Pots of Yarn


In the comments of my last post, Carol, (to whom I cannot reply directly as blogger does not seem to make it possible, really and truely, one of these days I will move the blog elsewhere, but I will need a lot of wine), anyway, I digress, Carol asked me about my pots. I refer to myself as "potter" in my sidebar but really this is something of an untruth at the moment as in fact I haven't made a pot for 3 years. I have a very antiquated and enormous kiln which has spent 3 years sitting in a storage container. When we first moved up here we lived with my Mother in-law and there was nowhere for my kiln to go, we moved here a year ago and there is a large shed but a very narrow path and some steps make it virtually impossible to get the kiln to the shed and even if we did there is some doubt as to the strength of the floor. So I remain a potter in waiting. I hope to perhaps sell the old kiln and buy one of these newfangled lighter weight kilns.

I really miss making pots. I discovered ceramics about nine or ten years ago when I began an evening class while still living in London. I was lucky, it was a really good class, fairly unstructured, lots of encouragement for everyone to do their own thing and I was immediately fired with enthusiasm. When we moved out of London I tried several other classes but found them all very lacking, too often aimed at complete beginners and very restricting. Then I saw an old kiln advertised and hey presto, the beginnings of a very steep learning curve. I struggled with the chemistry of glazes and firing but eventually began to find sucessful recipes and combinations. I was lucky enough to begin selling the odd pot and knew that this was what I really wanted to do when babies became a little less demanding.

My pots are mostly handbuilt, although just before we moved I had begun to teach myself throwing. I love the slow, organic process of handbuilding, I feel really intouch with what I am making. I usually start with an idea but often find the clay takes me somewhere else once I begin. Although I haven't been able to make a pot for three years there is hardly a day goes by that I don't think about pots and I have a notebook crammed full of ideas and drawings. I would love to perhaps investigate the possibility of a full time ceramics course in the future, maybe when the children are both in full time school although that will depend on logistics of course.


In the mean time I continue to day dream about pots, collect pots and fill pots with yarn......

Comments

Johanne said…
They are gorgeous. Of course not as good as Shea's!! He began a pottery class a couple of years ago with a tutor exactly as you describe. He loves it and we have many pieces in use too. Unfortunately she recently left. The sock yarn is regia 4 fadig (the a has two dots above it) obvioulsy self striping got it at one of my local yarn shops....dashing off - we are cooking up a storm during the storm!!
Anonymous said…
Your pots are beautiful! i love the colors! it must be so frustrating not being able to do what you love--at least you have lots of other creative outlets and you excel at those too!
glad you're all better--don't you hate the beginning of the sick season?
Anonymous said…
You have made some beautiful pottery. Its a skill I've always admired but never fancied trying for myself. Far too difficult looking!

P.S. If you want some help moving your blog to somewhere more userfriendly, let me know!
Charity said…
You really do lovely work - the organic shapes are wonderful. I learned to throw on an electric wheel years ago, but haven't had the opportunity to return to it in a long time. One day, though. :0)
Alice said…
Your pots are simply beautiful. Is that pale colour (the ones at the bottom, for instance) the colour of the clay, or a glaze? Can you get matt glazes?

Anyway, they're gorgeous and if I saw one for sale somewhere, I'd have to buy it.
Bron said…
your pottery is beautiful!
Thanks for the words of encouragement on the sewing!!
Hopefully I'll have a happy sewing story next week =)
Anonymous said…
Absolutely beautiful. It's something I've never tried but always fancied - babies tho' sure do take up a lot of time !
Anonymous said…
I liked your pottery-related pun--"fired with enthusiasm." I have only had one opportunity to try working with clay, but it was fun, and satisfying to see the finished product come out of the kiln. Your creations are really beautiful. Don't worry, the day will come when you will have more time to throw pots!
Anonymous said…
Oh thank you so much for sharing. I find your pots very satisfying to look at, and am sure feel wonderful in the hand too. I love the shapes and particularly like the cream/whitish with indigo contrasts glazes that you have used. I was interested to hear that most were handbuilt, something I too have always enjoyed rather than throwing - but perhaps that was because I never really mastered the wheel. It is a while since I have played with clay, or taught it to children (that was a very rewarding experience. It is absoloutely amazing what they make when they have no pre-conceived ideas). Time I think to revisit it all again.
Anonymous said…
Rebecca they are all beautiful pots. You must get your kiln up and running again.
Artis-Anne said…
Oh what lovely pots, you are so talented. Hopefully you can get back to it soon. So glad that you are feeling better
kris said…
i hope you get your kiln going soon - you make beautiful stuff. also, you take beautiful pictures of your beautiful stuff!
kris said…
oh btw, i use haloscan for my comments - very easy to add to blogger and you get people's email addys so you can reply directly.
Kath said…
I have always admired the pots you display your yarn in and wondered where you bought them. I never really thought you may have made them! Such lovely work - I'm very envious of them!
Anonymous said…
Wow.
Beautiful.
: )
Anonymous said…
My apologies for taking you back so far into your archives, but I had to comment on these pots.

They are indeed beautiful.Exquisite even!

I do hope you start making them again - and you ought to consider selling them because I'd definitely buy one (or 3) and have it shipped all the way down here (Australia)!

So, the description in your sidebar is correct - you are a potter - and a very talented one at that! A true artist. x
Felicity Grace said…
Gosh, what beautiful pots! If I saw any of these in a gallery, I would have trouble choosing!

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