Well I've had a few frustrating days since my last post. The tail end of last week I felt dreadful and so took some time off to get myself better. I feel fine now, I think I needed to recharge and shake off the man flu.
Yesterday I tried again to make more of the large harvest jugs that were causing me struggles last week and yet again, failed. I realized after several attempts and much pugging, kneading and cursing, that my difficulties were due to the new tonne of clay that I recently took delivery of. Whenever I get a new batch of clay, it's sticky and lacking in strength, as it needs time to 'sour'.
I don't turn any of my jugs, they're 'thrown to finish' and so the clay needs to be absolutely right in order to be thrown to the optimum thickness - this stuff is puddingy and flops too readily. So for the time being, I've decided I can waste no more time trying to make these big fat jugs.
The little film shows a batch of bowls that I threw 'off the hump' before I went home last night. I enjoyed making these, and it felt liberating to throw this way, after a day of struggling trying to make something of a specific size, from a specific weight of clay.
Today I'm going to carry on making lots of small stuff to send Japan - it won't fill the kiln as quickly as the big jugs, so I'm just going to have to make a lot of it - I'd better get busy.
Have a good Tuesday everybody
11 comments:
You're SO busy...and keeping us inspired, I've passed the versatile blogger award on to you!
http://gzandco.blogspot.com/2012/02/awards.html
Have you tried drying out the clay a bit -leaving it out in ropes for a few days? That should make it less sticky.
the man flu... does that mean there is a gray haired lady flu out there searching for me.....
Sometimes the clay wins.Feel better.
Ugh. Clay problems stink.
I'd love to see your technique for cutting/removing your bowls when throwing off the hump....
love the audio on your video! duck sounds, wheel sounds.
Glad you're feeling better.
Beautiful bowls! I think it is ok to be nice to yourself and do some things that give you some positive reinforcement. I just got a pugging machine because I got frustrated with clay that I couldn't do what I wanted to do with it because of the age or consistency, etc. Nothing worse than spending your time with materials that are "incorrect."
Yeah, like Meredith, I want to know more about the man flu. Is there a "bald man flu"? "Overweight man" flu? And for those of you who know what this means, Janet brought ginger brownies to Coffee O this morning.
i think hannah may have some of that clay :P glad you're feeling better
Ducks?!?! I want ducks :)
yummy yummy bowls, ummmmm!!!
Thank you everybody for your lovely comments. Beware, there's a flu for all sorts, but none as bad as man flu of course. Gwynneth, I think I just had that passed on to me twice, I'll have to do that later on. I'll try that Linda - I've left some out in the icy cold as well. It always lacks any strength when it's a new batch. Anna, I'll have to show you how I cut the bowls off the hump - I'm not very good at it though so that bit always hits the cutting room floor ;)
Must get to work, thank you all, have lovely days and make lots of pots, bye :-) x
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