Pat Parker's Stoneware Pottery: 2010

Sunday, December 26, 2010

My Wood Firing Was FANTASTIC!!!

Last week I was able to wood fire the pieces I had been working on with the 25 lb bag of Lambert Wood Fire Clay.
I had thrown and bisque fired a platter, 4 desert plates, a coffee pot with four mugs and a tumbler, a teapot and two tea cups plus a small bowl with the left over clay scraps:>) Waste not, want not!
The first trip to Justin Lambert's pottery studio (Live Oak Pottery) in Jupiter, was to glaze the insides of the pots. The next trip was to spend seven hours feeding wood into the Anagama Kiln. A week later we all met to unload the kiln. What a happy dance I did when I saw my pottery!!
Now I am hooked on the rosy flashing and wonderful effects of the ash on my pots. Do you think my homeowners association would let me build a wood firing kiln on my patio? ♥♥♥

Friday, September 10, 2010

Inspiration, or Trepidation?

Pictured above is a 25 lb bag of Lambert Wood Fire Clay. I picked it up last week, and it has taken over my thoughts and dreams. Should I make a teapot, a vase, mugs, cups, plates or ??? Will anything be good enough, or will it be too perfect and strained? Am I going to be so nervous about this that nothing will be good enough, or once I sit down at the wheel, will my trepidations disappear and the work will flow?

I will start at the beginning. Last year I decided to take a ceramics course at my local college. My professor was Justin Lambert who has a pottery studio in Jupiter, FL (Live Oak Pottery)

All during the semester he talked about how he was re-building his wood fired Anagama Kiln. He captured my imagination and I started reading books on wood firing.

I really wanted to participate in one of his firing workshops, but was not able to do so at that time. Now, a year later, both my eyes have been fixed (cataracts) and I have plunked my money down, and picked up my "dirty porcelain" clay. The firing will be in December, so I have plenty of time to dream, perchance to sleep. And when I wake, perchance to make:>)

Sunday, July 11, 2010

☆:¨★~☆:¨¨:★CHRISTMAS IN JULY~☆:¨¨:★~¨:★

OH what fun, my very own mud team is having a ★CHRISTMAS IN JULY~☆sale!!!

Each shop is promoting it's own sale and we have all been as busy as little elves, playing in the mud and firing all kinds of Christmas goodies. Snowflake plates and gingerbread ornaments, nutcracker pendants and Santa mugs! Just take a look at all the wonderful, hand crafted pottery and be sure to read the shop announcement page for the extra special deals being offered for the month of July.
Please check out all these Etsy Mud Team Shops for Great Deals, exciting new holiday decorations and skilled craftsmanship!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/patspottery

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Life is GOOD!!!

The last five months have been very busy and very productive.

Finished my Ceramics II class at Broward College after 30 cylinders, 10 bowls, 8 vases, 8 bottles, and 5 lidded pieces.
Made a huge bowl for the “Partners in Health”'empty bowls project to help Haiti's victims.

Last week my final project for the semester, was juried into the Broward College Potters Guild Show, 2010 opening in the Fine Arts Gallery,

My Birkenstock, (see photo in previous blog) was not accepted, but an arts professor happened to see it and asked if she could put it in another show:>)

I was very fortunate to be able to go to the NCECA (The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) 3 day Conference in Philadelphia this year. I also attended a two day workshop with Greg Pace. My life has been full of pottery and new experiences.

I have really enjoyed this experience and after taking time to work at my own pace again in my own studio, will probably take some more classes.

Life is GOOD!!

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