Friday 4 May 2012

new shapes

Here are the new beer tankard and honey pot.   I needed to use flash to get a half decent picture, it is so dull.


The darker colour is a band of blue clay  slip on the white clay body.   The lettering is cut out and placed on the body before brushing over with slip . Then when the slip loses its wet shininess it is time to lift the lettering off before it dries hard, otherwise you could lose the clean edge.

Today I'll be finishing the rest of the batch of jars, possibly putting some interesting knobs or handles on them! There are a few small bowls to turn and cut the feet and pierce to make berry bowls.

So far I haven't been very constructive...taken The Carpenter to the next village to catch the 7am train, sort clean washing, ironed,mopped and vacced floors,  done yet more washing (found two full washes on The Oily One's floor...I know, I shouldn't, but better done before the clothes  walk out themselves!!)  Opened windows to air the house as it has stopped raining for a while.....    and breathe!!     

On the other hand it easier to think with a cleaner, tidier house.   We just need action from the OO as well!!

Teigar cat is being a little more sociable, accepting stroking and giving a little head-butt ..and Mrreeowing from downstairs when I'm up.   You can have quite a conversation with her now!!

I've worked out that putting pictures on with the new blogging system is easier..instead of putting the pictures on in reverse then writing, I just fire away and add the image where I want it....much easier!


15 comments:

Gary's third pottery blog said...

impossibly pretty pots :) thanks for sharing your method too!

Joanne Noragon said...

I didn't think much the other day about making the stencils until I see them applied. Amazing the skill sets we develop and apply to our core craft.

The Cranky Crone, she lives alone! said...

Beautiful lettering gz!
have a good bank holiday, although \i suspect you will be working at something or another.

Chris said...

Ooo, I like them Gwyneth! Especially the honey pot.

Kath said...

found two full washes on The Oily One's floor


LOL I remember it well :-D

Love the blue bands and the lettering.

Anonymous said...

I like the new shapes and the stenciling is super cool. What do you use for the stencils?

gz said...

Janet, I'm trying different papers..I started with ordinary paper that you'd use in your printer, separates as you lift the stencil. A nuisance!
I have been using a sheet of "newsprint" without the ink...chipshops wrap chips in this..and having been around for a while it is dryer than usual and worked reasonably well. I've just tried baking paper..I could see through it to trace the pattern, but it didn't lie well on the mugs, and leaked. I'll try ordinary greaseproof paper next!

cookingwithgas said...

sweet jar! I am a big fan of good jars and this one is so very nice!

Elderberry-Rob said...

Your tankards are very pretty I like the blue clay and lettering.

Anonymous said...

Baking paper would be what is here as parchment paper? I wonder how waxed paper would work.

gz said...

I think that is what you call it- heavier than the usual greaseproof, slightly waxy?
I'll try all sorts until I get there!
I can use non-sticky library film on flat surfaces, and that gives me a washable, re-usable stencil...marvellous, as cutting them is hard on the hands. However it is not good on any other plane.

Mr. Young said...

I am making some stencils from X-ray film. Most are templates for slabs, but some for images. I think the most prolific I have seen, using stencils, has to be Joel over at
fetishghost.blogspot.com . He makes his stencils from newspaper. He has several videos showing how he does stacks of stencils at a time.
The wife's always on our adult young'uns about picking up after themselves, so I sympathize with you on thr front. It doesn't get any better till they move out.
Fantastic mugs and honey pots!

Zhoen said...

Ooooo... love the one on the left.

gz said...

I've tried to read Joel's blog....my firewall wont let me...something to do with the name I think!!

Mr. Young said...

See If you can find his videos on YouTube.