Spruce Pine Potters Market - Linda McFarling

Here's that last shot of Linda McFarling's display at the Spruce Pine Potters Market. I don't know why Blogger had such problems yesterday; but trying to upload those 2 photos yesterday took me about 2 hours.

Today is a full studio day. I got in there for a while yesterday to pull a couple of handles and finish a couple of mugs and move all the raw pots off one of the ware carts and slab roller which is going to be used as the food table for Wednesday's Clay Club's meeting and pot luck. Today I'll be sweeping, mopping the floor and do more tidying.

My studio is pretty crammed full of equipment and tools but I think I'll have enough floor space for all of us to move around freely. After we eat and mull around a bit, we'll go into the house to see some of the pots in our private collection.

Since I'll be in the studio most of the day I'm just going to make a quick, easy, pot sticker dinner. It will be a nice light, comfort food meal on this rainy day. Tomorrow is the only non rainy day this week, so Jim and I are going to drive north of Banner Elk to enjoy the fall color, have lunch and pick up some things at the Mast General store.

Spruce Pine Potters Market

I decided to give blogger one last try to upload these photos before heading for the studio. Seems it only want to let me upload one photo per message, so the other one will have to wait to after dinner. Linda's lowered the copper content of the Shaner Oribe and I love the color better than the original which has between 5 and 6% copper.

Another group of pots from Shane's Anagama

Here's another group of pots from Shane Mickey's 2005 anagama firing. The large casserole is Linda McFarling's and the pitcher to the right of it is a Tara Wilson pitcher. Notice the unique way she has to carving out the base. The large platter with the bluish glaze is one of Shane's. I believe that glaze is a 50 Plastic Vitrox, 50 Gerstley borate which has a wide firing range suitable for anagamas and other kiln which have one of more cone difference zones.

Bodhi got us up at 5am this morning. Good thing I got in my 6 hours sleep, which is all I need to function.

Today will be another work day. It was nice to finally get back in the studio for a while and throw a few things and finish up a few pots. I'm still struggling with way too soft reclaim clay. I think I'll go in early this morning and get some of that and make some clay bridges to dry it out a bit before using it in the afternoon.

Tonight I'm going to try to make pizza. My dough has been sitting in the fridge for two days and should be soured enough. One experienced maker suggests preheating the oven for an hour and a half or more and I'm going to use Ron Slagles idea of using a silicon carbide kiln shelf instead of the pizza stone. I have a couple of 15X15", thick silicon carbide shelves which should work if my oven is deep enough.

Jim is going to have to go to the store if he wants pepperoni on his pizza. I'm fine with just a little tomato sauce and lots of mozzarella and maybe some mushrooms, but he's a pepperoni or anchovy kind of guy.

Years ago when we lived in California, Spagos had wonderful, wood fired pizzas. They had an unusual array of toppings - everything from roast duck to lox and cream cheese which wasn't on the menu but one that the regulars knew to order. As soon as I get my garden going and get this next firing out of the way, I'm definitely going to focus on getting a wood fired pizza/bread oven built.

Well, time to head to the studio and get some of that reclaim into bridges to dry out a bit.

Till later,
June

Linda McFarling Bowl

Here's another lovely, large bowl by Linda McFarling. Linda does both soda and salt firing. My soda kiln is pretty much based on her kiln design. Both are Shane Mickey designed and built, cross drafts with a firebox so we can augment the firings with wood.

The past two days I've been dealing with cold and flu symptoms as well as a house full of painters, carpenters, plumbers and electricians. They started tearing out the tiles from the full bath yesterday and they're about 80% done with the 3/4 bath which is only a partial redo. Monday they start hauling all the old fixtures from the full bath out of the upstairs windows and into the truck for the land fill.

We have to get to Asheville Monday in search of tiles and a vanity. We were supposed to do that a couple of days ago but I came down with whatever this latest bug is and was not in any shape to go anywhere. A friend had this and said it only lasted 2 days, so I should be fine tomorrow.

The past few days I did at least get a lot of seeds started,and caught up with the mail and magazines pile. The lettuce I started has already sprouted. Each morning I do a quick look to see if anything else has come up. I haven't checked the basement seeds yet, but no new ones are up in the kitchen.

This afternoon we're going to get out with the dogs for a drive up to Roan Mountain and walk among the pines and rhododendrons if it's not too cold or windy. It's supposed to be in the low 60's here; but it will be colder up there in that 6,000 or so elevation.

Till later,
June

Linda McFarling

Here's one of the Linda McFarling pieces in our collection - crackle slip on soda fired jam pots. I love her forms. She also happens to be one of the nicest people around!

We're starting slow this morning after a late night and a restless one for me. We watched the woman's final of the Australian Open which wasn't one of the best matches; but it was nice to see Serena Williams add another major title to her list of career wins. Watching her play earlier in the week, we didn't think she'd be able to raise her game enough; but she fooled us and many of the broadcasters. Safina not being at the top of her game also helped. I think the nerves took over and that definitely puts lead in the feet and shoulders. I used to play a lot of tennis and recognize the symptoms. :-(

I'm off to to the studio for the day. Dinner is leftover ribs from Cheddars,and all I have to do tonight is bake some potatoes for the potato skins for tomorrows Super Bowl viewing. I found the recipe on line for Ruby Tuesday's potato skins, posted by someone who worked there and figure this would be a good time to make a batch from scratch. I have pate already made and bought grapes and cheese and other munchies for the game. As Jim likes to say "honey,we're stylin"!

Till later,
June