Birdland

At last! Saturday! It's going to be a nice, long day spent at (surprise!) Clayworks. I look forward to Saturdays/Sundays there. Being able to throw for long stretches of time is the only way I can improve. Today there are lots of candlesticks on my dance card, and at the end of the day John & Joe are doing a raku firing. I have a couple of small pieces that will jump into the fire tonight - a cave art pinch pot (hope it's strong enough to take the heat) and one of the little birds.

I really enjoy making the birds. They're a great way to wind down in the evenings and -- as a good friend suggested -- they'll make nice test tiles for the different raku glazes. Here are two more from the flock...



More smoothing for this pair, then I'll give them time to dry before I rub them some more. They're so, so simple but they're a joy to make, and it's fun to do each one a little differently.  I love to hold them once they're bone dry and after they've been fired. They nestle nicely in a cupped palm.

The camera is going with me to Clayworks today. If all goes well with my throwing and the firing, I'll update later tonight or first thing tomorrow.