Ein-Stein

Ok, I don't really love this beer stein, but I had to post this just for the pun.
via: Nerd Approved

The only Bush legacy we can be proud of.

I am a pretty political guy. But I am in no way a Republican or a Democrat I think both parties stink. That said, I do think that Mr. Obama is the Cat's Pajamas and that Mr. Bush can suck a big fat Donkey's d... Well anyway. If you have ever visited the White House, part of the tour is the china room. In which they display examples of every Presidents China pattern, It should be every ceramists favorite part of the tour. I know a lot of potters look down on Fine China. But this stuff is amazing. Beautifully designed and executed. It was made by Lenox China, one of the best out there.

Put a lid on it.

I wish I spoke French... Well not really. I took Spanish in High School and I will never forget my Father telling me how pointless that was (HA!). None-the-less, if I spoke French I could tell you more about these mug lids made out of cookies. What I am sure of is their warm, deliciousness. But alas I cannot.
Via http://florence-doleac.creationflux.com/

Update: A Translation from Anna- made in 2004 at Bon Marche, the cookies are hazelnut with a sugar cube on top. While serving as lids to keep the coffee warm, they are also made to be eaten by dipping into the cup:)

Tiki Party

Here in Alfred we are stuck in the dead of winter so I though a little Tiki action would warm us up. I think that I really need some of these, because Miss Rose and I decided for the first time to stock a bar (Ah, Alfred). So we have been playing mix masters at our social events this winter. The Mai Tai's were a big hit and I think these would be perfect for for some South Pacific fun.
They are from Frank's Tiki Room in Las Vegas.

Scandal at the 2012 Olympics...involving Ceramics!

Shock and Horror, dear readers.
Apparently there is anger floating around the interwebs about the London 2012 Olympics. Rumor has it that the 2012 committee had possibly awarded contracts for commemorative plates and other ceramics goods associated with the 2012 Olympic games to a Chinese company. This is scandalous considering the dire state of British ceramics. Noting particularly that the venerated Waterford-Wedgewood company recently collapsed.
The 2012 committee recently posted a rebuttal stating that this rumor was not true.

Bulb vases

My friend Jenny used to make object out of used light bulbs like this.

via Craftershock

Room Temperature Firing

Even though I work as a Glaze and Clay designer, I am a huge fan of room temperature firings. I tell my students, do what it takes to get it done. If the finish you want is paint, and the work is not functional, then use paint. I love these toilet decals, finally a way to adorn our after-dinnerware.

Metrics

I am not normally a fan of the web comic XKCD, but I had to post this. My friend Anna who is not a ceramist but who is Russian sent me this. Ceramists are one of the few groups in America to use the metric system (along with drug dealers, hmmmm). There is one area where ceramists still use English and that is in our firings. Please people, use metric. Cone 10=1305 (or 1300, to be brief) Cone 6= 1243 (1250) and Cone 04= 1077 (1075).

BTW, This is a blog for adults

Ok, Well...
Those that know me know that I have no filter and no decorum. In that spirit, neither shall this blog.
There have been Pyrex sex toys for some time now. These are the first I have seen made of porcelain. My favorite feature is taking advantage of the hollow spaces made by slipcasting, so that you can fill the space with hot or cold water to change the temperature of the implement. Talk about functional.

Too bad I found this after the holiday party season

I am a stickler for function. It seems that a lot of ceramics that people declare to be functional are far from it. So I am always on the look out for work that is excessively functional and I think these are a perfect blend of form and function.

via Nerd Approved

The Evolution of Oppenheim

Diem Chau makes these Hairy Dishes

via Designers Block UK

And Now For Something Completly Different...

As many of you know that my day job is in Ceramics Tech. Part of this is teaching Glaze Calc here in Alfred to the Art Students. As the new year dawns, I will begin teaching another batch of eager students. I love my students as their thirst for knowledge is unquenchable. What does drive me crazy is that I have to spend a good part of my teaching time clearing their minds of the crap that it has been filled with. I'm looking at you Graduate Students, as all of our undergrads are Alfred trained and are brimming with only the finest information.
Why does the ceramics world have a war on science? For some reason, ceramicists have a habit of believing everything that is told to them when it comes to the technical side of ceramics. And virtually everything that is taught to them is wrong. It is one of the biggest burdens that I have is to struggle against bad information.
I think ceramicists can do better. As a whole we have an amazing population. Think about the fact that almost everyone in the ceramics field has at least a Undergraduate degree and very likely an advanced degree. There are not that many pursuits out there that are so well educated. Yet we rely on bad information, when it comes to how our glazes work, or what is going on in our kilns. The information is out there. But you have to think critically.
So this will be my sounding board. I promise not to rant too much, but I do promise to provide great information.

Of Pottery Bondage

The "Slave Betty" Tea pot by the redstr/collevtive

Porcelainious Jewlery

Fun jewelry made of cut porcelain teacups, by Lindsay Pemberton.
Takes me back to my days when I used to sell jewelry.

Porcelain Grindstone

Welcome to 2009.
I've been away, even though I didn't really go anywhere. Miss Rose and I visited her family for the Holiday, which was lovely. After which we spent the entire Holiday sick. I have to say that it was fun to spend a vacation doing nothing, as we are constantly aware that we come back from all of our vacations more tired then before we left.
I have collected lots of great ceramics that I will trickle out, as I really need to do some work.
But for the moment It is cold in my office and there is no one else here. So a few treats.

P.S. What do people think of the new layout?