bridges pottery blog

XL Yarn Bowl - Bigger could be Better

2012-02-17T21:19:00.001-05:00

My track record for clean deliveries is fantastic. But tonight I got an email regarding a broken bowl. Replaceable - non in stock- but in a few weeks she will receive another, and love it as much as the one she got but couldn't use.

This Yarn Bowl is an XL for the bigger Knitter. . It is much bigger than the regular one and can hold between 7 and 10 oz. of Yarn. I have gotten quite a few requests for them so i may have to add them to the offering. This one looks especially nice with the blue wool I put in it. I never did make anything with this Donegal - too scratchy, but great color and texture. Oh well.

2012-02-13T07:19:00.003-05:00

Great Class today in the studio. Beginner Wheel - starts at 10:30 till 1:00. Small class so you will get lots of attention. Come on down to the studio - 29 Haven Ave. Haven Art.

Yarn Bowl Palooza

2012-02-10T09:32:00.000-05:00

They are almost all packed and ready to go. Makes a big difference having just the right size box and supplies. I figure if I stop making pots- I can get a job as a shipper.

Bridges Pottery Yarn Bowls - Turquoise, Patina Green, Nutmeg, Blue

Time Spent

2012-01-27T21:04:00.001-05:00

Fresh Kiln Full - See 'the bomb"

2012-01-12T11:02:00.002-05:00

With each kiln load there are disappointments and surprises. This kiln load was almost all great results and one piece that is "the bomb". So great to start the year off well.

This butter dish / butter keeper is glazed in a matt finish weathered patina. The inside has a shiny coat of clear that makes the glaze crystallize a bit. This clear coat allows the butter to clean off nicely.

Bridges Pottery- Butter Dish / Butter Keeper

Tea Pots

2012-01-06T21:33:00.001-05:00

This week I started my more advanced students (you know who you are) on teapots. Teapots are one of the hardest vessels to make because they have so many components and each one requires individual attention as well as coordination with each other.

Body
Spout
Lid
Handle

Just like any form, it requires some practice. I don't make a lot of teapots these days, in my Bridges Pottery line, but I have made a lot of them over the years. There is a mass of great information, videos, diagrams, photos, descriptions and lesson plans about teapots. I couldn't begin to put it all together but here is a start - for those of you that are interested in giving it a shot.

Lets start with the fun stuff...

http://teapotsteapotsteapots.blogspot.com/

basic lesson from Ceramics Arts Daily Archive

http://ceramicartsdaily.org/education/lesson-plans-6-8/family-flair-teapots/

Lucy Fagella video clips of each part of putting together a teapot

http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_6093_make-teapot-clay.html

Great Book for inspiration
500 Teapots

(dear husband - would love this one for my birthday...hint hint)

Bridges Pottery Teapot

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2012-01-01T20:15:00.000-05:00

Just returning from a week away I already have my work cut out for me to start the new year. Expanding my reach to another online shop......Stay tuned.

Tools - The VERY Basics

2011-12-09T20:01:00.000-05:00

I promised some of my students that I would list the basic tools they should have in their kit. One woman I know had trimming tools that were so dull- she may as well have been using a butter knife. Sometimes students use only communal studio tools and never realize or know just how much easier it is to use good , sharp, appropriate toos.

First - my disclaimer. This is not a complete list , not a comprehensive list. It is meant to be a start for the serious beginner or intermediate student. Pin tool, wire, towel, gum - all that goes without saying.

Tools are very personal and as you develop as a potter you find the ones you love and hate. I Like tools that feel good in the hand and do a good job. I am a Bison fan and a Bamboo fan.

TRIMMING

Loop
Double tipped - small round and triangle
Triangle

All Ceramic Supplies sell these

This is totally helpful for getting the bottom of a pot really flat. Love this - Bambootools.com

SPONGES

Get a big Grout Sponge and cut it into 2" and 1" squares and triangles.
I also like a few round ones
I always keep the very small, tight pore makeup triangles that you can buy in the drug store.

RIBS- Ribs come in a variety if firmness. There are really rigid ones and there are floppy ones. Have some of each. I like the ones with the holes for your fingers- easy to grip for newbies.

Rubber
Wood
Bamboo

Kemper and Lots of other companies make rubber ribs.

Great shape for bowls and rounded things and makes a nice chubby rim. My favorite


These are great all around for cleaning up and never get water logged.	Another favorite. Bambootools.com

OTHER

LOVE THESE


Metal rib that is serated all around. Fantastic for scoring stuff.

ALL TIME FAVORITE for hand building. The YUMI from bamboo tools. This one I keep several of because I use it so often. Afraid I will misplace it and freak out:)

LASTLY

It's called a "colour shaper" - bought it at Blick. I think it is meant for pastels - blending the colors. Like a paintbrush with a rubber tip. Great for finishing off seams on things. This was the most expensive tool in the lot.

The last mile

2011-12-08T21:55:00.000-05:00

It feels like December is moving really fast. I am finishing up holiday orders and trying the build up an inventory of Yarn Bowls for these demanding Knitters. I have a glaze kiln to run tomorrow, then a bisque in 4-5 days and then a final glaze. That's the end for 2011. Full Stop.

I keep promising to post a brief on tools and the basics for serious newbies or oldies that need to replace the main ingredients. Maybe tomorrow. Stay Tuned.

Sushi Tray

2011-12-03T21:00:00.000-05:00

Just returned from holiday sale at a local venue. A few bursts of traffic made a for a good outcome from my perspective. Pictured below is the hottest item at the moment (aside from Yarn Bowls). This was the last sushi tray - two women almost fought over it! Needless to say I will be making more of these. They are really beautiful and a very versatile. Decorative yet practical.

Those yarn bowls are hot hot. I can now catch up on them in the next week. Taking orders for small items and yarn bowls through mid week. Don't want to be like Santa - coming down the chimney Christmas eve with a pottery delivery - will deliver pre-Christmas by at least a few days.

2011 Holiday Sale Preview

2011-11-05T17:03:00.004-04:00

Getting to know shapes

2011-10-27T21:22:00.000-04:00

As a studio potter, I do make the same shape multiple times and with each time, I change something that might be visible, or might not. I love the iterations of making the same piece again. I look for better ways of doing things. Nicer techniques to create the desired look. With this "Dahlia" Platter, I have played with lots of the elements. Thickness of clay, which rolling pin used, drying time upside down and right side up, the foot and the glaze. It feels like a rubrics cube spinning around all of the variables. That- it what keeps me making the next one.

The biggest area of concern on this was the sort of foot I added. I was not happy with the first technique that I used, but have since changed it and like the feel and look of the foot on this cream colored piece. It really feels particularly nice in the hand. It sits well. I really like with Antique White look.

BUTTER

2011-10-22T13:22:00.000-04:00

Butter Dishes are here for the holidays and beyond. They offer a wonderful opportunity for me to play with the lids and knobs. Below is one of my favorites.

Bridges Pottery Butter Dish

THIS SATURDAY IN PORT WASHINGTON

2011-10-12T21:27:00.004-04:00

Picture Day

2011-10-09T15:40:00.000-04:00

As usual I have a large backlog of work to photograph. I have tweeked my lighting set up and am please with it so it's fairly simple to do. Some pieces are harder than others to shoot. My favorite ones are my kids stuff.


Annabel's Monster

I especially like the tail.

So onto the pots I really NEED pictures of.

Here are a few from today.....

Butter Dishes

Acorn Jar

Dahlia Platter

Fresh from the Kiln

2011-09-22T20:07:00.000-04:00

Here is some of what was unloaded from the kiln today. You can see them as Greenware in my last post.

Nice Blue on Textured Tray

16 x 8 x 4 Box/Tray

Oval Box

Square Box

Fist Full-O-Mugs

Two Tone Mugs Nice'N'Simple

MAN Mugs ( really big ones)

LADY Mugs - smaller and decorated

BIG Bowl/Centerpiece

Butter Dish with fused glass knob

Gearing up for a Bisque

2011-09-17T19:57:00.000-04:00

mugs, cereal bowls, creamers sugar, bowls etc

Decorated Slab Box - Perfect for your Oil & Vinegar, Salet etc. on the counter

2011-09-10T21:05:00.000-04:00

Great day the Cow Neck Historical Society Country Fair. There was a spinner, a broom maker, a blacksmith , civil war actors, old time music, and me- The Potter. Was really interesting chatting with the other craftspeople - they were genuine crafters - not craft fair people.

I did demonstrations on the wheel. Made a bunch of mugs and decorated them and finished them off with their handles. best part was bartering with the broom maker. We traded - mug for broom. We were both happy.

Pictures of mugs I made today at the fair.

Kiln Unloaded Today

2011-08-18T20:31:00.000-04:00

Getting to Know You- Uneven Firing

2011-08-08T06:33:00.000-04:00

Use Witness Cones. That's all I can say. Get to know your new friend. Loaded the kiln with witness cones- as I am in the early days with this new kiln. I knew that there was a cool area but this is a bit wacky. I will call and get some phone help to see how to even things out.

Here are the photos from the kiln as I unloaded it. I had some WINNERS in the areas of the kiln that reached temp - so I am very happy. A few others will need refiring - but I can live with that.

Top to Bottom of all 4 sets

Stenciling

2011-08-02T20:21:00.000-04:00

I have always liked working with slabs. I sew, and slabs are like fabric. You spread them out and smooth them out. You cut them and then assmble them into something else.

colored slip painted thru a stencil I cut

Sushi tray with stencil - Drying

Finished basket made from stenciled slab

Recent Unload from a Glaze firing

2011-07-29T17:10:00.000-04:00

Swag pattern Tray in Frosting

stack of various textured trays

New Glaze on a nice shape - Lovin' this Kiln:)

Stenciled tray -stoneware with yellow and tan squares

Basement Studio Under Way

2011-07-25T09:03:00.001-04:00

You never realize just how much work something is until you get underway with it. Like most construction projects, they always take longer than you expect and cost more. It takes more energy and more stress than it looks like on paper.

Hallway to room - soon to be studio

Our house has a basement with a room that was the kids playroom, then the kids lounge and then a dumping grounds for misfit toys and the like. We decided that I could take it over. I began cleaning it out and coming up with some solutions for flooring and workspace. Now, believe me, it's a small space, but organized well and ergonomically it will be perfect.

The basement floor was concrete with that thin basement type gray carpeting glued on it. Rather than rip the carpet out and have to deal with the concrete - I went for a subfloor of masonite over it and then used stick on tiles. Works beautifully.

Hi-Quality stick on tile. Not the super cheapo stuff that's .39 a tile.

Shelving came from craig's list for a song. Good wooden stuff from Ikea originally.The man in the picture was priceless.

Several trips to home depot and LOTS of help from the handy hubby and I am almost there. Lots of custom stuff like height of wedging shelf. If it is just right for me - no sore wrists and it makes wedging that much easier. Most studios have wedging tables that are too high from my experience. They need to speak to the average person in the studio - clearly taller than I am (5'5")

Pegboard with some tools - need to figure out exactly where I want each one over time

Countertop mounted at a nice high height that I like to work at. Better on the back - since I I never sit much.

More pictures to follow.

Gettting into a Rythm

2011-07-14T22:07:00.000-04:00

I always find the summer a hard tine to get into any sort of rythm of work. Even though the kids are actually in camp all day vs. till 3:00 during the school year, I seem to be involved so much more in the daily goings on. Swim meets, Sailing, Pictures, broken watches and on and on.

Tomorrow they are in Centerport for another Opti Regatta. Gear ready to load in the am.

I ran a glaze firing with good results. Over the next month I will have to tinker with firing times and temps. I fired to cone 5 and I think that I may bump it up to cone 6 and see how my glazes look. IN the studio where we work, we eased back down to Cone 5 because so many glazes were just running. Personally I think that it's because a communal studio has lots of beginner glazers and they temd to be heavy handed with the glazes.

Red Brick and black - large server and Tall Pitcher with some bright turquoise I am testing. Got a texture that weirded out a bit. Just something else to re-glaze.

My dahlias are doing well. This year I tried some of those dinner plate Dahlias......

Slab Platters

2011-07-12T15:38:00.000-04:00

It's over 90 degrees and just to hot to work outside. In the summer I set up a makeshift studio outside. It's really nice to throw in the open air and let things dry there. It's juts too damn hot. I retreated to my new "in progress" studio in some spare space in the basement. It's very nice and Handy Hubby has done a fantastic job cutting, nailing and making things just the way I want them. I now have the challenge of organizing everything from tools to glazes - that will take some time as repeated use is always the best indicator of where things should really go.

So in my small studio I spent the afternoon making some large and some small slab platters and trays. I love the wooden hump molds for some of my larger shapes.