I just love when I walk into pottery class and there are some of my pieces fresh out of the kiln. It’s always like Christmas, every time!
I made these two crocks by throwing the bottoms on the pottery wheel and hand-building the top rims. It’s becoming my style to have a little of both techniques in each piece. I use wooden textile stamps from Pakistan and Afghanistan to embellish the hand-built areas. I also purchased some bright cone 5 glazes which I am finally having success with.
Believe it or not, I have been taking pottery classes for over a year and I only learned how to make a lid two weeks ago. You’ll probably find that my next 20 pieces will have lids now until I learn another skill! I hand-built a Dahlia flower and glued in a glass cabachon to give it a little sparkle.
Tweet. Tweet. Another strange piece to add to my collection! I had made this pretty little canister with a lid, but couldn’t figure out what to do with it….hmm stick a giant bird on top? Of course, it makes perfect sense. My daughter now wants one with a giant platypus on top…stranger things have happened!
In this photo there are two bowls and a vase I embellished with embroidery.
They have a ton of grooves and patterns. These were not out of the kiln yet. Hopefully next week I can add glazes to them like grout and fill in all of the grooves. Right now they simply have a underglaze painted on them. It will give the finished pieces contrast.
I also got the clay head with the glasses fired this week. I haven’t been able to make up my mind on what I want for his body, so he’s floating around in the studio for the time being.
That’s all I got for pottery show n’ tell this week. I’m feeling really good lately, like I’ve mastered Level 1 and can move on to more challenging work. I’m throwing with larger mounds of clay too.
I never imagined I would have made my way to ceramics. I’m so glad it found me. I tell you. I just love it . It’s always my favorite day of the week!
Join me on Facebook: Be Creative Mary
Be Creative Mary 
Hard to believe that you’ve only been working with this medium for a year. Your work is gorgeous
Thanks Princ!
It’s all about the color – so many potters are under the impression that their pieces have to look MUDDY. To see brightly colored pottery is so nice. And using the stamps is genius!
Clare – you got it – MUDDY! I had a tough first six months trying to find good clean color glazes. I finally broke down and bought a bright blue, yellow and orange. My studio calls them “Mary” colors :)
They’re lovely Mary. I particularly like the canister with the bird on top. I’m impressed – I’ve not even ventured into the land of lids yet.
I haven’t used a wheel or thrown since high school. You’re stimulating my interest again.
Do it! Do it! Do it!!!!
Make me a mug for my cawfee pleeeeeeeeeease
Color??? BI motiff?