5 Weeks to go.

Crazy. It feels like school just started, right? Spring break begins next week, and with wet ware cut off date right around the corner, I'm started to feel the pressure!

I've been working on two projects for the past couple of weeks. One, our final project-Texture. And two, miniature tea sets. During my first semester I had thrown a small vessel (actually, it was the first thing I ever made on the wheel) and done texture on the outside using a loop tool. I began to think of ways to incorporate texture onto a utilitarian piece of stoneware and I came back to this idea.

I plan on making a set of mugs as well as a set of bowls with the same texture and style. The mug above is my test run of my design.

In addition to mug-making, I've been busy with tiny teacups. Growing up, I had always wanted my own tea set that I could actually use as well as having one that was "my size." I am going to make 5 different sets for my nieces, complete with cream dishes, plates, and teapots.

Keeping up.

It has been a whirlwind of catching up for the last couple of weeks. With a new job and a new puppy, I'm not really sure where time has gone. We're getting ready to complete our third project, throwing five "perfect" cylinders. Which I might add, it definitely alot harder than you would think. I'm beginning to think the perfect cylinder is a myth...at least for now.

Although I loved the dark gray stoneware I used last semester, it was not rendering itself useful to throwing. I had seen some images of red stoneware and decided that I would give it a try. My fellow student, Rebeka Trapp made a batch last week.

The clay body looks beautiful and is fairly easy to throw (thank goodness), I'm definitely excited to see how it fires!

As for throwing, after a week of some discouragement, I finally was able to make cylinders that survived.

And the cylinders made with the new red stoneware are definitely improving. Pictures of the new red clay cylinders will be posted shortly!