where will we be when the summer's gone...???

that would be, for me, working in the studio as if it were a real job. i am still in shock that today was Cyndi's first day back to school, without kids yet...and that my last post was in that short week of spring we had before summer started this long boil. since then, way back when, Will has grown in so many ways. More words, more climbing, more everything. Every day is sheer joy and amazement. He is sweet beyond belief, holding our hands and giving us sweet baby kisses when we least expect it. In the next moment he is off on a mission, all business all the time, I like to say about him.
In the blur of summer, I have:
made lots of pots, tested lots of glazes, grown, picked and eaten tons of tomatoes, gone to Tomatopalooza, spent some time on Oak Island, attempted to become as smart my new phone, participated in the August First Friday Indie Market, read Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential, tweaked glazes, reclaimed clay, met Val Cushing, worked more than I would like to, saw some snakes, sweated, and am now ready to the weather to break!!!
So as we dwindle down the final hot weeks, I really hope I can get into the swing of posting, taking pics, and getting some pots made, photographed, and sold into the hand of people who will use them.
For the August Indie Market I did another whirlwind work schedule, firing twice in three days. I wonder how it is to produce pottery at some sort of relaxed and seemingly normal pace?
The pots seems to be better with each kiln load. I spent most of the summer making bottles and vases. These are things I like, and like to make. The basic premise is simple, but with the smallest tweaks and variations they can become their own distinct pot.
I have been pretty lucky, I think, on the glaze front. After testing a few dozen over several firings in the small kiln, only a few have I really put out of mind.
Some are still being tweaked, mainly for colorant strength, or viscosity. Should have nicked a Zahn cup in days past. I am really trying to work the glazes down to about ten to twelve I really like, and stick with those for a while. The bad news is, the more you dig into them, the wider the possibilities become. Every glaze begats a glaze. "and when i fell on the floor, i drank more"...
After weeks of decorative shapes, I have started back on functional stuff. This will mean more bowls, bowls, and more bowls. While this might sound a bit boring, it really is not at all. If you really thing about a bowl, its size and grip in the hand, and how a spoon might glide along the inner angles, it all seems like a big deal. The difference between eating from a good bowl and a crap one is as important and relelvant as the food in it.
Other than bowls, I plan to focus on jars, plates and mugs. These shapes will keep me busy for a good while.
The September First Friday Indie Market is fast approaching, so while I may be quiet for a couple of days, I will be posting pics of my progress as the market gets closer. If anyone happens to actually stumble in here and read this, hope to see you September 3 downtown GSO. I will be posting the poster soon.
Here is a smattering of photos from the summer....