Tea?

Today amongst the gloom and the greyness that seemed to consume me, I found time to drink tea that my good Friend brought back from Vietnam. I was excited about the prospect of this for a number of reasons: I really like tea, and I got to use the new glass teapot my husband bought for me. A winning combination I think you will agree. The tea looked so odd like little balls of grass, and when the water hit it, things escaped from the pod- it was really exciting, and tasted great. I also realised I still hadn't posted any pictures yet of some of the cups I had made before Christmas- some of them were'nt quite what I wanted, my favourite one collapsed (photo to follow), one that was supposed to be black came out dirty brown, which made me sad. I guess that's the great thing about working with ceramics, its kind of a surprise. I think it makes me like the process more, though on reflection I didn't realise how incredibly impatient I can be. I think I will call it enthusiasm.

 

The Black teacup at the top is infact the unglazed, unfired blue cup at the bottom... the dotty one (middle) was my favorite, but it collapsed in on itself, I think it was the porcelaine used. The blue one (bottom) was one of the only ones to come out as I'd planned (ish). The marks in the surface were shaved off using a scalpel and cobalt oxide was layered and removed a number of times, It was then glazed with what was supposed to be a creamy matt glaze, though they all came out shiney. I made a little experimental collection of 7. As these cups went into the kiln, they were lovingly kissed, and sang a song through the peephole in the kiln door. There is something very maternal about working with ceramics, both myself and the technish wizard I work with felt these cups became like children (she made some too), and we nutured them into being.