School starts up again next week and I have taken a break off from throwing anything on my pottery wheel. I have a wheel at my place but I have don’t have a kiln. I use the kitty-litter in a box trick to transport my bone dry pieces to school to be fired. As a wonderful of an idea as it is, I still manage to break a couple each time

To save myself the trouble of recycling the broken pieces I have just taken a couple months off. It was too hot to throw in the dead of summer anyway.

However, today the pottery bug bit me and I decided to go and throw. I formed 6 balls about 1lb each and then had at it. The first ball started out nicely until I forgot how pliable fresh clay is! That resulted in a collapsed cylinder. I am happy I chose the smallest ball to start out with )

After the first attempt the following 5 balls decided to cooperate… kinda. The general idea of throwing on the wheel is like that of riding a bike but the finesse is something easily forgotten! At least for me. I ended up making an interesting ashtray that I will give to one of my smoking friends. Mistakes are wonderful presents because friends always love something hand-made no matter how misshapen it is!

I also attempted to make yarn bells that a LYS has asked me to put on consignment in their shop. I also have a goup of ladies from the FNK (Friday Night Knitting) meetings that I sometimes go to at the first Friday of each month, that want to buy some as well. I plan on doing some with simple glazes and others with my meraki design on them. This way there will be something for everyone.

I also attempted to recreate shapes that seem to sell well as they show my design off well. Not to mention that they are a lof of fun to throw!

Without further ado, here is my progress today!

I included a picture of my (messy) wheel set up! The best part of not using the wheels at school is that I don’t have to clean my wheel completely after each session. Perhaps it is time again for me to do another deep cleaning on my little friend.

The picture of the plumeria is the “Memorial Plant” I got for Daniel last year when his Grandma Betty passed on. I am happy to report that it is doing very well! I hope to have a flower or two by the end of it’s season but I’m not sure. At least I’ve kept it alive! It is one of the hardest plants I have ever had to try and take care of! So finicky those plants are.

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