Yesterday I started some of my new designs and adding some more details to my purses. These bags still lack the little feet, which I will add today. I think I will add the little knobby kind to these. Hubby thinks my flap on the basket is just a wee bit too big so maybe next time I’ll make a smaller size for that style. I’m thinking that I may repeat my patterns but change the features of my bags. Who knows, I may just become the pottery bag lady. I’m still trying to come up with a catchy name for myself so if any of you out there have any ideas, I’m all ears. For now, I’m Debbie’s Pottery.

I’m so thankful for Hubby as he always wants to see what’s new and happening in the studio. After his long day at work, he wants to see what I’ve been up to. I’m so glad he’s like that. So many of my other friends out at the studio say that their husbands could care less what they do with clay.

Hubby always helps when it comes time for firing the kiln. He is my official kiln loader and unloader. Whenever I have a batch ready, he’s always obliged to help. I was really tired the last two evenings so we did not load the glazed pieces that I finished Wednesday. However, this morning I was feeling rather chipper about the pieces ready to be fired so I asked him if we could load the kiln tonight. He said, how would you like to load it right now before I get ready for work? Boy, was I all over that! He came down and helped me get the kiln all loaded and it’s now firing! YEA! Thanks to Hubby.

You see, I have a “Monster” of a kiln and I’m too short to get the heavy kiln furniture in and out. Even when I’m on a stool, my arms are too short so he is very happy to assist whenever I need his help. He’s the best and such a GEM!

I got to the studio downtown early yesterday with my truck full of pieces to glaze. Got everything all set up and away I went. I thought I would be finished at the studio sometime around noonish and did not get out of there till 5:30. I had all my pieces unloaded and in the glaze room and was literally in there talking out loud to myself, something like this… that one has the black/red combo, I think that one should have the pumpkin/celadon combo. I think I should do that one in turquoise to match the work on the outside, and on and on I went, with a whole lot of thinking in between. Am I the only one who talks out loud to themselves?

I must say we all had such a great time of it out there. There were around 8 of us total working chatting and just having a great day together. I took Monika several pottery books to borrow and a couple new tools to try out. She has come a long way in just a few months of (pottery) playing dirty with the rest of us. Quite a few of my friends were doing raku out in the back and several were throwing pots and a couple of us were glazing. We all stopped and enjoyed our lunch around the table and had a great time of more conversation. The Wednesday group is so much fun and the time goes by so fast that all I think I had to do was blink and it was 5:30.

I had to make a quick stop by Costco on my way home to pick up some chicken and did not get home till 6:30 Hubby pulled in right behind me and we sat down for dinner together and enjoyed each other’s company for the rest of the evening. I love days like that but I sure could not do it every day.

I’ve been working in my studio all morning and the early part of this afternoon. I’ve been trying to add some embellishments to some of the pieces I worked on last week. I’m making another pot like the one you saw way back when. I’m adding a few more details to this one like the feet, flower and petals. I’ve wanted to make another one of these pots for quite some time now and here it is. I still have quite a bit of burnishing left to do on this pot before it’s completely dry.

Tomorrow I will start my purses and I really need to get these cranking. I was sent an invitation to sell my work at the Mayfest event which will be held for 4 days the early part of May. I have another gallery interested in seeing my purses so hopefully I can get quite a few of these items made to meet my expectations.

I’ve got to get back to the studio and get a few more things accomplished before the end of the day.

I’ve been busy trying to fill my dearest mother’s pottery order. She made a request for a purse made with clay. I love making decorative purses and the people who buy them use them for plants or floral decorations or just plain decoration. I used to make purses quite a bid and never repeat a pattern. I like making one of a kind pieces and destroying my pattern when I’m finished. I have not made any purses in quite a while now but mom wanted one so here is my special design just for her.

She also made a request for a planter/box. She gave me the dimensions and I ran with the design and here is the box complete with handles and feet.

Both the purse and box are still in the wet stages and need to completely dry before the bisque firing. I can’t wait to add the glaze to see how they turn out. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

I Love To Play Dirty

Today was another day to play in the mud. There is nothing quite like being up to my elbows in mud. I love it!