Slow Saturday in the Park

Whether people stayed home to watch the Olympics or enjoy the beach, there was not a lot of traffic at Balboa Park yesterday. So I decided to take today off! I started the day by putting decals on some pots fresh out of the kiln. That was fun. Of course creating decals meant time on the computer. The computer crashed 3 times which meant messing around trying to figure out what was causing the problem!?! Fingers crossed things are taken care of, but it's definitely time to do a little backing up and then free up some disk space! 
On Saturday I'm going to Alex Long's Copper Raku workshop in Encinitas! So I'd like to have one of my own pieces to raku. Hopefully I'll be able to fill the kiln and finish a bisque before Friday. I'll have to get busy tomorrow and the day after!

Sectional throwing

Early in the week I threw a few big pots using sectional throwing. It's fun but it requires a little patience. The base needs to stiffen enough to throw the second section, so basically it's throwing bases one day, then adding the second section the next. Patience.
Apart from that little bit of throwing this week has been mostly about cleaning. I was hoping to glaze but the garage needed to be organized. Then that spilled over into cleaning my studio space too. Not quite done with the studio, but when I am it will be nice to have a clear work space. Especially since I'll have an "apprentice" ext week. Hubby's niece is coming out from MN for a 2 week visit and I promised to put her to work. ;) Throwing lessons, yeah!

Moving right along

Well, I didn't get into the Potter's Guild. Not a big surprise, but still a little disappointing.

Meanwhile, moving right along.... I've got a kiln to open and some more glazing to do. And I really need to clear out the studio! Top issues (not in order of importance):

• Put a plug/new elements on test kiln.  
• Recycle clay (or throw it away). 1 1/2 tons! That's a lot of recycling and a whole lot of space to free up.
• Glaze or toss pots that have been sitting for WAY too long.
• Test a few new glazes (white, brick red).

I had planned to set up in Balboa Park on 6/23 & 24, but it might just be Sunday since there's no-one to look after my big boy on Saturday. We shall see. 

Getting into gear

A few things have happened since I last posted:

• The kiln plug melted during a firing! Kind of scary. Both the plug and the electrical outlet were totally fried/melted! Honey B. was able to replace both and the kiln was fine, but the whole experience was a little too close for comfort. (Apparently when the plug heats up the screws will expand and then contract during cooling. Over time they can loosen and then the electricity starts arcing! Not good. So just know that it's a good idea to check your plug - like maybe once a year. I've had my kiln for over 12 years and never knew to do that.)
  
  
  
• The Waldorf School May Faire sale on May 5th was a success. The mermaid mugs were a hit! I made six of those and by the day of the sale only had 2 available. Of course they sold first thing!  Definitely something I will be making more of....
  
  
  
• Nothing like a nice basket of warm medals. Yum!  I made 210 medals for my son's 5th grade Decathlon. Kids and adults alike were thrilled with them. Very gratifying.
  
  
  
• Steve Dilley, who teaches at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, put together a Veteran's Art Program at Grossmont College for the spring semester. It was a regular Friday event where veterans could get school counseling and do clay if they were interested. It was fun volunteering for that on a regular basis.
  
  Steve Dilley (instructor), Josh, Eric, Matthew
  
  
• I was accepted into an art group that has a permit to exhibit in Balboa Park. Yeah! Going forward I'm planning to set up my booth in Balboa Park on a regular basis.  I'm shooting for the 4th Sat/Sun of the month.
  
• I applied to the SD Potter's Guild. Finger's crossed! 

Meanwhile it's time to get back in the studio. I've got a few new forms I'm working on and a bunch of ideas to explore. There is glazing that needs to be done. Not to mention new glaze combos and new glazes to test! I've got kingfisher colors on my mind.... Dark blue, aqua, and orange.

New Year 2012

The flu kind of caught up with us as Christmas drew near. I just didn't have the energy to get to that last round of throwing and firing I had hoped to squeeze in. But I had my first "trunk sale" - namely an impromptu sale out of the trunk of my car! Sales to 3 people amounted to 1/2 the amount I made at the Holiday Hit List. That without the booth fee or having to haul tables/props and full inventory! Not bad!

So I'm looking forward to getting a fresh start in the new year! Yeah! There are a few projects on deck when I do. Meanwhile, what are my goals for this coming year?
1) Figure out a few good local venues.
2) Buy some new equipment I've been eyeing (plate setters).
3) Create a good photo set up. Take pictures!

Back to the wheel

Time to get back to throwing. I didn't really have time to get to the white clay before the last show, so now it's time. I'm almost over this flu/cold thing and it will be nice to get back in the studio. There's a long list of things to be made on my list. I'm hoping to get in a least one more load of bisque and glaze done before Christmas. Let's see how it goes!

Scripps Ranch & Holiday Hit List Shows

Well, the Scripps Ranch show was not a good match. Mostly older ladies in Christmas themed sweaters looking for country style Christmas bargains. Although I had a few sales, the crowd was generally not a fit. Really I have to take responsibility for choosing to participate in a show that doesn't appeal to my own taste! Why did I think that would be a good match? Silly me! I guess I thought the traffic would make up for lack of fit. Not so much!
Because things just weren't selling it wasn't worth the stress of having S. pack up the entire booth alone on Sunday (not to mention having all my inventory tied up). I did try to explain to the hostess that my husbands's absence due to a sudden business trip just made it too difficult for me to manage both shows. And I had committed to the Hit List much further in advance. She was not happy! Agreeing as amicably as possible that I would not ever be welcome back, S. and I   packed up at the end of the day on Saturday and parted as friendly as possible.
So all my inventory wound up coming to the Holiday Hit List. And even though their attendance was down from previous events,  I did much better there! Skully mugs sold out. Many of the mugs with decals did well too. Surprisingly, two cups that I absolutely loved didn't sell. Nor did Christmas ornaments do as well as I had expected. Go figure!