So I’ve often said the best thing in the pottery studio is POWER TOOLS!
Especially when “drilling” lots of drainage holes into the bottoms of a bunch of berry bowls?!
So why not use a POWER DRILL to drill the holes?!

So I’ve already trimmed the bowls, and let them stiffen up to the “drier-side” of leatherhard. Not squishy. Not tacky. But definitely NOT bone dry yet. And then I start by making the first ring of holes just inside the footring… and then continue on the outside of the footring, between… staggered… lined-up… all different patterns!

And then I let them sit out a bit longer so the drilled “burrs” will brush off easily. Once the shredded debris stiffens up, I use a stiff paint brush to wipe all of those extra pieces off both inside & out! It’s always fun to see the drilled pattern after cleaning out the debris!

Now that they’re drilled full of drainage holes, I’ll let them dry to bone dry. And then I’ll take a green scrubby 3M pad to smooth out some of the rough edges before bisque firing.

Next up?… throwing a bunch of small plates to work as the drainage catch plate!

It’s always a GREAT day when a surprise “care package” shows up…
with a promise of wonderful things inside!!!

So I ripped it open!!! To find the newest assortment of trimming tools from my pals at DiamondCore Tools!!! … WHOO-HOO!!!

They even come with their own replacement blades!!!…
so easy to switch out with a simple screw & screwdriver! With all the DiamondCore Carving Tools that I’ve used, I’m only had to switch the blade once… and that was all my fault… as I “squished” the blade when I accidentally pressed it into the edge of my wedging table… awkward… don’t ask…

It wasn’t because their blade had worn-out, it was because I’m a klutz!
But it is nice to know that replacing the blade is always an option!

I couldn’t wait to give them a test drive… their inaugural trip… their virgin voyage… and yet totally LOVING how crisp, clean & pristine they were right now. Knowing that they will NEVER be quite this clean ever again! They’re pretty sexy, right?

Another great design choice… each of the trimming tools has a different shaped end. A point, a square, and wedge and the rounded Potter’s Thumb! Double-duty being able to use both ends of the tool.

And verdict is in!!!…
Their trimming tools are GREAT!!! So smooth. So sharp.
And the handles feel great too… nice weight, nice balance, beautiful wood!!! You know I LOVE trimming… now there’s even more to love!

Thank You DiamondCore Tools… I love your tools. Always so sharp, well-made and perfect for so many uses! I can’t wait for this whole quarantine thing to end… so I can share these beauties with my pottery students!!!

Another productive studio night with a lot of stamping. The bowls were thrown (against my natural instinct) without a spiral… and you know how much I LOVE a good spiral!!! But these are going to become berry bowls, and I didn’t want the spiral to “get in the way” of the drainage holes I’ll be drilling through the bottom later.

Bowl #1 –

Bowl #2 –

Bowl #3 –

Bowl #4 –

Bowl #5 –

Bowl #6 –

Bowl #7 –

Bowl #8 –

Bowl #9 –

Bowl #10 –

Bowl #11 –

Bowl #13 –

Bowl #14 –

Bowl #15 –

So for now they’re all stamped and back under plastic for the night. I’ll tackle trimming the bottom to add a foot ring tomorrow… and then drainage holes after that. Once trimmed & drilled, then I’ll throw a batch of small plates to fit… drainage catch plates for the berry bowls!

Another quiet & solitary night in the studio… no one around to divert my attention from throwing some more bowls. Just getting started on a fresh batch of new berry bowls. More to come!

Still working on a bunch of lidded jars in the studio. Good news that the lids all seem to fit!!! Sure, I’ve got a lot of trimming & finishing to do. The lids were thrown off-the-hump… so I still need to pull off that extra “cookie” of clay before trimming.

Just finishing up the latest batch of mugs…
adding handles tonight while self-isolating again in my studio!
It’s kinda weird working in my studio these days. I’m so used to having more people around to play with & to chat with. And these days… there’s NO ONE HERE!!! Kinda scary. Kinda weird!!!

And while I was already in the studio stamping… I decided I might as well just continue & stamp the lidded jars that were already under plastic in my studio. So I did… I mean, I was already there!

Just a quick “tour” while I was stamping my latest batch of mugs… showing the plain mug after throwing, after being stamped, as well as the handmade clay stamp that did the hard work! I was just there pressing…

Mug #1 –

Mug #2 –

Mug #3 –

Mug #4 –

Mug #5 –

Mug #6 –

Mug #7 –

Mug #8 –

Mug #9 –

Mug #10 –

Mug #11 –

So for now they’re all stamped and under wraps for the night. I will most likely trim them tomorrow night, and then try to get handles on the on Monday… what a great way to celebrate another Mugshot Monday than by making more mugs!!!

Did a bit more throwing last night… working on a few lidded jars that are part of a commission project. The final plan is still a bit hazy, but this part I’m sure of. I need to do a few doodles to figure out the finishing & customizing part! Just a teaser… birds are involved.

So I finally finished stamping a new batch of bowls. I’ve been trying to stay productive and get into the studio as often as possible… but with all of the craziness going on these days, it’s tough. Luckily, my studio is very safe & isolated these days. Lillstreet has been closed to the public for weeks now, and I am seemingly the ONLY person there working at night… safely “trapped” in my own little work space… well-isolated from anyone else! And as a potter, I feel like I’m washing my hands ALL the time!!!

So they’ve been stamped… and now they’re all under wraps waiting to be trimmed… and then fired… and then glazed… and fired again! I remembered to take photos of the stamps that did the magic… well, for some of them any ways?!

Bowl A

Bowl B

Bowl C –

Bowl D –

Bowl E –

Bowl F –

Bowl G –

Bowl H –

Bowl I –

Bowl J –

Bowl K –