 km) each way at least twice a week sure had something to do with my choice.

Tilted

I've just uploaded images of my final (for the moment) two pots. They can be found on Webshots here and as ever will be at the very end of the folder.

Now before you say they look rather wonky, they were thrown on an angled wheel head, as I've previously mentioned. It's pretty b****y tricky I can tell you. Having thrown a nice regular pot, the effect is that when placed to a level surface, the pot leans at a pleasing angle. If I return to ceramics, I think I'll give this another go...

Does My Hair Clash With My Shirt?*

*Or what happens when children are allowed to pick their own clothes LOL.

What a lovely day, with temperatures at 20 degrees Celsius in the shade in my garden. Not bad for early April. In fact an excellent day for playing in the park and then back home for toasted cheese sandwiches. Mmm.

Oh and I should mention I got another pot back from college this past week. It's Marbled Blue, my Stoneware glaze of choice at present. It will be uploaded to Webshots shortly but in the mean time, take a look at this:

Nottingham Forest 3 - 4 Reading

The Royals move to 5th on 66 points.

Cut-Out

I've just uploaded here, 5 images from 2 of my most recent pots. As always the latests pictures are at the far end of the folder.

Stoneware glazes used are Light Oatmeal and Fiord Blue with Blue/Grey. Unfortunately the Oatmeal seems to have run a little too thin and has pretty much burnt away. I'm intending to see if I might be able to re-glaze it in the coming weeks but since the clay has now vitrified, a second glaze may not take and instead simply run off in firing. We'll see and as always I'll publish the outcome.

Wonky

Last week at our monthly West Forest Potters Guild meeting, guest Louisa Taylor demonstrated how to throw a pot using an angled bat. That is in effect puts the Potter's Wheel is at an angle of say 10 or 20 degrees, rather than being the usual horizontal.

Once the clay is centred on the bat, the idea is you can then throw a pot in the normal manner. The outcome of this is a) you learn not to rest your hands on the wheel head and b) the finished pot is beautifully thrown but leans at a pleasing angle.

Here's a couple of images of Louisa demonstrating the technique:

A wad of clay (seen on the left) is used to prop one side of the bat, while Louisa throws a cylinder.

Louisa proudly displays her leaning pot.
















And here's my own humble attempt from last night:

My leaning open bowl.












I threw two pots last night which are now drying and hopefully next week I can work on the bases before sending for bisque firing. It's pretty hard work I can tell you: the surface of the bat moves up and down at a disconcerting speed, while the wheel is rotating.

As always, once they are completed I will post some images here and also on Webshots. These will likely be the last pots I work on for some time- the college term ends in a couple of weeks and due to lack of employment (therefore lack of funds) I'm taking a break. Fingers crossed I get to finish on high note.

Blood

Three unconnected items to mention today:

I've just uploaded a couple of images of my latest work: it's a stoneware bowl with earthenware glazes applied. Crimson Blood and Turquoise so you know.  







Earthenware glazes as a rule give a different range of colours so it can be fun to experiment, provided a basic principle is followed. Stoneware glaze needs to be fired at around 1260 degrees Celsius (about 2300 degrees Fahrenheit) and earthenware clay can only be fired to about 1080 degrees C (1976 degrees F) without it starting to break down. This means you can put earthenware glaze on a stoneware pot and fire at the lower temperature without any problems but you can't fire an earthenware pot with stoneware glaze at the higher level. 

Unfortunately the Crimson is a tad thin in places but overall I'm rather satisfied. Please take a look here and I've been asked to point out that the latest work is to found at the back of the folder.



I recently purchased (on a whim) a toasted sandwich maker. Kind of takes me back to my childhood: I absolutely loved toasted sandwiches during my formative years and I suspect I might have lived on the things if I'd been permitted LOL. Anyway this one cost the grand sum of £5.47 (about $8.75). How on Earth do we make it for that price, let alone no doubt ship it half way round the planet and still sell it for a profit?  

Exploitation of the Third World work force? Discuss.

08 March 2011 Ipswich 1 - 3 Reading

The Royals move to 8th in the league on 54 points.

I was somewhat shocked (and saddened) to hear the news yesterday that Reading defender Chris Armstrong has been forced to retire from professional football at the age of just 28 because he has Multiple Sclerosis. Apparently he was diagnosed in 2009 and has continued to be able to play for the first team until now but feels it is right to stand down.

This makes me feel very grateful for my relative good health.

So Far...

Thought I'd post a sneak view of my current work in progress. It's now waiting bisque firing so fingers crossed I'll be glazing soon.

Seeing Stars

Please take a couple of minutes to wander over to my Webshots page, where you'll find some new images of my latest work. I've put a handy link here.

Upload

For the interested few, I've just uploaded some new images of my ceramic work to Webshots. To whet your appetite, here's a sample:

Don't Look Now...

...the sky's falling in!

Well to be precise I discovered rain water has got into the kitchen ceiling and it looks like it is about to come down. Take a look at the picture below, I've put a yellow line to mark where the ceiling should be...

This close to Christmas I don't rate my chances of getting a builder out but I think I will start by trying to drill a hole in the plaster, seeing if I can drain it. As you would with a boil I guess LOL.

As a diversion, take a look at the following images of my latest experimental work...

Rim detail.

Oh look: it's another ripped pot LOL.

Autumn Shades over Yellow Brown glaze.

Re-Engineered Part II

As promised here. My latest somewhat experimental work is completed and now home. Due to the college summer break and overseas travel, there's been something of a delay. Sorry if you've been waiting (!) and have wondered what's happened to those rather odd pieces I make.

Thrown Bowl, torn, rebuilt and then glazed in Marbled Blue.











I've uploaded more images to this folder on my Webshots page. Please feel free to take a look and comment.

You can expect more work, developing my current bizarre obsessions in the coming weeks...

Elsewhere I've now taken two trips in under a week down to see SM and Dad at their new place in Dorset, to sort out his computer. It takes about one and a half to two hours each way depending. Perhaps I could go into business offering in-home computer support to the elderly those of 'experienced years.' Then again I guess if I was actually any good, I would have got it right the first visit! Ho hum...

Sunday Art

Took a trip yesterday to Art in Clay at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. Now in it's 16th year, this is one of the premier events in the ceramic year, with potters from across the county and Europe exhibiting.


Here's some examples of the fine and varied work on display.

Frankly I haven't a clue where the time went...

Re-Engineered

I've been playing around with distorting ceramic forms of late with some interesting results. My latest work in progress is these two pots I've thrown and then have deliberately broken the rims, in order to rearrange.



















These have been bisque fired and are now ready to be glazed. There's lots of nice ragged edges, where the glaze should run thin, revealing the ripped clay underneath. Should be interesting.

Just look at those lovely shadows!










The college is now on Summer break so it'll be a while before I get to finish these but I'll be sure to post something more in the Autumn...

Show

Our now annual Art and Ceramics exhibition started today. We even had a private preview this evening. With drinkies and everything LOL.

Once again a really high standard and it was so good to see work from the other groups. Here's a little sample or two:

...And It's A...?

The pot I hinted at here came home tonight, finished and looking lovely. Or at least to me anyway.

I've uploaded some more images to Webshots, in case anyone is interested.







Glazes used are: Vellum White Dolomite, Bright Orange Red and Yellow Brown.




Recently I've started listening to Radio 4. Find it rather interesting, if not challenging and stimulating. Must be getting old LOL.