Kiln Goddess

I've been finishing up a big batch of new work, preparing for fourth & clay's annual Spring Sale. This is the only time of the year that I sell seconds and old stuff that I'm sick of but I also offer first quality work. I have been working on a series of pots that have ropes and roses . I had high hopes that when I opened the glaze firing that these pieces would be beautiful. I had used glazes that I knew well and thought I had down pat....right...think again! The outsides of the pieces were beautiful. The matt white glaze was smooth and clean, the peach roses and shiny green leaves were without problems. However, the inside glaze, which is usually a no brainer,had crawled in lines and pocks. UGH...I was going to have to offer them all as seconds - even as seconds they were pretty UGLY.
Whitney Smith to the rescue. As usual the girl had a solution. Heat the pieces to 100 degrees apply more glaze and re-fire to the same cone (5). IT WORKED....no more crawling my dismal seconds are now perfect firsts. How often does that happen? A MIRACLE!
If you're in the area please join us this weekend and see what great stuff we have for sale

Open

I'm so excited....yesterday I opened my Etsy shop. I was encouraged to do so by my wonderful claymate, rae dunn. She has been selling sucesssfully on Etsy for years. She said it would be EEEASY.
Because my last name is impossible to remember I named it - Josie's Pot Shop. I must admit I have been a little scared to do this. It really feels like diving into the unknown. I have been crazy free with my work, doing exactly what I want when I want...a spoiled brat of a potter. The idea of having a shop that is open 24/7 is a bit daunting and exciting. I wouldn't say it was eeeasy... There was much to figure out. As rae was out of town, I called my pottery buddy, old Etsy hand, Whitney Smith mutiple times to find out which button to push, which policy to put in place. I went to bed at about 2 am my head spinning. I guess I'll know if it works when I make my first sale...wish me luck!
In the meantime here are some photos of new work that just came out of the kiln. These little pickle bowls are made flat, inlaid with black clay ,folded up and "stitched". They are the perfect size for playing 3 Shells and a Pea.All you'll need is a cardboard box and a pea... and you can find them here...even the pea!

Inspired Shopping

Sunday was the monthly Alameda Antiques Faire ...better known as the "flea". It was a beautiful sunny day and there were thousands of eager flea market shoppers strolling, getting tan and eating kettle corn. Amongst the stalls selling old eye glasses, "French" cake stands and photos of gray haired old grannies in hats I found this amazing booth selling relics from an ancient Italian church that had fallen down. The interior frescos were displayed irreverently on card tables but their inner beauty just glowed. The flowers and the drapery on this piece evoke some of the new work I am trying to do and will hopefully get glazed fired this week. I wish we could have afforded to purchase this beautiful bit of history (a deal at $900.) but I will just have to conjure it up in my memory when I'm making my next batch of rose pieces.

A Piece of Cake

What can you say about a day that starts with cake and ends with cake...FABULOUS.....