Time for Tea (Cups)

Tonight I was a woman on a mission. After work I went to Clayworks, determined to answer one question.

CAN SHE STILL THROW???

Not that I was ever very good at throwing. But I vividly recall being away from the wheel for 3 weeks over the holidays last year, and when classes resumed in January, I felt like I was starting over again. Now, between making cave art test tiles and starting a handbuilding class, I've taken an even lengthier break from the wheel. It's been well over a month since I've thrown anything, and the last pieces I did ended up as fodder for the wedging table. Little wonder then, that I've been wondering if the few skills I had might once again have vanished.

Not too long ago, I would have been nervous sitting down again to throw. But tonight was different. Not only did I feel strangely relaxed -- happy to be back with my bucket of water, a towel on my lap, a fresh ball of Loafers Glory in hand -- but I had a definite plan in mind. I'd brought one of Greg Scott's tea cups with me. It was "the carrot", I was "the donkey" and my intention was to throw as many tea cup forms as possible. I threw my lump of clay on the wheel, wet it, and put my pedal to the metal.

Maybe it was my attitude. (I wasn't worried about results; I just wanted to have fun.) Maybe it was the clay. (This batch felt fresh and silky between my fingers.) Or maybe everything hummed along so nicely because I actually KNEW what I wanted to do when I sat down at the wheel.

Whatever the reason, something happened tonight that has never happened before. I threw 7 pieces and I kept 7 pieces. Nothing ended up on the wedging table. Now please don't think that all the pieces were perfectly centered (they weren't, though they were darn close) and no two of my tea cups were exactly the same. (No production potter material here, that's for sure.) One piece actually wound up as a coffee mug because I used too much clay. But that's okay too; I need to make a lot of those for Christmas presents.

But, I had the answer to my question. She CAN still throw. And, just maybe, she can somehow throw a little better than she did before. There's a lesson to be learned from tonight. And I think I know what it is.

Remember to bring a camera next time! Posts look naked without photos! ;>