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Many of you know that tornado force winds went right by my house on thursday. My home and vehicle miraculously did not suffer damage, but i lost 8 trees (!!!) and some of my pottery. There's a psychological toll to having to deal with an overwhelming tornado disaster ... not to mention the loss of all but 2 of my trees. I work my feelings out through my art, and I made this one yesterday.

a 'little birdie' told me that some of you like art with cats.

Look at what just came out of the kiln!

This is a brand new design. also new; using porcelain instead of stoneware for the first time-because a tile like this should be fancy.

I just got home after an action packed workshop at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts with Lisa Orr--a potter and educator whose work I have admired for some time. She is also the inventor of the Rocket Kiln- a simple and extremely clean and efficient way to wood fire pottery using things that might otherwise go into a landfill.

For you potters: we fired to cone ^10 in less than 6 hours!!!

Her passion for this project is contagious---at the beginning of the workshop, i didn't think I would ever want to fire pots this way, but now I'm seriously thinking about how I might build one. I LOVE making pots, but there is an environmental impact (mining/fuel)-I want to be a good global citizen. This kiln design is a fun way to find better ways to do our craft.

Today is Final Friday-my big event (and main source of income) for each month. It'll be the first time I've shown my art tiles to the public. I think they'll be a hit, but never know.

I just finished making a mould for my new tile design---it's a goat 'admiring' a corn plant.

Mould on the left-sloppy test press with clay on the right.

Work in Progress-a SELF PORTRAIT

Making pottery and trying to have peaceful thoughts

Hot out of the kiln!

if you liked the fox tile I shared a few days ago, you might also like this cardinal handmade art tile that was in the same firing.

I've been inspired by Rookwood pottery and some of the other art tile makers in my part of the world, and have been experimenting making my own handmade art tiles.

After almost a month, i am finally getting some test results.