Decorating pots...    Monday, May 29, 2017

Lots of PEACE pots in this batch!!  These are the blue/green ones I'm doing now.  I use laser decals (that I print on my laser printer) and the iron oxide of the toner acts like a stain on the glaze when I fire them for the last time.  So, the designs are permanent and part of the glaze!  The designs will look sepia brown after they are fired instead of the black look they have now.

Missing my Buddy!    Monday, May 29, 2017

I went to the studio late this afternoon to pull some handles for mugs that I threw last week.  I still cannot get used to being in the studio without Buddy!  It's just so lonely.  He's been gone for over 3 months now.  Can't believe it.  Recently I found this pic of us from June, 2010.  He was very healthy then and it brings a big smile to my face! I know I am very blessed to have had him with me for so long.  Have a great day, friends!

Happy Memorial Day!    Monday, May 29, 2017

Dear Friends:

Hello!  In the US, today is Memorial Day where we remember our loved ones who fought for our freedoms.  It is a bank-holiday also, so most of us get to have the day off from our day jobs.  Yay!  It's a beautiful day here in Ohio, sunny and about 75 degrees F.  I'm inside decorating pots in my current batch.  It's tough to stay inside on such a beautiful day, but I have to take the time when I get it!  My husband, Terry is outside working on his garden.  

I'm still struggling in an attempt to get "caught up" on my orders since my leg injury last summer.  It's very difficult when I only have nights and weekends to work on my pottery but I'm doing the best that I can!  I'm very, very grateful for my customers who have all been so patient with me!  I'm very sorry that it's taking me much longer to complete your orders than "normal." You all are the best and I'm very thankful for my blessings!

Love & Light, Diana

P.S. - below is a pic of the bottom shelf of pots after the glaze fire. 

Still decorating...    Sunday, March 19, 2017

Hello, Friends!

How is everyone today?!  I'm still decorating this batch of pots but I'm almost finished.  It's Sunday now and I plan to fire this batch for the last time tonight.  I've got the dragonfly, peace and crop circle pieces all finished.  Now I'm working on the hippie henna tattoo designs and then the henna tattoo pieces.  Here's a photo that I took on Saturday of a hippie henna tattoo mug in purple.  Note:  the laser decals look black before firing, but the irox oxide in the toner turns sepia brown/plum on the purple glaze; so the designs and words will look more muted than this.

Happy Sunday! Cheers, Diana

Glaze fire done--on to decorating!    Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Hello, Friends!  I hope all those on the east coast of the US survived the Winter Storm safely this week!  Wowza!  You all are still digging yourselves out.  Hang in there!

I high-fired this current batch load to cone 5 which is about 2,300 degrees F and let them cool down slowly, about 12 hours.  Brought them in the house last night to allow them to acclimate to the house temp.  Tonight I'm starting to decorate them!  Wanted to share a picture with you!  I'll try to get a photo as I'm decorating in the next few days.

Please see earlier posts for lists of customers in this batch.  Thank you!

Love & Light to you!  Diana

Glazing Today! Orders Update    Sunday, March 5, 2017

Hey, Friends! Glazing today!! Here are the customers who have pots in this batch: T. Burrows, J. Davis, T. Wilson, J. Lambert, veggiemom, M. Mahler, C. Windham, L. Funk, J. Rodemoyer, F. Kelley, J. Dickinson, S. Waller, C. Glaeser, V. Frank, L. Bailey, A. Dibling.  Many in this group are multiples. Thank you!

**My Buddy**    Wednesday, March 1, 2017

(Posted on Facebook last Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017).

Had a dream over the weekend that Buddy was running and playing with a pretty girl dog. He had a crush on her and was chasing her. I tried to call to him but my voice didn't work. He didn't see me, he was happy. That dream has been a comfort as I knew it was to signal that Buddy's time with us was coming to a close. We said goodbye to our dear, sweet Buddy today. He stayed with us as long as he could, living with diabetes and blind for the last 3 years. The house is quiet and Terry and I miss him so much already. He was a superior dog, faithful and loving companion and pretty funny too. I could understand his sounds like he was talking to me. I am very grateful for all the happy times we had together. We buried him in the back yard next to Queg & Quee. 

Post-script - March 1, 2017.  My studio (or my life) will not be the same without Buddy!!  He has been my faithful companion for almost 10 years.  I'm still in shock and I look for him to be there next to me all the time.  RIP, my sweet Buddy.

**Orders Update**    Sunday, February 19, 2017

Hey, Friends!  How is everyone?  We've had nice early Spring-like weather here in Ohio this weekend!  It was very warm, about 60-65 degrees both days.  So wonderful!  Buddy loved laying in the sun.  He stayed outside while I was in the studio.  Had to take a picture of him today as he dozed off to sleep.  Such a sweet dog! 

This weekend I attached handles onto the 13 coffee mugs that I threw during the week.  And I also began throwing some more pots; coffee mugs, one travel mug and 3 coffeehouse mugs.  Pulled these handles Thursday night, I think.  They have to dry a bit before I can attach them. 

Freshly thrown coffeehouse mug above and more pots below that I threw on my wheel this afternoon.   Have a wonderful week, Friends! 

**Orders Update**    Saturday, February 4, 2017

Dear Friends:  Hello!  I have been posting more on my FB page than here, sorry about this!  Here is that link if you're on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CropCircleClay/

Finished the last batch and shipped them out this week.  Now I'm ready to start the next batch.  Yay!  I love the cycle of creating pottery.  From throwing, trimming, adding handles, drying, firing, glazing, firing, decorating, firing, then packing up and shipping out.  By the time I get a batch done I'm really excited to get back in the studio again!  Here are some pictures of the last batch completed.  I took them indoors in bad lighting before I packed them up.  It's cold & dark here in the winter! 

Hey, Happy Superbowl weekend!   Love & Light,  Diana

**Orders Update**    Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Hello, Friends!  Incredibly, it's mid-January 2017 already.  Honestly don't believe it.  Here in Ohio we've gone from snow & ice to mid-50 temps back to snow more than a few times. It's been a strange winter.  Today it was 50 and raining.  (I say 'was' because it's after dark now and getting cooler). It smells like Spring because the ground is thawing.  My sister lives in Michigan and they got ice overnight and lost their power.  It's very cold and they are thankful for their fireplace. 

I've got a batch of pots cooling in the kiln right now.  They got their glaze firing last night and it's still too hot to open her up.  My pyrometer broke so I can't tell what the temp actually is.  (I have an old manual kiln without the computer control on it which tells you the temp).  Wanted to share some pictures with you. 

These are the customers who have a pot or pots in this batch:  Erin R., Anna E., Tara S., Julie L., Kendra S., Jennifer C., Denise R., Laura B., Anne L, Amy D. and Cheryl R.  If I did not call your name, please be patient with me.  I'm starting to throw a new batch as well.  Thank you!