2023 - 0 Stars. Would Not Recommend

The short version is that a bunch of people in my life died within a six-week period and the aftermath is, well, just a lot to deal with. Hiding in bed, while effective for short periods of time, is not a sustainable option!

But life goes on, right?

After the rains let off, I started to get back out to making things, this time with a specific market in mind.

These particular cups will have some Dungeons and Dragons-related phrases on their medallions! I have some new glaze combinations to play with and I am so excited to be able to offer these soon! There's a game shop close by and I'm going to take a few over there to see if perhaps they'd like to carry them. I haven't made the effort to get in a retail shop before, so it's a new adventure!

There's another nearby shop which expressed interest in my "just breathe" cups, so I made some to take over to them. The kiln is nearly full enough to run a bisque firing, and after that, it'll be at least a full day of agonizing over colors and glaze combinations, and then several more days of glazing and putting the glaze combos into my spreadsheet!

After that, there will be a shop update with some of the new bowls in addition to new cups!

Onwards!

Godzilla With Pearl Earring

It's my birthday come Monday, and I gotta say, I look great for my age! ;)

Pic via Godzilla Photoshops. I think. 

New WIPs

Well, it seems like there's a pause in the rains and the cold here in good ol' L.A., so I got back outside to my wheel and started making, again.

I've had more requests for really big mugs, so I've thrown a few of those, too. I'm guessing those will end up at around 30-ish ounces once they're out of the glaze firing.

Clay shrinks as it goes from wet to dry, then shrinks again in the bisque (first) firing, then shrinks one last time in the glaze firing, which for these guys will be at ^5-^6. The little carrot means "cone," which is how hot it's going to be fired to.

I've had the idea to make some mugs for Pride, to support my LGBTQIA+ friends and fans, and what better way to do that than to start with what we in the Supernatural fandom call "The Ship of Dreams," Destiel!

And life has been difficult of late for many of us in my age group. I lost both my aunt and my mom within weeks of each other, and decided that a couple of naughty language cups were on par with the current mood...

I figured I'd give you a sense of scale and capacity, too, so my two-cup measuring cup was the best tool for that!

This morning, I unpacked the kiln, and will start cleaning the clay dust off these pieces before I agonize and overthink the glaze combinations! Three of the pieces are commissions, which I seldom take anymore due to people "Karening" too much. I just don't have that kind of patience left in me, anymore!

"Carry On" is one of those commission pieces, actually. The client wants it in yellow, so it gives me the excuse to buy and have fun with a new (to me) Celadon glaze from Amaco.

I was down to just a few bowls this year, so I took some time to make a couple of larger ones, and a bunch of smaller bowls that would make good ice cream or prep bowls. I still want to get to ramen or Pho bowls, but just haven't gotten there as of yet!

And then there's this guy! My first cookie jar, requested as a gift for a friend's brother. I've really enjoyed making him so far! Lots of thought about the handle, I have to say...

This cup is a replacement for another one of similar design, because my friend wanted even more caffeine at her disposal!

This guy is just a glaze test for a new to me glaze which has a reputation for being runny. I have a piece in mind which will use this texture, and I want to be sure I know what to expect! Aren't the bees adorable?

Time to get glazing!