After my grumblings about Valentine's Day I heard form a bunch of people, some in support. Most letting me know that I am unromantic and that VD is a great thing (BTW you can get a shot for that and clear it right up).
None-the-less I return to the refrain that the wonderful Mrs. Rose does not care for the day herself. So I get off the hook.
Still we had a lovely day out and had a nice dinner with our friends the F-V's
But to again kneel in worship to the great lady who I follow follow around like a Pilot Fish, living in the shadow of the great and mighty shark.
It is m'lady who dug up, this pretty cool piece. Made by Tsang Cheung Shing this beautiful piece of clay is something to fall in love with.
So to my Mrs. Rose (The only person I know for sure reads this silly blog). I love and worship you and I don't know how I would live without you.
Happy (belated) Valentines Day.
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This series of shallow bowls is called "Every Drop Counts" and allows the consumer to expose the story as they slurp their soup.
I have to admit that I am a sucker for story telling. I really don't think that there is enough storytelling in Art, but specifically Ceramics. It seems that too many people are concerned with the conceptual one-liner. This takes a nice twist by incorporation function and time, yet the simplicity of a silhouette. Well done.
Designed by Ayda Anlagan is a London based industrial designer.
I'm really kicking myself. I don't have a title for this post that is better than the name the maker gave these speakers, which is "Hi-Fido". I thought the puns were my job.
Apparently ceramic speakers are the new thing. This is the third pair I have seen (the first is here). They all tout the "Noise Deadening" acoustical properties. "(they)use the acoustic properties of ceramic to diffuse hi quality sound with a bass reflex system". I guess this is true, but as I have never heard ceramic speakers in person and I am not an audio engineer.
Designed by Matteo Cibic who also designed these popular terrariums these speakers could be man's new best friend.
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Ok Folks,
Sometimes I get critical becuase I believe that some things are unnecessary or over designed. When I do, people tend to pop us and tell me how wrong I am, and that's fine. We are all allowed to have different opinions. So it is going to be up to all of you to come up with a defense of this one, 'cause I got nothing.
This is the Finger Stirring lid from New Plan Design and all I can say is,
Really...Really?
You know, certain tools have stuck around through history because they do their job just fine. Such is the case with the spoon. It does just fine .Is it perfect? No, but it's ok.
Where as with this "Lid" I really don't know what do say.
I know that in the States we don't use lids while actively drinking from coffee cups (travel cups excluded). And that in some countries they do. But still.
And are you really gaining that much in functionality by eliminating the need for a spoon but adding a weird lid? Never mid the fact that this "finger" is always going to be hanging out in your beverage? No Thank You.
whatever...
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This series of porcelain spooled thread vases are by Mara Skujeniece.
There is something I really like about the ambitions attempt to capture something difficult and extremely textured in the mold. Getting that kind of texture requires a lot of failure in the process. As I have told my students, you need to fail to know how to do things right.
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In honor of my good lady wife, Mrs Rose. I present this stacked Road Cone Breakfast set. I do this for my wonderful lady as a way of telling others "Danger!" "Warning!" "Stay Away!"
Of course, I jest. The lovely Mrs. made stacking sets of dishes for a long time, so I though she would appreciate it.
This set was composed and constructed by Pierre Lescop and contains an espresso cup, juice glass, tea cup, cereal bowl and a small plate.
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As they say the proof is in the pudding. Tony Clennell a potter up in Canada stopped by Pottery Supply House in Oakville Ontario, our awesome new supplier, in the Great White North. Tony picked up some Porcelain for the People and put it to the test. He made some gorgeous teapots with the clay and here is what he has to say about it.
Well it threw and trimmed like a dream. Usually if I can throw porcelain I hate trimming it. This seems to have a coarse particle size that makes for trimming with some expression to it.
I tortured this clay. I dipped it in my local slip clay, slaked down the trimmings and mixed in some sand with the casting slip and laid it on thick. It took the punishment.
See Tony's full review at his blog.
I love it when people torture our clay. Tony's teapots of Fred's 75 hour Anagama really show how rugged and versatile the clay really is. That is something about this clay that really goes unrecognized. How much torture the clay can take. It has been designed for versatility, both in execution and technique. It not only throws better, and thinner, but it is also designed to resit torque and distortion that is common with porcelains thrown on the wheel. That kind of torture opens porcelains up to everyone. Beginners should no longer be afraid of Porcelain. This clay gives beginners and casual potters the great clays that the master have been keeping to themselves for all these years.
If you are feeling slightly sadistic, and want something to torture, go ahead and try Porcelain for the People. You wont be disappointed.
For our Canadian Customer we sell exclusively through Pottery Supply House. If you are in the south, try Atlanta Clay or for the rest of the U.S. you can head over to www.MattandDavesClays.com and we will ship directly to you.
That is what Mrs. Rose told me this morning and it made my heart all a-flutter.
We are both those kind people who get a little queezy by the notion of love having to be all hearts and flowers. To us love is sarcastic and exciting, down and dirty
That is why, I hate Valentines day.
I'm not going to go on a rant about how the whole thing is a crock made by the candy, card and flower industries. Or how society expects me to express my love of my wife on just one particular day. I tell my wife that I love and appreciate her everyday. So Valentines day can kiss my a$$.
If you do like that crap. enjoy this my with a shadow decal making a heart, shape with the handle. bleah!
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OMG I'm dying with the dryness right now. Not to get to graphic, but it is bloody nose season, and man do I suffer. We have a humidifier, but it only does so much. That is why I love these functional attachments for those of you out there who have radiators. Designed by Il Coccio Design Collective these white porcelain receptacles sit on the radiator and allow the heat to do the work for you. All while appearing excessively fashionable.
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These Snout Cups are by Freaks United, otherwise known as Jorine and Egbert Jan
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thanks to Mrs. Rose, I hope you feel better.
Sorry to be brief, but I have to take care of my lady and get ready for class.
I hate Bananas, yet I love Viking hats and fun ceramics. That is why I am so conflicted by this great banana holder. And to top it off, it is wall mountable. Sweet.
I wonder if if I can use it for something else. like Chorizo storage. Yeah, that's the ticket.
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Fred Herbst a semi-local from Corning NY, sent me these pics of Porcelain for the People that he fired in an Anagama. For all of the resources we have here in Alfred, the one thing we don't have is an Anagama. So I can't thank Fred enough for putting the clay through it's paces. a The clay developed a wonderful color and survived the rigorous 75 hours at cone 11/12 with flying colors. Thanks for the Pictures Fred!
Also, The response to The Coup, our Mid Temperature version of Porcelain for the People has been great! The clay has been flying out the door.
This clay is everything that you want with a mid fired clay. Solid and vitrified with a wonderful color. It works unlike any clay you have ever used, great for wheel or the sculpture. Responsive to the touch, yet with a ruggedness that you have never experienced with any other porcelain. Combined with Stuck Up-the building and attaching (and decorating) slip and Cast Away Slip, they form a trinity of clay working that have never been seen before.
Don't forget, Matt and Dave's Tee Shirts are available now. Printed in good ol' Ypsilanti, Michigan, these fashion statements will set you apart from the Pottery Proletariat!
Wow,
This "Blown Away" vase by Moooi looks like a failure. But it is in fact a carefully developed and rendered piece, developed from thousands of computer renderings to make the blown away look.Blending the distortion of the shape and the surface decoration are beautiful.
From the Maker
The blow away vase was born through a digital process of creating an impossible situation with impossible consequences.CAD modeling, animation and distortion all played a valuable role in the development of the form. To begin with anoriginal vase was created with CAD software and then subjected to a directional wind force that reshaped the form ofvase in a way that is impossible in reality. The animation of this was then paused in time, enabling technicians to usethis frame to model the new form, develop a highly intricate mould and then preserve the vase in the beauty of porcelain.
Unfortunatly the designer of this piece made two mistakes.
1) He went with the easy Vincent reference, by naming it "Dear Van Gogh"
2) It is made of silicone. Tisk, Tisk. Although I'm sure it gives the ear itself an uncomfortable pliability. But I would imagine it wold make the mug itself slightly more difficult to handle and maneuver.
From the maker
Dear Van Gogh is a silicon mug that integrated with a realistic flexible ear.
It could replace the punishment from MUM/ Wife / Girlfriend
And it is a good listener to keep your secrets and grumbling.
You can also customize it with your favourate earrings.
A great gift for the people that you valuable on.
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Um, Yeah....
This plate with a mirror in the middle seems like a funny idea, when the plate is clean.
But, I can't imagine being too enamored with it when smeared with food.
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