Red Bowl and Red Salt Pig

Bright red is a newly available slip color in our studio, so I had to try it out.  I made another salt pig that will match my kitchen better, as well as a nice big serving bowl.  

Photos by David Wesley

Projects 57 & 58/50

Throwback Thursday - Aqua Teen Hunger Force

Here's an Aqua Teen Hunger Force mixed media diorama made for a swap. 

Throw back thursday - "Its always midnight somewhere" painting

I really love this design from Threadless.  I painted this with acrylic on canvas 18"x24". I really hope the recipient appreciated it because I miss it's presence on my wall.  Especially around Halloween.

Picasso inspired tile glazed

Here is the glazed tile I posted the sneak peak of a few days ago.  I thing it will be nice in a wooden frame.

Photo by David Wesley

Project 56/50

Bowls with "crazy clear" glaze

There is a glaze in the lab that we call "crazy clear".  It's just supposed to be clear but the company screwed up the mix, so it does crazy stuff.  Some cool stuff, like mixing colors crazy ways; as seen below.  I regret only using it on these two bowls.  It sure makes interesting and beautiful results.

Photo by David Wesley

Photo by David Wesley

Photo by David Wesley

Cell phone shot

Cell phone shot 

Projects: 54 & 55/50

Sneek peek - Picasso inspired tile

A while back I went to the Picasso exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago.  I left inspired. This is before the bisque fire.  I'll show you how it looks when it comes out of the glaze fire next week.

Image journal - bowl with wooden handle

Final drawing for my image journal.  It's been fun.  Maybe I should take a drawing class someday.

Project 53/50

Image Journal - Bull Terrier

This is the 9th installment in my image journal.  One more to go.  I really enjoy being made to draw. I'm not sure why I don't do it on my own.

Project 52/50

Rainbow Bright pattern book

Rainbow Bright!  This is one reason I love thrift stores. This old cross stitch pattern book is in really decent shape.  This was one of my favorite cartoons as a kid.  I must have watched the Star Stealer movie a hundred times.  Anyone wanna stitch me a sprite? :o)

Art for the sake of art

I always try to make utilitarian pieces (unless its wall art).  This is the first ceramic piece of art I've made for the sake of art. It is two cylinders stacked which worked out pretty well in the end even though for one, it gave me a hard time during trimming and, secondly, it fell over and got a big ding it it.  So that green spot is actually an impression made when it tipped over. Mistakes can sometimes be made to look intentional. That is a lesson I remember from my kindergarten teacher.  It has stuck with me all this time.

For sale or swap

Project 51/50

Small blue tumbler and blue vessel

Drum roll please.....I completed the 50 projects in 2013 challenge!  These two are #49 and #50.  I will still keep count and post the rest of the projects I complete until the end of the year though. I like to see how my pottery has progressed through the year.  One of the people that use the labs and has been doing pottery for almost 5 years told me that he has mistaken my bowls for his a few times.  His work is very good so that is quite a compliment

Small wheel thrown tumbler.

Wheel thrown vessel. 

Photos by David Wesley

For sale or trade

Pot - Remembering the 1990's

Neon jelly shoes, Polly Pocket, "Saved by the Bell", and New Kids on the Block.  That's how I remember the 90's.  For some reason looking at this pot brings it all back. 

Photos by David Wesley

For sale or trade
Project 48/50

Striped tumbler

Wheel thrown tumbler with Frankie and cardamom glaze.

Photo by David Wesley

For sale or trade

Project 48/50

Little dishes

Claimed

For sale or trade

Claimed

Photos by David Wesley

Projects 44-46/50

Image journal - Ewer

Project 43/50

Spoon rest

This is the only picture I had taken of the spoon rest I made to match my salt pig.  My roomie's dad has been doing pottery for several years and makes beautiful pieces.  He let me choose from five big, lovely pots so I let him pick one of my humble pieces to take.  He claimed my spoon rest but I wasn't about to deny him when he was so generous. 

Project 43/50

Salt pig

This salt pig was thrown as a closed vessel and then a hole was cut in the side. I find it very handy to keep it right on the stove.

Project 42/50

Soft slab tree canister

For our soft slab project we had to take our 3 stiff slab pieces and put them into one.  So this became this....

I don't know if I have any other pictures but you can see a sliver of the birch tree part and the oak tree is on the other side.  I added the acorn lid to give it a more complete look.

For sale or trade CLAIMED
Project 41/50 

Decreasing my stash

Nothing too exciting.  Just a striped cotton washcloth. I went on a cotton hoarding spree and have tons of sugar n' cream yarn so there will be many more washcloths to come.

Photo by David Wesley 

Project 40/50

Image Journal - Wind filled

Project 39/50

Foodie Friday - Homemade pumpkin latte

I cannot get enough pumpkin so I whipped up some real pumpkin latte mix.  A little steamed milk, strong coffee or espresso and its autumnal bliss.

Photo by David Wesley 

Recipe

2 cups pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 tablespoons maple syrup
Dash of ground nutmeg and ground cloves.

Puree all together and store it in the fridge until use.  Use 2 tablespoons of the mix in a 12oz cup of coffee with cream, or to taste.

Photo by David Wesley

Project 38/50

Throwback Thursday - Cat ATC's

All these ATC's were made for swaps.

Black cat with fresh kill. Ink on book page.

Cheshire smile.  Paper piecing. 

Siamese. Watercolor on paper.

Grumpy Blue Cat. Felt and embroidery.

Closed vessel scent warmer

I'm proud of this piece, even though it was a partial failure.  It was thrown as a closed vessel, which is an advanced technique for someone just starting out.  It's meant to be a scent warmer, that you put a candle in the bottom and either essential oil or scented wax on top.  However, when clay is fired in the kiln, it shrinks by about 15% which is quite considerable.  So when I put a candle in the bottom, the space isn't large enough for adequate oxygen and the candle goes out.  So sad.  I'm not sure what else it could be used for.  Maybe a fish house?

Project 37/50

Striped soup bowl

Painting stripes is surprisingly time consuming.  I'm not sure if I would prefer the look of perfect lines if I masked it off or if the wobbles give it character.

Project 36/50

For sale or swap Claimed

Canned green beans

In Rapids I picked up so many yummy veggies from the farmers market for a steal, including green beans for canning.  Its such a simple process, but I just wish snapping them went more quickly.  So worth it though!



Photo by David Wesley 

Project 35/50

Throwback Thursday - Coffee crafts

I was in a "I heart Coffee" swap and these are some things I made for my partner.  I made the mug rack at her request and painted a celtic knot on it.  She likes Irish themes so the quote on the mixed media piece says, “Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.”