It is Time to Start Packing

Everyday Alec tells me exactly how many days are
left until we cross the pond again and return to
the New World.  Today is day 16 and it is time to
at least think about packing.

My most pressing issue is how to get my pottery
back home.

Even though Alec tells me to "have a great sleep, mom"
when he leaves for school, believing that I return
to bed (okay I think I did this a couple of times)  after
he leaves, the truth is, I have created in clay during

Luc and Brigitte

the nine months of living here;  both in Chatel St. Germaine
with a lovely group of new friends and in Rachel's studio.

Luc, the chief potter at Chatel St.Germain where
I go every Monday afternoon

  
I even gave a class, in French, on paper clay to a group of potters.

my friend Jacqueline, the only
person who gets away with
calling me Petula (after Petula Clark)
She says I have the same accent when
I speak in French!

my globe taking shape

      

making marks

                                      

This is what you (or perhaps me) can make in paper clay!

Jude showing how you can add metal
to the paper clay

Now, I am almost finished creating,
at least for now.
The theme for the year;
The Journey.
Boats and keys and totems
emerging from cages and globes accompanied
me this year.

All my pieces are made with a mixture of
reclycled paper and reclycled clay.  I form
this mixture, often adding metal pieces, then
fire the creation first in an electric kiln.

Rachel's Studio Preparing My Pieces for the Fire

getting ready for the fire

no Piper, the wood is for the fire, not you!

The second firing is often a wood firing in a small barrel.

the barrel was a wee bit too small

And the end result.....

 

                                                                                                                             

Cathy's Boat
my lovely sister-in-law
 thinks it is okay
to cut across a labyrinth
after  you reach the middle!

                                       

   

 the sentinel

   

Rachel's Dream

the passage

this way

heh jude, what's this?

                       

the final sculpture almost ready to fire
this one needs to be fired outside
with wood....lots of wood....
should be interesting

It is amazing what you can find when you

arrive in a foreign country with no pottery

tools, no clay and no kiln!  

You find friends!