How wobbly are the Wobbly Shotglasses?
Thursday, September 30th, 2010
Dots!
Thursday, September 23rd, 2010
I was in the studio one day with some pots that had been freshly glazed white and I had a brand new jar of bright orange glaze. It seemed that the two should go together, but how?
I dripped a dot of orange inside a white bowl and something about it just felt so right.
The Dragonfly
Tuesday, September 14th, 2010
I think dragonflies are fascinating.
Their bodies are too long and cumbersome for those delicate wings, how on earth do they fly so agile and free, up and down, here and there?
They are seemingly impossible creatures – there must be some magic in those wings.
Fresh out of the kiln
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
I unloaded the kiln this morning and I’m really happy with the results.
Below are pictures of a stack of mini bowls, one shot Wobbly Shotglasses, Orange Wobbly Shotglasses and Blue ones too.
If you’d like to see more, click on the photos on the right to get to the full set of images at Flickr.
1 Comment »What’s up with all the teapots?
Friday, February 5th, 2010
I feel like I have a wee confession to make. I really, very much enjoy throwing pottery on the wheel (obviously) but all of the other stuff (trimming, attaching handles and spouts, decorating, glazing) is not nearly as enjoyable for me as the actual throwing part. If throwing is a 10, then the rest hovers around a five or a six.
I’ve been in the midst of making teapots lately, trying new shapes and practicing making larger pots. Teapots are the most complicated pieces I make because they have so many parts. For every teapot I:
1) Throw the pot form, at least two potential lids (sometimes four) and two potential spouts.
2) When the pot and all the pieces are dry enough, I trim the pot and figure out which lid and spout fits and looks the best. Then I trim the lid and add a knob.
3) Then it’s time to assemble all the pieces together. I trim and finesse the spout, then attach it.
4) The handle needs to be pulled and attached.
5) Finally, I clean up all my fingerprints and wipe everything smooth with a damp sponge.
Then it’s done (well except for the firing and glazing steps).
It’s all a bit time consuming when I think about how long it takes for me to make a simple bowl (throw it, trim it, done). So the other day I was assembling my fourth teapot, my lower back was starting to get achey from standing for so long. I was getting a bit cranky and impatient with the whole thing. As I finished off the handle and began to wipe everything smooth, I thought to myself, “Why the heck do I even make so many teapots when I have to spend so much freakin’ time away from the wheel just to make them?”
Then I looked at the beautiful, well proportioned, larger-than-all-the-rest teapot in my hands and realized that it was one of the best teapots I had ever made and I welled up with pride. I said aloud to Molly and Lexy “This is why I make teapots,” they awoke from their naps and thought it was time to go for a walk, so the moment was lost on them, but it wasn’t lost on me. Now, I can’t stop gazing at my new teapots, and I’m so looking forward to throwing more.
No Comments »10 is one of my lucky numbers
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
It’s been quiet here on the Mena Dragonfly website but there’s been lots going on. My family came for Christmas from Ontario and my brothers-in-law were also here from the UK. On Christmas day we had 10 people (and two dogs, ofcourse) at our place for breakfast, stockings and presents; it was cozy but we had a great time.
My Mom arrived a few days before Christmas and without her help on the 22nd I wouldn’t have completed my Christmas Pottery Replacement Challenge. We spent the afternoon in the pottery studio glazing all of the pots.
We loaded the kiln, fired it up then waited somewhat anxiously for two days to see how it turned out. On the afternoon of the 24th we unloaded the kiln and there were a few surprises, a couple of disappointments but for the most part it was successful and I was able to re-make all of the Christmas presents along with a few extra pots to boot. I celebrated by testing out my wobbly shot glass.
Yesterday, our out of town relatives left Vancouver. I miss them all so much already and am looking forward to next Christmas when we can do it all again.
As 2010 quickly approaches, it’s that time when most people review their year and make plans for the next one. For me, it feels like the year was split in two when things unfolded in August. I feel like I went through some big changes since then and have already spent a lot of time reflecting on what was, what is and looking ahead to what will be. One thing that I keep being reminded of is the incredible people I am so fortunate to have in my life. I am truly blessed to be surrounded by the family and friends that I have, and I have been most lucky to be able to spend time with so many of them over the past few months.
Wishing you and yours all of the very best for the coming year. I have a really good feeling about 2010, I think it’s gonna be a good one.
No Comments »Up for a challenge
Monday, December 14th, 2009
I have issued myself a challenge: re-make all of the pottery I was going to give away as Christmas presents by December 25th. (Yes, my family and friends are getting pottery from me yet again but I figure it’s been more than 5 years since I last gifted my pottery, so it’s time I replaced the originals.)
When I figured out that I had ruined my last kiln load of pottery I was itching to get back on the wheel to make the replacements. I started on Wednesday night and made a batch of mugs. I spent a few hours on Thursday making more mugs and a few bowls. By Sunday they were dry enough for me to trim and add the handles. On today’s pottery agenda: lidded pieces: teapots, casserole dishes and that pesky sugar dish I still need to replace.
I’m hoping I can get everything in the kiln for the bisque firing by the end of this week.
Ofcourse I also have to actually do some Christmas shopping, get all of the Christmas cards signed and sent, and clean the apartment before my Mom arrives on Sunday – it’s going to be a busy week but I think it’s all do-able.
No Comments »About to be bisque-fired
Sunday, November 29th, 2009
Below is a picture of the results of my first few months of throwing in my new home studio. I started out wanting to make a teapot and you can see in the background, the first five teapots. Unfortunately I chipped the knob on the lid of that cute little jar before I even bisque-fired the batch, but I think it adds a bit of character – I’ll try to work with it when I glaze the piece.
