Glazing Day

 Today was a day of mostly glazing, although I did throw some goblet parts earlier. We've had 2 bisc kilns come out recently so it was time to get busy and glaze.

Ro spent some time this morning mixing up some glazes to top off the buckets while I did the goblet throwing, then she waxed the bottoms of the pieces and I got started with the glazing. We're going to have 2 glaze kilns going at the same time. It should be nice and roasty toasty in the studio tomorrow. I anticipate the goblets will be ready to trim and assemble early in the day.

I am hoping to get to throw a few more goblets in various sizes tomorrow, then get started on more mugs and tankards. I want another bisc in on Tuesday night, maybe even two with more pieces to go to Florida on Sunday. Last minute rushing upsets me, but I don't want to drive down to restock in 3-4 weeks, so I have to make this count.

Ro is finishing some medallions for the top shelf and should be up any minute. Hell of a day. Lots of work done, but I could do without this kind of intensity.

Hand Crafted As seen in Wal Mart

How do you feel about this?

As far as factory work, I think it's pretty nice...

"Special glazing technique makes every piece unique"

On one hand I am pleased to see industry is trying so hard to make appealing glazes, and they are..there are some damn nice glazes on some of these factory pieces.

On the other hand it's upsetting that they can be made in China (and I don't knock those Chinese workers either, they work hard and have great skills) and then they're shipped here and are sold for only $3 each.

How do you respond to these?

Trouble keeping it up

I am having trouble keeping it up. My stock. So much on the throwing list these days, hell, just so much on the list. Here's the state of progress in the Hughes Pottery Studio.

I just got 2000lbs of clay on Monday, a big thanks to Morgan and Troy for unloading it and hauling it into the basement. It takes them 15 minutes, it would take me hours. This should keep me going for the next two months, if I am really productive, one month.

It used to be that I had stock ready to go to Florida in January and at this time of year I was getting ready for April and May. Since I started selling so steadily on Etsy it has been harder and harder to keep stock for the other venues. As you see, I am always making, but somehow I never have enough, and no matter how many I sell it seems I am still always a dollar short too.

. My last throwing goal was for Birka, now I need to have work ready to go to Tampa to the Bay Area Renaissance Festival on the 20th and finish up a bunch of special orders. I am feeling a little bit doubtful that I'll get everything done that I wanted to, but hell, I'm throwing as much as I can.

So right now, I have 77 bisc mugs to glaze for Webster's. 30 mugs thrown for Cafe Lemont. A set of 3 plates for a special order, a Garlic Keeper for a special order. I threw 16 round mugs. I trimmed and handled 16 soup mugs today and Rowan put Oak Leaves and Acorns on 7 soup mugs and 2 Lidded Pitchers. It was a pretty productive day over all.

Tomorrow Cristin comes at 11 and I'll have her wedging for me. I need to throw more butter keepers and goblets, then make as many mugs and tankards as I can over the weekend.

OH Yeah, and I have that tooth extraction scheduled for Friday morning at 9. I should be in good shape to work so hard.

I wanted 300 pieces to go to Tampa. I am not sure if I will have it or not. Worry, Worry Worry.