[buckeye]

Lately it seems like no matter where I am my eyes find a good piece of pottery. I even have several shows saved on my TV where I seen a mug, plate, pitcher or something that I just had to go back and look at later.

I didnt realize how bad it had become until recently I was sitting in a coffee shop with a friend and he is trying to point out two beautiful women and I had my eyes fixed on the mug in my hand studying every detail of it!

Has anyone else fairly new to pottery found themselves doing this? those that have been doing it for years, does it every stop? Is it a particular style, color, design that catches your eye?

[Big Electric Cat]

Oh, sometimes.

[Benhim]

Ya I'm the same way, and have been since I was a little kid. When I met my current fiance we talked about all sorts of things for hours and of course pottery came up. She jumped up and ran to her kitchen and dug out a pot to show me. Turns out her grandma had given her a pot that my first college instructor had made between 1978 - 81. It's a baking crock with a granular copper in the glaze that creates red flecks. Ever since the bug has spread to her, she'll point out pots she sees all the time.

[Denice]

Buckeye It never stops your a moth being drawn to a flame, you coffee cup story made me remember a cup at a cafe that I fell in love with. We were on vacation and stopped for breakfast, the place had just opened and the owner had built a contemporary restaurant in a small farm town. He was especially proud of his mugs, they were a bowl type and light weight enough that they would hold alot of coffee. The lip was softly curved outward and was comfortable to hold either by the handle or in both hands, I wanted to buy one but he wouldn't sell. I have tried to capture all those qualities in a bowl mug but I have never quite managed. Occasionally I'll ask my husband If he wants to drive 150 miles for breakfast and he looks at me like I'm crazy, don't let the flame burn you. Denice

[Masha7]

I've been like this since I was a little kid, but it's only recently that I decided to try to make something beautiful, rather than just ogle and collect! My DH is the same. Past lives, early experiences, I dunno, but it's been there since the beginning. On my grandfather's ranch, I made mud pies as a toddler from the local clay at our creek....

[Masha7]

Benhim, on 02 November 2011 - 05:33 PM, said:

Ya I'm the same way, and have been since I was a little kid. When I met my current fiance we talked about all sorts of things for hours and of course pottery came up. She jumped up and ran to her kitchen and dug out a pot to show me. Turns out her grandma had given her a pot that my first college instructor had made between 1978 - 81. It's a baking crock with a granular copper in the glaze that creates red flecks. Ever since the bug has spread to her, she'll point out pots she sees all the time.

What an amazing coincidence!! So cool....

[Marcia Selsor]

It still happens to me after 40+years of making pots.
Clay seems to have boundless potential.
Marcia

[Cyndi]

Benhim, on 02 November 2011 - 04:33 PM, said:

Ya I'm the same way, and have been since I was a little kid. When I met my current fiance we talked about all sorts of things for hours and of course pottery came up. She jumped up and ran to her kitchen and dug out a pot to show me. Turns out her grandma had given her a pot that my first college instructor had made between 1978 - 81. It's a baking crock with a granular copper in the glaze that creates red flecks. Ever since the bug has spread to her, she'll point out pots she sees all the time.

HELLO, I WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO FIND THE PROPER PLACE TO ASK ABOUT A CLAY I JUST DISCOVERED IN NEW MEXICO. IT IS MICACEOUS CLAY AND SOUNDS JUST LIKE WHAT YOUR FIANCE SHOWED YOU OF HER GRANDMA'S. IT IS USED BY THE AMERICAN INDIANS FOR COOKING. HAS ANYONE USED IT OR IS FAMILIAR W/IT? I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE WAS W/IT. I AM IN SW LOUISIANA AND DO NOT KNOW IF IT WOULD BE WORTH MY WHILE TO HAVE IT SHIPPED HERE TO TRY. IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND I WONDER IF THERE ARE ANY DOWNSIDES TO USING IT. ANY THOUGHTS OR ADVICE ON THIS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL INPUT FROM THIS FORUM. CYNDI

[benfreiman49]

This is actually the story of my life.

[JLowes]

Cyndi,

I have used some "created" micaceous clay from New Mexico made by the Coyote glaze folks. It fires to Cone 04 okay, but it has been hard to find a matching clear glaze to make it watertight and craze free, and since at Cone 04 it is still porous this is a problem. It was also somewhat short and hard to throw. But, it makes a beautiful pot!

A Taos Pueblo native (and college art professor) told me that she believes the mica clay from New Mexico Clay Company to be closest to the clay dug from ancient Pueblo sites. I have a friend in Las Cruces that swears by their red mica clay and makes coiled pots with it. Next mica clay I order will be from New Mexico Clay Company and the pots will be coiled pots (that's what the Pueblo Indians do too!) The shipping is about as much as the clay, but I think it is well worth it for the beauty.

John

[Cyndi]

JLowes, on 09 November 2011 - 02:18 PM, said:

Cyndi,

I have used some "created" micaceous clay from New Mexico made by the Coyote glaze folks. It fires to Cone 04 okay, but it has been hard to find a matching clear glaze to make it watertight and craze free, and since at Cone 04 it is still porous this is a problem. It was also somewhat short and hard to throw. But, it makes a beautiful pot!

A Taos Pueblo native (and college art professor) told me that she believes the mica clay from New Mexico Clay Company to be closest to the clay dug from ancient Pueblo sites. I have a friend in Las Cruces that swears by their red mica clay and makes coiled pots with it. Next mica clay I order will be from New Mexico Clay Company and the pots will be coiled pots (that's what the Pueblo Indians do too!) The shipping is about as much as the clay, but I think it is well worth it for the beauty.

John

[Cyndi]

JLowes, on 09 November 2011 - 02:18 PM, said:

Cyndi,

I have used some "created" micaceous clay from New Mexico made by the Coyote glaze folks. It fires to Cone 04 okay, but it has been hard to find a matching clear glaze to make it watertight and craze free, and since at Cone 04 it is still porous this is a problem. It was also somewhat short and hard to throw. But, it makes a beautiful pot!

A Taos Pueblo native (and college art professor) told me that she believes the mica clay from New Mexico Clay Company to be closest to the clay dug from ancient Pueblo sites. I have a friend in Las Cruces that swears by their red mica clay and makes coiled pots with it. Next mica clay I order will be from New Mexico Clay Company and the pots will be coiled pots (that's what the Pueblo Indians do too!) The shipping is about as much as the clay, but I think it is well worth it for the beauty.

John

Thanks John, When I was in New Mexico several weeks ago I bought 150 lbs. of micaceous clay after visiting and talking to a Taos Pueblo native on the reservation. I fell in love w/the pots made and used by them. When I researched it I watched a video by Felippe Ortega in la MADERA. I thought since it was lo fire clay it vitrified at cone o4... He did not show putting a clear glaze on to seal it. He did put 4/5 coats of mica slip and burnishing it in between each one tho. and then he pit fired them. Since I live in SW Louisiana, I thought this was a perfect project, for ALL social life is centered around cooking and eating:-) But I also tried to order some and discovered the astronomical shipping charges that go along w/it. The clay is half the price of what I use now, tho. Since my preference in forming up pieces is coiling it was ideal for me. I have made a vase and cross already and was amazed at how it held its shape when I was forming up the pieces. I called Houston Ceramic Store for help and they said it was not feasible for them to order for me.
Do you do any pit firing. This is where I am out of my box. He did not give specific instructions on doing this. Time and process of it.
Let me know what you find out about the clear glaze. Does it affect the mica in the clay. Does it still glisten?

Cyndi