How to tell your potter is from Maine...and possibly a redneck...

I think the title of this post will be self-explanatory by the first photo.  As I made pretty floral vases...I came to the conclusion that not everyone wanted flowered containers to put their flowers in, and not everyone had flowers to put in a flower vase.  So, where pray tell do I put these welding rods?  Or my pile of Spruce gum for safe keeping?   I was a bit irritated the first day I made these.... and, apparently wanted to shoot something, because the bullet vases were a result of that deep meditation at the potter's wheel.  And...they are here to stay.  I have had a wonderful response, primarily by men, but many women too...even those who don't wear camo underwear!  I'm also adding to the line a liquid soap dispenser, or if you prefer, a fast orange shop hand cleaner dispenser.  Naturally, I am also adding to the line a bullet hummingbird feeder!    

After constructing the bullets, I moved on to a folky-native Mainer version of the black bear. 

 Below is the top view...a parade of prints encompassing the rim of the vase.

One of my favorite flowers, the Lady Slipper.  Each year I anxiously await their bloom and wish it lasted much longer. They are such a delight to see in the woods, it is the sure sign of summer.

 Mother black bear and her cubs under the majestic mountains.

 Keeping with the wilderness theme....an animal tracks wax warmer...a compliment to any rustic cabin, lodge or homestead.  

 Deep red, pierced, floral wax warmer

The Maine coast is notorious for it's Puffins.

 This abstract small jug or vase is one of my favorite pieces. The clay is naturally a deep brown, almost black.  I carve deeply into the thick thrown clay body to create wells for the red glaze to pool in, then fire.  This is the result and I am so pleased with the color combination.

When I finished decorating the raw brown clay with the white slip into these wildflowers (lupine & others), I loved the contrast and old world quality so much, that I left the exterior natural with just a satin clear coat over and finished off the interior of the pot with a deep firebrick glaze.

Equine Pottery...has been a rare thing this year.  Not that I haven't made some...I'll explain in a bit.  When these tumbler's came out of the kiln I was very pleased with the vibrant contrast between the white stoneware and the dark blue glaze, they almost look black. 

And, her is part of the explanation for the lack of equine pottery this year.  This extremely large bowl would have been glazed and fired had it not cracked in the initial firing.  The crack is on the bottom, but not a typical S crack or split.  It is actually on only one side of the base and just enough to ruin the piece for sales purposes.  I still intend to glaze it, but upside down, leaving the rim natural clay rather than the bottom.  I think it will be pretty and I really could use a new huge bowl.

And last, but not least, Moose Track mugs, bowls, double-handle casserole baker and gravy boat. I have had some fabulous results with this glaze on white stoneware, but on the earth tone clay, it changes color and is much richer, more dramatic.  This reminds me of the beautiful, and dramatic, Katahdin region. 

I hope you enjoyed some, if not all, of the pottery here today....if not the bullets, at least appreciate the workmanship.  Have a wonderful week enjoying the summer in all its splendor, thunder storms and all...because it won't be long when we'll be complaining about shoveling snow!