Terracotta commissions.............Exterior plant pockets

Its been ages since I have made anything from terracotta clay, I've had two bags stored under my work table for so long that it took a bit of working and preparing before I made these two plant pockets, one is a commission for a lady and the other I have made "just in case"........ (just in case it gets damaged or doesn't make the firing process) as in my experience terracotta clay tends to be more problematic with cracking ect.. than my other clays. If they both survive it will get put on a stall.



I am working from a picture of a similar planter I made a few years ago from stoneware.




These planters just need a hole near the top to hang on the wall, but the clay it too soft right now, it will need to be dry enough to handle and pick up. After they will be left to dry out slowly and then fired in the kiln.




This is my seal,
 I stamp this on larger exterior pieces of work.



Little Bird themed....New things I have made.

One of the best things about doing ceramics is opening the kiln, especially if the firing has gone to plan and the work has all turned out the way you planned it, (or better) It is also a busy time, as with my firings I always have larger pieces that can just be taken out and stood or hung somewhere and lots of little pieces that are either to be made to be worn or tied together with string,labelled, have wire attatched, or packaged in some way, oh and then there is photographing anything thats intended for selling or archive. Here are some of the most recent exits from my kiln.

Little Bird and Nest stacking bowls.

More stoneware hanging birds.
 (Also featured on this weeks Folksy Friday blog.)

High fired rustic terracotta pots with bird motif.