A Special Pot

My potter friend, Al Wayman has outdone himself with his new project! He has hand thrown, shaped, inscribed and fired a series of 20! He was inspired and dedicated to this new endeavor. It is his Dead Sea Scroll replica-type pots with Hebrew text on the sides. This collection of jars and vases was created for the Gallery41 show in Owego New York and inspired by the ancient Dead Sea Scroll Jars and by the biblical Hebrew texts of Isaiah concerning justice.

Each jar or vase has a small section of text out of Isaiah inscribed on the side. The name of the piece is the name of the reference and both the Hebrew and English translation is provided along with the dimensions. He has always enjoyed studying and reading Ancient Near Eastern literature and also biblical literature.  

From his display card: "This special collection of Isaiah "Line Upon Line" of jars and vases were made by my own hand on the pottery wheel and fired and refined in the gas kilns at Creek Road Pottery in Laceyville, PA along the cold Tuscarora Creek. All Hebrew texts were also inscribed by my own hand on the work. I do hope a few folks to enjoy the collection. Special thanks to Rabbi John Herbert Ludermann for his guidance and advice with this project."

"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.." Isaiah 28:10 

Let me tell you I was inspired and chose one! I won't be able to receive it until after July 31. 

The one I chose is entitled: Isaiah 28:6 with the Hebrew inscription on the piece: וּלְר֖וּחַ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט לַיּוֹשֵׁב֙ עַל־הַמִּשְׁפָּ֔ט

"And for a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment"

The pot I chose has a lid and is 8.5 inches high and 4.5 inches wide. I can hardly wait to touch it!

PLEASE tap on image to view larger!

Bowl Me Over!

It all started when My friend The Potter posted a photo of him holding the first large bowl he completed while in college. (Marywood University is a higher education institution in Scranton, PA. Study academic programs in biotechnology, architecture, communications, art and more.)

Here is the photo and the text that got my interest: July 6, 2021...Dad was cleaning and found an old time box of pots from 20 years ago and in it was one of the very first large centerpiece bowls I was able to get through the gas kiln at Marywood University in 2001. The rim roll was not completely closed but it appears done was better than perfect at the time. Mum has all my early things. She shows them to visitors when they stop by. A bit embarrassing. 

My thought was, "Gee I would really like to have that bowl!" The next thing was that he had another post: 

Description

This Large Centerpiece Bowl was handmade by my own hand and fired to 2300f in the gas kiln.

The bowl measures 12 in. wide by 5.5 inches high.

All proceeds from this sale will go to a fund to benefit Bill Payne and family to help with medical bills.

Aug 28, 2021

I have a large centerpiece bowl and a platter I am putting up for sale to help raise money for Bill Payne and Family for medical bills.  If you wish to purchase, click the link.

                         SOLD! Thanks so much!

Didn't I jump right in! The proceeds of the sale will go to the fund raised to help the family in need, and Al and I benefit, knowing we have contributed. 

Al brought it over to me today. Just touching this 20 year old gem makes me feel good, but best of all is the history of when it was made, who made it, and how it will help others.

He enclosed a nice card for me and I will treasure both the bowl and the card and most of all - the friendship of this special man.

I'm already thinking of cold salads, cake batter, fresh whole fruit, and so much more....

Don't forget to tap on image to view larger

New Bowls

A delivery was made here yesterday and I've been waiting for these beauties for about three weeks. When I first spied them on his internet page during a community event, I claimed them. They spoke to me! Yep! Now I admit that the 'cereal bowls in oatmeal color' seem to have changed colors but I think it is the lighting plus the different cameras used to capture their beauty. 

They are thick but not too thick, thin but not too thin, and were put to use the very same evening. The heft and feel are perfect! They kept our meatball-vegetable stew nice and warm throughout the meal. What a treat! 

please click on image to view larger

Al, aka the Potter accepted some of my recent cookies and I was pleasantly surprised he mentioned them on his latest post. He has a wonderful sense of humor as you will read.

Design

My very first design for a potter! I would like to try to bake a loaf in a hand-made pot! We shall see what he thinks of my design. (He has an order to make.)

please click on image to view larger

"creekroadpottery @geraldinereed3590 Hey I have a surprise for you. If you have time and would like to help me design the small bread bakers I'll send you over one. Let me know."

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These are my computer drawings. I used an application called "ArtRage Lite." I rarely use this. It came along with a gift of a Wacom Tablet from a granddaughter a few years ago. 

VERSION #2

Dough Clay Recipes

All four of my young great nieces and nephews, who live in Philadelphia,  made some dough clay Easter eggs recently. When I saw the photos I remembered making about 30 or more 4-H Leader Wildlife Retreat pins with names in the shape of owls. This was over 30 years ago but I remember them clearly. Since then I  have made bead necklaces and Christmas hanging decorations as well, using dough clay, but not for a long time.

I was inspired to find my recipe. Wouldn't you know that I did, BUT there were 4 DIFFERENT ones. Now I'm in a quandary. I don't remember which was easiest or didn't make a big mess! A little input from you, my readers might help. Listed below are the 4. Do YOU have a better "tested" one?

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Craft dough 1

2C Arm & Hammer baking soda (1 lb. pack)

1 C cornstarch

1 1/4 C cold water

Stir and cook over medium heat

Stir well until smooth

Turn out on a plate and cover with a damp cloth

Create something flat

After creating name tags or something similar, bake 15 minutes at 350°

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Craft Dough #2

3/4 C pickling salt

2 C flour

Pour salt into mixing bowl

Add 1 C  boiling water

Allow mixture to cool

Mix in flour. Knead until smooth.

Make item and bake 325° about 2 hrs, until light brown

Cool and paint

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Craft Dough #3

1 1/2 C flour

1/2 C salt

1/2 C water

1/4 C vegetable oil

Create item and bake

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Craft Dough #4

Best for beads

3/4 C flour

1/2 C salt

1/2 C cornstarch

Miix - gradually add warm water.

Stir water into mixture until it clumps

Knead until surface is smooth

Make beads

Pierce with toothpicks

Air dry

Leave toothpicks in and only remove when beads are hard and dry.

Decorate with paint, etc.

Good to use a craft sealant after painting

String on yarn or leather

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