I finally had something for my own kitchen in the load that came out of the kiln last Monday. I have been promising Paul and myself that I’d make some plates for our kitchen for over a year now. So, along with a few vases, a platter and some various sized bowls, five plates made it into the firing. Rather than matching them, I decided to just do whatever glaze felt right for each plate. We had company for dinner last night and the table looked fun and festive with the variety of colors and patterns.

I think I’ll try to put one or two plates into each future firing. I’ll put my favorites in the kitchen and once I have six or eight, I’ll move on to bowls. It is fun to contribute to my own kitchen while filling orders for other people and creating inventory for upcoming sales.

Have I said this before? The most difficult part of my job as a potter is taking pictures of the pieces. Since I sell mostly online, the photographs must depict the piece as accurately as possible. This latest attempt was done outdoors, using natural light. The pictures were taken in the shade, but the piece is so glossy, it still picks up reflection. The bamboo background was taken fully outdoors, the black background was in a photo tent. Which do you like best? Why?

Quick note: the wax burner does not sit crooked. My tripod does, and I forgot to adjust it!

I bought another propane bottle yesterday, and am finally, finally doing a bisque fire today. I hope this is the beginning of many productive months to come, now that I won’t be restricted by a nearly empty tank and the possibility of shutting the kiln down partway into a firing. And, of course, now that school is out for the summer and I’ll have studio time. Can’t fire if there’s not enough to fill the kiln!

I have started to play with photo composition. I find that the sterile background of the light tent does not showcase my work the way I want it to. So, this morning I set our dining room table up outside, set up some pretty props, and practiced with some bowls that have been sitting in my store for a while now. I took the pictures in the shade, but still got a lot of glare. I am not sure how to deal with that, unless I try to photograph earlier in the morning. I think anything that is shiny is going to glare, even in natural daylight. And, maybe that’s not such a bad thing.

Here is my first effort at photo composition using props. Admittedly, the salt shaker needs to be moved next time. I didn’t realize it would come through so white. Otherwise, I am pretty happy with these photos. They certainly show the colors of the bowls better than the photo tent pictures ever did. What do you think?

Pictures from yesterday’s firing. All in all, a success. Click the thumbnails for the big pics.

1. Apricot/orange/green/blue striped mugs. I made two matching
2. Stripy mugs and handle-less teacups
3. Dot “eddy line” plates and spoon rests, before being removed from the kiln.

4. Some sweet little espresso cups. They are very small. I love ‘em!
5. I call these the “fiesta” espresso cups.
6. A plant pot, about six inches in diameter. It has a drain hole in the bottom, too.

7. A small, colorful bowl. Perfect for a single scoop of your favorite frozen treat.
8. The same bowl, upside-down.
9. Another of the same.

10. The underside of the small red bowl.
11. Another small bowl.

Also in this firing, but not shown: A bunch of mugs glazed blue/brown, more spoon rests, a few more small bowls and a chicken roaster!

I had my first sale to the public yesterday, at the holiday craft bazaar at the local catholic church. My main goal behind going, besides recouping some of my expenses, was to see what people did and did not like, and to get a feel for my pricing.

All in all, I am happy with the results. I got a lot of feedback from people and sold a fair amount of product.

The set up:

Notes:

Keepers, make more and take to the next show:
Frog cups, definitely. Even though priced at $26 and $32, they sold well.
Soup/salad bowls
Slab vases
Tea cups, in small quantities
Tiny bowls
Tiny bowl-style spoon rests
Large bowls, colored heavy
ADD:
Traditional mugs (few)
Cups/mugs with no handles(had several requests for these)
Pillow vases
REMOVE:
White prairie-style large bowls
All plain white glazed items
Dot plates
Artistic bowls
Color mugs - there was no interest in these, and they are too time-consuming to make.
Small tea cups
I think the most important thing I learned is that when people are holiday shopping, they are looking for affordable gifts and aren’t so concerned with the artsy stuff. That completely makes sense, so I am going to concentrate on the affordable pieces for future craft shows and try to get the artsy stuff into a gallery, because I can’t not make either one.

I would also like to thank all of my friends and family who came out and supported this first effort. I would not be successful without you! XOXOXOX