Monday

I do enjoy handbuilding over and around balloons.  I think I have shown this mug in many guises, but here it's as finished as it is going to be.

I'm trying different handles and feet.  I have some clay rolled out to try some mugs with small feet.  I will probably make three.  Three feet good, (easier to stabilize) four feet not so much!  There also needs to be some sort of stabilizer at the handle base.  Otherwise the cup tends to fall onto the handle when filled with liquid.  NOT a great selling point!  I like the idea of this handle but not the execution.  Practice!

I used Spectrum 799 Majolica white, three coasts brushed on.  In the second picture there is a detail of what happens when the glaze is applied too thickly.  Because the glaze is so stabile I could repair and refire.  I'm not going to bother as this is a test mug.

The dark green is a mix of Mason Hemlock and Florentine mixed with paste to give it an opaque look.  The rest of the design is mason stains mixed with frit.

The interior is glazed with a clear that is not really clear.  I mix a little Mason red-brown into the clear glaze.  It's just enough color to prevent the milky quality clears tend to have over terra cotta.

It's a bit warmer today, supposed to reach the forties today!  Wow!  The studio will  be warm enough to work in,,,,,HURRAH!  If it's cold and the sun is out, or if the temp is fortyish, with my extra heater it's quite nice to work there.  Anything over 62F. inside is entirely workable.  Grey and cold forget about it.  Pottery is supposed to be enjoyable not martyrdom.

Enjoy the week ahead.  The sun seems to be coming up a bit earlier; spring and summer will happen!

As always, thanks for stopping by...........*s*