Robin's Eggs

It's Spring! Spring was the inspiration for these. I have three sizes on sale over at my etsy store, all reasonably priced.

Go here to check them out: http://nkpdesigns.etsy.com/

Slideshow of some of my past efforts ...

About My Ceramic Beads

Wheel Thrown Bead

I was playing at the pottery wheel with a bit of clay and this is what happened: a hollow wheel-thrown bead!

The white dots are slightly raised for a smooth textural effect.

This could easily be designed to combine with precious gemstones such as pearls, shells, jade, and/or jasper.

This one of a kind bead is 34 mm from top to bottom and 15mm hole to hole.

Nifty Blue Pot

This is a nice big pot I handbuilt using that nifty slab roller. I love the combination of these glazes. It is a turquoise underglaze with a medium blue overglaze. The coppery look comes from the clay body which was used, in this case Ironstone from Texas Pottery.

Fresh Out of the Kiln: Spring Blossom Bowls

This is a cone 6 specialty clay "ironstone" from Texas Pottery. When bisqued it is a lovely pinkish hue, and at cone 6 becomes a yummy tan/gold.











Yesterday, while this was firing, I threw 35 lbs of clay, which (for me) turned out to be 20 vessels of every kind: bowls, pots, and platters. The rest of this afternoon will be spent trimming and setting them to dry.

TP&SG Mini Pottery Show

The Texas Potter and Sculpture Guild is holding a mini show for members at the Saginaw Library. The Library usually features paintings as display, but has arranged for TP&SG members to place up to 20 pots in the Library. They are all for sale.

I have two pots and a necklace on display. If you happen to live near the area consider stopping by and taking a look.

About Ceramic Beadmaking

Hollow wheel-thrown Bead

I was playing at the pottery wheel with a bit of clay and this is what happened: a hollow wheel-thrown bead!

The white dots are slightly raised for a smooth textural effect.

This could easily be designed to combine with precious gemstones such as pearls, shells, jade, and/or jasper.

This one of a kind bead is 34 mm from top to bottom and 15mm hole to hole.

Check it out at my Etsy store

http://nkpdesigns.etsy.com

Etsy & Bisque Kiln Firing

I just added these beads to my Etsy store.

http://nkpdesigns.etsy.com

I completely filled the kiln with greenware: bowls, pots, saucers, beads, pendants, and molds for a bisque firing. I'm looking forward to opening it up tomorrow.

I Won The Doorprize!

GROOVEMAKER!
Reason #492 why we should always show up to our monthly TP&SG meetings!

With this handy dandy faceting tool, I will be able to make round and angled channels easily AND produce patterns and textures that are even and consistent. Or maybe random patterns. I don't know. It all seems fun to me.

However, the other main reason to show up at the pottery guild meeting is because of the presentors! This month, January, we had Karmien Bowman demonstrating how she builds fun tables and stools from extruded clay. It was incredible! She's a professor over at Tarrant County College in Hurst, TX.

GO here to visit her website: http://karmienbowman.com/

Putting a Handle on a Mug

Beads of Clay Beadswap 2006

This is a short video of the beads that were swapped in 2006 by the Beads of Clay Yahoo group that I am a part of. Click here to visit the Beads of Clay website.

Here's the URL:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdomf2A0vy4

...or the code for your website:

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Thowing a Vase on the Pottery Wheel

Joy of Joys

Every year with the profits, I buy my business a new toy. Last year I bought it a clay extruder. The year before that, a small test/jewelry kiln. This year it was a slab roller and it got here today! The slab roller arrived today!

This is what it looks like. I haven't had a chance to do anything but take it out of the box and admire it as I do everything else that needs to be done around here. I wanted to take a moment and thank all my terrific customers of 2006 who made it such a great year and also take a look forward to 2007 in joyful anticipation of what's to come.