a new glaze

I have had this glaze sitting around for a while waiting for the right pot and time to use it...

It is not to everyone's taste but I like the way it gets some other colours where there is a difference in the texture of the pot...

It also seems to take a second glaze over the top quite well - see the small trinket dishes...

Anyway the proof will be in how quickly they sell...

In the mean time

I have the kiln running for a glaze firing today... fingers crossed

I have some jewellery in there and some buttons...

Here is a knolling image of some past bits and bobs

Google and all that stuff

Dear Friends and followers in the EU
I believe Google may have added a message regarding its use of cookies and data on this blog... I have tried to check but as I am in Australia even after taking their suggested way of checking it doesn't appear.
So, I am using a template provided by Blogger which is part of the Google group of companies.  I do not share any data or contact details myself. 

As I do not use their Ad function I believe I do not need to any more.

Hopefully this will not put you off following my posts.

Regards to all
Anna

Raku firing with potters group

last weekend I took part in a Raku firing day with friends from the Port Hacking Potters Group.

I shared a ride with two others and met at the property of Master Potter, Steve Harrison and his partner, Janine.

Steve Harrison getting his raku kilns fired up

The glazes were provided as a part of the workshop price and we each took around 6 pots to fire.

my friend Joe glazing his pots

We all helped stoke his natty little wood firing kilns, move the hot pots to the sawdust for the post reduction and at the end of the day, pack it all away.

in the firebox

Sally and Helen moving the sawdust over the pots while Rhonda and Dorothy watch for the next load.

A mixed result for me but when you don't use this technique very often it can be tricky...

Here are some of the better ones:

this is probably the best result although it wasn't put in the sawdust so no post firing reduction

this glaze is likely to crackle more in days to come

some very subtle colours with this one and it has a bit of a landscape affect

my pears look a bit stressed...

the weather was great... the early cold wind died off and it was perfect for firing outdoors.  I'd say we all slept well that night.

Mother's Day bouquet

The day before Mother's Day (second Sunday in May here in Oz) I sold well at the local Farmer's Market.
One of my son's and his wife sent me a huge bouquet so I had to go looking for vases...

I was also given a treat at a local spa... it's lovely when you are remembered by family even if these days are very commercial.

wheel thrown Shino glaze with iron oxide brush strokes fired in reduction

Wheel thrown black slip on white body scraffito into wet slip clear glaze stoneware electric firing

Highlights, donations and back to the studio

 If I'm not blogging I must be making....  

rolling slabs by hand - big rolling pin and textured slabs ready for making platters...

the last month or so has been busy with sales and a new supplier taking my work... a big thank you to Neta at the Hazelhurst Gallery Shop where my pigs seem to be very popular.

They are not very big but are time consuming to make...

Hand formed porcelain pigs - underglaze and tissue print decoration

Handformed speckled pigs - stoneware BRT clay with underglaze

the slab work can be fun and this little dish found a new home at the Shire Creativity exhibition

Hand formed trinket dish - stoneware, stamped and tissue print decoration

 Meanwhile this teapot was my donation to a local Heritage Day raffle by the Botany Bay Family History Society

Blue/green glaze teapot - wheel thrown stoneware with cane handle

 and this one went to a charity auction to help the Tamworth Legacy and I heard back later that the local Mayor had the winning bid.  I hope their new owners enjoy a good few cups of tea from them.

Hobbit style teapot - stoneware, wheel thrown with underglaze and tissue print decoration

Shire Creativity 2018

I'll be packing pots this week to take to Shire Creativity exhibition from Thursday 26 April to Sunday 29 April...

Meet the Artists on Thursday evening from 5pm

Details below for address etc...

A long day but well worth it

As you know from my previous post I spent Good Friday at the Sydney Royal Easter Show helping with friends to promote the art of pottery.

Kara of CeramicsbyKara has organised this for the last few years.  This year there were five of us involved, myself, Tanya of Hop'n Frog Pottery, Roslyn Lowe and Dana Lundmark.

It meant a really early morning start but it was nice to arrive before the crowds and do a quick look around the Arts and Crafts Pavillion exhibitions once we were setup.

we arrived at sunrise

My friend, Jim Flood is an artist and had one of his palette knife oil paintings on display... a very talented fellow as you can see from this photo of his work

Sydney Harbour view by Jim Flood

The Arts and Crafts Pavillion has entries from across the state in all sorts of categories which include pottery, porcelain painting, cake decorating, sculpture, knitting, embroidery and lots more.

I had a quick look around - 

one of the pottery sections

part of the wood work section

and then the doors were open and the crowds arrived...

We were soon kept busy for the rest of the day... Kara was demonstrating handbuilding large poultry characters while Tanya and I had kids lined up to make a clay feather to put on the large hen she had made for the purpose..

A local supplier Keane Ceramics provided the clay and our other sponsors for the day were Art Est where Kara teaches children's classes and Northern Beaches TAFE where Kara, Roslyn and Dana have studied.

Tanya, Kara and Roslyn getting setup

Kara with one of her characters made as a demonstration piece

our partly feathered chook towards the end of the day... each feather represents one child's effort

Roslyn spent most of the day throwing and Dana was kept busy showing young folk how to make a pinch pot... 

Roslyn Lowe at the wheel

Dana helping the kids and parents make pinch pots

All in all a very tiring but fulfilling day!  I was so impressed by the young folk and their parents who were all so polite and interested.

Dana and I had some finished work on display - the others decided not to risk their pieces in transport to the Show

Thanks to Kara for organising the effort and getting the rest of us involved.

To finish off a short video clip Tanya shared so you get an idea of the atmosphere... it was a very hot day outside so I think we were in a good place.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show - this Friday

The Sydney Royal Easter Show is basically an Agricultural show in the city.

It is the pinnacle for exhibitors across the State of NSW.  Everything from cows, horses and yes pigs are shown and judged.  In addition there are competitions for exhibitions of produce from different regions which use their local fruit, vegetables or grains to create a large display that makes a collage depicting that region.

And then there is the Art and Craft Pavillion where there are paintings, sculptures, pottery, cake decorating, weaving, knitting, embroidery and many more competing for that winning blue ribbon or even Best in Show award.

So I have been asked to go along with some friends and show the general public how we make our pottery/ceramics.  Exciting but a bit scary too... 

I will have a few pieces on display but will mainly be helping the others with building a huge chicken (or two) and we will be inviting the public to add feathers to the pair.  Sounds like fun?

Come and say hi

happy with these white platter/plates

These are from my last firing and turned out quite well...

Very useful either for food or to keep your bathroom tidy - available at the little home decor store in Miranda - Fred & Co

handformed and texture slabs stoneware with food safe glaze.