Thanks to the Internet, distances and separations between nations and individuals have become ever smaller and friendships are developed throughout cyberspace. One such friendship has developed between myself and Muazzez Unal.  Following age old Turkish tradition Macik's forte is decorating, with paints, pots thrown by her potter friend Sinan. The pots range in size from a few inches in height to 30 inches tall.  Sinan's pots are glazed with locally processed Terra Sigillata that renders a smooth, slick and semi shiny surface.  Macik's free hand decorating techniques boggles the mind as she re-creates ancient designs in a manner that might be rather foreign to American eyes but is none-the-less worthy of a closer look.  A visit to her photo albums online will be an  inspiration to those wanting to be enthused by ancient decorating motifs on classic pottery shapes. The creations of Muazzez and Sinan are a in a class all by themselves!

Although most of Rogier's time is taken up with teaching and demonstrating, every once in a while he sits down and throws a few mugs....15 seconds a piece for the mug part,  once he gets going....Then one minute to pull a handle, one minute to attach the handle and then one minute to glaze....Of course lots of drying time in between steps....Here's a nifty photo sequence of how to throw a few mugs, from start to finish!

Throwing the mug body "off the hump"

15 seconds a piece....(after 40 years of experience....)

wareboard after wareboard....

some smooth (for imprinting), some showing throwing marks

mugs, mugs and more mugs

patting out the "handle hump" - each is good for 8-10 handles

pulling the handle - takes a little practice

24 handles at the time

pairing handles and mugs according to dryness

nice leisurely activity! A little Bach in the background too....

some get imprinted with names

imprint gets filled in with cobalt slip

almost done with THAT part!

now for the requisite patience...drying time...SLOW!!!!!!

dipping the dry "green" mug into the white glaze

squeeze those glazing tongs too hard and the green mug is history....

final dip in "WRMG"  (that's Wabash River Mud Glaze!)

...and here are some of them, how many do YOU want?

Every once in a while the pottery department spills over into the cabinet department and /or vice versa. Such is the case here, as I am restoring a twenty seven year old Amaco #3 C potter's wheel with motor attachment. The erstwhile "Cadillac" of the Amaco line of potter's wheels. Unfortunately, because of manufacturing costs, this particular wheel was taken out of production "eons" ago. Somebody besides me is going to be very happy to lay his or her hands on this! If you are in the MidWest and are interested...we will deliver!