05/09/2023
Thank you all for liking my page! I started this page because I have been getting requests for my mugs. I will post what I have for purchase in this group as they become available. I am going to start making the next batch to go into the kiln.
Pottery is a lengthy process. My pieces are all hand built. That makes each one unique. Commercial cups that you purchase from the store are slip (watery clay) poured into a mold. That’s how they are able to produce them quickly and in mass quantities. Then they all look exactly alike. I make my cups by hand one at a time and I really enjoy making them. Making a kiln load of cups can take me 2-3 weeks. It’s an art to make them and I take my time with each piece I make. I’m definitely not a pro at the process yet. I learn something new with every piece.
After I make my pieces, they need sufficient time to dry very slowly under plastic. That takes another 1-2 weeks. Drying them too quickly will cause cracks. Putting them in the kiln without being bone dry will cause them to explode. So drying them properly is a very important part of the process. Once sufficiently dry, they are bisque fired which is about a 24 hour process from warm up to the highest heat (about 2000° F) to complete cool down.
After they come out they are glazed. The glazing process is important. Getting the colors just right is also an art that I’m learning more about with each firing. For instance the colors on this cup are two different colors. One more or less layer of either color will change the effects. I do not dip my cups in the glaze, I hand brush them. This allows me to control where the color goes but it’s also a bit time consuming. Potters that make pieces in mass quantities typically dip their pieces into 5 gallon buckets of glaze. I like glazing them by hand and giving all my pieces a more personal touch.
I hope this helps to explain my mug making process. If you purchase one of my mugs, just know that many hours went into it and I put a lot of thought into each and every piece. I also do not make “cookie cutter” pieces. Each piece willl be unique and “imperfectly perfect”. 😊
I never intended to sell them when I started. I was merely doing it as a fun hobby. I love to create and I majored in art in college. I was just never able to obtain my art degree and move into the commercial art field as I had intended. So now, I’m really enjoying being able to create again almost 40 years (😳) later.
For now, I’m only selling them through this page. Let me know if you are interested in a piece. I have started a list of requests for the next kiln load. I also do personalized orders so if there is a piece you want me to make for a special person or occasion, just let me know.
Thank you all so much for all the kind words, The reactions and comments about my work was really quite a pleasant surprise. ☺️
Feel free to post comments under any piece I post that you are interested in purchasing.
Cheers! ☕️💜☕️💜
