Out with the old in with the...

Well it is the first week of the new year and I am sitting here writing this instead of working. To be honest however I kinda feel that having worked straight through the holidays I deserve a day off. Plus every time I sat down at the wheel this morning to throw I got a weird sorta feeling like I should do something else, I guess the universe is trying to tell me something. I will be back at it tomorrow full steam and all that. I need to keep building up a stockpile of pieces waiting to be fired. The thought of having extra pieces that only need be glazed when I need them is rather nice, hopefully that will cut down on some stress later in the year.

I managed to get some plates thrown and slipped before the end of the old year. I am fairly impressed with how these came out as I struggle with plate forms. Not sure why but they never come easy for me. Of course I then pulled a bonehead move and left them uncovered when I went home for the night. Came back in the next morning to find that the rims where bone dry and the bottoms had not popped of the bats. Needless to say that trimming the plates did not go well and only 2 of them have survived to now, guess I am gonna get more practice on plates.

I also managed to get this pancheon thrown and slipped before the close of the year. I find myself liking the way this slip turned out although it is not what I had originally intended.

I came into the studio this morning that the handle on this jug which I really like had a crack in it. I suspect that it is only going to separate more in the firing but I am going to fire it anyway. I like the design on it to much and the worst thing that will happen is I have a really nice jug for pouring slips and glazes with.

This is the first pot of 2013. It is a 5 lb jug. I did manage to get a handle on it this morning and now it is going to sit under plastic until it is leather hard and I can get the slip on it. I am not going to take the chance of the handle on this one cracking as well, it will dry completely under plastic.

I threw this pancheon yesterday.

And here it is with slip on it. I always think the pots look so much better with the fresh slip on them. Even when they are glazed they don't have the same look to them.

They are saying that we are going to get a couple of warmish days at the beginning of next week so I think I might try to plan on getting a bisque fire done, at least for the order pieces. Fingers crossed, wood knocked on.

Well I am off to try to find something to do with a day off.
Hope everyone's New Year only gets better.