More Design

Well, I started with the photo of the lillypilly fruit and then did some drawings. From these drawings I made some stamps of bisque fired clay. To use the stamps, I rolled out some clay slabs, stamped them, cut them into shape and made some teapots. These are my first handbuilt (not wheel-thrown) teapots. The spouts were thrown on the wheel. The small teapot was made using cut pieces of stamped clay in a rectangular plaster mould. The rectangular clay was then cut and joined again to make the small teapot. The taller one was made with two pieces cut to shape from the stamped slab and then joined, feet, handle and spout added. Now how to finish them??? Oxides? Glazes? Choices, choices.

Design Module

Some may remember this flower from my Christmas greetings. Who could imagine it would develop into these lovely berries. I am now trying to develop a design based on these Lilly Pilly fruit which can actually be used to make jam.

NZ Souvenirs

Happy to be home again after 3 weeks in New Zealand's North Island. A very interesting place. Some amazing scenery and we came home just before the Mt Ruapehu lahar or mud slide. The quality of the ceramics was very high and inspiring to see. We spent several hours talking with a potter who lately has started making flutes from bamboo and is experimenting with casting one in clay. He and his wife work together to produce beautiful pots. Their website is: www.rolling-cloud.eol.co.nz

Tiles were the easiest and safest souvenirs to buy and I did manage to get the 3 I purchased home in one piece. The pukeho or swamp hen was from Russel, the boxed one from Matakana and the little blue one from Taupo.

I also took some photos of small boats for my fellow student, Liz as they are her theme. I particularly like the one on the black sands.

Teaset

I recently completed this teaset. I threw the pieces some time ago but took ages to decide how to glaze and decorate it. I have used a stoneware transparent green glaze on the outside and a clear on the inside. I then made an additional firing to add commercial decals using an electric kiln and firing up to just 720 degrees. There is also an extra serving bowl with saucer for the jam and scones :)

On screen the pieces seem to have a swirling pattern. This is an illusion of the camera. In fact there is just a border of incised lines.

Digital Camera

I am trying my camera with the Macro setting and getting some interesting results.

White Christmas in Oz?!

I spent my first White Christmas with my husband and my son in Thredbo, NSW - amazing :)
and a beautiful sight to see.

(to see the ducks just click on the photo to enlarge on your screen).

Edit Note January 2007: Despite what some may think these photos are totally as taken. No editing at all!!

Danni's Paintings and Sculpture

I missed posting these before - sorry Danni. As you can see there is a wealth of talent amongst my classmates and I can't wait to get going again next year.

Elizabeth's Political Statement ala Kleinholz

Elizabeth spent a lot of time updating her diarama which shows Bush, Howard and Blair in bed.

More of Sarah's

This photo of Sarah's work didn't fit in the previous post. It also shows a painting by Pam in the background.

Jean's Cultural Productions

Jean's work included sculpture, hand building and wheel work. (that's Denise in the corner).