My first Cup and Saucer

This set is rather nice for being my first attempt I think. There's a lot to improve though. I always shy away from trying cups or mugs although they are so useful and I could need some in my kitchen. I should definitely put this task a little higher on my list of things to try and practise.

Peas, Peas, Peas

I just can't get enough of them.



My pea season will be over quite soon though. It seems like the peas in one planter catched some sort of mildew while the ones in the other planter are infested with aphids and I don't know how to get rid of them. But as you can see, I had some good harvests.

A particular Plate

This plate was especially made for my sister. She's a constant source of encouragement and supports my pottery attempts.


I'm very pleased how the texture turned out on this piece but I don't really like that some of the glass overflowed, although it adds a nice individual touch.

It's greening

There's no sunshine all day at the moment but extreme humidity. Everything grows and greens quite well on my balcony but my tomato plants bear only few fruits so far and these would need some sun to ripen.

Tomatoes, peas and bell pepper plants

This is a green bell pepper that grew very fast, too fast I guess. It's from one of the plants of last year but was very different. I blame the lack of sunshine. It tasted quite bitter and wasn't as crunchy as last year's fruits.

A little Homage to Michel Foucault

I expected that some tv-station or other would show a documentary about Michel Foucault and his work and life on the 25th anniversary of his death, which was yesterday, but I couldn't find even the smallest mention. Somehow I personally feel offended about this as he's someone I truly appreciate and who has been an invaluable help to me. His work has lost nothing of its importance, how could one of the brightest thinkers be forgotten?


This is an excerpt of a dialogue between Michel Foucault and Noam Chomsky, who I admire just as much. (Here's a second part.) They treated each other with so much respect, they listen carefully, there's no harsh interruption. It's a pleasure to watch this!

I love Peas

(Would you have guessed?) I celebrated the beginning of summer with a nice pea harvest. It's moments like this I dream about in winter. Peas are so delicious!

These are 22 pea pods...

... which filled this bowl.

The rainy weather we have at the moment is also good for mushrooms and so we had the first pan of the year full of yummy yellow boletuses.

More Crafty News

I visited the pottery a few days ago and worked on a few pieces.

I glazed this bowl with a wine-red or rather maroon glaze I've never really used so far. It's a bit tricky. While some glazes tend to run, this one seems to shrink and disappear when applied too thinly. I put some clear glass into the centre that has indentions filled with white glaze and as usual I'm curious what it will look like when it comes out of the kiln.

I also worked on these vases. Their insides are still unglazed in the picture but should be green after firing.

A new Bowl

This is the only crafty thing I got done in the past couple of weeks but it was quite labour-intensive. A seashell was my main inspiration. More and more new ideas keep piling up and I also feel the weird urge to try wheel throwing again.

More Peas

Hraun

This means lava in Icelandic (like in the infamous Ódáðahraun lavafield) and it is one of those words I'm not aware of knowing until they pop into my mind constantly. With this word it happens whenever I look at this dish.


Its bubbles and crustiness remind me of boiling lava, now cooled down and frozen. The process this piece passed through is still visible and I love this very much. It's one of my favourite glass experiments so far.

Pigeons in Love

Peas

Pigeons love my Balcony

Do they have some gossip going on?

Increasing numbers of them visit my balcony every day, especially in the morning, when soon after the flapping of the wings of a pigeon flying away the next one stops by and currs. (One of them can make sounds like a dog. And some are ringed while most of them are not.)

Do you see the height of my peas at the left border of the picture?

They look around very, very carefully and seem to be very attracted by my plants.