Eyes "glazed" over......

I think everyone has their own favorite part of the whole pottery-making process.  And,of course, their least favorite.  The glazing process, picture-taking, inventorying, pricing, and posting to the web is my least favorite.  Just give me a bag of clay, a wheel, and I'm a happy camper.

I did have some fun today.  With the new "Minion" movie out, I decided to make my favorite Minion.      I didn't have any purple glaze, so I had to do some "creative" mixing.  Here he is, waiting to be fired.

We'll see how it goes.

Also did a dog food bowl for a friend.

This is inside the bowl,

And this is around the rim outside.

We'll see how it looks after the glaze firing!!!

Decent day

Farmers Market yesterday,  in South Lake Tahoe.   First market of the season up there, but pretty good.  I did sell out of a few things, so today was throwing.

I did have a really slow day last Wednesday,  so I drew the scene from my booth.

Big girl panties....

So I challenged myself yesterday.   Typically, my "comfort zone" when it comes to throwing is up to 2 or 2 1/2 lbs of clay.  Yeah, I'm a wuss.  Yesterday, I pulled up those big girl panties, wedged up a 3 lb and a 5 lb hunk of clay.  And, by golly, when all was done, I had 2 nice big bowls.  I covered them up, and anxious to trim them.

Trimming time.  Everything was on the dry side of leather hard.  Carefully putting the 3 lb bowl on my trusty Griffin Grip, I trimmed a beautiful foot.  As I lifted it up to put on the shelf,  I heard that sound.  You know, of dry clay cracking.

'sigh'........

Everything else went smoothly.

So, try again another day.

Lesson to self.  Trim before rims get too dry.  Duh......

Well, I'm excited!

I recently opened my Etsy shop, and got my first sale today!!!  Ok, ok, I'm easily excited.  It was for one of my favorite things to make, hand-illustrated plates.  Like combining the best of both worlds, potter and drawing.

Seems like I've drawn all my life and just recently took up pottery.  So, without further ado, my very first sale!!!

Just a happy little bunny enjoying Spring.  I can relate!

So, now the packing.  Wow, I pack my stuff each week (several times) as I do local farmer's markets.  But to go in the mail!!??  "Gulp!"  Ok, I'll probably over pack, but that's ok.  Plus, I have a bunch of mugs special ordered by a dear friend who's a Chicago Blackhawks (hockey) fan.  "Double Gulp!"

Keeping my fingers crossed everything arrives safely.

But, if it doesn't, I can always make another one, right??

And if you're interested in any of my other illustrated plates, or even my other stuff, check out my Etsy shop...



Cheers!!

Headaches and backaches

I wonder why I get headaches and backaches when I work at my computer?  Yet, wedging clay, hauling the 50lb. boxes, throwing, and all that makes me feel great!!  Geez, whadda ya think??  ;)

So, I finally sat down and posted a bunch of new stuff on my Etsy page.  Yeah, this is not from my most recent firing, but the LAST one.  Ya know, photographing, weighing, measuring, thinking up something to describe, on and on and on......   Just takes time I COULD be out throwing!

Just saying.....

Ok, I've had my rant, I feel much better.

I'd appreciate you taking a gander.  Since I'm new to all this stuff, I'd surely appreciate feedback, especially what I could be doing better.     https://www.etsy.com/shop/Crestviewcreative

In other news....

Ok, so I'll be hitting the big "six-oh" next month.  No biggie.  But the real news is that I have TMJ, and am getting  ...hold on....   BRACES.   Yuk, yuk, yuk !!!!!!   C'mon, been there did that.  Now I gotta do it again.  'sigh'....no rest for the wicked, I guess.

Hey, to my potter friends out there.  My first love has always been drawing (until I met clay) and I'd love to draw pics on my stuff.  Question.  Do I lay down a layer of glaze and draw with underglazes on top of that??  Or do I draw with my underglazes, and carefully put background glaze around?
What do y'all suggest??  Thanks!!!  Hope you're having a great weekend.

First of the Season!

Show season is upon us, and here's my first...

Hope to see you there!!  :D

"Summertime, and the livin' is easy...."

Ok, not summertime yet.  But in the 80's here yesterday.  "Brown - Thumb Sherri" as I'm known around these parts, has a few happy plants!

The last pic is a Meyers Lemon who has defied all my efforts to kill it.  And, next to it is some Walla Walla Sweets, the BEST onions.  

Been getting my "inventory" in line.  I dunno, feels weird to say "my inventory".   But I'm allowed, since it seems every flat surface in the house is covered with pots, glaze recipes, glaze books, and all sorts of pottery paraphernalia. 

Finished a bisque firing today, tomorrow the glazing begins.  Here's what I got waiting...

Wish me luck!