Redemption

Ever since mid February when we decided to sell our home and downsize , I have been frantic , thinking I'll never have a studio as awesome as I have now . So I won't , but I will have a nice little space for my wheel and me , one electric kiln and one Raku kiln 

So I'm firing them both often trying to decide which one to try and sell . Anyway , here is a platter I did today 

Recent exploration

A few pieces from the fires this week , looking for some texture 

Let me introduce..........

This little number is lovingly refered to as the pizza oven . This is what I did  on a gorgeous Sunday in Sedona 

Celebration and collaboration

This piece is a collaboration between Sheron and I . I did the platter ,she did the lettering .anyway , it is a Raku platter celebrating the arrival of our granddaughter 

Pre occupied

I have been a little preoccupied since my last post . I became a grandpa on November 12 . Kares Carter Waterfield was born at 1:20 am

But I'm back now , still infatuated with this little creature , but I can get on with some pottery again too.

So , I'm liking the chatter pattern in this platter , and oh yea , meet Kares .

A little ditty from the fire

Had to fire this one twice to get it right , but in the end alls well 

A thought provoking piece from the fire this morning

Sedona Arts Festival

The Sedona Art Festival  started a new thing this year , a juried gallery , for those who don't want to commit to a tent you can enter three pieces . Two of mine were accepted , so if your in the Sedona area this weekend stop on by and see them in person 

Here are the two that got in 

A new platter

Where the heck have I been

I have no idea what's been going on , I have been firing the Raku kiln , just forgetting to post photos 

Home alone

Home alone and unsupervised yesterday . Played at the wheel in the morning and fired up the Raku kiln after lunch. This platter is the result of the firing 

The wait is over

The long wait is over . In January I was diagnosed with colon cancer and was under the knife on January 18. Woke up with a nice accessory that I got to wear for three months . So now the accessory is gone , the let down surgery was April 11 and I have reached the 6 week mark  and can get back on the wheel , and start operating my kilns again . Yea!

Here are a few of the Raku pieces  I fired this week 

Ceramix

Burning up the elements . I go in for follow up surgery this coming Tuesday , and I'm getting all the unfinished work fired . Here are some pieces I pulled from the kiln this morning

Birthday present

My son and his wife were out here last week from Ohio . Had a great visit . We did a Raku for his birthday present . Here are a few pictures .

From today's second Raku firing

As you can tell from the post there was a first firing , and it all came out looking like crap . Thankfully I have the glaze combo down for my platters . Just out there having fun 

Feeling better every day

It has been six weeks since my initial surgery for colon cancer . In another six weeks they do the reversal , and I go back to light duty lifting four another four weeks . I am starting to feel almost normal . I have started throwing  on the wheel and it feels good .

So yesterday was a great day and I fired up the Raku hot box , the pics below are my results .

Back behind the wheel

Friday was my first time driving since my surgery , and I found myself deep in the heart of Page Springs I was enlisted to video of a Raku at an undisclosed location . I think my friend was just helping get me off my a$$

Unfortunately this blog doesn't upload video , so if you want to see the video pulling a Raku , you can check it out on Facebook 

Getting my Raku on

So, I don't know what you did today , knowing there was winter weather coming , i fired up the Raku kiln . This is the successful piece from the fire .

The day after

Loving bowls was over I n a flash , three hours , 1100 bowls , gone.

So for rehab and recovery today I did a Raku firing in the hot box . This is the finished product 

The second part of the test

Tested another pot, same glaze , used the  larger kiln , results , fantastic , so I know it was user error 

That my last few pieces didn't come out right