We had some visitors today from Norway. We wandered through the the studio and looked at the kiln and pots. As they were packing up their treasures in the van, what really got them excited were the trees. One of the potters collected a bag of pods from the bald cypress tree. Others collected the large, wrinkly green osage oranges. I love it when a visitor or an experience gets my vision to refocus--to look afresh at my common surroundings as if I were traveling in a strange land. I collected a handful of cypress pods and photographed them on a leaf plate.
I have had many ideas for entries in the blog but at the end of every day my energy has been completely used up, first by going to Stancills clay mine to get some new materials and inspiration.
The finished boulders drying in the studio.
We couldn't drive our truck up to some of the red clays I wanted so we collected several buckets from the more accessible "A" pile. Here's Mary Wolff prospecting on the "A" pile.
I mixed a couple of different batches of clay and began work on some new large garden pots.
I mixed a couple of different batches of clay and began work on some new large garden pots.The next endeavor was to begin new boulders for the wood kiln. It is wonderful weather, just verging on Fall, to be working outside in the wood kiln shed.
The finished boulders drying in the studio.
mom your new pots are beautiful! it's exciting to see pictures of them after hearing lots about them. glad you had fun with the visitors too
xoxo
What a beautiful blog. Have to run right now, but will come back later to read more.
Catherine,
Your photos are fantastic! I especially love the boulders. Are they Stancill clay? Or a mix? I can't wait to see more. Love the blog.
Emlyn
The boulders are a non stancil mix. I have a new red stancill mix I cant wait to see fired. also have my raw chunks out by the kiln and admire them every day I walk by. thanks,
CW