Happy New Year! Honey Jar

Happy New Year! Well, I am starting off the year with a honey jar made for a friend. You can see the jar in its leather hard state. In the photo above, the cylinder laying on its side is a glaze sample. When the honey jar is bisque fired, I'll be using the Ohata glaze which is a lovely rusty red.

Here is another view of the jar.

The other project I started was another hippo for another friend. After this, I have a number of items to make (3 custom plates, creamer and sugar for my cousin's bridal shower, yarn bowls for the store and for my mom's friend). I shall be quite busy in the next few months. And I am very happy about that. I just hope I have some time to do this sea-horse sculpture that is floating around my head and yes, that was a very bad pun... And the creature is more like a horse in the front with a fishtail rather than a real seahorse. I will keep you informed about it!

Finished Hippo Candy Bowls

Hippo Candy Bowl #1

 Hippo Candy Bowl #2

Hippo Candy Bowl #1 and #2

The customer who ordered the hippo was very very happy and picked it up today. I still have the second one (the one on the right or Hippo Candy Bowl #2), but I have a few people interested in it as well.

They are pretty darn cute.

Hippo Candy Jar

Here is one of the Hippo Candy Jars that I made. I was commissioned to make one for a man who wanted one for his wife. As advised by Joanne, the owner of Blossom Hill crafts, I made two. Just in case.

This hippo took about 15 - 17 lbs of clay to make. The body is completely hollow. The mouth is where the candy (jelly beans) will go. There are holes on the bottom of the hippo's feet that lead into the body part. That way we won't get any explosions.

Once the hippo was a bit dry, I started underglazing it with Western brand underglazes. I'll have to take a photo of the interior of his mouth next time so you can see the uvula. Now, I didn't make a hole between the head and the body just in case a stray jelly bean slipped through the hole. You'd never be able to get it out!

There's his cute little tail.

I'm currently bisque firing this hippo. He and his twin will be cone 5 clear glazed over the weekend. I can't wait to see them when they're completely done!

Gandalf and The Treewoman 2

Gandalf is finally out of the kiln. He turned out quite well, if I do say so myself.

The shadows/darker parts are all from the firing process. I didn't put any glaze or slip on him. Just put him in the kiln and had him angled so that the flames hit him on the staff side first.

And here is The Treewoman 2. In looking at her, I thought that if I make yet another one, I'll be sure to have more action with her arms. Maybe ones that go around and loop more. Still, I am pretty happy with this one. She's happy.

Underglazed plates

 These all came out of the kiln last night. Blue Bird of Happiness

 Medusa

 Another Skellie and Rose

 Unicorn - done for a friend. I really do not plan on making more of these.

 More Yin Yang Kitty plates. All but one is sold.

And I think that may be it for underglazed plates for this year.

Gandalf is cooling in the Wood Soda Kiln. I'll be seeing the results on Saturday. Fingers crossed!

Hippo Candy Jar

 Last night, I put together the commissioned Hippo Candy Jar.

 Here's his gaping maw for a bag of jelly beans.

 Another view.

And of course, he has to have a tail.

I will underglaze this guy and then cone 5 fire him.

I will also make a second one just in case this one doesn't turn out.

As a side note, Gandalf's staff on the bottom was broken off. My bad for leaving him at the studio instead of bringing him home. However, I have the piece, so I will be firing it and then glue it on. Fortunately, the break happened right under his hand and the joining can be hidden.

More Underglazed work

I have been busily painting since APE. Most of my recent painted plates have all be commissions which makes me very happy.

Here are some painted plates:

Yarn bowls:

With the exception of the Brown Bunny and Blue Bird yarn bowls, all of the pieces here have been sold. I have 3 more yin yang kitty plates that need to be finished up and one of those is sold. All in all, things have been going very well for me in the pottery world. I am currently working on another commission, a hippo candy jar. AND wood firing season starts up next weekend. I can't wait!