tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22350077631645365922024-03-13T03:17:32.682-04:00Throwing My Life Away......adventures in becoming a 5th generation potterHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-62025438569624982102018-09-14T14:03:00.002-04:002018-09-14T14:04:40.214-04:00"weathering Florence..." While, North Carolina is no stranger to hurricanes, they make for a pesky deterrent when we are only about a month away from the 15th Annual Hilton Homeplace Pottery Sale. I had sort of planned for the next 5 weeks to be filled with as much pottery as possible (nothing like last minute, huh?) But Florence has put a "damper" on that plan, ha! (pun most certainly intended!) With a Category 4 hurricane headed straight for us, it looks like my efforts will need to be placed in the jewelry making portions of prep. <br />
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Even without power, I can make jewelry by the candlelight, ha! One of the new ideas I had this year was to create essential oil or perfume necklaces. Simply place a few drops of your favorite oil or perfume on a cotton ball and drop it in the little pocket and enjoy the aroma the rest of your day! <br />
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Of course there will still be many other items. I have a line of sayings that help you remember who you want to "bee" that say things like: be kind, be confident, be strong, and other little reminders. </div>
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So as you all watch the weather channel and play "where in the world is Jim Cantore", you know what my hurricane party consists of...jump rings, chain, and pottery beads! Come by and check out the goodies at the 15th Annual Hilton Homeplace Sale on 10/13/18! www.hiltonpottery.com</div>
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-75490443190914764762018-05-07T10:01:00.000-04:002018-05-07T10:01:31.609-04:00back in the saddle... Well, it seems like forever since I touched clay, but I am back at it...sort of. For those of you who know me, you know that the last 6 months have been difficult. The love of my life was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease called Myasthenia Gravis. We've been living in and out of the hospital, touring all the different ICU rooms, and spending so much time there that we know the doctor's schedules as well as they do. <br />
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Hit me up if you need to know which days are the best at the cafeteria... But I'm hopeful we are out of the woods. Tam's surgery to remove the tumor in her thymus went well and we are hoping for a complete remission. She's doing well, and I appreciate all the prayers and well wishes you have given us. This is a pottery blog, so I won't get too deep into the medical stuff, but in the fall I'll have a few pieces available where the proceeds will be donated to the National Myasthenia Foundation of America for help in research and developments in hopes of finding a cure for MG. <i>(</i> <i>for more information about MG visit <a href="http://www.myasthernia.org/">www.myasthernia.org</a> )</i><br />
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Okay, back to the pottery part of this...I'm back! One might even say I'm "back in the saddle" so to speak. I'm working on a few horse themed items as I was inspired by my mom & Tommy's relocation to my cousins' farm. Belveu is home to some of the most beautiful Walking Horses you'll ever see, along with an alpaca, some cows, several dogs, a bee hive or two, and a whole host of kiddos to keep everyone in line. <br />
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But not to worry, I haven't forgotten the most important things in life...like coffee! There will be plenty of mugs available this fall for the 15th Annual Hilton Homeplace Sale. (Can you believe it's been 15 years? Neither can I!) The Hilton Homeplace crew suffered a tremendous loss this year when our beloved Jerry Hedspeth passed away after a long fight with Pancreatic Cancer. He was loved by many and will be missed by us all. Our condolences and prayers go out to Sybil and her family. Here's to sunnier and healthier days in the future for us all! <br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-2798258353817870112017-09-29T09:40:00.002-04:002017-09-29T09:40:36.260-04:00Curiosity glazed the cat...You've heard the saying "curiosity killed the cat" right? Well, in this case, curiosity glazed him instead. (more on that in a few)<br />
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As we prepare for the Fall Hilton Homeplace Sale on October 14th, the ever-growing pile of bisque pieces haunts me to start the glazing process. That's always been my least favorite part...you make something and love it until the color doesn't come out like you've planned. (Maybe that's the reason there IS a pile of bisque!)<br />
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Well, as you may have heard we also have a pile of kittens who are growing up quickly and have decided they belong in the pottery shop. There are 4 "teenage" kittens now, but three of them are primary pot shop residents...meet (from left to right) Sheldon...so named because he thinks he is smarter than everyone else and heaven help you if you end up in "his spot". In the middle is Pep-purr, so named because her purr sounds like a Harley-Davidson it is so loud. On the right is Jenner...who got his/her name because for the first 6 months or so we thought he was a boy, but turns out he's really a girl. They have a sister (not pictured) we call two face because her face is half black and half calico and her whiskers are long enough to braid. <br />
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Okay back to the cat glazing story...for those of you who have seen our pieces dad typically glazes in a color he calls oatmeal and then trims in other colors. Because it is his primary dipping glaze it lives in a 20-gallon drum...sort of kitty cat swimming pool sized if you are trying to picture it. Well, Sheldon, being the curious cat he is decided to hop up on the glazing table to see what I was doing and didn't realize the pool was open for the summer and took a deep dive into the Oatmeal glaze...dunked tip to tail he quickly realized this was a bad idea. The Hilton Homeplace has been home to 5 Generations of Hiltons, and countless babies and dishes have all been washed in the farmhouse sink, but I'm pretty sure Sheldon was the first cat bathed there. </div>
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He hasn't given up on being a shop cat, but I think he may stay in the turning end a little more and is much more careful before he decides to go for a thick, oatmeal colored swim. </div>
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-7150444430463124692017-05-28T18:00:00.000-04:002017-05-28T18:00:03.295-04:00I still hate balloons... Finally back playing in the mud a little. I managed to make a few new coffee cups with fun little messages inside and came up with a new idea how to get the words to stand out a little better. I'll underglaze them before I bisque and that way I can sand off any excess when they are leather hard making the color more distinct. (keep your fingers crossed this is still just a theoretical fix) So after a good day of turning I had quite a few "word mugs" ready for the test.<br />
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The good news is, this idea appears to have worked out quite well...Once bisqued the words came out much darker and more detailed than the mugs I've tried in the past. Hopefully, this theoretical fix will actually work. </div>
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Next step is to figure out how to glaze the insides clear so the words are still visible and manage to glaze the outside in other colors. I started with the clear interiors...so far so good. (but the hard part is next) </div>
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So I saw this really cool idea online. (stop laughing, I know you all do that too) In this guy's post he was using a balloon to keep from getting the glaze on the insides of his mugs, a problem I am intimately familiar with when trying to glaze the inside and outside 2 different colors. </div>
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The joke here is that I really hate balloons...REALLY hate balloons. When I was a District Manager my store teams used to call and ask where I was going to be on event day because if it was their store then they knew there were NO BALLOONS! <br />
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I had to give it a try...and guess what, it's really awkward, and a little scary, but it works! Stay tuned to see if these mugs survive their battle with the kiln (the kiln is always the enemy!) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-Uc87Y5h1eYXu-VHDTeFCCOP7H2uMachyphenhyphenbCyQLqwo81eidxkxb7U_fSjf2ESt1bh8XPW3Q2uwfEnAxXKWNtqHBu8uwGfTue3jvtF6HjuAyv3kAIBLfFHutQMcDD4anLROUBY1ikQk90/s1600/IMG_7047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-Uc87Y5h1eYXu-VHDTeFCCOP7H2uMachyphenhyphenbCyQLqwo81eidxkxb7U_fSjf2ESt1bh8XPW3Q2uwfEnAxXKWNtqHBu8uwGfTue3jvtF6HjuAyv3kAIBLfFHutQMcDD4anLROUBY1ikQk90/s320/IMG_7047.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7eLhJfTy_u2m0upzKlbCqlG-vO_Ez2_OlunamacU3bgQuD2mi7VwWu8CrDcDu55oHqplhJU34eyZHjZ5wI4Qwqf3rzFIl8D1EAlNKkwa3Uv3_l9jGLGtZ21AIOnHlloYKz6JUHh4ibU/s1600/IMG_7048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7eLhJfTy_u2m0upzKlbCqlG-vO_Ez2_OlunamacU3bgQuD2mi7VwWu8CrDcDu55oHqplhJU34eyZHjZ5wI4Qwqf3rzFIl8D1EAlNKkwa3Uv3_l9jGLGtZ21AIOnHlloYKz6JUHh4ibU/s320/IMG_7048.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I don't know that I am quite ready to give up my dipping tongs, but I may have a little less hatred for the balloons after this endeavor...until next time, stay muddy my friends!<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com04026 Old State Rd, Newton, NC 28658, USA35.616340699999988 -81.32184289999997910.094306199999988 -122.63043689999998 61.138375199999984 -40.013248899999979tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-74072926177069676282016-09-20T17:39:00.001-04:002016-09-21T07:50:06.971-04:00Lookin for some hot stuff... Are you all singing disco tunes yet? I can't help but do so whenever I start to think about these trivets! It never fails when we all get together for a Holiday the table fills with wonderful family recipes there isn't enough room for everything and Grandma's antique table inevitably needs to hold the overflow. (insert shameless Hilton Homeplace Cookbook plug here, available at www.hiltonpottery.com)<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIkXH_L22gzns-jHW0vy7GjGF1MJo3YGaX7xub647KsJqSKq3x0d5HRordsxU9xAAjmyNqBA3Ahtw1_d_T9x1Qtzhky01ag2kEQQEuSOSmzYedW7poftLGMkb8CUFRTSuUj-FDkfcFgo/s640/blogger-image--219787165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIkXH_L22gzns-jHW0vy7GjGF1MJo3YGaX7xub647KsJqSKq3x0d5HRordsxU9xAAjmyNqBA3Ahtw1_d_T9x1Qtzhky01ag2kEQQEuSOSmzYedW7poftLGMkb8CUFRTSuUj-FDkfcFgo/s640/blogger-image--219787165.jpg"></a></div><br><div><br></div><div>Sure you could use a pot holder...but why not a beautiful pottery trivet? So I set out to make some! It was a lengthy process, but a lot of fun! First there have to be molds...</div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnX08LyLjzFjFGXbkR-LDGe5bPfZBV4AkUYo7TSPqUnaFkExuqlWmTP_B7lR5N8AIwkbpeEPyMNctlZPTydsGstkC3y80FpC7hPJaZUtq96DGMllYrE_M9Wmki1lrcmmL5nP2l46h4no0/s640/blogger-image--401993251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnX08LyLjzFjFGXbkR-LDGe5bPfZBV4AkUYo7TSPqUnaFkExuqlWmTP_B7lR5N8AIwkbpeEPyMNctlZPTydsGstkC3y80FpC7hPJaZUtq96DGMllYrE_M9Wmki1lrcmmL5nP2l46h4no0/s640/blogger-image--401993251.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Now we are ready...so let's mix the plaster and be ready to pour...(and I mean ready quick because it sets faster than you can imagine, which I learned the hard way...both figuratively and literally) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdk8MC_Ksn-fhcA6G-MX6gLEZISQah8L67qtxa_adeidyTg14zEirbrZACUNJSmu4Iutgn6DaL3yI9T-yR50NVKey6xB6a1anyaMg6OZ02k20-n32aGA8P3Grf3oP-emdhcEv4PFVm7w8/s640/blogger-image-293488245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdk8MC_Ksn-fhcA6G-MX6gLEZISQah8L67qtxa_adeidyTg14zEirbrZACUNJSmu4Iutgn6DaL3yI9T-yR50NVKey6xB6a1anyaMg6OZ02k20-n32aGA8P3Grf3oP-emdhcEv4PFVm7w8/s640/blogger-image-293488245.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Next you have to peel out the goodies and see what you're left with in the negative space! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskzVTIeT5ALB_L-8OEdSWFA9Gsduy-syFsVvpjrtYhBmUulD-Gsm13x-wmbHNVkGKXrI7br09OCm9X4Pmmh14a6ioGkmNscQG7wbY6Idsm-ZRv3CTkFJRNUrOCjXRyCuAfea2NE1XrU4/s640/blogger-image--14810780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskzVTIeT5ALB_L-8OEdSWFA9Gsduy-syFsVvpjrtYhBmUulD-Gsm13x-wmbHNVkGKXrI7br09OCm9X4Pmmh14a6ioGkmNscQG7wbY6Idsm-ZRv3CTkFJRNUrOCjXRyCuAfea2NE1XrU4/s640/blogger-image--14810780.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next comes the fun part...add clay, smooth the backing and use those "rice bags" we made in a previous blog post to ensure they all dry flat...a crooked trivet will do no good. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pKQtwCYixMTcE9Ete4zG0wp2H0ozirGZ1dTj3AUJD5MZToB4FGRDIdR9grIb91AVyF0IDHVoOTYwIr-mq_TRXXRwuPh9bacMSMVryKG0PwHhngzirY8NlGuBoa4xmKAX6991MAne7Nw/s640/blogger-image-2070845786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pKQtwCYixMTcE9Ete4zG0wp2H0ozirGZ1dTj3AUJD5MZToB4FGRDIdR9grIb91AVyF0IDHVoOTYwIr-mq_TRXXRwuPh9bacMSMVryKG0PwHhngzirY8NlGuBoa4xmKAX6991MAne7Nw/s640/blogger-image-2070845786.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Off to the bisque kiln! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dAtXWJX3uAAnThGQGEoSVvJTrWaB9yLatrgiPfvB9tDfx97uOSVGBLjTT5WTimRs5fik7uL2tQn0NN9iHcGrdv6vFWv4ivdGV874_j7-_JugmbcCfj3OkX6Bk_wU1fmtNt2NWFiqzds/s640/blogger-image--609201458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dAtXWJX3uAAnThGQGEoSVvJTrWaB9yLatrgiPfvB9tDfx97uOSVGBLjTT5WTimRs5fik7uL2tQn0NN9iHcGrdv6vFWv4ivdGV874_j7-_JugmbcCfj3OkX6Bk_wU1fmtNt2NWFiqzds/s640/blogger-image--609201458.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Now for some glaze...and another firing! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnECJ7bYOltUTmIOhU0-14lV61LB9edVIDAUkyeBpWYCkBXSElSR9Pi_9nHy9Bz63Jo7f8qeO_PSZByslkaWeOXDUxfJKbf5t74vb48EuYVHoqvQZhpnifNQiptV-1CJNZ9JdhBaHB20/s640/blogger-image-2135369816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnECJ7bYOltUTmIOhU0-14lV61LB9edVIDAUkyeBpWYCkBXSElSR9Pi_9nHy9Bz63Jo7f8qeO_PSZByslkaWeOXDUxfJKbf5t74vb48EuYVHoqvQZhpnifNQiptV-1CJNZ9JdhBaHB20/s640/blogger-image-2135369816.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Open up the enemy's lid, and see what we have! (The kiln is the enemy) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUqHQsTxcmpcbabdvWjkoHoDrI6ifPHaU7iNt7uZ8uvFGczn0ovsgnw2x8OsmKsiiz__QEmWdXJL-JzYmYJ7UHkptVHrvbU4cpp9JHoXQaPP___ySWJEsP0aDH9vkd96gu64FSH3uc5I/s640/blogger-image--849125046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUqHQsTxcmpcbabdvWjkoHoDrI6ifPHaU7iNt7uZ8uvFGczn0ovsgnw2x8OsmKsiiz__QEmWdXJL-JzYmYJ7UHkptVHrvbU4cpp9JHoXQaPP___ySWJEsP0aDH9vkd96gu64FSH3uc5I/s640/blogger-image--849125046.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Not too bad! Now let's repeat this process a few times and get ready for the October 8th Sale! </div><br></div><br></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-87172172180195679042016-06-26T09:04:00.001-04:002016-06-26T09:08:19.184-04:00Don't get it twisted...Ever made something you love only for things to go horribly wrong? It doesn't have to be pottery...what about that cake you saw on Pinterest? Or the makeup tutorial on YouTube...We've all had a few #nailedit moments! (Seriously, if you haven't seen these google the Pinterest "nailed it" photos...when you stop laughing till you cry come back to finish this blog...") For me the "nailed it" saga stretches far beyond pottery, but when I'm in the shop trying to "nail it" most of the time I blame the Kiln...but THIS one time I will blame Mother Nature. <div><br></div><div>When Clay is drying it warps and bends and tries to do anything except stay where you put it when making flat things like trays or tiny little jewelry pieces. So usually you make flat pieces on rainy days, (or in the south on any day where you walk outside and can't breathe due to the humidity.) But on occasion one may need things to dry flat on a sunny day. Well, where there's a need there's usually an invention! (and this is no different) </div><div><br></div><div>So...what can keep flat things flat? Lay another board on top? Sure, but it could scrape the face of your piece...How about turning it upside down for drying? Sure, unless it has a lip or bend like the edge of a tray. So what will wick out moisture and allow any shape to remain undamaged? Bags filled with something heavy! Sand, or bb pellets, or marbles? </div><div><br></div><div> It should be heavy, but not too heavy...and nothing that could leave marks on the body of the clay... <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Rice! Rice is the magic ingredient! I can make bags and fill them with rice! ...but how much rice? Well, let's see what they have at the grocery store and start there. Score!!!! Giant bag just waiting for me...</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">so after the toddler sized 20lb bag of rice was strapped in and safely riding home in my convertible, I got to work. </span></div><div><br></div><div>First, I made bags from an old cotton sheet...like little pillow cases for my pottery. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoibB88KhF34K4iNMylquMrAsQmIYf0RQ9ybFymT9YhLoNZQ_ksVKuI6cjfGy39V-bpLCNtQa9YRRAJkCi0lkbXEnH0Y8vbm_JYEsuV83iG4wiir9TvNFqAg1peUcSQI17DvTOcW7Ffdg/s640/blogger-image-346679610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoibB88KhF34K4iNMylquMrAsQmIYf0RQ9ybFymT9YhLoNZQ_ksVKuI6cjfGy39V-bpLCNtQa9YRRAJkCi0lkbXEnH0Y8vbm_JYEsuV83iG4wiir9TvNFqAg1peUcSQI17DvTOcW7Ffdg/s640/blogger-image-346679610.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Second, I filled the rice bags with 5-10 lbs of rice! (No my whole floor isn't covered in rice, the carpet is just the same color...ha!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfREwT0dwl6dPjQ3i9cqTYmsHKCCEDZ6PandlGqVLIIfE-C_BfViAsViYMNPgAvK5FTj4zUrMI0ebL0TRdB4KihPs1l-BUQ90e3Plrs3BIX2M9W1JI1lzSE2On8BgIun4WUIfruXF5_d0/s640/blogger-image-459320960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfREwT0dwl6dPjQ3i9cqTYmsHKCCEDZ6PandlGqVLIIfE-C_BfViAsViYMNPgAvK5FTj4zUrMI0ebL0TRdB4KihPs1l-BUQ90e3Plrs3BIX2M9W1JI1lzSE2On8BgIun4WUIfruXF5_d0/s640/blogger-image-459320960.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Thirdly, I sewed them shut...and thought hmmm, maybe just for safekeeping lets top stitch around a few of the the edges again for extra rice containment...</div><div><br></div><div>Then tried it out! Worked great! Large things, small things, detailed things...all things stayed flat and no warping! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtTI-pKSlDbMFm5v-JG19fYidKXdV_WH4jQiXV4yhSttQ6rQQTI6dqDlOGEfO8gzWxJ2it7XBroCQFEmPxf2Vl7F9g9XDxb46Y7Y5qy3o0piDPkIk75hNEk0Q0rsBx8Pnvp8EXMly1Cc/s640/blogger-image--717955804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtTI-pKSlDbMFm5v-JG19fYidKXdV_WH4jQiXV4yhSttQ6rQQTI6dqDlOGEfO8gzWxJ2it7XBroCQFEmPxf2Vl7F9g9XDxb46Y7Y5qy3o0piDPkIk75hNEk0Q0rsBx8Pnvp8EXMly1Cc/s640/blogger-image--717955804.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now if only I could get them glazed and fired as easily...fingers crossed! (The kiln is still the enemy) </div><br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-26511414752761691902016-06-19T19:05:00.001-04:002016-06-19T19:16:44.117-04:00Going "bat-ty"...<div>I'm baaaaccckkk! I know you all thought I had disappeared, but I've just been so busy with the real world I haven't been able to escape to Pottery-land. Well there is no better time than Father's Day <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">weekend </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">to spend a few days with dad! </span></div><div><br></div>You know those "5 year projects" the ones that don't take more than a day or two but don't get done for 5 years because they keep getting pushed to the bottom of the "to do list" over and over? Well, check "making new bats" off that list!!! <div><br></div><div>Now don't get me wrong, I didn't actually make any bats, dad did all the work...but I documented it for publication...ha! </div><div><br></div><div>Step 1...acquire all the tools found in a professional level machine shop. (men and their power tools...)</div><div><br></div><div>Step 2, cut the particle board into squares. Use saw to cut into circles. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ylRDH6s0-iA9N2Wvk6F3Mn0Oi4ST5G5rvL4qGJUcxWZo2YQk5iqBV0xqY4Y7BZxvAKBlNMIzG_3GvL7mR3dBvS_d9c3zgR6KHs6-xmi2p_GckUq27hH0mHEJ2KtYWVo6AzTSjkdsBRY/s640/blogger-image-1711454034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ylRDH6s0-iA9N2Wvk6F3Mn0Oi4ST5G5rvL4qGJUcxWZo2YQk5iqBV0xqY4Y7BZxvAKBlNMIzG_3GvL7mR3dBvS_d9c3zgR6KHs6-xmi2p_GckUq27hH0mHEJ2KtYWVo6AzTSjkdsBRY/s640/blogger-image-1711454034.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Step 3, drill pin holes in the exact position to fit the wheel head. You could measure twice and drill once...or you can use and old bat and clamp it to the new one, and drill through both. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4KYHyWaeqclSdaglHCxZlEfgSNVe1U9FlqXFQnqRKPwbp_5zL-PKcF-H7VtXjbQ3VFRnMOzHVZagiT94Y8RY1Q2AO9topn3vX4LA5-DgGmyFsH1F67uHPxQrvpm3YOTKc4xChrogmaM/s640/blogger-image-1657458625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4KYHyWaeqclSdaglHCxZlEfgSNVe1U9FlqXFQnqRKPwbp_5zL-PKcF-H7VtXjbQ3VFRnMOzHVZagiT94Y8RY1Q2AO9topn3vX4LA5-DgGmyFsH1F67uHPxQrvpm3YOTKc4xChrogmaM/s640/blogger-image-1657458625.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Step 4, put the freshly drilled bat on the lathe and finish up those edges. Good to go! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksV6cNgM7hqaKpnIMlrB29qsF2Bvcc5xCEzq7K3po2c-XLHLsoFUSb-7_A7jCmMn_0Y-Q9zPsVMCdi1BIYABej8FSalCUnEMHcTzLic5NbwyUlhS2yvXv_kOeVVh9aqGH7hUmAtnK5_s/s640/blogger-image-1694562856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksV6cNgM7hqaKpnIMlrB29qsF2Bvcc5xCEzq7K3po2c-XLHLsoFUSb-7_A7jCmMn_0Y-Q9zPsVMCdi1BIYABej8FSalCUnEMHcTzLic5NbwyUlhS2yvXv_kOeVVh9aqGH7hUmAtnK5_s/s640/blogger-image-1694562856.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Done-zo! Wait, no...one last step. Brand new bats fit really well, which means they wobble a lot less, but they are also harder to pick up. Problem...solved! Insert "finger notch" so you can pick it up. Pretty nifty thinking dad...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGU-daUBXDPPiGXp9vh4YJPfsrU3E42glqjEu9ifWeNer3XiFY5ltak7uRQYv3gN8-xt7TMwSR_wcALWdtaB4OphtFeEA8WLoBgsrBicf-BAyKo0jJYb_jFBpWYOiij_dtuYjlNvTwPg/s640/blogger-image--1557416231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGU-daUBXDPPiGXp9vh4YJPfsrU3E42glqjEu9ifWeNer3XiFY5ltak7uRQYv3gN8-xt7TMwSR_wcALWdtaB4OphtFeEA8WLoBgsrBicf-BAyKo0jJYb_jFBpWYOiij_dtuYjlNvTwPg/s640/blogger-image--1557416231.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>So somehow for Father's Day I ended up with all the gifts...but the most precious one is the time with dad. Happy Father's Day 2016! Now there really are NO EXCUSES for not making pottery! (No pressure there, ha!) </div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-48597641494153060682015-12-13T15:56:00.001-05:002015-12-13T18:33:33.044-05:00Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...Ok, actually today I have to pay attention to the man behind the curtain because one day the wizard is going to expect me to remember all these things he told me 20 years earlier...<div><br></div><div>Today started with an early Christmas gift! Seems like I've heard somewhere you are supposed to give gifts like you'd want yourself...enter the brand new Skutt Kiln. (Thanks dad...I will love it as much as you will!) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3Fru4guzzRCYVT87Oij7iJkO5Gxx5nhOGLHVVdnrSDGoijc8zdAYohvgHnlaM_UB-vBSBVFtRCDc3NgIZWemchGdg0IqfeUVsPUiOKdGxmx4T4rHioeeq0fttG7g0lt8N-M09ykoZUk/s640/blogger-image-1484559065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3Fru4guzzRCYVT87Oij7iJkO5Gxx5nhOGLHVVdnrSDGoijc8zdAYohvgHnlaM_UB-vBSBVFtRCDc3NgIZWemchGdg0IqfeUVsPUiOKdGxmx4T4rHioeeq0fttG7g0lt8N-M09ykoZUk/s640/blogger-image-1484559065.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And as with most other visits...dad's obsession with his impending demise and morbidity created an educational visit where I learned how to make the sausages, (so to speak) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Step #1 - run the scraps of clay through the hammer mill...(engineered for corn, but works well with clay) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqFr1q9hKHJjlMLp0EH6HyQzmJjPZajKjXnAOUW503OunuqdE93J2XZEMonh92soDLDBLNKuXBGMkhJsVtpBHYQVdvidFLENQCyEIqBYdjbshWImxpaQb5w5bdM6xtCAwcX6i68dSUo0/s640/blogger-image--1879371887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqFr1q9hKHJjlMLp0EH6HyQzmJjPZajKjXnAOUW503OunuqdE93J2XZEMonh92soDLDBLNKuXBGMkhJsVtpBHYQVdvidFLENQCyEIqBYdjbshWImxpaQb5w5bdM6xtCAwcX6i68dSUo0/s640/blogger-image--1879371887.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Step #2 - Put the now "powder-like" substance in the giant mixer, along with a baby formula can full of bentonite (it's been a couple of years since I drank bottles, so apparently even 37 year old formula containers are acceptable measuring devices) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqj7dGZvzwjRStDjPqUfcA9dIDaJWPHmypJnIh6tm9ABwsK5uRF4vdo9RexdeLFbzjb0R_L4mJVyK_wRWg6FTgoLK9rLlmFTEj4M1kEI7zkyS1uHaAvTWYKHkS3H22q-mFlGM8qmS1CI/s640/blogger-image--343951933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqj7dGZvzwjRStDjPqUfcA9dIDaJWPHmypJnIh6tm9ABwsK5uRF4vdo9RexdeLFbzjb0R_L4mJVyK_wRWg6FTgoLK9rLlmFTEj4M1kEI7zkyS1uHaAvTWYKHkS3H22q-mFlGM8qmS1CI/s640/blogger-image--343951933.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNLk-Q6LMvjnsIshk13GF5d-pto0DHdPj1BIxjB-1mqgzqCfIs6IpYoZSboqVdBgF3zpoO5KV1zWPYBRli63guR5ObtbOMojthUmkyAnU6f5XDC5C60vzSWz3N5q1IgfV1tbCfrjA22k/s640/blogger-image-1280249624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNLk-Q6LMvjnsIshk13GF5d-pto0DHdPj1BIxjB-1mqgzqCfIs6IpYoZSboqVdBgF3zpoO5KV1zWPYBRli63guR5ObtbOMojthUmkyAnU6f5XDC5C60vzSWz3N5q1IgfV1tbCfrjA22k/s640/blogger-image-1280249624.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Step #3 - Add water...using an equally specific tool for measurement as step #2, a 5 gallon bucket from Lowe's filled to the middle line of the E stamped on the bucket. (Who am I to judge? If it works...) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tjYnuoTTO0r_9Zt45mLX74sYdB_pvvEFi5ZMF-Dnq8w3t0r9vK9KjmJBZm6wiCSu7n3AwT_Z_-cWyKtEVHHfHAxQJVoa6diEW0-jS_RAYYc37mAo6SHcqDqqLRINa3vEOXozywwUGAc/s640/blogger-image--734553268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tjYnuoTTO0r_9Zt45mLX74sYdB_pvvEFi5ZMF-Dnq8w3t0r9vK9KjmJBZm6wiCSu7n3AwT_Z_-cWyKtEVHHfHAxQJVoa6diEW0-jS_RAYYc37mAo6SHcqDqqLRINa3vEOXozywwUGAc/s640/blogger-image--734553268.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Step #4 - Take heaping handfuls of muddy mess and drop it in the Pug Mill (no puppies were harmed in the making of this clay) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mU7ccwxPnZnBBVjD3hTjIvDPALBVuNKQ0OLxniRyCJ8XB4v_u4dH2BqZqkRbdUKr-_yTAWKN0pUIDSEPIqMBDvUKInMW7wF2JwhQMcyU3i1JI2fbodyFtT5hCKkEVTa_hIPeh62tJts/s640/blogger-image--1551588969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mU7ccwxPnZnBBVjD3hTjIvDPALBVuNKQ0OLxniRyCJ8XB4v_u4dH2BqZqkRbdUKr-_yTAWKN0pUIDSEPIqMBDvUKInMW7wF2JwhQMcyU3i1JI2fbodyFtT5hCKkEVTa_hIPeh62tJts/s640/blogger-image--1551588969.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Step #5 - Extrude it from the pug mill, cut off stacks and bag it. After a little settling it's ready to go! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3Dfouly3zyITOAYj8iOlhnpta_y538ffvyQhVAvvmM4u0DpmDBOnuB-boaUsa2Hq-_otSJvOZDU13_k02lQh12uJLl-Z8hD8Vrgwj-m-sUzIl7D2X_gX5CFlfP_rwHmY7_wxsy5vqPQ/s640/blogger-image--2031907157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3Dfouly3zyITOAYj8iOlhnpta_y538ffvyQhVAvvmM4u0DpmDBOnuB-boaUsa2Hq-_otSJvOZDU13_k02lQh12uJLl-Z8hD8Vrgwj-m-sUzIl7D2X_gX5CFlfP_rwHmY7_wxsy5vqPQ/s640/blogger-image--2031907157.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Whew! That's a lot of work, but really cool to be a part of the process. I didn't get any pots turned today, but managed to also learn how to mix and apply kiln wash to a few new shelves for the new kiln! (Now I just need a few pieces to fire!) ha! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGhoCuniqAp7gmzbbAo1AnaKiwFDzb06w_GBhHT3ZqSkBlWdOlm-WIFssc4F9F0_RBce8MQ2quX3Ioj1Zs9hJlo1rF0jgi5P24nCRNVID7mrsOXJgbkI7j8XStNmriZ7sW0S9D7GMNOM/s640/blogger-image-909210149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGhoCuniqAp7gmzbbAo1AnaKiwFDzb06w_GBhHT3ZqSkBlWdOlm-WIFssc4F9F0_RBce8MQ2quX3Ioj1Zs9hJlo1rF0jgi5P24nCRNVID7mrsOXJgbkI7j8XStNmriZ7sW0S9D7GMNOM/s640/blogger-image-909210149.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>I know one day I'll look back on these days and cherish them...because I already enjoy them so much right now. Love you dad! (and thanks again for the Christmas Kiln!) </div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-31966629602173689312015-09-20T09:26:00.001-04:002015-09-20T09:26:42.306-04:00Feeling Muggy... It's the 19th of September, and it is still 89 degrees! Not to mention there's enough humidity to keep you from breathing! Speaking of feeling muggy...<div><br></div><div> With less than a month till the 12th Annual Hilton Homeplace Sale, this is the last chance I have to make anything...maybe the weather inspired me, maybe it was all the social media requests for coffee mugs with words stamped in them. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuOD5T02B1ISmsAl5CJUuDYf1WwbzM_zAd8x89BE6hVWoT5D7hrizPR4vAlWo5q0tcK6ycOQDVDDyaWH0UsNn4TY5VCmIF8extemInS4ahX2iut4Z-V2R8Mpzlj0WxPVqqHFG86S_gLM/s640/blogger-image--208874294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuOD5T02B1ISmsAl5CJUuDYf1WwbzM_zAd8x89BE6hVWoT5D7hrizPR4vAlWo5q0tcK6ycOQDVDDyaWH0UsNn4TY5VCmIF8extemInS4ahX2iut4Z-V2R8Mpzlj0WxPVqqHFG86S_gLM/s640/blogger-image--208874294.jpg"></a></div><br><div> What's the opposite of a baker's dozen? Eleven mugs in one day is a pretty big step for me! They don't look like each other, unless you consider that they all are a little crooked, ha! It's nice to sit down and things go well, it happens rarely for me. Dad was making fun of me because I refused to change the "lucky bat" and kept using the pot lifters to move on to the next mug.</div></div><div><br></div><div> Up next is jewelry time again! With a box full of parts, let's hope some of them work out! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv3X8GbOBHpWdgQPYyoZoD_Rx844dFsnfFjbTNOD4nSKED7TaflnylTd-ep5wDKs1eJz4jtqCQRaDbAASGikgN-mrbeRUkqsHPnjcHsNAEd60sGRG5ZRWLLBstD9ukWPjkx2vdrOZk6Q/s640/blogger-image-1739819492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv3X8GbOBHpWdgQPYyoZoD_Rx844dFsnfFjbTNOD4nSKED7TaflnylTd-ep5wDKs1eJz4jtqCQRaDbAASGikgN-mrbeRUkqsHPnjcHsNAEd60sGRG5ZRWLLBstD9ukWPjkx2vdrOZk6Q/s640/blogger-image-1739819492.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-20215680806595805952015-09-06T09:55:00.001-04:002015-09-06T09:55:16.859-04:00Sometimes you're a baker...Sometimes you're a baker...rolling out clay like Grandma used to when she made biscuits. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hLul3xyA3hScPvhRkNhbLVEi_xcGDs90rjThJNWTuvwOpdCgSJvFl9Wr5gTk8jgGxk9ozoGrEMkp_fqN_PO6CZDBB7MfoawsZ0Kvorh0DXox5zXSeeBrzUST-MT-VNDGnM2AlkDRXmg/s640/blogger-image-1263782983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hLul3xyA3hScPvhRkNhbLVEi_xcGDs90rjThJNWTuvwOpdCgSJvFl9Wr5gTk8jgGxk9ozoGrEMkp_fqN_PO6CZDBB7MfoawsZ0Kvorh0DXox5zXSeeBrzUST-MT-VNDGnM2AlkDRXmg/s640/blogger-image-1263782983.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sometimes you even have to add a little corn starch so it doesn't stick to everything...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwoYIP_nW8nkkDSh1V4fZhFsg1bk_ttOjczZ6b_wKSxEPM_ck0SzQbc6GtcglP6B_r0o9K35b5EhrqPbB4-hjtuNMQ8JJuZjEOL8DGUXZT_zSB-TyFMqp7oMt11Cus-y8gXngqPCEx-8/s640/blogger-image--1581396414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwoYIP_nW8nkkDSh1V4fZhFsg1bk_ttOjczZ6b_wKSxEPM_ck0SzQbc6GtcglP6B_r0o9K35b5EhrqPbB4-hjtuNMQ8JJuZjEOL8DGUXZT_zSB-TyFMqp7oMt11Cus-y8gXngqPCEx-8/s640/blogger-image--1581396414.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But most often, at least in my case...I'm a carpenter...steel wool is my best friend, and as my father would tell you...it hides a multitude of sins! Ha! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVmVfwZPBtIBMjqF4F4B0hB7zJMsvDH4y1zD2XyJDRA89XalkS9Ui5K6RzZbIn15XFJagWUhkOHgd81ufxxMGBVsa-NEXMhYVNmhqbjNULNwazC8jBJ_j6Y20tGpZGjZNmyPbLXnDuAc/s640/blogger-image-428179482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVmVfwZPBtIBMjqF4F4B0hB7zJMsvDH4y1zD2XyJDRA89XalkS9Ui5K6RzZbIn15XFJagWUhkOHgd81ufxxMGBVsa-NEXMhYVNmhqbjNULNwazC8jBJ_j6Y20tGpZGjZNmyPbLXnDuAc/s640/blogger-image-428179482.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">A little steel wool on the edges of my pieces makes sure there's nothing sharp to grab you...it also covers you and everything around you in dust...(like find it the next day after you've showered kind of covered! Ha!) And it's EVERYWHERE! No chance of the shop ever being clean.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I joke with dad that if the place burns down we will have the most gorgeous floor ever just in the amount of glaze that has spilled in the floor over the years! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Well, with only a few weeks left till this year's show I guess I'd better get to sanding! Ha! </span></div><br></div><br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-61929833414898716282015-08-23T08:44:00.001-04:002015-08-23T19:16:27.044-04:00Today's vocabulary lesson... Today's vocabulary lesson is about rain...specifically those who love it. That's right folks, I'm a weirdo...but you already knew that! I am a pluviophile. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzXVwYMKSGxEJ2oa0-2K-Eo4rGADAZ21-JC1jvTmfls64wheZla7-pEFwL4tIeF14rAbpn1vQEl-04LQdpzL81zWUhE4bX3dw6hBJn3bq2bmbsAcBbFq_hVJgQ5v6WBXgk6jmlcqZMM0/s640/blogger-image-1454256733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzXVwYMKSGxEJ2oa0-2K-Eo4rGADAZ21-JC1jvTmfls64wheZla7-pEFwL4tIeF14rAbpn1vQEl-04LQdpzL81zWUhE4bX3dw6hBJn3bq2bmbsAcBbFq_hVJgQ5v6WBXgk6jmlcqZMM0/s640/blogger-image-1454256733.jpg"></a></div><br><div>For me, there's nothing more peaceful and calming than a dark stormy day...I am genuinely happy when I wake up to a grey tint on the sky and that smell of rain in the air. What should I do with this awesome rainy day? Why not try to make pottery? </div><div><br></div><div> With the heavenly sound of rain pounding on the tin roof of the studio I tuned out the stress of the week and settled into a rhythm of turning...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGYF51IbwLd1SMpUv284H2ir8CBYDtj_85o5ubrXnFaww1nXrXFR-9i_mOzSOJgm1HWOrfL_fYRci1-Fcj8IQTMUmw3F9PtwOYOr8N-ibd0xmWQ_c7NjPcAg4dZ7cMb1X8zkohG6O01c/s640/blogger-image-978167312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGYF51IbwLd1SMpUv284H2ir8CBYDtj_85o5ubrXnFaww1nXrXFR-9i_mOzSOJgm1HWOrfL_fYRci1-Fcj8IQTMUmw3F9PtwOYOr8N-ibd0xmWQ_c7NjPcAg4dZ7cMb1X8zkohG6O01c/s640/blogger-image-978167312.jpg"></a></div></div><div>(Photo courtesy of my own personal paparazzi Dawn Crouse) </div><div><br></div><div> It's nice when things come out the way you planned, and even better when it happens over and over all in a row! I managed to make quite a few pieces that (fingers crossed) will make it to the fall show. </div><div><br></div><div> You know there are other benefits to the rain besides just my mood...it's almost a bearable temperature when the breeze passes through the shop...and the humidity makes the pots dry so much slower. For you non-potters that means my handles and sprig mold appliqués are less likely to fall off! Ha! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8inWYCID4DOU6fc6oKXpREooPA6L1_NpK6EIlXEeyyIbyYm9xkU4yrLJNo6NbA9XAE-zD7JnZBmBrF_vNT7FB3jOlhqAIo4s099J8AYy4U7QcdUmmXZQzhCQwQJQJ7iZwYCDpkKjMLz8/s640/blogger-image--1831039617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8inWYCID4DOU6fc6oKXpREooPA6L1_NpK6EIlXEeyyIbyYm9xkU4yrLJNo6NbA9XAE-zD7JnZBmBrF_vNT7FB3jOlhqAIo4s099J8AYy4U7QcdUmmXZQzhCQwQJQJ7iZwYCDpkKjMLz8/s640/blogger-image--1831039617.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And I got to visit with a large bulk of the Hilton Homeplace crew! With only 7 short weeks until the fall show, I had better kick it into high gear! Maybe a few more of these rainy weekends and I'll be ready! </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-4198002692132097422015-08-16T21:43:00.001-04:002015-08-16T21:47:12.842-04:00Wait, what? How long? Seriously where did July go? Actually where did June and July go? It's already August...1/2 way through August at that! And 8 very short weeks until the Fall Hilton Homeplace show. <div><br></div><div> For SOME of us there is a full time job that can get in the way of pottery...but for OTHERS (who shall remain nameless, but clearly retired again a few weeks ago) there seems to be endless amounts of time to play in the mud. </div><div><br></div><div>Really? You made so many pots that there aren't any drying shelves left? Ugh...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLRt58xW7HwopiF6bHcR5i1BmwAFKTgJ8uB9ulkR74vqO-VM-e9XuDBUt33ETnOSlMF1IIaca7zAGgmdRnprqzrGpoMoSHQpiLBVXKa1vybxkX8uZiWPwIhvUcxdgYeb5fcnctMsooG8/s640/blogger-image-202323715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLRt58xW7HwopiF6bHcR5i1BmwAFKTgJ8uB9ulkR74vqO-VM-e9XuDBUt33ETnOSlMF1IIaca7zAGgmdRnprqzrGpoMoSHQpiLBVXKa1vybxkX8uZiWPwIhvUcxdgYeb5fcnctMsooG8/s640/blogger-image-202323715.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> Nothing like a deadline and an "in your face" example of how much dad can do in a week versus what I can do in a weekend...no pressure...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(You expected a photo here of all the things I made right? Well...no go, I'm too busy freaking out about 8 weeks left until the show!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> I did get a few things made this weekend, and as long as they live through their battle with their evil nemesis (the kiln) I will have a few things to add to those drying racks (assuming I can find a square inch of space to place them) </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTeeDP4q2NvkSjuzqZ-YVXv55G7k2v74T0HPXlHKbIB6TWtqde0uP676o_eQ7afeizFKTuaoCOuoiVNY1bjPqB9BCnb00N8W2xHh8NDCSaWLND5K7NMGYUlhOZg0N9JpczubcjmsoCbA/s640/blogger-image-767653740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTeeDP4q2NvkSjuzqZ-YVXv55G7k2v74T0HPXlHKbIB6TWtqde0uP676o_eQ7afeizFKTuaoCOuoiVNY1bjPqB9BCnb00N8W2xHh8NDCSaWLND5K7NMGYUlhOZg0N9JpczubcjmsoCbA/s640/blogger-image-767653740.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> I joke about dad making me look like a slacker...but the truth is I'm really happy to see him in the shop again and being so productive. I think retirement is treating him well, and I always enjoy being able to share a little bit of it with him. Gotta run...October will be here before you know it! </div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-67670554025148542502015-07-26T18:54:00.001-04:002015-07-26T18:57:03.797-04:00It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Ok, so technically it's still July, but Christmas will be here before you know it! So today I spent the better part of my afternoon glazing Christmas ornaments for the fall show. (Yes, that's a wire dipping trick to glaze 5 at a time)</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQM6d_EnN5-4XjWdK2yGSzKVxeINjqstfMAVUDpGbIE9ktHWoTVSczq260j6urBqFdC_iGIvN_JfsC7QtFRkZmkG4Y5AnuXshAazugijBr_qPEr15j7dwYOqexd4K0GQfmdPnchUMQuQ/s640/blogger-image--848874371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQM6d_EnN5-4XjWdK2yGSzKVxeINjqstfMAVUDpGbIE9ktHWoTVSczq260j6urBqFdC_iGIvN_JfsC7QtFRkZmkG4Y5AnuXshAazugijBr_qPEr15j7dwYOqexd4K0GQfmdPnchUMQuQ/s640/blogger-image--848874371.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Other than the ornaments I did my first couple of tests on the coffee cups with words pressed in them. Hopefully the underglaze will pop and the clear insides will work out well. I had to hand paint the exteriors of the cups because I couldn't dip them. Dad got these really awesome fan brushes and I have to say they are pretty fabulous! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcH9hP1kMryW-Mv8oWl4nk2FrPjm5BaAcg62QJYNYd_8j1XaD26F33jMghdaQDgGBPVW4x3A-lzjyRXmGLvJe8EuZ8tMUzUPruPJmMGk6xX9gjc9Wish3r23YKjpqU2g7RLmzkwyju4I/s640/blogger-image--1790937981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcH9hP1kMryW-Mv8oWl4nk2FrPjm5BaAcg62QJYNYd_8j1XaD26F33jMghdaQDgGBPVW4x3A-lzjyRXmGLvJe8EuZ8tMUzUPruPJmMGk6xX9gjc9Wish3r23YKjpqU2g7RLmzkwyju4I/s640/blogger-image--1790937981.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm also toying with the idea of a few pottery necklaces and maybe bracelets, so I had to try a few new glaze colors and was forced to take photos to help me remember which glaze was used on which piece! Fingers crossed that trick works! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEFLitFF9jtZQTam8-5ubEyYMK4dT3FyvvuAXq6IqhT1RdiPqIGexoYeSo19JSxHByoz9RhDX3yEQkOSyCN571xdYG29iR0y-aeUsb7VkDEeu6ZxffvnDrDBLs8aJh5drgxO5fJxgE44/s640/blogger-image--125030112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEFLitFF9jtZQTam8-5ubEyYMK4dT3FyvvuAXq6IqhT1RdiPqIGexoYeSo19JSxHByoz9RhDX3yEQkOSyCN571xdYG29iR0y-aeUsb7VkDEeu6ZxffvnDrDBLs8aJh5drgxO5fJxgE44/s640/blogger-image--125030112.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">All in all I think it was a pretty productive day, and those are always good! </div><br></div><br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-15594914072666125222015-06-21T20:42:00.001-04:002015-06-21T20:43:35.861-04:00Father's Day...<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> Today was Father's Day, so no better time to spend with my dad than today! I went to play in the mud this weekend and it was really nice...not very productive, but the company was great. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-9ZkKNDYb_fAElcqFA_Gdn-kXENiSOH_46ssxRiBavAVNbtM0-XO7qOG5KjbTnrD9-AReDbIKhXLzoqDsOJPoopbYCFHPgD1jKHKWsxZRKVsIz_-9iDQcNDJGGxbXDPLBkzlrJpvJw4/s640/blogger-image--46676718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-9ZkKNDYb_fAElcqFA_Gdn-kXENiSOH_46ssxRiBavAVNbtM0-XO7qOG5KjbTnrD9-AReDbIKhXLzoqDsOJPoopbYCFHPgD1jKHKWsxZRKVsIz_-9iDQcNDJGGxbXDPLBkzlrJpvJw4/s640/blogger-image--46676718.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> I can't help but think about the history that dad's shop has seen. For over 100 years there have been Hilton potters turning pieces on family farms, and for 50 years there's been a Hilton turning pottery in this very shop. There's a good side and a bad side to that...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The good side: Every tool you could ever need for any shape you could ever turn is in that building.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The bad side: Things that haven't been used in 30+ years are sometimes harder to find...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> I know that these days and these times together will always be some of my very favorite with dad. I'm sure he has those same memories with his dad (or to me Poppie). On this Father's Day, I know we weren't alone, we both had a pottery angel smiling down on us and snickering every time one of those "tools" comes in handy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUmUNONuG7A54Ck3f4xDrItdFdHFJRKcoMisiMripOfEdP-TjFENnIFGkLCYbmfumiFIt1pmL7dqITDRHRiN24aijG4Djcf9xEkmel9vMaBUI1uMCWtOGJBroOGldPgiW-hZeRQ8ktHo/s640/blogger-image-1057813781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUmUNONuG7A54Ck3f4xDrItdFdHFJRKcoMisiMripOfEdP-TjFENnIFGkLCYbmfumiFIt1pmL7dqITDRHRiN24aijG4Djcf9xEkmel9vMaBUI1uMCWtOGJBroOGldPgiW-hZeRQ8ktHo/s640/blogger-image-1057813781.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> What a great way to connect...through clay...with this generation and those who came before it. I guess that's really what it has always been about for me...So until next time...Happy Father's Day! </div><br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-69366814623819161152015-05-24T16:23:00.001-04:002015-05-24T16:59:08.577-04:00Her final escape... Today was a somber day in the studio. I guess I've been feeling a little heavier than usual...the "real world" placing a few more things on my mind. I was inspired to make a few coffee mugs that reminded me of someone who has been a big part of my "real world" for the past couple of years. Having worked on a few coffee mugs yesterday, I came back to place handles on each of the mugs. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimACk5jhYbewEP9gO-sEeAQJoJ3SB8TJie4zBHmEG4Fh0o36ma85Aa7cZTjUMiuNy9mHG8anpEOK6UyoDEgf_zb33P6VS3ogLFLLKP9iFuLLbKqtoFm7ikTdVDUlnVW0tcnH2okU6CeBw/s640/blogger-image--814222128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimACk5jhYbewEP9gO-sEeAQJoJ3SB8TJie4zBHmEG4Fh0o36ma85Aa7cZTjUMiuNy9mHG8anpEOK6UyoDEgf_zb33P6VS3ogLFLLKP9iFuLLbKqtoFm7ikTdVDUlnVW0tcnH2okU6CeBw/s640/blogger-image--814222128.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div> It is true that pottery can be therapeutic, as turning and creating lightened the load my mind was carrying just a little...that is until I was forced to say goodbye to a furry little friend. </div></div><div><br></div><div> You may have read some of the encounters previously experienced with our resident shop cat "Hairy Houdini" so named for her ability to get into (or out of) any place she wanted. It is with a heavy heart I tell you we had to say goodbye to Hairy Houdini today. She made her final escape and has gone on to wriggle her way past a set of pearly gates. She will be missed...We love you Hairy! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtBBRAk_Bi1VwXF8Lx6N1c5ebPQY7aD78qeo8jFyRZ_MbzvuDKWnJIWtGiJe5rMi0ZALnuZFuejPKjkQeft2ddbzbV2FiZAln0pDd-uyVJuP7FpSK4kD23-tc_hyphenhyphen8nuO9O1pnChbqD0Y/s640/blogger-image-41557928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtBBRAk_Bi1VwXF8Lx6N1c5ebPQY7aD78qeo8jFyRZ_MbzvuDKWnJIWtGiJe5rMi0ZALnuZFuejPKjkQeft2ddbzbV2FiZAln0pDd-uyVJuP7FpSK4kD23-tc_hyphenhyphen8nuO9O1pnChbqD0Y/s640/blogger-image-41557928.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-45506135116222900212015-05-02T11:57:00.001-04:002015-05-02T12:02:21.907-04:00As the world turns...Not that my life resembles any soap opera...you would turn the channel pretty quickly if you didn't fall asleep first. But it is a wonderful life! <div><br></div><div>So as the rest of the world turns pottery, I am happily hand building a few things. I had to ease my way back into this...I haven't even been in the pottery shop since before last October's show. </div><div><br></div><div>Ok, ok...I'll try to turn a few things...but not without my assistant "Hairy" who has decided she is actually a wild huntress, and keeps bringing "gifts" of various sizes and amounts of fur or beak...um, no thank you, I'm okay without those "special gifts". </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxmXbVD0Nccl40D2MEiJ_hWFwqEy5DxSJSAEIZAvNXRLSvsPBNGdfvhfKpo09t3qHz72dGkdmgNGnIImKyfHE0hXBK9DKHcTDCyMcfKlV-YiuqGJrVnkTePK4bp8FmFq9QgMgmODX2ds/s640/blogger-image--1950907989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxmXbVD0Nccl40D2MEiJ_hWFwqEy5DxSJSAEIZAvNXRLSvsPBNGdfvhfKpo09t3qHz72dGkdmgNGnIImKyfHE0hXBK9DKHcTDCyMcfKlV-YiuqGJrVnkTePK4bp8FmFq9QgMgmODX2ds/s640/blogger-image--1950907989.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So after a few failed attempts...Eureka! I have turned a pie plate! Wow, I am so proud! Way to go Heather! (Cue dramatic music) That is until dad says, "oh I think I will turn a few pie plates as well..." (and sits his real pie plate next to mine) talk about a reality check...my pie plate turned into a quiche dish, ha! The student hath not surpassed the master...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh well maybe next time...or we can call this a pie plate for two! As Tam would say, "it's portion control" ha ha! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5U7aksZyfensc75zXEKlP1zxIMdlHQfDB5GD23AWaB8mRMAE_pQpwDgmtP_sUjJMrG_BniETlZOGmaWovexCvUIIq3zIPxFJJtzSDu7bFrwyvHw662iHLIfQbx3rQ_kCXR8D2cvb4zho/s640/blogger-image-1869835565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5U7aksZyfensc75zXEKlP1zxIMdlHQfDB5GD23AWaB8mRMAE_pQpwDgmtP_sUjJMrG_BniETlZOGmaWovexCvUIIq3zIPxFJJtzSDu7bFrwyvHw662iHLIfQbx3rQ_kCXR8D2cvb4zho/s640/blogger-image-1869835565.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-76965725392592768922014-09-21T18:45:00.001-04:002014-09-21T18:46:47.230-04:00All Hallow's Eve... We are down to the wire...both figuratively and literally, with only 2 weeks until the fall Hilton Homeplace show...and quite a few pieces of clay to run a wire under. <div><br></div><div> Apparently I underestimated how much I already made for this year's show since I spent an entire day Saturday just glazing and wiping the bottoms off of pieces...it's like they were multiplying on the drying shelves! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTxyPJGkVtoE56VGI1EhCY6DAgthlwOBMZ-SYiOnzjUjx2BG_xMZS3V7Vi8CCoOkVOEZd08CX4NCBc_lzIJ_Lmj206JLX1sSjshv7GKDNNlKvs2tQK8CkESDpsmuWR9GZIy929FBJ2vA/s640/blogger-image--1366836601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTxyPJGkVtoE56VGI1EhCY6DAgthlwOBMZ-SYiOnzjUjx2BG_xMZS3V7Vi8CCoOkVOEZd08CX4NCBc_lzIJ_Lmj206JLX1sSjshv7GKDNNlKvs2tQK8CkESDpsmuWR9GZIy929FBJ2vA/s640/blogger-image--1366836601.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> And do I stop there? No...of course not! Crazy me, goes back for more and actually made a few more things today. Where do I get my inspiration, you ask? Well what else could I think of besides Halloween with a black cat assistant? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlB1Fi9bws72fUs6Rv6Ox2Eu2x6iLVOw6q2ZgX40CFiMTxj225KOXiZYnNbNtx3wVHsCK_JlWAH8bWSKQ3W_LaHqcq5vMvcuOL1PJU26fNvUGTrRIMy7ef55nOzHMJZlek_lhAFU6KWo/s640/blogger-image--859835676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlB1Fi9bws72fUs6Rv6Ox2Eu2x6iLVOw6q2ZgX40CFiMTxj225KOXiZYnNbNtx3wVHsCK_JlWAH8bWSKQ3W_LaHqcq5vMvcuOL1PJU26fNvUGTrRIMy7ef55nOzHMJZlek_lhAFU6KWo/s640/blogger-image--859835676.jpg"></a></div><br></div> So with minimal help from Hairy Houdini today I made a few things for my very favorite holiday! Keep your fingers crossed that they... A) survive the next two firings...and B) are ready in two weeks for the show! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjq8r5hp6an9-gHgeWH3_KXRqY1ym7qSVmZdmx8hBBqWTvin7apCO75Bk1ASZhqbjxEz3YriwwxsxRmJw43zNu7fmPglHk1t9hlnXvdrfQjg2u2W15r9qsQeWm65BN4ZlrrZdVUURt2O4/s640/blogger-image-1197174015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjq8r5hp6an9-gHgeWH3_KXRqY1ym7qSVmZdmx8hBBqWTvin7apCO75Bk1ASZhqbjxEz3YriwwxsxRmJw43zNu7fmPglHk1t9hlnXvdrfQjg2u2W15r9qsQeWm65BN4ZlrrZdVUURt2O4/s640/blogger-image-1197174015.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-3414961470988513122014-09-14T17:16:00.001-04:002014-09-14T17:28:28.619-04:00The monkey on my back... Aaaaarrrrrgggggghhhhh....there are less than 4 weeks until the 11th Annual Hilton Homeplace Pottery Show, and all the hoopla that surrounds it...and I have made, well...let's call it "less than enough pots" for said extravaganza. I swear I can hear little ticking in my head, I'm not sure if it's a clock, or a time bomb...<div><br></div><div> Now, for those of you who are closest to us you already know it has been a tough year for the Hilton Homeplace crew...but for those that don't...we've battled (and continue to battle...) cancer, illness, hospital scares, surgery, and death this year. So when you combine that with the "real jobs" time starts to slip through your fingers quicker than the clay can. (Tick...tick...tick...)</div><div><br></div><div> Nevertheless, with fewer than 4 weeks until the show the proverbial "monkey on my back" was pressuring me to get back in the shop and try to turn a few pieces. (Still ticking...are they getting faster?) </div><div> </div><div> Well, I haven't turned in an embarrassingly long time, and was pleasantly surprised to see I hadn't forgotten how...exactly. I made a few things without tearing them apart and I managed to get a few things fired and didn't hate them all.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oTBPXWzjVOISVU_phTAwsvoGS68QHPp9FVkM3vZTV8Wai_gNe0HQOP5MGSxl1VRHkJhCZxe3BkaDpwuTuRAk1wktOat40Rzta-4LpavZzat-Fyz7jJAfEtjSw3pp5XeR1aq-2oidD28/s640/blogger-image-255845078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oTBPXWzjVOISVU_phTAwsvoGS68QHPp9FVkM3vZTV8Wai_gNe0HQOP5MGSxl1VRHkJhCZxe3BkaDpwuTuRAk1wktOat40Rzta-4LpavZzat-Fyz7jJAfEtjSw3pp5XeR1aq-2oidD28/s640/blogger-image-255845078.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div> Seriously...I use commercial glazes for the most part, and yet every time I open the kiln it's like a mystery bag and who knows what colors you will actually get? </div></div><div><br></div><div> No, no, Heather...back to work, no time to ponder the great mysteries of glaze. (tick...tick...tick) </div><div><br></div><div> Well you may have read the previous saga introducing you to my "assistant" Hairy Houdini...(if not check out the previous blog post). Well Hairy decided she needed to help me today as I'm certain the ticking clock I hear in my head was loud enough for her to hear as well. And apparently my sprig molding required supervision today since the "monkey on my back" became a literal cat on my back...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbd9kt39qTEzZfTlmAFtvzvZjtapJKeUBt3_D_e8jCeT4V8iLUQmVG8ricZc3nXX0WkzRRT83Nx5KkuiNVXMyIDDbcfSrMAnyVIPbNZ_niA8HmT1WyF94l0D_EaELBdb2MI0YnbMqXlpc/s640/blogger-image-1711450077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbd9kt39qTEzZfTlmAFtvzvZjtapJKeUBt3_D_e8jCeT4V8iLUQmVG8ricZc3nXX0WkzRRT83Nx5KkuiNVXMyIDDbcfSrMAnyVIPbNZ_niA8HmT1WyF94l0D_EaELBdb2MI0YnbMqXlpc/s640/blogger-image-1711450077.jpg"></a></div> </div><div> Thanks Hairy...no pressure there...</div><div><br></div><div>But with a little work and a lot of cat hair, I finished a few more things for the show. Now if only I can keep paw prints off of them long enough for the bisque firing! Keep your claws crossed for me! (tick...tick...tick...)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsnp2ccAhMUJdNInWuI39b12WclQRSXQ9L5kg_MK_WgNkVNfS5UZan2Ckisv7gy4fpb4ETjvPvkNqoPBRya-hPSpvRGhcPYyVuFYKdx0Xf-GoHu4kuyxNVreXP4N-d-1dYrYymmGUoMU/s640/blogger-image-558465771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsnp2ccAhMUJdNInWuI39b12WclQRSXQ9L5kg_MK_WgNkVNfS5UZan2Ckisv7gy4fpb4ETjvPvkNqoPBRya-hPSpvRGhcPYyVuFYKdx0Xf-GoHu4kuyxNVreXP4N-d-1dYrYymmGUoMU/s640/blogger-image-558465771.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5UpfloT5jNeop7yWL36G1S4w0G63a6J5mAWRMbDgBunAQUExDg_zIu0X0Li4UqgUlp51oiy94beOlIgANbdXybJ2OFeTMHrhwsUrnQ2Kbd4qSelJGWEx5m34BlDfZa72VXTeCAsoKNI/s640/blogger-image--245569082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5UpfloT5jNeop7yWL36G1S4w0G63a6J5mAWRMbDgBunAQUExDg_zIu0X0Li4UqgUlp51oiy94beOlIgANbdXybJ2OFeTMHrhwsUrnQ2Kbd4qSelJGWEx5m34BlDfZa72VXTeCAsoKNI/s640/blogger-image--245569082.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div><div> </div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-68725954976705566482014-06-21T15:13:00.001-04:002014-06-21T15:59:48.589-04:00Dr. Wheel-good... Ok, so I haven't posted in a while...make that a long while...and I haven't turned anything in quite a long while, but I decided TODAY was the day! <div><br></div><div> Apparently the universe had different plans...dad turns on a tall wheel he built 30 some odd years ago...he says it's better for your back, but to me it's just too tall and I enjoy the variable speed foot pedal this one doesn't have...(see below) I prefer the standard shorter Brent CXC wheel (to the right of gigantor the too tall turning tractor seat wheel) ok, back to the point...</div><div><br></div><div> Dad takes the smaller wheel to shows occasionally to do live throwing demonstrations, (sooooo not on my agenda anytime in the near future) and today we needed to get the wheel off the back of the trailer and back in the shop. Except that when we did, the aforementioned variable speed foot pedal no longer worked...well, that's not entirely accurate...it worked, there just wasn't any variable speed, in fact there was only on...no off...hmmmmm, could be an issue?</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ySeh8QY95p9FZv128xj97lsExFJX2pkQQxiQ9EwzytMAkJwTTxl4Y0ZcrJqhczrrI8HtskKDrj1ysFLGN9-VMQVevvR2CTCvNUrwpuWxyr90IGKu_AJd_dgV91WePtBd8_FA5q1aVOQ/s640/blogger-image--283877697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ySeh8QY95p9FZv128xj97lsExFJX2pkQQxiQ9EwzytMAkJwTTxl4Y0ZcrJqhczrrI8HtskKDrj1ysFLGN9-VMQVevvR2CTCvNUrwpuWxyr90IGKu_AJd_dgV91WePtBd8_FA5q1aVOQ/s640/blogger-image--283877697.jpg"></a></div></div><div>(Gigantor tractor seat dad wheel = left; reasonable normal height wheel = right)</div><div><br></div><div>After a short discussion about why cutting off the pedal from the other wheel we use for trimming and reattaching it to this wheel might temporarily fix the problem, but wasn't a great idea...since long after he and his electrical "rigging" skills are gone I am going to have to deal with the fallout...</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidf2x8oLo3-wfWfzgFr3LRs5ZWo71oXFhOuZwWHATf9yauFvlmVNbWA0JOEZPvXxKJ6jFNxnp7o3naLtTc16UdS7oQp9XmMn4jgbmEEaAPvA4X6z2Y-73TY7Jncd2Qy5E3lc9q1E0THvk/s640/blogger-image-800918111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidf2x8oLo3-wfWfzgFr3LRs5ZWo71oXFhOuZwWHATf9yauFvlmVNbWA0JOEZPvXxKJ6jFNxnp7o3naLtTc16UdS7oQp9XmMn4jgbmEEaAPvA4X6z2Y-73TY7Jncd2Qy5E3lc9q1E0THvk/s640/blogger-image-800918111.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>So he goes digging around and manages to find the EXACT part he needed to repair properly...(imagine that) So the wheel Dr goes to work:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMTAxNmKrtBTDq5bSWmJrJKa-20TEiSTdkZmmjxWKZOtQlGCzi83FKi0_RSJXd4j-Tl2Zvkljc-KBofVA1kC8ghtBU4tTZTewwzZaoTRY64wZubeOBWXNaz5wDxqNmKplOPrQgW_0yEc/s640/blogger-image-519837542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMTAxNmKrtBTDq5bSWmJrJKa-20TEiSTdkZmmjxWKZOtQlGCzi83FKi0_RSJXd4j-Tl2Zvkljc-KBofVA1kC8ghtBU4tTZTewwzZaoTRY64wZubeOBWXNaz5wDxqNmKplOPrQgW_0yEc/s640/blogger-image-519837542.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>So while I entertain the cat, dad Macgyver's the wheel pedal and all is back to operational...perhaps the NEXT time will be more productive (but not likely to be as entertaining!) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7v_9lDGqQO36owtxdsrDPloM7sOw5m-LtYIlsWzqb_a9q3-RseCV1NgeMJnoqdDDzxhu-InurC-JJELUR6p0U9X_peH5VTc1KB6BQTrEgjUlWLEFjXKP6xiSKngZc99PNhX6tPWOk0cA/s640/blogger-image-797218804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7v_9lDGqQO36owtxdsrDPloM7sOw5m-LtYIlsWzqb_a9q3-RseCV1NgeMJnoqdDDzxhu-InurC-JJELUR6p0U9X_peH5VTc1KB6BQTrEgjUlWLEFjXKP6xiSKngZc99PNhX6tPWOk0cA/s640/blogger-image-797218804.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-77140556155431179262014-03-02T19:39:00.001-05:002014-03-02T19:41:07.352-05:00I can handle this... Finally...I sat down at the wheel today and actually turned a few pieces. My last several attempts were complete failures...dad says some days it works and the other days you just close the shop door and go back to the house. <div><br></div><div> I was pleased that today the lumps of mud stood up and actually looked like a cylinder. (The walls were even close to the same thickness on both sides!) ha!</div><div><br></div><div> So I turned those cylinders into coffee mugs! Well...I turned those cylinders into coffee holding cups...ugh, I hate pulling handles. I know you can extrude them, but they are never just what I want, and the scale always seems off. So, after I let them dry as long as I could <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">(some may also refer to this step as procrastination)</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> it </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">was time to attach handles.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58qsr1ZDLmzqJLY2_eD8lgoOHG8Vcuio8GOp0pMJMMQp3mIdQUgKOv7nEy3NsNTrA0uJKZzqTqpyM1dL20jsCRJ8Lqjso5vrGm6Jjl9QKomRJLlx4BvLjXRsGWxsUiW4YN5YujyJpsvE/s640/blogger-image-1931055249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58qsr1ZDLmzqJLY2_eD8lgoOHG8Vcuio8GOp0pMJMMQp3mIdQUgKOv7nEy3NsNTrA0uJKZzqTqpyM1dL20jsCRJ8Lqjso5vrGm6Jjl9QKomRJLlx4BvLjXRsGWxsUiW4YN5YujyJpsvE/s640/blogger-image-1931055249.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I think they turned out ok...now as long as they survive the firing! (Famous last words...) maybe the kiln fairy will trim them for me so they don't become coffee holding cups again? Ha! </div><br></div><br></span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-16126226605572408402014-02-09T13:56:00.001-05:002014-02-09T14:11:44.657-05:00Every 50 years or so...Whether you need to or not, every 50 years or so you should clean up the shop. Well, that's my dad's idea of "spring cleaning" anyway...<div><br></div><div> The second week of February is when you should be turning...especially when you have a show in March. But Dad is a really great procrastinator...(as several of you who have ordered custom items can attest) but he procrastinates in such a way that you don't always notice he's not doing what he's supposed to be...because he's usually busy doing something else! Hence the storyline of this blog entry...<br><div><br></div><div> The Hilton Homeplace has been not only home to 4 Generations of Hilton potters, but it was also declared a century farm by the state of North Carolina in 2013. There have been Hiltons living, farming, and "potting" there since the civil war. </div><div><br></div><div>Do you know how much "stuff" accumulates in 100+ years? A LOT! Dad's shop...back when it was HIS grandfather's was actually the chicken hatchery...(where the baby chicks live until they move into the chicken house with the adult chickens...which is now the Gallery).</div><div> </div><div> My grandfather (Poppie), Boyd <i>S</i>. Hilton, turned it into his pottery studio many many years ago and after dad, Boyd <i>R</i>. Hilton, graduated high school he and Poppie added on to the original shop creating the space we now use for slab work, glazing, and firing. (Some 50 years ago) </div><div><br></div><div> Now, those of you who know dad, know that "spring cleaning" is more likely to mean "getting rust off of springs" than what you and I consider "spring cleaning" and yet the glaze area had taken on a life of its own...and kiln stilts? Forget EVER finding 2 the same height! Things just kinda end up where they were last used...</div><div><br></div><div>..."<i>Dad, have you seen</i>"...(insert item you are looking for here) "<i>sure Heather, it's right there!</i>" (Dad points to the below pile)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqL_stW98lIz9R8MknUnCZUZciGL_1Ti-NeR7BigKJoxrJACLHlNWEH0-pnzqeCnNBuYzzgJH30KgTHkL5crAy07_d-fmVyEDalnYW-dwuIIIaLx-6JOxDE5E68vmKP5nCkzR-hlfBcK0/s640/blogger-image--848419509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqL_stW98lIz9R8MknUnCZUZciGL_1Ti-NeR7BigKJoxrJACLHlNWEH0-pnzqeCnNBuYzzgJH30KgTHkL5crAy07_d-fmVyEDalnYW-dwuIIIaLx-6JOxDE5E68vmKP5nCkzR-hlfBcK0/s640/blogger-image--848419509.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div> So Saturday dad and his long time "right hand" Dan decided to build new shelves...that apparently needed to be able to support the weight of my car...to hold glaze & kiln stilts. (Hmmmm, could this be a productive form of procrastination?) </div><div><br></div><div>I have to say, these <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">60+ year old men worked me to the point of exhaustion, but we can actually get to the things we need now. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHMOYIpieUIOTwEYDJfNI_5kgiUSlmFd5pIbKaC2zpmo-HFprhwf41AH1tOlYKAYllW5MjnTL0As6nnarQAD-zTjOvR8qVd3JtPW7xLS35MQWHPKC89Gl5pgf-Qxf3CpVD-lCGa5RErM/s640/blogger-image-1656623494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHMOYIpieUIOTwEYDJfNI_5kgiUSlmFd5pIbKaC2zpmo-HFprhwf41AH1tOlYKAYllW5MjnTL0As6nnarQAD-zTjOvR8qVd3JtPW7xLS35MQWHPKC89Gl5pgf-Qxf3CpVD-lCGa5RErM/s640/blogger-image-1656623494.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Although I am still convinced it is more of an excuse not to start turning, the shop is ready for glazing...(just nothing made to glaze yet!). So lesson learned...in 2064, I guess we will "spring clean" again? </span></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-75987476362178200582014-02-01T19:14:00.001-05:002014-02-01T19:17:45.532-05:00"Hairy" Houdini... This is how my Saturday turned into "Caturday". Allow me to tell you the tale of this hairy little escape artist with a fluffy little tail...<div><br></div><div> A few days ago this little black cat started showing up around dad's looking for someplace warm and mybe some food. Not willing to let the poor thing starve dad started feeding her...(mistake #1) then we got snow...and dad didn't want her to freeze so he let her in to eat food before he put her back out...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0H47AeSYYWFXskxrTrQ_ux8Lw_IWdSD3vAMLI7lgzaMbsEbebCEsaywDdYkoM9iRZ6l3sBN9BTJlqZXPcldiAu7Mm3xQscR8Sj_WksogxCi2KAsp28bkwlrJMeFuNxze_bAbJn1U27o/s640/blogger-image-1493363757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0H47AeSYYWFXskxrTrQ_ux8Lw_IWdSD3vAMLI7lgzaMbsEbebCEsaywDdYkoM9iRZ6l3sBN9BTJlqZXPcldiAu7Mm3xQscR8Sj_WksogxCi2KAsp28bkwlrJMeFuNxze_bAbJn1U27o/s640/blogger-image-1493363757.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>(This is still a pottery blog...I'm getting there)</div><div><br></div><div> So now, having been invited in, this little monster knows how the "other half" lives. Not willing to be cast out into the cold she finds a broken window pane and chews her way through the "temporary" replacement pane and finds her way back into the house after 2am...not once, not twice, but 3 times between 2am and 4am. (I might mention here that upon each successful breach the barricade to keep her out became increasingly Macgyver-ed) In a house already full with 2 dogs and another cat, there were loud objections to this "cat burglar" waking the entire house each time and earning her "Houdini" name...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> Ok, you have been patient and we are getting to the pottery part...I finally had some time to come visit dad and start turning a few things today. When it became evident that turning pots from frozen and thawed clay was not going to work in my favor, I switched to hand building. </span></div></div><div><br></div><div> This...is where "Hairy" Houdini comes in. Sweet as can be, but the most mischievous cat I have seen in a long time Houdini decided she should help me...by walking all over the drying racks! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXClxwwZUxnAn7chFytSthhS009HVmRHQ_NeItSUW4zt5-n3j_eMvSPsQwKaAYBYitTqj-Nz8mIB2Mn-giecXhUNW5tkBKude13SXTBYceRfRbK7hwdycoI0tMwT01ILCl5AyEcdlW3I/s640/blogger-image-398928491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXClxwwZUxnAn7chFytSthhS009HVmRHQ_NeItSUW4zt5-n3j_eMvSPsQwKaAYBYitTqj-Nz8mIB2Mn-giecXhUNW5tkBKude13SXTBYceRfRbK7hwdycoI0tMwT01ILCl5AyEcdlW3I/s640/blogger-image-398928491.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> So this October, if your platters and trays have "paws" on them, now you know why! </span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAja4nnAuJ3ARnLdfF5xxxciT13pR640rnmg8v5dkH2bfwaJeagUm2j3xqzxCYGweVcTjBPBMYo6OKvdZOf1A7Lie_ihrW0fqSj4V2WgmfibKqxja6bz24jn_UBUPpBMsJ8CHBwwjT46o/s640/blogger-image--2032917027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAja4nnAuJ3ARnLdfF5xxxciT13pR640rnmg8v5dkH2bfwaJeagUm2j3xqzxCYGweVcTjBPBMYo6OKvdZOf1A7Lie_ihrW0fqSj4V2WgmfibKqxja6bz24jn_UBUPpBMsJ8CHBwwjT46o/s640/blogger-image--2032917027.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-41222602330178818402013-10-13T14:00:00.001-04:002013-10-13T14:00:17.578-04:00If you fire it, they will come...Ok, not quite the same as baseball fields and Kevin Costner...but the 10th Anniversary Hilton Homeplace Sale was a big success! This was the "last" year of the free cider cups (last being tentative since I heard that the 5th year was also the "last" year). Nevertheless the free cider cups (also affectionately referred to as "those damnedable giveaway cups" by my father) were a big hit. We had a line waiting at 8am wrapped around the corner and into the parking lot...<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHTnCXrA1Ud2BW-OJ6Dibcy9wLeYSQ3hIgI5F75ddIOzYjXtwLnl4IUUkMu4iu9rflE-uqLZiNHBKEItEF6H92i82EL2D07drEIniAvm3ZlwSJgLM3decxyJgkOYltAAaRa_7pdWUe0w/s640/blogger-image-48114089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHTnCXrA1Ud2BW-OJ6Dibcy9wLeYSQ3hIgI5F75ddIOzYjXtwLnl4IUUkMu4iu9rflE-uqLZiNHBKEItEF6H92i82EL2D07drEIniAvm3ZlwSJgLM3decxyJgkOYltAAaRa_7pdWUe0w/s640/blogger-image-48114089.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It is really humbling to think about how much this event has grown since the first show in 2003. That was a true "kiln opening" with dad (BR Hilton) Sybil (Pottery by Sybil) and John (John Hilton) where the three of them literally opened the kiln on Saturday morning and sold pottery from it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> Now the show has 8-10 potters, 3 generations of Hilton potters, live throwing demonstrations, a Hilton Homeplace cookbook, and we've invited 700 of our closest friends and family to show up in dad's front yard to shop...(shameless PR plug here...it's the 2nd Saturday in October each year info at www.hiltonpottery.com) We have so many visitors from all over the country...even 96 South Carolina (just past 95 but before 97 ha ha!) thanks so much for all of your continued support. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlO7RxGuFV47kzbv_NDPGsFNzroT1RbV57y237-0LeQFW9xP2E_LqgVZ_lM9y9ssevIvsW_qfi0nj6jYyTCodoFA2k6CyU3j8evddVR0vyRhsFEZhFFZp8pTm2HnLovDDsAHyhmy1mNr8/s640/blogger-image--460721991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlO7RxGuFV47kzbv_NDPGsFNzroT1RbV57y237-0LeQFW9xP2E_LqgVZ_lM9y9ssevIvsW_qfi0nj6jYyTCodoFA2k6CyU3j8evddVR0vyRhsFEZhFFZp8pTm2HnLovDDsAHyhmy1mNr8/s640/blogger-image--460721991.jpg"></a></div> While I don't know that I would quite call myself a potter, I certainly would say the light at the end of the tunnel is not a speeding train headed for me...that is I guess to say, if you fire it...they will come...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3o0K_QLugZ8_v4EZoJXsSQufSVVVum-wo00emamAZJfYMPFAXOraGvAhN8L0gROZ1u4Ix7cmMipJ8_V0ODSM-nbzQ4ffMRE4sM0X4ekiy4hLf5QXTQzbYKBoVXfhfiVkNDPeWZTScy9w/s640/blogger-image-1831422652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3o0K_QLugZ8_v4EZoJXsSQufSVVVum-wo00emamAZJfYMPFAXOraGvAhN8L0gROZ1u4Ix7cmMipJ8_V0ODSM-nbzQ4ffMRE4sM0X4ekiy4hLf5QXTQzbYKBoVXfhfiVkNDPeWZTScy9w/s640/blogger-image-1831422652.jpg"></a></div>Thanks so much to all of the friends, family, and customers who helped make my 3rd pottery sale a success. I still say it's cheaper than therapy...and I have to get rid of it all so I can make more! Until then...</div><br></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-1224189903960275482013-09-29T08:37:00.001-04:002013-09-29T08:44:13.916-04:00Wood you believe that?Well if it looks like wood, and feels like wood...it must be clay! (Wait, what?)<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-qf4aObW7KDrw2nONjxopWpzrtaSeYYIMIzPLPcgm4MZQCdi-pD_ZCsKs7rEMlXGTTV1LnT-g3W2hAmzMVntHIgaMXcEXc0pis5WTw51rqWgiyk40a7s3RaF4cTMua0UxTdsbnaZHgI/s640/blogger-image--2123445098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-qf4aObW7KDrw2nONjxopWpzrtaSeYYIMIzPLPcgm4MZQCdi-pD_ZCsKs7rEMlXGTTV1LnT-g3W2hAmzMVntHIgaMXcEXc0pis5WTw51rqWgiyk40a7s3RaF4cTMua0UxTdsbnaZHgI/s640/blogger-image--2123445098.jpg"></a></div><br><div><br></div><div>My adventures with texture appear to have been successful. The trays with wood grain actually made it through the firing without warping or cracking! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MXWGKZxAb9OkQD7ffVoUtcRCIg4eg6l6LwguuLrla6V1Gv-mcP4Chn2gqy-u9daftfpb9pO7TuhcKTrr1QZEl7GUxl7hyphenhyphenI6QaD-uk9vu0s3JdkwmQSfyuQUKOQVM3IfwArM5ryteYL8/s640/blogger-image--1821617930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MXWGKZxAb9OkQD7ffVoUtcRCIg4eg6l6LwguuLrla6V1Gv-mcP4Chn2gqy-u9daftfpb9pO7TuhcKTrr1QZEl7GUxl7hyphenhyphenI6QaD-uk9vu0s3JdkwmQSfyuQUKOQVM3IfwArM5ryteYL8/s640/blogger-image--1821617930.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>I made a few larger trays with leaf and acorns so hopefully they will survive as well. The large leaf sets appear to have survived, and a few other things will be added to the shelves for the October 12th show. Hope to see you there! </div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235007763164536592.post-77145969693091016782013-09-21T07:08:00.000-04:002013-09-21T08:18:57.420-04:00Those legal, perfectly legal, herb pots... Again I have to share that while dad tells stories of running a "little pot business" from the "family farm" he does, in fact, mean pottery...so as I share pictures on Facebook of my "herb pots" you can only imagine the comments I get from those who aren't exactly looking for a piece to use for planting their parsley and cilantro.<br />
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The few mini-planters (and I do mean mini not many) seemed to survive glaze firing and will be available for the October show...(I am forced as the chief marketing officer to insert shameless Hilton Homeplace 10th Anniversary Sale promotion here). Stop by and see us the second Saturday each October. </div>
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I will also have a few trivets to place hot pottery on in your serving area without worrying about damage to your dining table or countertops.</div>
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12059285386837129984noreply@blogger.com0