First Deliverables of the Year

Somewhere along the line, I acquired a repeat customer who loves my “Mediterranean ware.” These pasta bowls and French coffee mugs will move to their new home later this week. The four bowls will be added to four other bowls I made…probably in 2022, to make a set of eight. The French coffee mugs are also going to make a set, but one is to replace a mug that got broken and the others are to join the original remaining mug to make a set of four.

This was a challenging task for me because all I had to go on visually was a printout of the photo I snapped of the first bowls and mugs and my memory. The clay is most assuredly different from the original stonewareI used and the new stoneware appears to have had a higher shrinkage rate. The four new bowls will most likely be a bit smaller than the original bowls. Same for the mugs.

The “yellow” color that appears on both the bowls and the mugs was one I originally created by mixing together white, various yellows, and a bit of red and/or orange underglazes. It’s impossible to determine the actual color outcome until the pieces are glaze fired. The newer pieces are much warmer (i.e., orangey) than the original pieces. I think the color is lush and beautiful, but I sure hope they are not so far removed from the originals as to jangle the perception of a set! Such is the unpredictability of making ceramics. I hate it, I love it!

2023 in Review

It turned out to be a busy year. Lots of making, lots of selling. Of pottery. Because this is a blog where I document my progress as a ceramic artist, I feel I need to catch up some. So, here is a walk through some of the pieces I made this year, most of which are now gracing the homes of other people. Many thanks to those who appreciate my work, providing me with encouragement and validation by taking a piece home.

Bubble mug
lemon plates
Cat bowls
Tall vase
Small nested bowls
Airplant mug
Medium-sized vase
Large vase
Sunflower plates
Strawberry-themed berry bowl with separate water catch plate
Bathroom water cup
Very small air plant vases
Pie weight
one-ounce shot cups (or espresso cups
Bubble mugs
Fig bowl
Sculpture, immigrants in city street
Small air plant vase
Spoon rests
Medium-size vase
Blueberry-themed berry bowl with separate water catch plate
Bubble mugs
Fennel-themed pasta bowl
Olive-themed soup or coffee mugs
Orange-themed mug
Small one-ounce shot cups or espresso cups
Bubble mug
Dog-themed mug
Lemon-themed spoon rest
Pie weight
Olive-themed eggwhite separators
Lemon-themed eggwhite separators
Tomato-themed pasta bowl