Kids and Clay

Last week was a fun week. I was exhausted from getting ready for Chiaha. I did four firings the previous week and wow, that will wear a person out. The festival was actually the restful part despite the chilly air. So, the week after, I gave myself some wiggle room in my schedule. I photographed work in the living room.  I visited a friend. And then I found a homeless pottery wheel seeking temporary shelter at a pawn shop in Chattanooga and went and rescued it.

That was fun.

I brought my bucket, a couple pounds of clay and a sponge and gave it a spin to see how it worked there in the store and you would have thought the people of the Pawn Shop- employee and customer alike- were seeing man walk on water or an elephant fly. 

"Can you like, make goblets and stuff?" - Hooded Lady in the records section

"So you just saw this on Craig's List and drove all the way from Rome?!?!" - Toothless Man in guitars section

"See, I told you the pedal went on the other side!" -One employee to another that set up the wheel- with the pedal on the opposite side of where one sits

I really liked everyone there and wanted to take them home with me. They were so happy to have some afternoon entertainment, a home for the orphaned wheel, and I was happy to have some enthusiastic company. They had her loaded up in no time and I was on my merry way home, enjoying the changing leaves, a dip in the Ann Taylor Outlet, and my diet coke.

And so Saturday, I had some little friends over to play with me and my new wheel. Here is a look- don't worry, I turn the video right ways after a bit.

Little Lanna was very gentle with the clay and almost always remembered to rest her elbows.

Micaiah had the steps down pat and though it took two tries, made a bowl all by himself.

Roane is the master handbuilder. Did you see those seahorses he was making in the video? Amazing! And he made an awesome bowl as well.

So that's all! Orders from Chiaha and Oakhurst are in production and the remainder of my bowls for the Empty Bowls program will be out on Sunday. Or Monday.... I'm headed downstairs now to complete a couple more orders to try and stay on top of things. But now that I have two wheels, I can do twice the work, right ;)?

Much love, Lisa