Almost Christmas

Well, it is almost Christmas! We just shipped some pottery -- got to say the packing was not pretty, but it works and will save the buyer some money. Had a great Saturday, bartered for a quilt. Cindy Ellmaker in Boulder makes some wonderful quilts -- and I bartered some pottery for a beautiful quilt for the mom in law. The colors were perfect and I can't wait to for her to see them. Threw some cups and some "baby bowls" tonight. We are trying to stock up for a show in March and the Saturday Market. For those of you who read my blog -- sorry it has been so long! Below are some pics from our last couple of firings. Our next fire will include our bird feeders and berry bowls -- spring pieces that I am so excited about! I will get pics out soon.

New Pots!!

It has been a while since my last posting! We have been so busy trying to make enough pots for the upcoming craft show. This last glaze was pretty exciting as we had some pieces that were new for us. The little flower pot on the right is for my mom...hope she likes it! If you see anything you like -- comment on my blog. And -- come visit us in Great Falls at the craft show at the expo center this weekend!

The Mountain Red is a new color combo and we like it very much.

Arne did an awesome job on these deep dish pie pans!!




This is a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. I think it came out wonderful!

It really is a good life in Montana. It is snowing today...YAY! The pictures of Moonlight Basin look promising -- can't wait to get up there! Did a glaze firing this weekend...pics of new glaze combinations and artistic pieces are below. Only two weeks until our first craft show....Let me know what you think. I am off to go throw!

Long Pottery Day

Phew! Went home from work yesterday sick. Came home and went to bed....Harold and McKi woke me up to let me know that I was running a fever...thanks! Went back to sleep and slept for 17 hours. I felt so much better this morning! Threw pots all day. It was a great throwing day. Worked all day throwing chili/soup bowls. People really like them so I want to make sure we have enough at the craft show. We will be ready to do a bisque fire on Tuesday and a glaze by Friday...Wohooooo! This is so much fun!

It has been getting cold here in Big Sky Country! I do love the fall! It is a welcome change from the 80-90 degree days we were having -- can't wait for the snow. McKi had a cross country meet in Butte and finished the day at the Fairmont. I am waiting for her to come home now. I am sure she did awesome and had a great time swimming. Will be getting some fall yard pics out so we can remember what we want to do this spring.

We have been living pottery for the last month. It is a double-edged sword. You get so tired that you want to get out of the studio and when you are out you can't wait to get back. Then you do a glaze firing and it reinforces why you started throwing in the first place! I think this is the first firing that we were pleased with all results! My paprika was a little thick on one of my bowls and it came out pink...uggg. Anyone wants a pink bowl just let me know!!! Most of this pottery will be for sale at the craft shows we are doing and a couple of pieces will be reserved for the art walk. I am posting this link on facebook...so please comment about what you like and don't like on my page. The more feedback we have the better! I better get throwing -- so much to do!

September Fire

Our September firing was much better! Got some great pieces in anticipation of our craft show "coming out"! I also did some glaze tests that were not as fabulous as I thought they might be.

These two cups had the top dipped in sage grean and then light shino was poured thick all over. Not crazy about the result!

I really like this cup -- it was a happy accident! The bottom half was left bare. Toshi Brown was applied to the rest and Moss Green was painted on the top 1/3. Will be doing this combination again.

These two cups have blue shino on the bottom with Pam's green on the top and the inside. I think I like them.

I wasn't crazy about this combination. JB's brown was applied all over then the top third was dipped in Pam's Green.

I really like the Galaxy glaze. I put Archie's base on the rim -- it was very runny. But I think I will make more of these.

Two bowls done in Paprika and muted gold. Very nice and predictable combination.


This is a crock. I really like it, but have decided that I need to make these bigger if I expect people to use them for indoor composting. This one was done in Galaxy with black painted on the handles and top.
Love this flower pot. Dipped in antique iron with Archie's base on the rim.

Coffee cups and utensil holder -- made by Arne-- dipped in Shino and Mottled Blue. I love the diagnal pattern of the glaze. This glaze combination is one of our favorites and is very predictable. Very nice!
Again another combination we love, Gun Metal Green under the Shino. Always turns out good. These are cups made by Arne. Love his manly style.

Planter dipped in Mottled Blue with the rim dipped in gun metal green. I am reading his notes about his glazing and it says "Yikes". Apparently he didn't think it was going to turn out...but I think it looks great!

Again the Shino and Mottled blue. Like I said we love the combination. This is a set of mixing bowls with a batter bowl and some cups. I love the way they turned out!

Utensil holder and bowl done in paprika and muted gold. I love the shape of this untensil holder. It is a pretty feminine piece for my manly man.



Two bowls dipped in Antique Iron with the rims dipped in muted gold.
Another crock. I really need to perfect what I am doing with these. Again I think they need to be bigger. This one ran really bad and stuck to the kiln shelf. Uggggg! We are using it but I will be making another one.