Cleaning the Studio : The end and the beginning

There's a rhythm to the work of pottery that, for me, culminates with cleaning the studio. It's always an exciting time because it speaks of a new throwing cycle just around the corner.

The first part of the cycle is coming up with new ideas and watching them become reality (or not!) at the wheel. But making a form is not all there is to it. Forms need to be refined during trimming, and many items require additional alterations such as attaching feet or handles or carving designs. This is what I love most about pottery: feeling the wet mud between my hands turn the shapes in my head into real pots.


I need to make enough pots during this part of the cycle to fill up my kiln. Once I have enough pots and they are bone dry, I go over each one and lightly sand all the burs out before loading them into the kiln.

Loading the kiln is also one of my favorite tasks. I like to stand surrounded by pots of different sizes and shapes and try to fit them into the kiln in the most efficient way. At the stage of the first (bisque) firing this just means trying to get all the pots into the kiln. But when the second (glaze) firing comes around it becomes a more exacting dance. I know going in that I won't be able to fit all the pots because glazed pots cannot touch each other or any surface (if they do they will become fused!). In addition, I have to bear in mind where each glaze has the best results since the kiln does not have an even temperature all the way through. So some glazes do better in the hotter parts of the kiln, while others prefer the cooler parts. Finally, I also have to keep in mind that I want the hot air to be able to flow around the pots. So, filling the kiln (particularly the glaze kiln) is like doing a giant three-dimensional puzzle.

But I got ahead of myself! After the first firing I check every pot for small burs and crumbs that need to be evened out using a small sanding stone to do the job. Next, I dip each pot in a bucket of water to wash off all the clay dust. Once all the pots have thus been cleaned and washed, I wax the feet and bottoms of each one. I do this to make sure that no glaze will come in contact with the kiln shelves during firing. If this happens the pot will get stuck to the shelf.

And once all the pots have been cleaned, washed, and waxed, it's time to glaze. I have several buckets of glaze that have to be moved out from their storage space to the middle of the studio where I can stir them or sieve them again if needed. I glaze by dipping the pots into the buckets. Once all the glaze has been absorbed into the pots, I wipe any excess that may remain on the bottom of the pot and start to fill up the kiln.

I clean the studio while the glaze load is firing. By this point I have made quite a mess and I've got everything out of place (which is a huge issue in a small studio!). So I start by moving the glaze buckets back to their spaces, putting other things where they belong and wiping down all the surfaces as I go.

Here are some pictures of the results of the current firing cycle. I'm ready to start again!

Becoming Environmentally Friendly

To reduce our energy use, our family decided to take advantage of our electric utility's renewable energy program. We pay a little bit extra every month, but all our energy comes from renewable (solar and wind) sources. This makes me feel a lot better about running the kiln to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit or running it overnight when I need to candle load of bisque! Check with your electric utility to see if they have a similar program.

Another way of saving energy is to drive a hybrid vehicle. I have 2005 Prius that gives me an average of about 50 miles to the gallon and I usually only need to fill the tank twice a month. Although the car might look small, it is actually very roomy. I have no trouble packing it with all my tables and boxes when I go to shows.

This year I invested in a pug mill to make it easier to reclaim and reuse all the clay from trimming pots and from the slop bucket. There is no wasted clay going into the landfill!

When it comes to paperwork, I use 100% recycled paper from my office supply store. And for shipping my pots, I get bubble wrap and peanuts from our local organic market, helping them recycle it and keeping it from the landfills.

At home, we also compost and have changed all the light bulbs to more efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. We have also invested in a hybrid water heater, which uses significantly less energy.

I'm sure that I'll continue to find more ways to be more environmentally friendly both at home and in the studio. I'd love to hear what everyone else is doing to run an environmentally friendly studio.

Helping the Potters of Mashiko

Destroyed Hamada Platter

Destroyed Kiln in Mashiko

The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan had a devastating effect on the potters of Japan. Information from Mashiko is that nearly all of the Nobori kilns have been destroyed. Damage to the Hamada Reference Museum has been very severe with priceless national treasures lost.

Donated Sushi Set

The Etsy Mud Team are working together to raise money to aid the potters of Mashiko. Members will donate 100% of the proceeds from sales of specific items to the relief fund set up by the internationally known Leach Pottery which has a long history with the village of Mashiko. (For more information: http://www.leachpottery.com/What-s-On/News-Feed.aspx). You can view and purchase the donated pieces here: http://www.etsy.com/people/theEtsyMudTeam/favorites?ref=pr_faveitems_more 

Donated bottle

Below are additional links for anyone interested in donating directly to  help rebuild the potteries.

• http://potters.blogspot.com/p/relief.html ~~ Mashiko Potters Foundation

• http://www.johnleachpottery.co.uk/Appeal.asp ~~ John Leach Pottery

• http://bl160w.blu160.mail.live.com/default.aspx?rru=inbox ~~ Potter’s Council

• http://www1.networkforgood.org/help-survivors-pacific-quake-tsunami ~~ Network for Good 

 
~~ CERF

Now is as good a time as ever to become acquainted with the work of the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (http://craftemergency.org/) and think about your own emergency preparedness. The website has important information for artists, including the Studio Protector, a tool that provides information for preparing for and recovering from emergencies, including fires.

Another Spring... Finally!

Redbellied woodpecker on the branch on the left.

As far as I'm concerned, winter was too dark, too cold, and too long! I thought I was handling it okay, but then I realized that I have been completely absent from my blog for two months.  I was busy enough since I had some special requests to fulfill: I made lots of Advent wreaths and yarn bowls in January and olive dishes in February and March. But now that the days are longer and the birds are starting to sing again, I feel like the winter fog is beginning to lift.

The old weeping cherry tree has flowered once again, but the effort seems to have taken its toll. It's a very old tree and despite our efforts, it's dying. I read somewhere that weeping cherries live 30 years and this was a mature tree when we moved into this house 22 years ago... yet it continues to flower. The redbellied woodpecker is back! It was very upset yesterday when it saw what the squirrels did to the two nest cavities it built in the cherry tree last year. But he's pecking away once again and calling loudly. Time to build another nest!

Katie

Katie is still here. My faithful Border Collie turned 14 this winter. She's having a lot of trouble with her hind legs: going up and down the stairs is an ordeal, but she still does it in order to be where we are. She's quite deaf now so we have taught each other sign language. One advantage of her deafness is the fact that she can't hear when I turn on the camera and I can now get pictures of her (she has always been camera shy). She's also taken to random fits of barking that the vet says is the doggie equivalent of senile dementia. I don't know about that... sometimes I get the feeling that she's trying to tell me something important.

 So, we are all still here: the cherry tree, Katie, and me. I think it's time to get the old creative juices going and do some "barking, pecking, and flowering" myself!

Fitting Everything into a Small Studio

My studio is definitely a one-person space. It is a 10ftx12ft structure where I do everything, from wedging to trimming and from glazing to firing. When I bought the pugmill recently, I was worried about where I was going to put it. I am very happy to report that I rearranged a few things and managed to find a place for my new pugmill while, in the process, ending up with a better throwing set-up than the one I had! 

Kiln

So, this is how things work in my tiny studio. Every available wall surface has shelves to hold everything, from pieces in various stages of drying or waiting to be glazed, to towels, to underglazes and molds. The kiln sits at the back of the studio with clearance from the walls as required, but I did put a metal shelf behind to hold kiln furniture. A space heater sits behind the kiln, keeping the studio nice and warm and I have a second back-up heater for very cold days (like recently!).

Also at the back of the studio but on the left side, are the glaze buckets and a table that holds the pugmill. The pugmill sits against the back wall and under a shelf when not in use. When I'm going to use it, I move it so it sits diagonally across the table (see photo from posting on Jan 8). 

On the left wall by the front and under the window, I have a 6 ft carpenter's table. I have a mini slab roller on the table with a sturdy piece of wood on top to serve as additional table space when the slab roller is not in use. Behind the slab roller is a belt grinder that only comes out when needed. I love my window because it lets in so much sunlight! It's also where the air conditioner window unit goes in the summer!

On the right side of the space I have the wheel and 2 tables sitting in front of the kiln. Originally I had the wheel and a low shelf next to it for my throwing tools. Now I also have the wedging table to the right of the wheel and another table to the left. Instead of a stool, I use a folding step ladder with a cushion, which can be folded up and moved out of the way.

Slab roller

I have a deck in front of the studio so that, on nice days I can throw open the doors and increase the size of my work space. Picnic tables on the deck allow me to set work down to dry and do my glazing there. We've run a hose from the house around the back of the building and connected it to an old sink by the side of the studio so I don't have to go into the house when I need water (except in winter when I do get warm water from the house).

Love my window!

It's time to clear out the shelves!

Set of 6 dessert plates

I toyed with the idea of taking a hammer to some of those pieces that have been sitting on the shelf for too long. But many pieces are lingering through no fault of their own; they just need to find the right home. So I'm holding a Winter Clearance Sale in my shop right now! Everything's 25% off with the use of a coupon code at check out.

Just for my blog followers: Use coupon code BLOG30 for a 30% discount! Invite your friends to follow my blog and get a 30% discount on Glynt Pottery during the Winter Clearance Sale.

You can now purchase a gift certificate for Glynt Pottery! 
The link on the right will allow you to purchase a gift certificate of any denomination through your PayPal account (if you don't have one, simple steps are provided for you to sign up).

A New Year: Back at Work!

After the long hiatus of the holiday shows and get-togethers, I am finally back in the studio getting my hands dirty! I ended the year with many customers placing special orders so I'm busy making more Advent wreaths, Starry Nights lamps, French butter crocks, mugs and much more.

Lamps, wreaths, and bowls in various stages of drying

Last year was so good for me that I was able to buy a new piece of equipment for the studio. I got a second-hand Bluebird 440 pugmill to help reclaim clay and save my wrists from so much wedging. I am so happy with my new toy! Here it is:

Having so much fun with my new pugmill!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and is back to doing what they love!