I still got it!

After a much too long hiatus I am back in the studio and throwing again. And it feels GREAT!
I was able to finish these two goblets today. They will be going to a church in Seattle.
I am using my tatting bits here for a top secret project which I hope to reveal in a few weeks.

I have had a few false starts over the past year with this blog...but I hope this start will stick and that I will be able to blog often about what I am doing with my clay work. If health and time will permit maybe I can get back into my "groove".

Returning to the studio after waaaay toooo long!!

I finally got my husband to bring my large kiln back to the studio. This means that I can return to my large projects and crystalline glaze pottery.
I have fired the kiln 3 times since Friday. When I looked at my kiln log I was appalled to see that it hasn't been fired in over two years. GASP!!!!

Of course one year of that was spent in South Korea. Another 6 months remodeling my studio and yet another 6 months being really sick and then pregnant. After begging hubby for several months and not getting anywhere I finally laid down the ultimatum..."Bring up that kiln or else!!!!" ....never did determine what the "or else" part was...but he finally listened and now I am a happy camper!

I cannot tell you how glorious it is to have my studio back. I have felt a bit dead inside for the last two years. The only thing getting me through were my tatting endeavors and thank God for that...but really??, two years is way too long and I hope I never have to experience that again. Experimenting, mixing glazes, throwing on the wheel and hand building, and now working with glass. I am back in my element.

Now..for those who didn't know, I am now 5 months pregnant. Don't worry I employ the highest standards of safety in the studio. It has been a super rough pregnancy so far and I still have yet to gain any weight due to throwing up all the time. But I have been miserable laying in bed or on the couch all day, so I really needed something to look forward to. ..baby needs a happy mom right?
So yesterday was the first full day I have spent in the studio and yes I puked in the middle of it all..but the feeling of accomplishment is priceless and worth it!

Want to see what I've been up to??

I've been wanting to do this for a very long time. These are slumped bottles and they are my very first attempt. Of course they need further manipulation to make them useful which I shall do. Yay for recycling!!!



While in Korea I bought a large BBQ bowl to use as a form for my signature coil bowls. This is the largest I have done at home (did a huge one in college). I have been itching to use this form for the last year. I am quite pleased with the results. It is a very pleasing shape and I plan to do several more. This takes up the entire diameter of my kiln.

...now all I have to do is start listing work in my Etsy shop once again.

Pottery with Tatting

My tree is telling me that Spring is here! Yay!


Here is an update on the pottery with tatting embellishments that I have been working on. This photo shows bisque ware with under glaze.


...and here we have the final product. I chose Celadon for this group of pottery.



I'll be taking these pieces to Shuttlebirds...so if you are going and you are interested in this pottery all I have to say is "first come, first served". Since I have been so sick this past few months I don't have that many pieces to bring. What I do have though, I am proud to say, turned out very nicely.

Getting ready for tatting convention

I can't believe how long it has been since I have thrown on the wheel. It is absolutely criminal!

Anyhow, it feels good to get my hands back in the clay and I am hoping this will be the new start of many happy days to come. I am my most happy self when I am throwing on the wheel...it is one of the only things left that hasn't yet become "work".

Even the most fun things in life can become drudgery when you've done it a thousand times.

Well...this was just a quick "pop in" to update "ye olde blog". I am going to go play in the mud some more!

Honey ...I'm home

Ahem....excuse the dust around here! WOW! It has been FOREVER and a day since I have posted up in here. Now that my newly renovated studio is up and running I plan to remedy the lack of posting!





...this! Ta dah!

I just had my first kiln firing in over a year and a half. It is not much but still a pretty good start. The kiln is firing well..I certainly had my concerns since it sat in a damp basement for so long.
I cannot wait to get back to my pottery routine...it is like I am starting from scratch. In case you were wondering what exactly "this" is. They are ceramic tatting shuttles...they are not new to this blog but it has been a long time since I've posted about them. You see, tatting has nearly taken over my life so now I must find room to juggle both tatting and ceramics into my new routines.
Come on back soon to see what the MadMadPotter is up to!

Renovating Studio

Ahem....Is any body here? (Caugh caugh...splutter!)
Oh my, it has been SOOO long since I've had anything to post about in my pottery life. I was on sabbatical for a year; spending time in South Korea. I have not had my hands in clay for a year and a half. Now I think that is just criminal!

....Let's not think about that...

I have been really busy renovating and while these pictures scratch only the surface at least they will give you a good idea what I have been up to.




Hubby has been a big help. This reno has been a lot of physical labor and that has taken a toll on my body but I am hoping the end results will make it all worth it.

More pics to come.

Trimming down the stock

Well there won't be much posting of new work here for awhile since I am moving to South Korea in a couple of months. I am working on selling the stock I currently have. I don't know what next year will hold for me as far as pottery is concerned. I won't be able to bring my studio or anything like that so it will probably be a year long sabbatical for me. **sad sigh**
South Korea is fertile ground for potters, at least that is what I gather, so I plan to soak in as much as I can. It will be exciting when I finally do get back to my work what kind of influences will spill over.
I will probably use this blog space to share my Korean experiences as they relate to all things ceramic.


This is a neolithic pot from Korea: wikipedia.org