Recent work

New work is usually posted to my shops, and Purchases from the two shops may be combined for shipping savings, if you contact me at hurricanepottery@gmail.com prior to making purchases. What's trending?

Little mushroom spoon rests and chicken spoon rests, both of which are available with rim color choice.

Also a big hit - ghosts! We have a variety of sizes and styles available, both ready to ship and made to order. Http://hurricanepottery.com http://hurricanepottery.etsy.com

Dragonflies from the other side

Gorgeous yarn bowls with an ethereal quality - dragonflies from another dimension!  Aqua satin glaze gives yarn a smooth surface to glide and unwind against.  All edges are smooth and well coated with glaze. No places for yarn to catch!  $35 from Hurricane Pottery.

Fall, Autumn and Pumpkins

These stoneware pumpkins were such fun to make.  Some were formed from pinch pots and some were wheel thrown and then altered. You can find them listed at my etsy site or you can contact me for a custom order.

 

 The little ghosts are modified pinch pots, too. I don't have any of these listed, so you'll need to contact me, if you want to order one. Happy Fall!

Celestial sky, blue ceramic yarn bowl - custom sizes and colors accepted at HurricanePottery on Etsy

Autumn nutmeg and cinnamon yarn bowl, with or without fleur de lis. Custom sizes available.   Convo to arrange just the right bowl for your knitting or crochet needs! Additional bowl may be seen in my "Sold" section, or in my Yarn Bowl album on Facebook.
 http://facebook.com/Hurricane.Pottery .

 

I tend to let glazing intimidate me. I now realize that I must be bold, not worry about the results, just throw more and glaze more.  Right now I have a huge inventory of bisque, so I need to focus on glazing. If I stay at it, I should become more comfortable with it. Let's hope so.  Here's some results from a recent glaze firing. I felt empowered by these results.  I took good notes and will attempt to replicate them next firing! 

Yarn Bowls!

Just want to say that it's been awesome this year for our Louisiana football teams.  UL won the New Orleans Bowl with a nail biting 4th quarter and a splendid field goal by Bret Baer. LSU is going to beat BAMA to clench the BCS championship! And the NO Saints have never been better.  Last game Drew Brees broke Dan Marino's record for most yards gained in pass completions (or however you say it) for a single season. His incredible receivers have played no small role in this, but ultimately it's been his ability to find his open players and put the ball into their hands that has won him this recognition. Couldn't be prouder to be from Louisiana right now! 

WHY didn't I figure this out sooner?

It's the shampoo I use in the shower! When I wash my hair, the shampoo runs down my whole body and (duh!) printed very clearly on the shampoo label is this:

FOR EXTRA VOLUME AND BODY.

No wonder I've been gaining weight! Well, I've gotten rid of that shampoo. I'm using Dawn dish soap instead. The label reads:

DISSOLVES FAT THAT IS OTHERWISE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE

Problem Solved!

If I don't answer the phone, I'll be in the shower.

What's the difference between stoneware (ceramic) clay and and polymer clay (also known as Sculpey or Fimo)?

While we were working on a craft project, some kids in the neighborhood were asking me a very good question that I thought I'd share with you. What's the difference between stoneware (ceramic) clay that I use for my pottery and polymer clay (also known as Sculpey or Fimo) that we were using for our crafts?  The answer is practically EVERYTHING! I could understand their confusion since both substances have been called "clay," probably because they can both be molded/shaped and use heat to harden them. But as to how they are different:  ceramic clay is a natural mineral substance composed largely of silica (the same material that glass is made of) while polymer clay is not really clay at all - it is PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic (the same material your pipes may be made of). Although both are heated in the production process, stoneware clay is slowly, heated to 2260 F or higher (at which point it becomes very strong) while the Plastic clay is heated to 250 F (which is great because it uses very little energy and takes very little time.)  When stoneware is "glazed" it is coated with another clay that is even higher in silica content, which, when heated (fired) to to temps above 2200F, becomes  extremely hard and glasslike and  which makes it "waterproof" in the glazed areas. When plastic clay is "glazed," it is coated with  acrylic which is not baked.  While ceramic clay bodies only have the vibrant colors available with plastic polymer clay when they are glazed, one of the main advantages of natural ceramic clay is that it is a material known and proven to last the ages (centuries). In today's throw away society, it's nice to know that your stoneware clay product  has the potential to be passed down to future generations, and if it's handmade also, it will be something to be treasured!

 This is a new piece; sort of a bizarre, out of the ordinary, tea light/luminary. It was hand thrown, altered while wet, and then carved when leather hard. It's glazed with a commercial glaze, Coyote's gun metal green.  (we usually use our own glazes, but this one is so cool!)

EMT Etsy Mud Team Challenge! Today's the last day to vote in the Platter Challenge.  (Voting earns you a 20% off coupon to participating Etsy Mud Team shops, of which Hurricane Pottery is one!)  http://etsymudteam.craft-sense.com/Challenges/viewchallenge.asp?ChallengeID=43

New Year's Resolution

I'm not sure how I feel about New Year's Resolutions.  I mean, I think they're a great idea; goals are always good. It's just that they're so hard to keep when you set them too high.   But then I'm reminded of that saying, "Shoot for the moon, even if you miss at least you'll land among the stars."   I think what I need to remember, however, is expressed best in this quote, “Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.”  Either way, the point is that goals need to be set and they need to be (reasonably) high. So I have 2 major goals.  First and foremost, I plan to begin each day with some flexibility exercises, to be followed in the afternoon by a bicycle ride for aerobic exercise, and to be accompanied by sensible eating throughout the day. Second,  I plan to throw,  build, or glaze 4 days a week  This one is a challenging if only because the the "studio," also referred to as a "garagio" is not really climate controlled.  I have a propane heater that works well to keep my legs warm, but it takes a while before my hands get  warm.  When you're working with wet clay and water, this can get uncomfortable. It helps to start out with a bucket of hot water, though.  So no more excuses! I will "just do it!" as Nike says.     Here's one of the hand built pieces I'm making more of.     
http://www.etsy.com/listing/65751538/fleur-de-lis-spoon-rest-cajun-mardi-gras

I'm also planning to keep this blog updated!   Many thanks to my Handmade Louisiana Team for the push I needed to get back into this.  http://handmadelouisiana.com Please check out our team blog and visit the shops of team members to see some of the talents expressed by people in (and from) Louisiana!     You'll find some of our team members' shops in this treasury:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d24c88fbd146d912707519e/handmade-from-louisiana?index=50


The Etsy Mud Team, one of my other teams, is doing a Pitcher Challenge! Please go to this site and vote for you favorite pitcher! You'll receive, by email, a coupon for 20% off at participating mudder's shops!       

http://etsymudteam.craft-sense.com/Challenges/viewchallenge.asp?ChallengeID=42 

This is our entry!  The Wetlands Pitcher!

Louisiana events

Hot Air Balloons!

National Hot Air Balloon Championships will be held in Baton Rouge in  August, too! This should be awesome!

http://www.nola.com/festivals/index.ssf/2010/02/louisiana_festivals_for_august.html

Louis Armstrong celebrated

The music and memory of Louis Armstrong will be celebrated in New Orleans in early August. It's a good time to visit the area! Seafood is still available (Other than oysters) even though the fishermen are having to travel great distances to get outside the spill zone to get fish and shrimp that's safe to eat. BTW, crawfish are raised on crawfish farms in freshwater swamps, so they're definitely safe to eat! 


Click on the "Eyes" to the right of this post to see other "Events in Louisiana and Fun stuff to see and do."

Clay is awesome!

Clay is awesome. It comes from the Earth and its many uses provide for some of our most basic needs: shelter, food preparation and service, and aesthetics.  Did you know that clay can be reused? If you make something out of clay that you don't like or  messed up,  just dry it out, break it up, and rehydrate it to start all over again! You can save your scraps and use them again, too! Bits of bisque (fired clay) can be ground up and used as fire clay (which is added to clay bodies to give them additional strength and stress tolerance.)  Bisqued and glazed pottery last for thousands of years. Pottery remains are found in the digs of almost all ancient civilizations. The pottery you use in your home can last for generations, too, if properly cared for (which isn't hard - most pottery is dishwasher safe, microwave safe, and often oven safe, too.  Even broken pottery still has usefulness. Many types of pottery shards are used in making mosaics, while stoneware and porcelain pottery shards are used in making jewelry.  Clay - reusable, recyclable, and upcyclable.  How cool is that?

Gulf Oil Spill Donation Sale

40% of all sales, 6/16 to 7/31, to be donated to Audubon Institute for wildlife affected by Gulf Coast BP Oil Spill.

Happy Birthday Handmade Louisiana Team

Medium spoon rest in green with brown trim

Medium spoon rest
in red with brown trim

Medium spoon rest in black with red

It's been a busy month. We have just about completed the process for buying a new house: we close next week! I'm afraid throwing pottery will be a bit on hold while we pack/unpack and organize. Current stock will still be available to ship, however!  (I have some lovely spoon rests that I haven't listed yet. These are small and medium size and sell for $9 and $11).

Small spoon rests  in blue
(and one with a tan center)

Small spoon rest in  green with brown trim

Cottage Rose Designs  featured Hurricane Pottery for a whole week!  What a treat! Check out her blog there are some extra cool arts and craftsmen on her blog.
http://crgdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/04/updates-on-one-week-advertised-shops.html


A new Handmade Louisiana Team member, Beth, at BerryBlueCreations, included us in a treasury of Louisiana items.  She found some cool things.
Ma Louisiane
http://berrybluecreations.etsy.com/

We were featured on Toni's blog here:
http://www.satinstitchery.blogspot.com/
http://www.artfire.com/users/satinstitchery
I love her corner embroidered bookmarks. They'll make great Mother's Day gifts, but I think they'll also be great for teacher gifts and graduation gifts!



We were included  in a treasury by Amanda. Take a look at the Louisiana treasures: 
Louisiana Treasury
Check  out the coo jewelry in her shop, too. We were so fortunate to make a trade with her for some super cool, fun earrings!  I have my eye on another pair, now.
http://chloeboutique.blogspot.com/
http://www.wildlifer78.etsy.com/

We were selected as  shop of the day by Wendy
WendysWhimsiesHandPaintedGifts

And now we're in a delicious Treasury all about ice cream sundaes.  You'll love the color palette; it reminds me of an old time (turn of the century) ice cream shop!  

sundaes-of-our-lives

Relief for aching and sore muscles

Several years ago, while throwing a softball with my daughter, I injured my shoulder. Well, time passed and it just didn't seem to be getting better. Doctors offered suggestions, such as anti-inflammatory medications, exercises, etc., but I found no improvement or relief.  I began to do some internet research and discovered Trigger Point Massage Therapy.  It made so much sense that I bought a copy of the book, The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief, Second Edition   This book has changed so much for our family. I wish I'd had it when my sons were playing ball in high school; we could have shortened the duration of so many sports injuries! We refer to this book to find solutions to many of the day to day pains that follow from working too hard, working in odd positions, overexertion, and just being "out of condition." Oh, and let's not forget the effects of stress on muscle tension! To work on some of the trigger points, it helps to have a partner who is also familiar with the techniques in the book, but many spots can be addressed with a tennis ball or lacrosse ball.  A thera cane is also very useful and highly recommended for self treatment.  If any of your daily activities leave you with aching, sore muscles then you really owe it to yourself to find out more about Trigger Point Massage Therapy.  It's amazing what a difference this has made in our lives!

Two treasuries at one time

Please visit this latest treasury to see how soothing green can be!  http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=104770

Expressions in Clay

I snagged my first Treasury on Etsy.  I took this opportunity to select pieces which reflected a variety of construction methods, surface treatments, and firing methods. No standard tableware here. Although a couple of the pieces are functional, most a decorative.  I hope you enjoy this sensual collection from members of the Etsy Mud Team.

Happy New Year

It's a new year, but it's hard getting started again after a 3 week break.  Where are all those great ideas and great intentions I had when I couldn't act on them because I had to prepare for the lovely,  long Christmas vacation trip?  We.., I think they left with me when I left the house, only they didn't come back with me.  Fortunately, I left myself some notes, notes written to keep me sane when I couldn't work. So now to begin the project list.  If it wasn't so darn cold outside, it would be a lot easier to get started. okay, so I'll shift gears and look over my list for handbuilding projects that I can do where it's warm - inside the house.  Pins, pendants, and magnets for Valentine's and Mardi Gras and a kiln goddess for the Etsy Mud Team Challenge. I'm going to start with the godess, because she'll need time to dry.