I use this tool more and more to roll a fluted edge. Do you know what it is?
The Unitarian Universalist tribe has adopted the outstandingly simple and ancient symbol of a flame burning in a chalice. The big Sunday services include an awesome birthday cake-sized vessel, already lit, carried up the center aisle by a certified, card-carrying worship associate, but each task-centered meeting might begin with the lighting of a small chalice too. (The marvelous Hally A. carries a tiny candle holder and matches in her purse for her meeting needs.)
Thus I see the need for small, personal-sized chalices, for sacred moments, whether you are convening a meeting or not, so I have begun a series of small almond-shaped bowls like these here, in various colors. Some have no handles, but the one above has a rough unglazed pedestal foot and loop handles, also unglazed. (That’s my favorite of the tests, so I’ll make more like that.)
I use them by filling the bowl with rice or dried beans, and setting a standard candle atop that — safe, simple, edible.
These photos are not so good; it’s hard to convey a glowing flame in the little pot, and I’m no photographer anyway.
Cereal bowls and milk pitcher? or ice cream bowls and hot fudge pourer? You decide.
These pieces are in porcelain, rather sturdy instead of paper-thin, glazed in a barely-blue celadon. There are actually six bowls in the set.
The blue ash glaze (recipe from Briscoe) looks accidental and random, earthy.
But apart from the sky (often) and water (sometimes), why is there not so much blue in nature? The blue berry, blue bird, and blue butterfly are absolutely attention-getting.
Created for the recent District Clay open house. Each visitor picked a cup. First come, first served.
In Berkeley Springs, the obsolete chimney has a hole, these birds need a nest. To be continued…
Later in life, still enjoying the outdoors.
Earlier this month, potter friends Carolyn and Holly and I drove down to Floyd, Virginia, for the open studios of the 16 Hands potters, looking for inspiration. We visited the studios of eight potters (do the math) plus a a few of their invited artist friends.
This piece is by Elisa Di Feo, who works with her potter partner in a fantastic little place. This cup got to me after I walked away a few times. The blue underglaze crayon scratches are childish, but the fine etched lines are very grown up. A fine edge separates matte and shiny surfaces, both white.
Floyd is worth the trip for the rolling Blue Ridge mountain landscape, the steady sounds of local music, the fertile creativity with clay.
An industrial accident. Just kidding.
We drink from wells we did not dig. We warm by fires we did not kindle. And there’s a lot more stuff we use that we just got somehow….
 | whistleandblaster on you have stars in your bones a… |
| whistleandblaster on protected by claws and teeth |
 | carolefishback on we drink from wells we did not… |
| whistleandblaster on Light my fire (or yours) |
 | Linda Owens on porcelain pourer and bowls |
Watershed Clayworks 