So today is Thursday and I haven't started this weeks teapot. I know its only the 4th week and I should still be excited but, instead, I'm feeling overwhelmed. Working 40+ hrs a week and filling other orders from my etsy store are keeping me busy. Not to mention giving lessons and keeping up tith laundry and also wanting to spend time with my boyfriend and dog! There just doesn't seem like enough time to do it all. (Sigh) BUT, when I started this, I knew idx feel this way and I said to myself,"sarah, do you wanna just do one teapot a month?" But I knew that would be too easy and not the challenge that I was seeking. So, even tho I work today at 1230-930 and the laudry is overflowing (I cand do laudry when I fire the kiln-my house's wiring can't take it, so I'm told), the dishes need done, I have a headache, I have a special order muffin pan to make for an order, need to shower! Haha, and my dog is whining for attention; I will go sit at my wheel and throw the body of this weeks teapot! There, I talked myself into it! Haha I'm thinking tall and square~ish. Ok. Done.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Success!
The kiln gods heard my prayers! haha everything came out great. now i just have to find or decide on the perfect glazes. hmmmmm i kniw what im going to be thinking about at work tonight
Monday, February 6, 2012
Arabian Carnival!
When I first started this very first teapot, I thought of it as an Arabian style teapot. This project taught me the power of glazing. Glazing controls the mood of the pot. I think this teapot still works. Its amazing that it started out so strongly "one way" and ended equally strong "another way". Ha or maybe is the perfect teapot for an Arabian carnival! Haha either way, I love myh new glazes I tried out on this piece. The blue is strong, but soft and the white is sooo creamy. I love the blue and cream together. I am a little dissapointed with the outcome of the black walnut glaze I diligently rubbed into the carvings. You can kind of see it, but my intention was to have it stronger. Maybe it was a blessing because the strong blackish brown lines could have been too strong. Oh well. The teapot started cracking before I even bisqued it right by the spout and handle and I tried to fix it but you can see the hairline cracks if you look close. I am so lucky the "white" turned out cream because now it looks a little antique~ish and the little cracks don't bother me too much asthetically. Functionally, it wouldn't be as strong as it could. But the cracks are just hairline and I see this piece as a display teapot, not everyday! Haha. Overall, for the first one of many, I am more than pleased with this teapot! (The rest of the kiln load came out just as beautiful)
fingers crossed!
I just loaded the kiln to bisque fire a bunch of stuff! The plan is to take it slllloooowwww. Ha the teapot with the feet and slip trailing is the piece ill be praying for all day. I can just picture slip cracking off and me unloading the kiln to find pieces of what I once loved. Bhaha but I should have only positive thoughts. I think if I take it to temperature slow, we'll be good. :)
Sunday, February 5, 2012
First teapot before glaze firing
The first two pics are of matte black glaze rubbed into the grooves that I previously carved. The third pic is of the glaze I chose with wax resist over it. And the last pic is of all the glazes and this is how it went into the kiln today!. I don't think I ever mentioned the matching cup either! Haha anyways I chose a light blue, white, and walnut black for the glazes. The blue and white are new so I'm very excited to see their turnout :). Ill post pics tomorrow when I unload the kiln!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
A "Slip"pery Slope
Ok. Slip trailing is amazing! It totally makes this teapot. It adds a certail antique~ness haha to the form. I love it :]. Luckaly I saved an old hair dye bottle and that's what I filled with slip! I used my old water from some plates I had just thrown and dumped most of the water in my reclaim bucket and vola! Slip was left on the bottom! I then pushed the slip through some old lace I had to get rid of any chunks and I had a wonderful paste called slip! It was perfect. I prolly just lucked out but I thought it'd be more difficult. Anyways I just didn't know where to stop! Its such a fun technique, but a very slippery slope because too much looks horrible. Haha so hopefully I didn't slide down that slope. I love this teapot I just hope everything goes well from here on out :)
fewf!
This was the most difficult teapot I've ever done...but my favorite so far (unless it cracks in the kiln haha then ill hate it!) I'm going to do some slip trailing around the lid and feet and handle. I've never done the slip trailing so we'll see how that works out :) sooo much work went into this teapot and I can honestly say I'm happy with it...something I rarely say about my pots. But we'll see how the slip trailing and glazing goes...I could ruin it with the glazing! Ha I'm going to try to glaze the fist teapot this week and ill get a pic up of that! Last chance for any glazing suggestions!