Thanks for the nice display

I currently have some pots at the Boatshed at Woronora and popped in today hoping to have some brunch, however they were so busy we couldn't get a table.

I did take a snap of my pots on display... thanks to John and Jane for a great display of my pots along with those of Janet Flood and paintings by Jim Flood.

Saturday Shelfie

Many of you will know that I have a Group page on Facebook called Anna's Aussie Ceramics.

Each week I invite members of the group to post a "Saturday Shelfie" to share their own work.

My own contribution this week was this one...

Have a nice weekend and thanks for dropping by...

The Sydney Teapot Show 2015 Sneak Peek

Not long now for the Teapot Show.

I will be delivering my teapots during the week to the Inner City Clayworkers Gallery at Glebe NSW which is just a short bus ride from Central Railway Station.

The official opening is Friday 31 July and the show runs until the end of August...

Do try to get along. The talent and skill and variety of teapots, both functional and decorative are just amazing and well worth the trip.

Here is a peek of one of mine

detail - "Bag End Green" 

Each year there are a choice of themes to inspire entrants and this year one theme is "The Shire Teapot" and yes, you guessed it... all things Hobbit.

I think it will be a very popular theme.  I'll have two entries in that section plus one non-themed teapot which is inspired by local bush flowers.

I'm looking forward to seeing some wonderful pots...

Updated Portfolio

I've recently updated my online Portfolio - you might like to have a look:

Anna's Ceramics Portfolio

Second Firing OK For Sydney Teapot Show

This afternoon I unpacked the second load of teapots and matching extras.

Hurrah, they all look good.

A bit of smoothing of the bases and they will be ready in time for the Sydney Teapot Show which opens on Wednesday 29 July with the Official Opening on Friday 31 July..

Do try to get along - the creations that people make each year are just amazing! And of course you might like to take one home... Functional and decorative so something for everyone...

One of the teapots in the first firing failed to make the grade with a small crack appearing near the handle... my Fb friends have suggested various ways to 'fix' it but I'll see how I go...

small crack near handle

 I enjoyed the design and made matching cups so perhaps I'll try making another to match the lid.

unsaleable due to crack near handle

Its all part of the game with pottery...

Less Sun = Less Solar Power

Wouldn't you know the day I turn on my little electric kiln the sun disappears behind the clouds.

The day I fired my bisque firing the sun was shining and the solar panels supplied all the power needed while the kiln was running.

Today I went out early to turn it on and the sun was shining, however the cloud has now spread to a grey and gloomy day.  The panels will still produce some power but as it is only around 15 degrees celcius outside we are also running our heater...

Not to worry, most days in Sunny Sydney we have ample sunshine and it is winter here now..

I repacked that top shelf after taking this photo.  I turned the shelf sideways so that the pots were not so close to the pyrometer... my theory being that it will get a more accurate reading in the more open part of the kiln.  Fingers crossed..

A day to cool so it will be Friday before I can see the results...

A bisque and good friends

My little kiln is filled to over-flowing, literally!

As you may know I'm working on teapots for the Sydney Teapot Show and also made teabowls and a tea canister to match...

Plus I made some tiles to show how my Deco, Walkers and Blackwattle underglazes look after firing...

Well after bringing them all inside to be able to dry them fully, taking them back and packing the kiln to do their first bisque firing.... wait for it.... They Don't All Fit!

BOther!

Fortunately the people I used to do my firing with, Port Hacking Potters Group are a generous lot and Jitka is a generous soul.

She is firing a bisque at the club today and was happy to fit mine in with hers... yay! thank you Jitka.

What that means though is that I'll be doing two glaze firings...

Not to worry as I'll have enough shelves now that I have (with help from my handy hubby) retrieved the shelf that had a glaze run...

Remember this mess?

Well now it looks like this...

still a stain there to remind me to be careful but no actual glaze so I can put pieces over that area.

Kiln is running, the sun came out to help the solar panels along and hopefully I'll unpack, glaze and refire during the coming week...

See you over on Facebook :)