I'm glaze shopping again. For clear this time; the new batch of white is doing exactly what it is supposed to, but the clear- oh goodness. I tell you that it BITES to spend, say, six hours on a set of cups (start to finish, hands-on time is about 10 hours for these 20 cups, not including firing) and pull them from the kiln and find them rough and streaky and/or cloudy. I tried to reglaze them but the glaze wouldn't stick because it was too thin. Not terribly good for someone trying to fill wholesale orders. On Tuesday I cried about it and told my son I didn't want to be a potter any more. He asked what I'd do with my wheel and kilns. Good question.
And then I see lovely photos of my work in friends' homes, and someone I know sees me out at supper and tells me that she loves the new piece she bought, and my knitting friends are tickled with their newest batch of seconds, and I realize that it's ok. And that I am in serious need of a re-boot. A vacation. So we're taking one. I'll be back here in a few weeks, with some new clear glaze, and hopefully some work to share.
Happy Memorial Day. Enjoy your holiday weekend. Remember those who have given and lost and be thankful.
3 comments:
oh! sad. reality bites... but not all the time thank goodness! nice to take a break to get your bearings.
Have a great vacation! I hope the new glaze works out. Your pieces are fantastic and I'd hate to see you stop doing them. I was just sitting at my favorite spot on the sofa a couple of days ago and when I looked at my coffee table I noticed that 3 of your pieces were sitting there (the small speckled bowl which I use ALL the time, a berry bowl, and my pomegranate vase). It made me smile to see them all together.
Oh Melissa! Such is the way of the artist. Virtual hugs from us - hope they will keep you going.
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