A Few From the Kiln-Befores and Afters

Pre-firing

Post-firing

 I like making my stuff from start to finish much better than I like glazing bisque. Glazing bisque is way too "Color Me Mine" for my taste. The cups, plates and pitcher are mine, from start to finish.

Mr. ShellHawk talked me into these wine chillers. I will never make these again! Beatrice Wood never had to make this crap, after all, so why should I? 

 I do like how Dracula turned out, though.

More soon!

Random Geekery

You know you want it.

Tardis underbust corset by CandyToxinDreads. Love it!

So Darn Busy!

I really have to share that this is the most inconvenient time to have gotten a job, although getting an actual regular paycheck is not inconvenient at all!

A couple of new cups with underglaze only.

Of course, you know that I'm prepping for a couple of shows right now, one with "normal ceramics and sculpture and one Hallowe'en-focused. So I'm up at 4:30 A.M. (yuck-o!) so I can guzzle some coffee and check my email, get into the studio around 5:00-ish, and start getting ready for work around 6:30. I come back home, have lunch around 2:00-ish, and either go back into the studio or sit down at The World's Most Expensive Glazing Table (as Mr. ShellHawk is fond of calling our dining table) and work there. It gives me a break from throwing and gets me out of the hottest part of the day.

In my defense, I work there so I can be in the same room with Mr. ShellHawk, who, for his part, is working on a very important and nearly incomprehensible, and most of all expensive project which will undoubtedly cause him to miss some personal commitments on his laptop. I mean, miss some personal commitments in the future. Not personal commitments on his laptop, which in this day and age, could mean some pretty weird things... He works on his laptop in the living room in front of the TV and next to the dining table... Oh, never mind!

You get the point...

 I've been working on some commissions, like the plate above. Below, I threw the cups, fired them, and started underglazing them once they dried enough. I did the bisque firing, put some clear glaze on them, and fired them again.

They'll be coming out of the glaze firing tonight or tomorrow, depending on how cool the kiln is. If I open it too soon, the glaze could start crazing..

 So here's the second layer of my small kiln as I was unpacking it yesterday morning. I am totally jonesing for a larger kiln like you wouldn't believe! This little one is just not handling the volume I can make, any more, but I'm not quite able to buy a new digital kiln, and I haven't found one on Craigslist. 

As Tom Petty said, the waiting is the hardest part!

Then, this:

It was the first time a plate I threw cracked. I'm pretty sure it's because of the shape of what I had stacked on it. Damn!

But oh, well. I can make another one!

Well, out to the studio, kids. Then on to work. Then home. Then...

SCORE!

I've been locked up in the studio (when I haven't been at work) and hadn't had a chance to get out to see who has Hallowe'en in their stores, yet. Yesterday, I headed over to Costco to fill up on gas and decided to see if they had anything in, particularly the inexpensive skeletons they had last year.

Not only did they have them, they were almost out of them!

Of course, I bought two. :) A girl can never have enough skeletons!

I've gotten back to making some jacks, again. I've been getting inquiries, already, so I wanted to have some to sell in the ShellHawk's Creations store on Etsy. I'm not sure how many I'll have this year, but the good news is, I may have someone to help do some glazing (the orange and yellow jacks take a long time to glaze because of all the layers and cleanup that's needed for them!), so I may be able to kick out a bunch of them.

Oh, and I found another great board on Pinterest for your Hallowe'en inspiration. Check this out!

O.k. Out to the studio to trim some bowls and maybe some jacks!

Napa is Looming!

There have been a lot of long days happening around here, lately. I think I mentioned I have a part-time job that's keeping me out of the studio for thirty hours a week, so most other minutes are spent making or glazing, or fretting about the firing that's in process! Even so, things are getting done for the Downtown Napa Artisan's Festival.

Here's a small sample of what recently came out of the kiln:

The tree bottle is actually for Halloween and Vine, but you get the gist!

O.K.! Back into the studio! I have some cups to trim and assemble!

Brian Wolfe

If you're a haunter following this blog, you may have run across the Wolfe brothers. I actually had the pleasure of meeting them both at the first West Coast Haunters Convention, and was floored by their mad special effects makeup skills and the fact that they were all around great guys!

Unfortunately, Brian got cancer last year and he and his family are having a rough time because of it. Here's the story:

Identical twins Nick and Brian Wolfe grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida and started their epic journey into the world of special effects makeup. They share inborn enthusiasm for art and illusion that has fueled their meteoric rise in the world of face art, body painting and special effects make-up.They travel the world sharing their ideas, teaching others and helping them accomplish their dreams.

Brian has been married for 13 years to his devoted wife, Dara and they have an 12 year old daughter, Trinity. Both who are his life and biggest supporters.

July 2012, Brian was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that has knocked him off his feet and is threatening his life. While Brian undergoes treatment he is unable to work. His wife, who has stood by his side for over a dozen years is needed by his side now more than ever.

We are asking you to help the Wolfe family in any way you can. Any donation amount is greatly appreciated and will be used to help with day to day expenses so Brian can focus on healing and living his dream once again.

The Wolfe family is so blessed to have such caring family, friends and fans and is extraordinarily grateful for the continued support.
For those who may be wondering, I am Dara's sister and I am close to both her and Brian. Dara and Brian are both aware of this page and the support we are asking for. This page has been a group effort put together by our entire family. We greatly appreciate any help you can offer.

If you have a couple of bucks to throw their way, I know they'd be greatly appreciative. Pancreatic cancer is a nasty and expensive demon to fight, and they need all the help they can get!

Donate to Brian Wolfe here.

W.I.P.

I was glazing a bunch of wine chillers for the upcoming Napa Artisan's Fair (formerly the Napa Wine and Craft Fair). Since this venue will be more "fine art" rather than Hallowe'en related, I've been doing more "normal" designs. But something had to give, and one spooky-themed chiller started to manifest itself!

I have enough greenware to start the kiln tonight. I feel impossibly behind in my making process, but I'm still chugging along. I have some new glazes to mix, new bowls to throw, and need a studio assistant in the worst way! Eek!

Graveyard EXTRAVAGANZA!

Husband and I were out in Mendocino County this past weekend for a little getaway with some friends of ours. While there are other things in Mendocino (including the gorgeous house where we stayed!) we did find a super pair of graveyards.

They're adjoined: Cuffey's (or Cuffy's) Cove Community Cemetery and Druid Cemetery. No Druids, but lots of great pics!

Some of these look very similar because I took some with my camera and some with my point and shoot!

The fog was kind enough to start rolling in for some nifty photos. I wish I had been able to capture it a bit better!

I love the detail work on this column/urn combination. It's held up beautifully, in spite of the weather!

Notice how this shows a male hand and a female hand by the different cuffs?

It was wonderful to walk around on a cool, foggy morning, in this quiet, sacred space.