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I've been dabbling at pottery for the past 4 years. I started in a "wheel" class but quickly found that I didn't have very good control of the clay because I had recently sprained my dominent thumb in a car accident, when the airbag deployed. Did you know that they no longer recommend that you hold the wheel at "10 and 50 around the clock" because these injuries are very common with airbags? Now they recommend "20 and 40". That's difficult to switch to after driving the other way all these years. Anyway, all I was allowed to make in this first class was small bowls - they didn't come out very nice, and it got boring really fast.
The next session I switched to hand building pottery and like it much better. We do all kinds of creative projects, and try to do a raku firing once a session - the colors are gorgeous!
For a while I made wall pockets for plants and dried flowers, but now I am out of wall space! A few other pieces I've made are a stepping stone, tissue box cover, birdhouse, candle holders, plates with melted glass in them that looks like the turquoise of water by a tropical island , and some puffed heart paperweights.
By the way... the glass I used to melt was brought in by a guy who works for the NYC traffic dept. It is the light used for the green in traffic lights - he has access to some broken lights. I found it fascinating to learn that the GREEN lights are actually turquoise glass lit from behind by a yellow bulb.
I've never been very artistic, but find this a great outlet for stress, and a nice way to spend some time when I can't be outside gardening. It's also been a nice way to meet people from all different stages of life.
Our latest projects have involved a "patchwork" procedure and is a lot of fun, though very time consuming. I can't wait to see my first pieces back out of the kiln!
I'm very envious of people who can sit at a wheel and make beautiful pieces. It takes a great deal of control, and a very strong back!
Lynne
bbbbbbbbb Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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My mommy went back to college, and one of her first classes she signed up for was a pottery class..... She made some really cute windchimes out of it. The tricky part for that is even weight, but she had alot of fun in the class..
Just something to do to keep her busy, but she found a few new "young" friends, and when she runs into them, they are very happy to see her, I guess she made the class alot more funner than it would have been.
I loved the class in my highschool, and still have pots that I made and vases, and bowls. Truely a satisfying hobbie....
Send some pictures in when your projects are done.
Weezie
bbbbbbbbb Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
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I forgot about the windchimes I made - all twisty and pretty and hanging by the front door!
Really gotta get me a camera soon.
Lynne
bbbbbbbbb Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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Plants&pots... Do you melt the glass yourself??? WOW! I know high temps are required..Not like I could do it on my stove or anything. I can't imagine anything as fascinating as working with glass.
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From: Ugh...Van Nuys, CA | Registered: Nov 2003
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No, I don't melt the glass. We make dishes and things that have a lip/edge on them and then place the broken glass on the bottom fitting the pieces together like a puzzle, so hopefully it will melt into a smooth surface without pouring out of the project and ruining the kiln. Most of the time the glass crackles under the surface and the project ends up looking like "fried marbles" if you know these from years ago. Sometimes we get line fractures on the surface, but to quote my teacher "nothing is perfect in life".
I'd love to work with glass - even stained glass, but I don't think I have the patience for that right now. You can make those "fried marbles" on your stove however.
Lynne
bbbbbbbbb Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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Does working in polymer clay count? My middle daughter is a miniatures artist and she got me hooked on the stuff. When she lived in TX, she sent me a little goodie box with about ten colors of clay & instruction books & cutters. It's such fun! I learned how to make canes & millifiore (spelling?) and pinch-pots. She makes tiny sushi that's incredible.
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From: Ugh...Van Nuys, CA | Registered: Nov 2003
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My daughter also likes polymer clay - she's only 13 though. I LOVE millifiore, but don't think I have the patience to do it. What do you make with yours? I used to have a great website about it bookmarked, but lost it when my computer crashed last year.
Do you have any pictures of things you've made? I'd love to see the sushi too!
Lynne
bbbbbbbbb Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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Jillie and Plants and Pots, they just had something on Carol Duvall show, with that clay, someone wrote a book, called, Clay Charactors 101... It was sooooooooooooo cute, they did santa's and snowmen and reindeers... Cute.. Weezie You can go to HGTV and access her show to see it.
bbbbbbbbb Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
I was able to see the picture by right clicking and then clicking on properties, and then cut and paste.
Wow!!! I cannot believe how TINY the sushi is! Your daughter must have very steady hands. Does she do anything professionally with these minuatures? They are wonderful.
Lynne
bbbbbbbbb Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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bbbbbbbbb Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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Those little sushi's started out as large clay canes and were reduced over and over & then sliced to make the minis. She gave me a plate of tiny oreo cookies and a balogna sandwich with a tiny stuffed green olive on top. Last year, in my Christmas stocking, she gave me a little bento box and a tiny bowl of miso soup. Her gyoza, a different process, is on our webshots under Claychik's Minis. As I get more of her photos, I'll post them. She has a website under construction & will eventually be selling to dollhouse crafters, etc. Check out the gyoza... http://community.webshots.com/album/101455024VwwCVR
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From: Ugh...Van Nuys, CA | Registered: Nov 2003
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I have to ask you about your koala planter - I have a friend who has the most extensive collection of koala bear things - but she doesn't have one of those yet. She just put in a pool with extensive landscaping last summer and I'm sure she would love a planter like that. Can you tell me where you got it, and if I might be able to find it somewhere near here?
Thanks Lynne
bbbbbbbbb Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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I bought that koala at a yard sale about 10 years ago for $1.00. I'm always on the lookout for unusual animal pitchers or bowls and used to prowl thrift stores & yard sales for them. The koala still has the store sticker on the side. It says, "The Mud Daubers, pottery and gifts, Sapulpa, Oklahoma (how it got to a yard sale in the Calif high desert, I'll never know ). On the bottom, it's marked, "MD KPB Henri" Hope you can track one down.
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From: Ugh...Van Nuys, CA | Registered: Nov 2003
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Thanks for the info, Jillie! I can't believe you still have the sticker on it after 10 years - wow!
I did a search and didn't come up with anything. Oh, well... You certainly got a great buy on it. I just love getting bargains, but haven't tried yard sales yet.
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone, Lynne
bbbbbbbbb Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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People get rid of the darndest things at yard sales. Other peoples' trash become my flower pots. Teapots from the .99 stores make great planters, too & you can stick miniature sedum in the spouts. After a day of prowling the cheap stuff I come home and get out my goggles and Dremmel & make drainage holes in everything (Instead of pot shards to cover the holes I buy window screen & cut it into little squares. You get good drainage and it keeps the buggies out....MUCH cheaper than buying the pre-cut flower pot drainage screens) I love the neighborhood signs that say "Big, multi-family yard sale." I know I'll find lotsa planter possibilities..
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From: Ugh...Van Nuys, CA | Registered: Nov 2003
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I love the teapot planters where you put sedum in the spouts! I had never thought to do that. The same friend of mine who collects koalas also collects teapots, and I'm forever trying to find different ones for her - however she likes the ones that are characters, like animals, cartoons, or symbols of holidays, etc. I sent her some of your pictures so she can get some ideas for around her new pool.
Thanks, Lynne
bbbbbbbbb Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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Plants 'n Pots, hope she likes my ideas & can use them. Spread the fun! I found another shot of Claychik's mini food. It's the hambuger & fries she gave me. Check Claychik's minis:
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I am just amazed, Jillie, that anyone can work in such teeny tiny pieces - they are terrific!!!
bbbbbbbbb Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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I just started an album over at webshots.com of a few pictures of some of my pottery. I got my daughter a very belated camera on black Friday - and I am having so much fun with it.
bbbbbbbbb Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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Very Nice Lynn, Thanks for sharing, I loved the one with the plants coming out of it... Were they growing there? Or just placed there?? Nice idea!!
Weezie
bbbbbbbbb Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
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Thanks for looking! You should see some of the work people do at the studio - I am in awe everytime I go in and see new finished pieces!
The plants in the wallpocket have been planted in dirt in it. Unfortunately, water likes to run out of it when I water, but I don't have to do that too often with the types of plants that are there.
When I started the hand-building classes, all I could think of to make were wallpockets and wall vases. I have a few vases that are not on walls yet - they can't hold water, so I'm looking for just the right dried flowers or grasses to put in them. I prefer real ones, as opposed to the silk ones. When I get them on walls, I'll post more pics.
Lynne
bbbbbbbbb Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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Plants~n~pots, I really like that idea!! (we filled old shoes with the hens~n~chicks, red sedums, and a lime green sedum.) Very nice in coloring and NO WATERING!! But I like the pots, I loved the one with the faces!! I loved the classes I took at school and when I'm done with the wee~ones That's one of the first things I'd like to do.
But I love the idea of the teapots and sedums, they sound alot of fun (Thanks Jillie) I am going to do that one for my mother next year, she loved the shoes, and would move them up and down her side walk.... I'm thinking of making a bunch more and she can line the sidewalk like a parade. But we have a few cracked tea pots, and now we have found a project for them......
I'll be thinking of a ton of ideas for them.....
Weezie
bbbbbbbbb Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
I just saw part of a show on the "food channel" here that had a young woman on, named Celeste, who makes the teeny tiny foods like your daughter does out of polymer clay. That wouldn't be her, would it? They showed some incredible things - the tiniest being gummy bears in full detail that were only 1/12 of an inch!!! Just amazing, as I said before!
Lynne
bbbbbbbbb Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???"
From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
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Hi, Lynne, Nope, that's not my Claychik, but I'm sure she's heard of Celeste. They all seem to know each other's work. If you ever see a show with Nora-Jean Gatine, Karen Lewis or Marie Segal; they're my daughter's claying buddys, & in the same guild.
Celebrating 10 years of helping your gardens grow!
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Now they recommend "20 and 40". That's difficult to switch to after driving the other way all these years. Anyway, all I was allowed to make in this first class was small bowls - they didn't come out very nice, and it got boring really fast. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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A few other pieces I've made are a stepping stone, tissue box cover, birdhouse, candle holders, plates with melted glass in them that looks like the turquoise of water by a tropical island ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
, and some puffed heart paperweights.![[flower]](graemlins/flower.gif)
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Lynne 
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Your daughter must have very steady hands. Does she do anything professionally with these minuatures? They are wonderful. 
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