Making a Plan…

Making a Plan…

Hi there

Thanks for popping in. Well, it’s certainly busy at Clarity Towers!! The Half Price Members Sale has kicked in – and yikes!!!!

Just as well I took some time out on Saturday, to regroup and turn a few pots. Just 3. Nothing special. Just three pots. Three shapes. Three sizes.

Paid attention to the bases this time. First one was just plain and simple.

Second one I made a little foot with the trippy twirl.

Third one I made flat, but with a swirly recess.

Got a real kick out of doing these, because I have a plan for them! They are the first of our Summer Raku party Stash!

The kids have been saying that when they come home they would love to try their hand at pottery. No problem! I’m no expert, but I can certainly show them the ropes!

Then last week I had an idea! When they come home in the Summer (said the optimist), we can have a Raku Party! I will get a load of pots ready and bisque fired, so that they can carry on from there, take them and run with them through the raku process. Of course, they can throw some themselves, and turn them, and get them through to the fire too. But it all takes time. So if we have a load all ready to be raku glazed, then they will have something to take home which they had a hand in. It’s a plan!

And in an instant I had a purpose for my 3 pots.

In fact, I have lots more to make now – or the party will be over pretty quickly !!

That’s it, my friends. We need a purpose, we need something to keep us occupied. My Mum and Dad, for example. They are busily packing up Blending nibs and Groovi Tabs! As soon as I told Mum this morning, that overnight we had had hundreds of orders for them, she went from feeling a little frustrated with cabin fever, to a woman with a mission. Couldn‘t get off the phone fast enough, to crack on!

And now I know that I have at least twenty or thirty pots and bowls to make for the Raku Party, I can’t wait to get back in there and crack on!

How ironic that the Pottery Throwdown yesterday evening was all around naked Raku. LOVE naked Raku!! I tried it a couple of summers ago… didn’t work out as well as I had hoped. Who knows why. Weeks of prep… and not too unlike their efforts last night – to this point.

Then it went to pot – and a holy disaster! Gutted.

Hahahahaha! Ah well. Mind you. A few more hours of polishing with Olive oil – and it was bearable….

You hate to bin something which took all that time and energy! But if we were burgled and the tea leaves took off with this antiquity – I think I would cope. Hahahahaa.

I learned loads last night, so I am up for another attempt. And yes. The burnishing with a spoon takes hours!!!

Stay safe

Love and Hugs

Barb xx

18 thoughts on “Making a Plan…

  1. What fun you will all have in the summer! Glad your mum and dad have a project to occupy them. Why not get your application in for the next Pottery Throw Down Barbara? I think you would be fab! XOXO

  2. I watched The Pottery Throwdown today and my heart was in my mouth! I thought the results were stunning! So beautiful. What a great idea to have a Raku party. We all need something to look forward to. I will be in the Groovi Shack tomorrow. Xx

  3. Wasn’t the Pottery Throwdown amazing ? My heart was in my mouth ! Loved the results, but the tension. Not sure if you can take anymore stress ATM Barbara 😀

  4. You are getting really good at this and your pots are looking brilliant. What a fantastic idea for when the kids come over and such a great thing to do together. I loved the throw down last night and was pleased that no one left, as they all did so well. Changing the subject totally, thanks for the SHAC this morning. My Marge Simpson, sorry Nefertiti, needs some work, but I always have the download to fall back on if all else fails. I do enjoy it though. Have a good evening and tell Grace I hope she enjoyed her skiing weekend. Hugs. Annette X

  5. Do love a plan
    I managed to book time off work in September ,and have booked an apartment in Swanage everything crossed well be able to go
    Loved the trip to Egypt although missed the bus ,caught a later one ha ha

  6. what a fabulous plan! Have just booked tickets for the Chelsea Flower Show in Sept with a couple of friends – I’ve never been before so very excited! have been shopping in the sale and spent far too much – but then thought that I’ve saved the same amount again so it’s actually a bargain!! 😂

  7. I loved the naked Raku pots last night. There was something magical about seeing the designs appear and the finished pots were lovely. I think your idea for a Raku party is brilliant. I would love to have a go at pottery but I think I have enough crafts on the go at the moment, well that’s what my husband says. 😂😂

  8. Sounds like a good plan Barbara. And I think the broken pot is great. I shall cherish my blending nibs knowing Mrs G packed them. Say thanks to her from me 🙂

  9. Oh Barbara your pots are gorgeous. I love your plan it is a good one. We all need a bit of purpose. I have put my order in. I just have to wait for it all to arrive. I am looking forward to tomorrow. I am a Groovi newbie. So much to learn. That is a good thing too. Have a good evening. Lets look forward to a lovely summer. Take care. Hugs xxx

  10. What a great idea for the Raku party – the pots look fantastic. I think we will all benefit from being able to make a few plans to look forward to.
    I have booked an AirBnB in the village where my son & family are moving to in the hope that we will be able to visit them for the childrens birthdays – the baby will be 1 & we have only seen her for a few hours back in August. I reckon she will be walking & talking by then although it will be Welsh – but I got on fine with her big sister – making mud pies is the same in any language !!
    Looking forward to the Groovi SHAC Shack gathering tomorrow but will be ready on Wednesday for some more travels around Egypt.

  11. Watched the pottery throw down tonight and was amazed at the results. Loved the feathers. Something else you’ve got me interested in with your enthusiasm 😆 love the presenter she’s so much fun (just like you). I think you should enter

  12. What a great idea to have a summer Raku party and good to think positively that Mark and Grace will be able to visit. I think you saved that pot excellently…it is so shiny..must have taken a lot of elbow grease. x

  13. Hi Barb, well I think you have a really great plan for the summer, what fun that would be, what fun it would be just to have a party with more than 2 attendees. By the way I actually love the earthy feel of your Raku pot, it is brilliant. Take care and stay safe everyone. Bx

  14. Love that last pot. I think you are being over critical because you know about the errors, or what didn’t turn out as planned. Anyone who doesn’t, just sees a beautiful piece of art. Take care.

  15. Think we all need a mission at the moment. Something to focus on. A few house renovations for us, clear out all the clutter, Fred’s shed a good place to start 🤣 and also need to think about extending our drive a bit. New neighbour is trying to make life difficult for us parking our car so to avoid any disputes we will sort it ourselves.
    I reckon your Raku party will be great fun. I watched the Pottery throwdown attempts and some of them were lovely. Who will be cutting their hair to use. X 🤣

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