Teapots underway - a sneak peek

The last couple of weeks I have been making teapots for the Annual Sydney Teapot Show at the Innercity Clayworkers in Glebe.

A link here to see last year's winners: http://www.clayworkers.com.au/content/sydney-teapot-show-2014

Teapots are always a little tricky for me, if only because I only make them once a year...

There are so many components to consider and make and and put together and decorate...

I do love the challenge and strive to make a better more interesting teapot each year (with mixed results)...

Here are a few of the elements that are slowly coming together...

 First I throw the body and then the lid.

I have thrown two different styles of lid this year and find that the style pictured is best if not handled until leather hard.
I stick a small batt to the wheelhead and throw the lid on that so it can be taken off easily...




Before
and

After...

Next I throw the spouts.  The weather has been so cold and damp that I threw these on a different day while I waited to be able to turn the bodies and lids.

Once the body is trimmed I can attach the spout...

first the holes need to be made - you might notice I am using a white clay and a buff clay, two of each underway..

Once the spout is on I can attach some handles (no pic) that I pull and allow to firm up first.

Then I can start to decorate.  In the one shown I am carving and adding some underglaze too... 

So there you are... maybe you will get to see the finish ones at the Teapot Show.

Neptune's Garden Exhibition

Opens this Saturday night at Lentil As Anything in Newtown..

A stall and throwing off the hump

On Saturday I took part in a stall with other members of the Port Hacking Potters Group which turned out to be a good sales day for me.

my work in the front right hand side of the stall

One customer must have been doing her Christmas Shopping early!  She bought nearly half my stock plus several pieces of one of the others in our group. Wonderful!

Today is a start of my teapots for the teapot show...

to get started and back into throwing I threw some small test dishes off the hump..

This is a way of saving time and clay by centering one larger piece of clay then selecting the top and throwing your small piece and then cutting it off and going again with the remaining clay.

Picture shows larger piece of clay on the wheel and the uncut dish on top with a couple of previously thrown and cut dishes in the background.

Its a holiday weekend here and what better way to spend it than in the studio....
I hope you are having a relaxing time too.

Neptunes Garden

I have been working on some pieces for an upcoming exhibition called "Neptune's Garden"

which is a fundraiser for the Sea Shepherd, Sea Shepherd Australia is a non-profit conservation organisation whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.

Not everyone agrees with their tactics however I feel their efforts are worthwhile.  

The exhibition is being held at Newtown in the restaurant called Lentil As Anything which has some great ethical ideas in how it operates.  Rather than charge a set amount they encourage patrons to pay as they feel the meal is worth.

Below are three little vases that are a part of my contribution. If you go along do let me know and maybe say hello if we meet there at the opening.

Preparation for Exhibition #SaturdayShelfie

Much too wet for a market outdoors today so I have time to smooth bases in preparation for an upcoming exhibition.
So that's my #SaturdayShelfie image... there are four pots in all.

I also have another pot in the kiln being fired again as it had some glaze problems the first time around.  Fingers crossed the second firing works.

Stall this Saturday 4 June

CANCELLED - HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND FORECAST (no fun for stall holders) WE HOPE TO RESCHEDULE SOON..

I'll be with the Port Hacking Potters at the Ramsgate Foodies Market this Saturday...

come along and say Hi and maybe buy a pot?

The markets are held at the Ramsgate Public School from 8am to 2pm..

We are usually near the back gate.

Here is a link to their website: http://www.organicfoodies.com.au/ramsgate/