This is a tumblelog, kinda like a blog but with short-form, mixed-media posts with stuff I like. Scroll down a bit to start reading, or a bit more to read more about me.
At the end of the day! Most of my stuff was sold!!! Wow! And after this picture I sold 2 other things. I’d say that I had about 1/4 of my stuff left (maybe). I honestly don’t have enough stuff to go out again until I can make some more! God totally answered my prayers for a successful day!
Yesterday, all set up at the start of the day for selling pottery! It was sunny and, though cold at first, turned out to be super nice and warm!
I’m going down to the waterfront today to sell my pottery for the first time ever - Yay!!
Now let’s hope that I can actually sell some stuff (my biggest fear is that I won’t sell anything and this will all just be a waste of time and money… but that won’t happen!).
Today’s video features potter Jeffrey Nichols demonstrating a great technique for a handbuilt teapot spout. In addition to the technique, Jeffrey discusses and gives pointers on what makes a teapot spout function properly.
Very excited to try this!
“Koi Pond” two cup teapot - a Japanese inspired teapot with hand carved koi fish along the top. The glaze transitions from a matte brown, like the murky waters of a pond in a Japanese garden, to a rich seaweed green. The spout and handle are highlighted in blue (as well as the inside). It also has a built in strainer for loose tea! Sold
My teapot that I’ve sold to another teacher! It makes 2 cups exactly (that’s what she wanted, and she asked for “muted greens”). Only problem is that the water pours out of the top/lid when it’s full :/ Any thought on why?
My pottery is the result of my experiences in both Nova Scotia and Japan. I aim to express movement…
I’ll be posting a bunch of my stuff from the first kiln throughout the day! Have a look and see what I’ve been making. First up (on there right now) are some small flower vases and bowls…
I got an order from a friend for two teapots this summer… yay for commissions but why does everyone like teapots? haha, I don’t enjoy making them…
Well, that’s not true. I like all the possibilities of shapes and designs and I love how great they look in the end. It’s the amount of work that it takes for the price that people are willing to pay! So many little pieces that have to fit together perfectly, making two different lids (just in case), getting the spout right, all that and then how much do you charge? Not enough! haha.
My biggest problem so far is how the design affects how it pours. I keep on getting water coming out of the spout AND from the top of the lid. It doesn’t happen if I pour slowly and carefully, but other people don’t want to worry about that. Hum, what could be wrong with the design?
Anyway, my friend wants a 4 cup teapot with 4 tea cups (for one family member) and a 2 cup teapot with cups (for another family member). I do love friends who support the arts!
I had an old friend contact me last night via facebook (well, an old friend of my sister’s). She asked, very nicely, if she could come over some time and give pottery a try. She just wants to see if it’s something she would be interested in (her husband was into it for a while). I don’t mind that at all, but my space is so small that if she’s doing something, I have no room to do anything. I also know that her, “just for 30 minutes or so” will be an afternoon AT LEAST, haha.
I told her that as long as she compensated me for the materials I didn’t mind at all… but at the time I didn’t think about the time I would lose in the studio. Hummmm. Why is it that people don’t really realize that this is what artists are doing for a living, and most people would have to pay for studio time and lessons!?!
A nice art store/gallery here is doing a show with the theme “Life on the Farm”… I need to find out what the deadline for submissions is (I just heard about it on Friday) and also think of some ideas!
What would you do for “Life on the Farm”? I can imagine there’ll be lots of animals… but I think of veggie gardens, haha, and harvest time!
I’m so excited to see all of these done! Its torture to have to wait half a week! There’s a few things that might now work out well (a few mugs and bowls that is had to reglaze because the glaze was flaking, then the other glaze went on thin…), we’ll see! Also, having a written down plan of attack really helped me be more organised and I finished everything by 3:30!
Love the simple geometry of this piece; nice subtle design touches like the angled spout.
(via : 赤木智子の生活道具店 毎日使いたくなる道具たち「今日もよろしく」CALEND-OKINAWA(カレンド沖縄))
This is an attempt to educate myself about ceramics and pottery. These are notes, pictures and musings about my adventure; beginning to make ceramics again. First in Japan (trying to learn without much Japanese) and then hopefully in Canada next year. I need a place (here) to record what I learn from research and experience. I need to keep track of styles and specific things that I like, as well as collect my thoughts on what I want to try and make. I also hope to be able to tell you about any crazy, fun, or frustrating situations that happen to me as I try to work with ceramics here in Japan!
*some pictures are not my own but I give credit when it's possible.
